...delay (ctd.)...

Tesla says: [i]I notice that the Fulltone web-site for the TTE never mentions the Roland Tape Echoes[/i]

...from the Fulltone site: [i]5/20/04 Brian Setzer records new record at Village Recorders and Capitol entirely through a Tube Tape Echo #00029, ending a 30 years relation with a Roland Space Echo[/i]

...but I admit, I had to look hard ;o)

Hello!
There also seems to be a few very unhappy folks that bought this semi-boutique tube tape machine for various reasons.
If you wish: buy it--- and then report back to all of us at Theremin World how it sounds, works, about the replacement tape regimen and how customer service provides for your needs.

Good Luck!

teslatheremin

Hi,

I have it here for about one week now - testing and I am yet undecided if I will keep it; it does sound much better with my theremin than the Lexicon MX 400 I was using until now. It makes it sound warm, soft and the theremins voice goes in a direction I like - a bit singer-like.

The machine does make some [i]noise[/i] that I do not like - not in the sound channel, but the tape-cassette...

I have asked their support a question yesterday and will wait until friday for a reply - before becoming unhappy with their support ;o)

And Brian's Mold Spore arrived.

It's in pristine condition, properly packed and sounds great.

Hard core. (Which the Mac OS X dictionary defines as [i]popular music that is experimental in nature and typically characterized by high volume and aggressive presentation[/i]. That pretty much nails it, apart from the "popular".)

Brian, it has been a pleasure doing business with you. :-)

Gordon, likewise. I'm glad to know that the Mold Spore is in a good home, and I look forward to hearing what you do with it.

It might be a little while. At the moment I'm having fun going wah, wah, wah and aaaaargh! all over everything. I suspect it might be a time until I get past that and start using it more musically.

"Wah, wah, wah, aaaaargh"...

...isn't that the opening motive of Beethoven's fifth symphony? (or maybe it would have been, if he'd only had a Mold Spore)

Seriously, though, I know the feeling. I need to spend many more hours exploring the JoMoX T-Resonator's mysteries before I create any ePro + T-Res. mischief to share with the world.

[i]isn't that the opening motive of Beethoven's fifth symphony?[/i]

Hahaha. I thought it was The Cat Strangling Song.

...following teslas advice I now have a Space Echo RE-301 sitting next to the Tube Tape Echo to compare them directly...

...and my first impression is - in one word - bad...

Sure, I'll have to play with all those knobs and switches much more, and I'll have to clean the heads and will put in a new tape, but for a first impression I am not very impressed. There is a big gap in sound quality between the two machines (and I am saying this after thinking about returning the TTE since teslas first comment...) in favour of the TTE.

This particular machine is about 30 years old (the last owner claims to have it owned for more than 20 years now). The machine is a little dusty on the outside, but very clean, has no dents and is running very quietly (I'd even say less noise than the TTE). And it is no surprise that it will need some maintenance to give the best sound-output it can. So, we'll see...

...a few busy hours have passed in which I have cleaned the RE-301 - especially the heads - and have replaced the old tape with a new one...

...I have also tried to play with the Space Echo in different places in the chain:

Theremin -> Valve EQ -> RE-301 -> AMP (Peavey KB-4) (good)
Theremin -> Valve EQ -> AMP with RE-301 inserted as external effect (not soooo good)

I also tried those chains with many different settings on the RE-301, for example echoes 1-6 (1-3 quite direct, 4-6 rather lush) with several speeds and intesities, combined with or without Chorus and/or Reverb...

...but still: the TTE delivers a much warmer, fuller and clearer sound.

That means only for my aim to find a warm (female soprano) voice for my theremin the TTE brings me a big step closer, while the Space Echo also provides a full (as opposed to 'thin'), but less warm and distinct voice and allows for some interesting 'effects' which I hope to be able to explore also during the months coming...

Asked for my preference I'd name the Tube Tape Echo without hesitation - adding that my experience with the customer support is not good (I was ignored for one week now), and that I think the tape-cassette is not a good solution, as it rattles and squeeks and it doesnt look as it will last very long. Also the mechanism to start the Echo is a gag but not thought through: to start the tape you plug in the 'out'-cable, to stop the tape you have to remove the cable again...we'll see how long the socket lasts...