???? about effects-old analog type

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 19 Aug 2001 7:17 pm

Hello all;
Take a minute & think back to the days before digital or rack mounted effects..
Talking about the days when effects came in a tube type box then later in the form of a stompbox.Remember when you would just use a touch of echo or delay-not over doing it as it seems to be done today.In the stompbox era;which one was your favorite delay or echo unit??
Which one sounded the best & was easy to find a good setting on?? Let me have your thoughts on these questions when you have time..Any & all answers will be greatly appreciated & i thank you ahead of time.
THANKS!!!! Ron [This message was edited by Ron Whitworth on 19 August 2001 at 08:19 PM.]

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 19 Aug 2001 7:45 pm

In the 60's I had a tape unit called "Copy Cat" that was a really great sounding box. It had a loop of tape that ran around three spools one of which was on a spring loaded arm to keep tension on the tape I think and across two or three recording heads. I used to make up tape loops with tape recorder tape. I think it was made in England but I don't recall the manufacturers name. I have some old recording with that unit on a homemade PGS and it really sounds good or at least brings back some great memories. I would love to have one of those in good working condition now.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 19 Aug 2001 9:43 pm

Jerry: I also had a Copy Cat. They were made in England for Guild. The one I had sounded great, but broke the tape at least once a set. Prior to that I had one of the original Echoplexes. It had a great sound, but tended to "drag" occasionally, giving the sound of an old Victrola (wind up type) running down. But when these units were working properly, they had a sound the digital equipment of today only dreams of. I still think the tape units sounded better.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 20 Aug 2001 4:33 am

* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 06 May 2002 at 10:08 AM.]

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 20 Aug 2001 7:11 am

These old Yamaha analog delays are great.

Reviews at Harmony Central.

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Emmons Push Pull S10 | Peavey Session 400 | '52 Fender Lap Steel | Goodrich L120 & Matchbox

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 20 Aug 2001 8:53 am

What do you mean, "stomp box days"? Does everyone HAVE to use rack-mount and digital effects just because we´re living in the 21st century? I believe floor pedals and analog effects will be around for a long time to come, just take a look at some music retailers´ catalogs to see how much stuff from the old days is actually being reissued. If it gives the exact same sound as the old ones is another question, of course, but I´m sure there is still a strong demand for it. I guess they just have that certain "something". Also, those units are usually cheaper than rack-mounts, and as some of you may know, there are many musicians who don´t have a lot of money to spend.
As for myself, I keep my line of analog effects, but I tend to use them less and less. These days, I enjoy most running straight from the guitar to the volume pedal to the amp (all tube, of course). Maybe a little reverb (Fender, what else?)
Regards, Joe H.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Aug 2001 4:23 pm

I used an old Fender tape delay, but the thing was hard on tapes. I got tired of buying them (I think they were about $6) and I used the built-in reverbs (the old Fenders had GREAT reverbs). I bought an Ibanez digital stomp box delay, and that works very well. Most times now, I use the built-in digital effects in my Peavey amp. I'm just not crazy about their "presets" that don't allow small changes in the delay settings. But about 95% of the time, I just use the 'verb.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 20 Aug 2001 6:08 pm

The younger guys sure have it nice with the great steels being built by all the builders. I have not seen a brand currently being built that I just did not like. (I like all the others, I love the Emmons)! For my first reverb, I got a small preamp from something, can't recall what, got a spring unit from a Hammond organ, went to a radio repair shop and had them wire it up where it would work on my guitar, built a wooden box for it, painted it with black speckled paint that we used in car trunks as I had a body shop back then. I knew of no reverb being made for a guitar amp at that time. In about 196.... something I got the WEM Guild "Copy Cat" I mentioned earlier on this post. It lasted about 10 years and konked out and I could not get it repaired. About that time, I received a package in the mail from Zane Beck containing an Electra Analog delay rack unit and a note which read "try this, I think you will like it" or something very close to those words and it was a great unit. I have expressed on other posts what a wonderful man Zane Beck was and that is a very long story in itself. He never would take any payment for the Electra, said he just wanted me to have it! I have had many effects units and processors since then but back in my young days the money was scarce and the there was not very much to choose from. Man, I am making me feel old!!!!
Jerry
[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 20 August 2001 at 07:10 PM.]

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 20 Aug 2001 10:00 pm

In the late 70's I used an Echoplex for a while. It was real noisey and the only way to get the heads to hit the tape was to cram a matchbook in it. In the 80's ElectroHarmonix made a 24 second delay stomp box that was pretty wild at the time.

These days I am a big fan of analog stomp boxes.
The only digital thing I use is a bit of lexicon reverb when I don't have an amp with spring reverb available.

