About Me
The Space Echo's analog tape loop system is similar to Echoplex and Echolette,
but was highly praised by guitarists in the 70's and 80's for unique sounds.
Front panel has inputs for two mics and one instrument, with gain controls for each.
Unit can be used as a pre-amp by using the Hi-Med-Lo gain output jack going to a guitar amp, or can be used as an inline effects unit for your whole P.A. by going from output jack to P.A. pre-amp input, then from P.A. Line or Pre-amp Output to the "From P.A." jack. (an effects loop)
12 position mode selector switch allows tremendous variation between Reverb Only, Echo Repeats, and combinations of both. Also has bass, treble and reverb volume, plus repeat, intensity and echo volume. Also has a footswitch echo cancel and a manual echo/normal switch.
WHAT DO THEY THINK OF ME???
I got this unit recently from a buddy...he gave me a great deal!I owe him one!As far as value goes...these units are overpriced.Don't get me wrong...I love it.I would not pay 400.00 - 500.00 bucks though!At 200.00 it's a value for sure. I have analog pedals that come real close to tape echo sound for a fraction of the price.If money is not an issue...go for it!!!Value based on the price I got it for is a 10...at vintage prices...5.BTW my ELK unit is every bit as good if not better....for $100.00 now thats a value.Of course...no one can work on that one and any info on ELK products is not to be found...and I know of only one other guy who has one..roland space echos can be serviced and are offered for sale frequently.
I play "mental joikbeat", wich contains a lot of ambient noise, its a bit like primus, a bit like dark throne, a bit like nowave, a bit like..osv
the effect is steady in this purchase of journey,something
no i really mean it!
At the moment, I am using the Space Echo for both guitar and vocals, in a home-recording environment. For guitar, my typical set-up is Strat/Tele---Maxon OD-9/Russian Big Muff---Space Echo---65 Fender Twin Reissue. For vocals its just a matter of putting the Space echo in between the mic and the board. Let it be known: this is a noisy effect, particularly on its "high" output setting. A noticeable hiss comes through the amplifier. The hiss is a small price to pay though, because this is, without a doubt the most beautiful, responsive delay I've ever used. You can get a ton of useable sounds out of it, from excellent slap-back to spiralling-out-of-control spaceship engine noises, and everything in between. Its traditional echo sounds are absolutely lush and warm, and they can be adjusted to be as bold or as subtle as you want. Even when the echo is applied only subtly, it adds an unmistakable presence to my guitar playing. As for vocals, at the right setting, the Space Echo can make me sound just like Gene Vincent or Eddie Cochran, and as far as vocal production goes, thats good enough for me. The Space Echo's reverb is a simple spring reverb. Its pretty good, but obviously not the main feature of the unit. For guitar, I have a Twin Reverb so I usually leave the space echo's reverb off.
My style is the style of rock and roll, and some of my heroes are Neil Young, Robert Fripp, Adrien Belew, Bernard Sumner, and Bruce Springsteen. It is my sincere hope that the Space Echo inspires me to play within a fraction of their creativity.
I have played extensively through an EH Memory Man, Akai Headrush, Line 6 Delay Pod, and other assorted analog and digital delays. The Space Echo clearly wins, but it is bigger to accomodate and more scary to own because of its moving parts. Even the Memory Man does not come close to the Space Echo. While the Memory Man and other delays are warm, the Space Echo's tone is much more nuanced and textured. The Line 6 Delay's Space Echo emulation is fairly accurate, except that it cannot help but sound tinny and digital. The true Space Echo delay is mighty and oceanic compared to the the Line 6's imitation. But, if you want something that will never break and you don't have to change tapes, a Line 6 is probably more for you.
In conclusion, I like the Space Echo because it sounds warm and alive. It's like playing with another person...that's how responsive it is. How could it not be awesome, given that it looks more like something out of a physics laboratory than a guitar effect?
I give it a 10, because everything about the Space Echo's sound and aesthetic appearance suggests that it is a true classic, a musical instrument unto itself.
Yo, I am a SPACE FUNK rhythm guitar player, playing in a FUNK orchestra. The Space Echo is CRUCIAL to manifesting the sound in my head. I've been playing for about 12 years or so...and I became a different player when I got the Space Echo. Hell, I think I became a different person. If it were stolen, I would dip into my life savings to immediately rectify the situation. The unit embraces other effects. Volume swells? good god. WAH, forget about it, it's too nasty for me to imagine. You will want to either cry tears of joy or vomit because the sound is just incomprehensibly filthy (remember, nothing is good unless you play with it, and all that is good, is NASTY!) For the delays, it has a few different patterns that are kinda more complicated and novelty oriented, as in you might use it once or twice but never regularly. The reason I use the Space Echo is for the basic delay itself, which is absolutely, unimaginably, the most beautiful thing I've ever heard come through my amp, let alone into my ears. If I could change one thing about it, I'd give it a slower delay time option; the later RE-501 model has a slower delay, so if any of you want super slow, definitely seek out a 501 for that reason. But the 201 is a bit nastier, both in tone and vibe. I had an EH Deluxe Memory Man prior to this, and I loved it. I bought this and haven't plugged the Memory Man in more than two times in the past two years. Does the Space Echo help me make music? This thing fucking breathes chi into my music. It brings down sounds and vibrations from higher dimensions. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in love with it, because as a guitarist, it is, without a doubt, the best thing to have happened to me.
