Roland RE-201 Space Echo

Very easy, like the dude before me already stated; the quickstart manuals are mostly still on it, and also the buttons are labelled, only the mode selector isn't quite obvoius without the manual.

Depends on the state of the heads/ tape.(always get a service if you buy a new effect)
There is still new tape available (one guy named orbitelectronix is selling good ones)
If all's well, it sounds GREAT! Real tape saturation, great fat harmonics in the lower frequency region (due to the absence of bias correction).
A very natural and full echo, and the spring reverb is fun in all it's simplicity (give it a smack for the whack!), but imo there are better ones, but as an effect it can be great.

Get a good servicepoint, for it needs some tlc now and then.
There are a lot of guys around that are into the device, but i wouldn't take it to a gig anymore. (it only serves for recordings) They are a little harder to get now, and due to hyping go out for usurious prices.

Roland did put it's manual back on the net in a nice pdf form. (kudos for them), and else it does hang around everywhere.
For service it is better ti find an afficiado technician around the area.

It is getting somewhat rarer, but not extinct yet.
It works very good on Dub style music (Reggae, Dr&B, Triphop) and older rockstyles if you want it to be obvious, otherwise it will work anywhere as a normal delay.
You can put it on drums (rimshot) vocals, guitars and a lot of other stuff.
Only try to avoid scrooges, but get a good one with good heads. (if the covering is still good thats nice, but not the most important)
I got a good one with a scrappy covering, and full of nicotine, but got it serviced, cleaned, and re-taped it, and now it is sweet again.
If it got stolen, i would send a mercenary up the thief's a**, to bring it back together with a head in a box.

No problem figuring out how to use it...and most units have the diagram and instuction for use sheet attached.tape echo units do require a bit extra care...oiling motor..tape change ..head cleanig ETC.Worth it if you dig the sound....and I do!

I run this at the end of the effects chain. TS 808> Ross distortion/ phaser>ADA flanger>DOD 575 flanger>DOD 565 chorus> DOD 585 analog delay > captian Coconut 2 > roland space echo>>>ELK tape echo>>> into and Sound city 50 +. (Stock 1969 strat)...Space echo is a great analog echo/delay unit...warm!!! The reverb by it's self is not real good ...a little bit of rev. though does sound good.When combining echo and rev.it shines and enhances the effect...makes a bigger...spacey sound.Unit is NOT real noisy...I think other reviewers may need to change tape or have it serviced.No more noise than my analog pedals.Sound is fantastic!

Appears to hold up...but it is a tape echo and needs more care....it is well made!!!

N/A

I got this unit recently from a buddy...he gave me a great deal!I owe him one!As far as value goes...these units are overpriced.Don't get me wrong...I love it.I would not pay 400.00 - 500.00 bucks though!At 200.00 it's a value for sure. I have analog pedals that come real close to tape echo sound for a fraction of the price.If money is not an issue...go for it!!!Value based on the price I got it for is a 10...at vintage prices...5.BTW my ELK unit is every bit as good if not better....for $100.00 now thats a value.Of course...no one can work on that one and any info on ELK products is not to be found...and I know of only one other guy who has one..roland space echos can be serviced and are offered for sale frequently.

I bought this effect in 2001 and its still a space oddesey!
Its very easy to use. for a vintage effect-geek like myself ive had
many hours of dr.crazy lessons with the knobs.

I use this diamond with another diamond, peavey deuce II 4X12. those two in the same room is like tripping far back in time.
My guitar is an fernandes with a EMG-mic. Total mindblowing! a great symbiosis! Its noisy, but its what i like about it. looping it with a distortion-pedal(wich i purchased in russia!!) This is a great base for further expression.

The machinery stood still a few times..

nope

I play "mental joikbeat", wich contains a lot of ambient noise, its a bit like primus, a bit like dark throne, a bit like nowave, a bit like..osv
the effect is steady in this purchase of journey,something
no i really mean it!

