Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

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Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby dave robinson » 01 Aug 2014, 15:24

I know there's been a bit of stuff about this pedal since it was mentioned in late 2012 when I bought it, but to be honest I haven't given it too much time since then, as that is the time my illness took hold and I only briefly looked at it.
I had a look at the instructions and info about it today and got the thing out and plugged it in again. what an amazing piece of kit it is ! It isn't just a run of the mill digital clone of the Binson Echorec, it actually works like a Binson, only with additional features like extra head configurations and vari-speed. I've had nearly all of the Shadows sounds from it but also some amazing other sounds due to the way the feedback operates. Anyone who likes playing around with their own echo ideas then this is the machine to do it, I find it inspirational. I won't go on about it but it gives the guitar a great tone as well as the echoes and I recommend you read up on it and try one - If you read the blurb it isn't just another digital echo and it explains why but it's a great addition to the stuff I already have. When I said nearly all of the Shads echoes the one thing it doesn't do is the quieter first three heads and the louder fourth head, although I found a good way of achieving the Wonderful Land sound that was perfectly passable. No Wonder when I used to see The Shadows in the early and mid sixties and Hank was using Binsons' on at least five of those occasions and he sounded terrific. I remember seeing him mostly with a big green Binson and once with a grey Binson Baby. I noticed because we wanted one and they were way out of our price range. That's it really, I just wanted to let people know what a good piece of kit it is. :)
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby AlanMcKillop » 01 Aug 2014, 15:27

Agreed, I got one too and it's great as long as you don't overdo the swell, which can make it tinny sounding.
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby dave robinson » 01 Aug 2014, 15:37

I haven't experienced that Alan, but I've yet to push it. I decided to give it a whirl through the Vox AC4 after I did the mod and enjoyed myself, it was fun.
I have the Etap Eccamatic set up as well and I cannot believe how good they both sound in their own way for the price . . . . . . . to my ears they leave the Quads etc well behind. 8-)
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby neil2726 » 01 Aug 2014, 16:10

Good to see you back in action Dave! When you have time could you post a few Shads settings that you find acceptable?
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby dave robinson » 01 Aug 2014, 18:56

I'll try Neil, but short of posting photographs of the settings, which I don't know how to do, I can only give you a rough guide in text.

Apache/Man Of Mystery/Frightened City is position 11, speed around 11-O-clock, tone 12-O-clock, swell 7-O-clock for Apache but the others about 10-O-clock

Wonderful Land I use position 9, speed around 9-O-clock, tone 12-O-clock, swell between 10/11-O-clock mix 11-O-clock

For Atlantis, Kon Tiki, Dance On, TFYL, Foot Tapper & similar you need to vary the swell and mix to taste, the other settings are as Wonderful Land.

For Flingel Bunt you can try position 7 and get the speed to match the beat

A lot of my success with this machine has involved trying different positions and matching the speed.

Hope these help, but you have to put some time in, it's the only way. :)
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby rogera » 01 Aug 2014, 19:18

As Dave says you need to put some time in and experiment with settings.

I've often said to people that it doesn't stop with learning to play your guitar - you need also to learn to 'play' your amplifier and your echo unit using the Mk 1 ear'ole!
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby dave robinson » 01 Aug 2014, 19:38

rogera wrote:As Dave says you need to put some time in and experiment with settings.

I've often said to people that it doesn't stop with learning to play your guitar - you need also to learn to 'play' your amplifier and your echo unit using the Mk 1 ear'ole!



Correct Roger, I've been using gear since 1963 and still find myself learning even now. The more time you devote to achieving your goal, the more satisfying it is.
I remember back in the days of the Roberto discussions about the Gretsch, one or two folks showed me Roger's Vintage Unit and the sound was not what it should have been, so consequently I didn't take it on board. What I didn't realise then was that we were all sucked into the Kinman pickups and that's why the holy grail tone wasn't apparent. Only when I plugged into the EF86 channel with Fender 57/62 pickups did the sound hit me in the face, then subsequently other 'normal' Fender style pickups gave a similar sound. That was a turning point and I never looked back. Sadly, Roberto passed on before all of this was realised and I never got to share the joy of working it out with him. :)
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby neil2726 » 02 Aug 2014, 10:47

Thanks Dave - I shall begin with those settings and take it from there! :D
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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby ade » 02 Aug 2014, 17:11

Hi

Although I am not a regular contributor to this forum, I would like to add my experience with the Catalinbread Echorec.

I was first put onto these after listening to one belonging to a member (Garystrat) of this forum and was so impressed that I purchased one. As well as playing The Shadows at our club, I also play in a band and needed a delay for some of the numbers we perform. I have found the Echorec great for both applications. It is very easy to use and I am very pleased with it.

I have only had it a short while and am still experimenting with the settings. However a number of my settings are identical to those listed by Dave, which shows I am going in the right direction. I am particularly happy with Wonderful land, TFYL and Atlantis and for me, prefer these to the Echos I get from other programmed boxes, but stress this is a matter of taste.

I have some electronic test equipment and out of interest used this to measure the "speed" i.e the delay (the electronic equivalent) to the first head. When the speed control is set to 9-O-clock the delay is 125mS, which I believe suits a number of early tape units.

As I settle on more settings for other Shadows numbers, I would be happy to post these on this forum for other Echorec users and would welcome feedback - excuse the pun!!

Regards

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Re: Catalinbread Echorec Pedal

Postby neil2726 » 02 Aug 2014, 18:14

I'm sure any help with settings would be appreciated!
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