Roland Space Echo tape echo

  • Thread starter Thread starter iheartmeek
  • Start date Start date
I

iheartmeek

Banned
Has anyone here ever restored or fixed up any of the Roland Space Echos? I have one thats working, but its very noisy and i think some of the connections are faulty. Its got a nice sound other than the noise. I cleaned the heads, changed the tape, still a bit too noisy. I also demagged with a TEAC demagnetizer.

Would recapping it help get rid of the noise?
 
What model? Is it this? http://maindragmadness.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/img_05811.jpg

I'm thinking there must be a way to test the input/output circuitry (i.e. preamps and such) to isolate whether the poor signal is occurring there, or whether it's occurring in the record/playback circuitry.

Can you connect a line input to this unit, and then monitor the input to see if it's noisy/crummy sounding?
 
define the noise?

it might be a bad cap/caps

are there any tubes in those beasts?

i've never ripped one apart. but man do they sound awesome when they work.
 
Space Echo

The one i have is the model RE-150. It has 6 modes: short, long, multi, and short (single), long (single), and multi (single). There is no reverb tank in this model, like there is in the 201 that someone posted a pic of in one of the previous posts.

I really like these delays, ive owned several. They sound alive and do more than just alter the sound by adding delay. Its a bit like its own instrument. The only problem is they are old and old stuff can slip from its best performing state. Im wondering how hard it would be to fix it up myself rather than send it to a tech. There is a tech in town who does full recap, calibration, etc for reasonable rate, but lately ive been almost feeling like an ass for not jsut learning how to fix some of these minor things myself.

I dont truly believe everything has to be analog to sound good or be good music. But there is undeniable magic in even the most simple analog effect/recorder, and its something i cant fully live without. So why not learn to fix my own posessions up to keep them running?

I used to go on ebay and hunt for these types of things (space echos, tascam 388s, ANY old analog stuff) and in the last 5 years prices have gone from manageable to boutique. And in the last 10 years its been even worse. Stuff that was "junk" 8 years ago goes for 699.00 starting bid now.

So im just trying to get my feet wet fixing up what ive got.
 
I'm right there with you iheartmeek. I just got a steal of a deal on a RE-201. Works great but it is a little noisy too. I think that is typical and is expected of the roland tape echos. Just a little trade out for REAL tape echo warmth. It came with tape that was taken out of an 8-track cassette. I read on a forum that someone had used cheap logging tape with great success so I ordered some. I'll let you know how it works out.

Ofcourse I suppose you may be experiencing more noise than usual if there is something really wrong.
 
Pardon my stupidity guys but I've never seen anything like this before. What do they sound like? Can you post some sounds? I'd love to hear this thing in action. Thanks.
 
well

Well i personally cant post sounds, but if you search "space echo" on youtube youll find tons of demos.

Basically its just a tape recorder with multiple heads that makes an "echo" sound. If youve never seen or heard one before be prepared to want one intensely as soon as you see and hear it.

Whats sad is, Boss came out with a modern, non tape version tahts supposed to imitate the old one. But it doesnt sound like it at all to me. Im not being a snob either. Its not a subtle difference. Its a completely different sound. Im not saying the new one is useless, but its just confusing when they reissue or recreate things and its like theyve never even heard the original one they themselves created.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top