The Roland Space Echo has ten knobs, so at a first and distant glance, it can either look daunting or inviting depending on how big of a knob-twiddler you are. However, a closer look reveals that the knobs are actually quite simple in function. Three knobs control the volume of their corresponding 1/4" input. Two knobs serve as a simple bass and treble EQ for the echo's tone. One knob is a volume for the reverb feature. The biggest knob lets you select the type of delay (this is actually the most complicated feature because the delay-type is related to which of the tape-heads are turned on for recording). The final three knobs are tape speed, feedback, and echo volume. There is also a three-position switch that lets you select a high, medium, or low output. Due to the intrinsic excellence of the machine itself, nearly everything sounds amazing, regardless of the setting. You may have to play around a while to get the specific sound you want. All in all, as far as the front side of this unit is concerned, it is not difficult to use. Its obviously more complicated than a simple analog delay, but even without a manual (mine was missing), it only took me a few minutes to figure it all out.
The mechanical aspect of this unit is a different matter. This is not a case of simply needing to switch out a battery on occasion. With the Space Echo, you must change the tape, clean the heads, and generally be aware that it is a machine with moving parts. Changing the tape can be initially frustrating, but it gets easier with practice. Beware, if something goes wrong with the machine's innards, unless you are mechanically inclined, plan on spending some money to have it repaired. Given that the sounds the Space Echo produces are so wonderful, the pain of finding new tape loops and the potential for mechanical problems are the only unattractive aspects of the Space Echo experience.

At the moment, I am using the Space Echo for both guitar and vocals, in a home-recording environment. For guitar, my typical set-up is Strat/Tele--->Maxon OD-9/Russian Big Muff--->Space Echo--->65 Fender Twin Reissue. For vocals its just a matter of putting the Space echo in between the mic and the board. Let it be known: this is a noisy effect, particularly on its "high" output setting. A noticeable hiss comes through the amplifier. The hiss is a small price to pay though, because this is, without a doubt the most beautiful, responsive delay I've ever used. You can get a ton of useable sounds out of it, from excellent slap-back to spiralling-out-of-control spaceship engine noises, and everything in between. Its traditional echo sounds are absolutely lush and warm, and they can be adjusted to be as bold or as subtle as you want. Even when the echo is applied only subtly, it adds an unmistakable presence to my guitar playing. As for vocals, at the right setting, the Space Echo can make me sound just like Gene Vincent or Eddie Cochran, and as far as vocal production goes, thats good enough for me. The Space Echo's reverb is a simple spring reverb. Its pretty good, but obviously not the main feature of the unit. For guitar, I have a Twin Reverb so I usually leave the space echo's reverb off.

Because of this machine's age, its lack of available parts, and its mechanical nature, I do not consider it entirely reliable. I bought mine "as is" on eBay for a below-average price, and although it worked fine at first (except for the reverb, which was DOA), the Space Echo completely crapped out after two months of gentle use. I have since had the machine totally repaired by a local expert and it now runs like an absolute dream, but the repair cost $100 bucks. This is basically what I had planned for, though, because I did not want to shell out $500 for a cosmetically nice unit (like some people do) and then have the thing crap out mechanically (as they tend to do) and have to spend $100+ on top of that. This way, my investment is still low...and the service is warrantied.
At this point, I haven't gigged with it, but I definitely will, and soon, especially now that its fully operational. It would be a crime not to expose more people to the Space Echo's sound. The world will be a better place as a result.

To my knowledge, Roland doesn't work on these. RT-1L tapes are only available NOS or you can get tape loops hand-spliced by a few people on the internet. Parts like the pinch roller or the mode switch mechanism are completely out of production and either have to be custom fashioned or salvaged off dead units. Some people won't even work on Space Echos at all because they can be tricky to repair depending on whats wrong. I'm very lucky because I have access to an excellent technician who works fast and provides a warranty for his work. I give this rating a 3 because there are people out there who can fix Space Echos, even if its not Roland themselves.

