The Sound-O-Mat

Early Model Roland RE-201 For Sale

We're listing an early model Roland RE-201 Space Echo analog tape echo unit for sale here at a discounted price of $599. SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY. If you want to pick this up locally, expect to come with money in hand - we will no longer entertain people who just want to play around with it and "aren't sure", etc. etc. when they simply don't have the money. Go to a music shop and play with one if you're not positive you're ready to buy.

It's in perfect working condition, having been thoroughly cleaned, all electronics tested and fixed, with a new tape. We prefer local pickup, but if you're willing to pay for UPS packing, shipping and insurance, and will make an insurance claim should anything not work, we'll be happy to ship it, but we advise the expense of 2nd Day Air as UPS Ground seems to break these old tape units more often than not.

If it doesn't sell, we'll list it on Craigslist for awhile, and then it will be off to the consignment shop, which already has several buyers lined up starting at $700. We already has it there but it needed adjustments, so it's back in the studio for now.

Overall the case is in decent but obviously "used" conditions, and the black vinyl is dinged on almost every corner. If you're looking for "pretty" / mint looking unit, this isn't it. But the insides are what matter, and once you open the case, there's the original operating instruction sheet, and everything is spotless, having been cleaned and tested thoroughly. The heads show almost no wear and it sounds great.

How can you tell this is an early model? Well, the serial no. tag helps, as it says "Roland Echo System" and has a low serial number, 290535. The plug is also two prong with no ground, although the system is properly grounded to the metal grill on the bottom that provides air flow to keep it cool (later models reduced the size or moved it to the side/back.)

The lid is held down by latches, which is seen as good or bad, depending on your point-of-view - it's a lot easier to get inside the unit than with later models which have ridged bolts you can turn by hand, but on the other side, latches are far more prone to pop open if you're moving the unit a lot, which is why they switched to the bolts in later units, after complaints about it opening while gigging with it. And really, how often do you need to get inside the unit? The controls are all on the front, and aside from changing tapes 2-3 times a year, there's no reason to open it up unless you need to read the instructions.

In the front, the echo of/off switch is the small, white knob style, which was so prone to breaking that Roland included an extra in the pouch with the spare tape, cleaning kit, and instructions, which is the only thing missing from this unit.

The Electra EP 350 "Flat Response" Tape Echo

The Electra EP 350 "Flat Response" Tape Echo

We'll start out with a controversial assertion that we base on our own 10+ years of experience owning up to two dozen tape echoes at the peak: the Electra EP 350 (no dash) is far better than the Roland RE-301/501 Space Echo. Period. There, we've said it. It doesn't do "sound-on-sound" nor does it have a chorus effect from what we can tell, but aside from that, it's perfect.

This is an article we started awhile back and really should have finished. You see, we've since learned that Electra "turned into" Crate - or so the average musician in Portland would say, it turns out. Actually, it was another company that bought out Electra, then turned into Crate, who makes crap. Nonetheless, he and he's convinced that his clientele feels the same (I think only because they listen to him) that people see "Electra" and they think "Crate" and then "Junk." He wouldn't even listen to my "play it, dude, you'll be blown away, it might be the only tape echo better than a Roland RE-501/SRE-555!" Hence this article. Sorry if it's a bit rushed, but being over a month old, want to get it out and can always revise it. Although good luck finding out anything about Electra products, esp. the tape echoes.

Electra was primarily known back in the '60's and '70's for making a number of "knock-off" guitars, perhaps even some of the Sears "Silvertone" ones (still researching that) but it also made a number of effects units during a brief period - they weren't well-marketed and being known as a maker of guitar style copies, they didn't sell well at all, so they weren't make for long nor were there a lot of them made.

During the 60's & 70's Electra put out a small selection of effects, starting with analog delay units, and later digital ones, with the tape echo being one of the last pieces of gear before they got bought out. The delays are very rare and sought-after as well; like this tape echo, they're "secret weapons" that rarely go up for sale because people who have them would never part with them. We've been looking for Electra delays since we read about them five years ago and have never seen one for sale.

We were lucky to be able to get our hands on an Electra EP 350 (no dash) "Flat Response" Tape Echo" in the summer of 2007. Although the design and tape loop chamber is a rip-off of the Roland RE-series, it was not made by Roland at all, just like the Korg Stage Echo - the design is certainly "borrowed" but that's all.

Like the Roland, this is a combination unit (the Electra carries a reverb along with the tape delay, but no chorus). Unlike say, an Echoplex, the Electra doesn't use a tape cartridge - but rather has a loop of tape running free on one side, then it gets fed over six heads as it travels around a semi-opaque (see-though) top, which is just too cool.

When it comes to analog tape echoes, it's the cream de la cream, an RE-301 with better features and a fantastic reverb that has "Cathedral" setting / sound that will blow you away. There was one up on Ebay we were bidding on but the selling got offered $700 cash so he took the auction down (Feb 2007.)

[much more to come, with pics!]