Ray Butts Echosonic #27

[thenorm]

No problems as long as he gets his info

[PhilHunt]

Anyone have any idea if Tim Masters is still making the Echosonic amps and how much he charges for one? I saw them at CAAS when he had a table set up in the Broadway Sound room. I heard Guy Van Duser playing through one in the hallway and it sounded great. However, I bet those things need constant maintenance just like an echoplex. I love the sound of the echoplex but if you leave it alone for a long period of time and don't play through it....you regret it later. I see that echoplexs' are in high demand now, so if anyone has one....HOLD ON TO IT....AND KEEP IT MAINTAINED....AND BUY PLENTY OF CARTRIDGES FOR IT, A SPARE BELT, AND EVEN A SPARE DRIVE MOTOR (IF YOU CAN FIND ONE).
I had one that I bought from Ronnie Evans about 15 years ago and the motor burnt up in it and I forgot and left it running all night long. I managed to find a replacement motor, new belt, capstan pinch roller, and a bunch of dunlop replacement tapes. Once I got it up and running again I sold it about the same time I sold my Standel Custom with the JBL D-130, and my '64 Country Gent. I totally regret selling all three......but sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do.
I use to love working on the echoplex I had....they're a real hoot to work on....very simple point to point wiring, a simple motor, heads, a belt, a tape cartridge, a pinch roller, knobs and switches....and that's about it.

[George Beasley]

Here is a pic I snapped of Guy in the hallway with the Echosonic....

[thenorm]

If I owned an echoplex I would carefully open up one of the cartridges and have a look at how the tape is laid in and learn to do it myself. Fender had an echo unit years ago and I had one of those. I learned how to load the tape cartridge and used to load my own. I even used more tape than Fender did which put more distance on the splice pop.

In my music store days we used to sell Echoplexes. Now I'm sure you all know there is a switch on the thing that turns off the erase head.

One day I opened one up from it's shipping and was curious to see what, if anything, was on the "new" stock tape so I switched off the erase head.

What I got was what sounded like radio ads for a car dealership, This is on a "new" unit. Apparently the cartridge makers get their tapes from media stations.

Those cartridges use 'lubricated' tape. When I had the Fender unit I used tape from 4 track car cassettes. Those are lubricated. Worked likd a charm and I always had two backups on hand.

It's not rocket science but you do have to be sure you lay it in so it works right (and not get it twisted)

As for the Echo-sonic, I think Tim Masters still makes them and can be contacted via grretschpages

[Echosonic27]

Finding a schematic for my particular amplifier will be difficult because the Echosonics were almost all uniquely built. But surely, if only for the values of the components for my use in the future, I would need one. I have fixed the minor problem in the power section, as well as the issue with Input #1. Thank you for everyone's help and advice!

[Echosonic27]

I am actively working on drawing up 2 different Echosonic schematics and their layout (early model, and a later model). they will hopefully be available before the end of year. Comparing the two amps side by side (Ray Butts Echosonic & Rickenbacker Ek-O-Sound), and while they are extremely similar, there are a few differences. The speaker is always a large part of the tone of any amp. and clearly they are not the same. The dimensions of the cabinet are also not the same. But my Rick's board works perfectly when connected to my Butts amp without any changes or modifications. I am also working on duplicating my tape echo board, one component at a time. PMs are welcome!

[Echosonic27]

Good day Everyone,

For anyone still interested, I have completed the restoration of this EchoSonic amp #27. Please feel free to look at my photo archive of the entire process in detail here:

http://www.photobucket.com/echosonic27

I have since acquired a 2nd all-original Ray Butts EchoSonic amp; it's 100% complete with tape delay board, foot switch, and canvas cover. I am in the process of restoring it now.

As well, I was featured for my restoration in Vintage Guitar Magazine - April 2012 issue, in the Ray Butts EchoSonic article pages 46 & 48. For anyone interested, I've scanned the article in Adobe PDF format but cannot attach it to this forum. You can email me, or Google 'frank roy vintage guitar" and find it attached in a thread at Rickresource. I have been contacted by many amp owners including other EchoSonic owners, wanting their amps repaired and/or restored. If anyone would like to discuss anything with me, I can be emailed at: echosonic27 AT gmail DOT COM. I have many original replacement parts available, lots of documentation and historical information, and have worked on several of these rare amps. I would be happy to hear from anyone wanting to chat about these terrific amplifiers.

Cheers!!

-Frank

[John A]

Well; mine was #24 and yes; Ray was constantly changing things. A close friend of mine got his about 6 months later and his sounded different than mine. Ray did keep updates on these.

Someone posted earlier about possibly having things to do on it but that was not the case; the only thing that I ever had to do was put a new endless tape in about once a month. Maybe a tube every 3 months (12 AX 7's or 12 AU 7's). I think I replaced the power tube once.

I did modify my tape deck once. I needed to move the repeating head out some so I could play Blue Echo but that was too much space for regular so I brought it back to the original spot.

[smokymtguitar09]

Hi,
As far as Ricky Nelson's ownership of the Echosonic, you might hang around the Jame Burton website and get a chance to ask him or have someone ask for you. I saw CB member Billy Denham's comments there, so it must be good place for James Burton and Ricky Nelson information. It's worth a try, if you need to know for sure. You are the lucky one already to own an Echosonic regardless of who was the previous owner....you've got it now. Enjoy it and good luck with your quest.

http://www.facebook.com/jamesburtonguitarist