My style is the style of rock and roll, and some of my heroes are Neil Young, Robert Fripp, Adrien Belew, Bernard Sumner, and Bruce Springsteen. It is my sincere hope that the Space Echo inspires me to play within a fraction of their creativity.
I have played extensively through an EH Memory Man, Akai Headrush, Line 6 Delay Pod, and other assorted analog and digital delays. The Space Echo clearly wins, but it is bigger to accomodate and more scary to own because of its moving parts. Even the Memory Man does not come close to the Space Echo. While the Memory Man and other delays are warm, the Space Echo's tone is much more nuanced and textured. The Line 6 Delay's Space Echo emulation is fairly accurate, except that it cannot help but sound tinny and digital. The true Space Echo delay is mighty and oceanic compared to the the Line 6's imitation. But, if you want something that will never break and you don't have to change tapes, a Line 6 is probably more for you.
In conclusion, I like the Space Echo because it sounds warm and alive. It's like playing with another person...that's how responsive it is. How could it not be awesome, given that it looks more like something out of a physics laboratory than a guitar effect?
I give it a 10, because everything about the Space Echo's sound and aesthetic appearance suggests that it is a true classic, a musical instrument unto itself.

This effect have a lot of knobs, but when you know about effects and the basical functions there's no problem with this unit...it's very easy to use!!!

a little noisy!!! but what the hell! only the people that knows the quality of analog - vintage effects can love this kind of stuff, it's really warm tone, and the very best echo that i have ever heard!!! this have a lot of posibbilities, it's amazing

well...the space echo was made at 1973, something at sometime have to work bad, but mine works really well, the only thing that it's hard it's the reel tape, you have to replace it sometimes...

I like some guitar players sound like Mike McCready and Greenwood, this effect gives me the sound that i'm searching, analog, a really nice tone. I also use a Electro Harmonix Small Clone and Small Stone, Jim Dunlop Volume Wha, 70's suzuki Distortion, and my JCM DSL Distortion, with de head and a jcm800 1982 lead cabinet. I like the fat tones, i'm using 3 guitars, a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe 1976, Aria Pro II Les Paul Custom 1977 with alnico pick ups, and a Image Standard 1991 with Alnico V Pick ups, but the best sound i obteined with my Aria LP Custom, a Really vintage Hard Rock Sound!!! i love it!

Simple to control despite all the knobs. Typical delay controls like intensity, echo volume, speed. Also has bass, treble, and reverb. The 201 model has a large dial in the center to control which playback heads are activated etc. I think like five of them are without reverb and six are with reverb.

The sound this thing produces is very nice. I have a Boss DM-2 as well and the echo is surely preferred over it. In some cases the Boss in all honesty sounds just as good. There are things that the Boss just can't do though. Activating more than one playback head makes for some great delay sounds. Depending on the playback heads that are activated, the sound takes on some tonal changes that I can't describe exactly but they are really nice. Its great for long drawn out spacey echo runs. Of course, it is also great at the rockabilly thing too! The intensity opened all the way up can produce some extremely crazy osciallation. Actually the Boss is not bad at this either! Again, unable to explain exactly what it is, but the space echo oscillation is better. More lo-fi sounding I guess. This my favorite effects unit.

I'd say this thing could be depended on even if it is 20+ years old. I'd be extremely careful loading it etc. though if I played gigs. Then there are always the ongoing maintenance issues, but its not a big deal really. Just clean the heads with isopropyl alcohol ever so often. The tape is only a mild hassle. Actually its really simple to thread it in to the unit. I picked up a splicing block at radio shack and a reel of endless loop tape (the stuff they use at radio stations for tracking commercials etc). Just cut about a 12 foot run of the tape and cut the ends at 45 degrees. Then apply a piece of splicing tape to the shiny side... the dull side is what will actually go against the heads. Anyway..

Overall I give this thing a 10. I play alone with drum machines etc. Experimental I guess you guys would call it. Its really great fun. The Boss analog pedals are great too. If you have the cash then go for a space echo. The sounds are really nice plus it is really sweet looking! If you want a good delay that will not take a large chunk out of your wallet then get something else.

A lot of knobs but very logical and easy to get a good sound out of it.

It's simply the best effect I have ever own. With Fender Bassman Ten or SF deluxe reverb the sound is amazing. It gives more headroom/clean to DR and even with cranked up it sounds OK.
Anyway it's quite noisy and my RE-201 is made in 1973 so there is not so effective noise filtering circuit. But what the heck...it's a vintage echo and some noise is therefore natural.
Reverb spring I have replaced because original sucks.