I just ordered this thing from a guy in England. I couldn't resist.
www.lovetone.com

click on "Pedals" then select "Meatball"

There is a world of fantastic hand made analog stomp boxes out there.

Bob [This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 20 August 2001 at 11:02 PM.][This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 21 August 2001 at 12:00 AM.]

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 21 Aug 2001 2:57 am

Hello;
THANKS to all for your answers so far..This is great!!Some great answers & great info here + some very interesting links..Keep 'em comin' guys as i LOVE reading this stuff..It's not that i am against this new digital stuff; some of it sounds pretty good too but as Donny Hinson said "I'm just not crazy about their "presets" that don't allow small changes in the delay settings". I have to agree with him here also..Ron

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 21 Aug 2001 11:27 am

When I was just playing lead guitar (before I discovered steel), I had a WEM (Watkins Electronic Music, I think) copycat. An unintentional but useful side effect was that if it was cranked up it overloaded the front end of my amp, resulting in a very good overdriven guitar tone.
I,ve had loads of stomp boxes etc, and over the years have traded them in, how I wish I still had them.

bill dearmore · Post by **bill dearmore** » 23 Aug 2001 3:25 am

Hi gang, I'm still using the old "Boss" delay (redish-purple)stompbox that I've had forever. Mabey not as quiet but definately warmer! These old boxes are magical. Later,Bill

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 23 Aug 2001 5:04 pm

One advantage of the stomp boxes is that if you want to make a change to a parameter you can just twist a knob; you don't need to scroll through menus and read a tiny little display. Also, you can pick the chorus or delay or whatever (Boss, Ibanez, Line6, etc.) that you want. Of course, the pedals do take up a little more room. And for the most part, the same technology that is in the racks is also in the pedals (sometimes).

But a rack unit often packs a lot more choices into a set up at a cheaper price, and the modeling stuff is getting real good these days.

Ed Miller Jr · Post by **Ed Miller Jr** » 23 Aug 2001 6:39 pm

I still use an echoplex! I sitt love the tone that it gives for Atkins style stuff. It's a tempramental old bird but, I love it Warts and all! On my steel, I use a dan echo I've tried out the multi effects and I prefer the boxes. What I'm beginning to notice at the retail store that I manage is that the people who blew the wad on processors are going back to stomps because they don't like the presets, and I surmise, either can't program them ar are finding that they can't nail the tone of certain things with a does all unit.
ED [This message was edited by Ed Miller Jr on 23 August 2001 at 07:44 PM.]

Tim Rowley · Post by **Tim Rowley** » 25 Aug 2001 1:20 am

I've got an Echoplex, actually 2 of them, an early one and a late Maestro one. I no longer use either one of them on stage. You can't beat the great gutsy tube preamp echo sound, but they hum so loudly that it's distracting! Oh yes, and since tape cartridges are basically no longer available you have to learn how to rewind your own when the tape gets worn out.

Tim R.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 25 Aug 2001 11:55 pm

Ron: I think the stomp boxes will be around forever (for band stand use). I use a Boss DD3. I love it. If there is too much echo, just reach down and turn one knob and it's fixed. I don't care for the devices that have to be programmed, for that reason. In the studio, it's not a problem. But no one wants to wait for two or three minutes on a gig while you reprogram your effect. JMO
Just one other thing: Most of the stomp boxes sound just as good on a live gig as the more expensive rack mount units do.

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 26 Aug 2001 2:52 pm

Hello Everyone;
This is really GOOD info here!!.My THANKS to all who have replied so far..Keep it coming in as i am learning a lot here..Those fancy high dollar rack mounted units are real nice until you need to make a change on a dimly lit stage!!.I have found that unless you have done it many times; the band & audience ends up waiting on YOU..Like was said above " One advantage of the stomp boxes is that if you want to make a change to a parameter you can just twist a knob; you don't need to scroll through menus and read a tiny little display".I am learning to really "love" the convenience of "twisting a knob"..
OK; after you went from the tube type effects & some of you moved on to those "stompboxes"; WHICH ones ended up being your favorites & were the ones YOU used the most?? Also; WHY did you like that particular one or two so much?? I'll be readin' so keep it comin'...THANKS Ron[This message was edited by Ron Whitworth on 26 August 2001 at 03:53 PM.]

Ed Miller Jr · Post by **Ed Miller Jr** » 27 Aug 2001 4:19 am

Tim, cartridges are availible through any Jim Dunlop disrtibutor. I get them for my store trough Harris Teller in CHicago. I'm sure there are others, and they run about$25.00. I've found that if you run it through an effect loop that the Hum is impossible but, doesn't sound as bad plugged in straight. I also use a noise gate to help and replacing the filter caps seems to help quiet them down. There a pain but I guess Im used to it.
ED