No problems so far...just have to clean heads once a month.

Internet is full of information of RE-201. I have never asked but I doubt that Roland can help if something goes wrong.

Well I was lucky to get this one so low price (2002). As I said the best effect I have ever own. BUT be careful if you gonna buy RE-201; check that the motor is not loose and it's OK. I have heard that it is almost impossible to find new motor for RE-201....

It's user friendliness is unparalleled. Despite the amount of knobs on the unit, the Space Echo is shockingly easy to control. As far as getting a good sound out of it? I honestly think it's harder to NOT get a good sound out of it! The manual is posted on the bottom of the top compartment, but I haven't needed to refer to it once. I've looked at it more for amusement than anything else!

My sound is ALL about Fender. My two most trusted guitars are a 90's jap made Strat and a custom shop 62 Tele, pure simple and delicious..I go into a Fender Superchamp amp (20 watt 80's Rivera designed), an old Fender Super, an old Magnatone 460 . I've even tried it with a solid state amp, a Polytone, and it warmed the sound up like *that*. For other effects I employ a MXR compressor, VOX wah, TOAD fuzz (vintage effects), BARBER DIRECT DRIVE overdrive and EH q-tron. So that's my effects chain...Now, because the sound that goes into the Space Echo is going to be recorded onto its tape and then subsequently played back, there WILL be SOME noise. It is GOOD noise! The Space Echo is warmer than a fireplace in winter. I'm going after my own sound, so I'm not using the unit so much to emulate the sounds of others, but I definitely would like to give it up for the Godfather of Soul Mr. Brown. The Space Echo features a spring reverb, the same as most older guiar amps, which sounds very naughty and can be employed to great effect, either in moderation or excess..also great for reverb explosions, as per a loving whacking upon the unit to disturb the springs in the reverb. The delay itself goes into downright nasty territory when the intensity/feedback is raised, and it goes sci fi on your ass with the tweak of another knob to raise the pitch of the feedback...truly nasty. But, because the output is highly dynamic, especially in overdrive mode, running this INTO a compressor like an MXR dynacomp simply yields the smoothest, most putrid sound imaginable. Dub music STARTED with this thing; if any of y'all have ever heard King Tubby's or Lee Perry's remixes, this is the machine. Check Funkadelic's filthy usage of it on FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW or the album "King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown" for Space-Echoland.

I can absolutely depend on it. It has not even remotely failed me once. I've replaced the tape inside it a couple of times, which you will have to do. The replcaement tape is VERY easy to find on ebay; some company is re-manufacturing it in Australia. Not only would I take it to a gig w/o a backup, I can't even fathom my doing a performance in public without this thing. As far as construction, this thing is solid. I've never dropped it or anything, but it's very, very sturdy and resilient.

Never contacted Roland. Never had a need. I'm on my own.

Yo, I am a SPACE FUNK rhythm guitar player, playing in a FUNK orchestra. The Space Echo is CRUCIAL to manifesting the sound in my head. I've been playing for about 12 years or so...and I became a different player when I got the Space Echo. Hell, I think I became a different person. If it were stolen, I would dip into my life savings to immediately rectify the situation. The unit embraces other effects. Volume swells? good god. WAH, forget about it, it's too nasty for me to imagine. You will want to either cry tears of joy or vomit because the sound is just incomprehensibly filthy (remember, nothing is good unless you play with it, and all that is good, is NASTY!) For the delays, it has a few different patterns that are kinda more complicated and novelty oriented, as in you might use it once or twice but never regularly. The reason I use the Space Echo is for the basic delay itself, which is absolutely, unimaginably, the most beautiful thing I've ever heard come through my amp, let alone into my ears. If I could change one thing about it, I'd give it a slower delay time option; the later RE-501 model has a slower delay, so if any of you want super slow, definitely seek out a 501 for that reason. But the 201 is a bit nastier, both in tone and vibe. I had an EH Deluxe Memory Man prior to this, and I loved it. I bought this and haven't plugged the Memory Man in more than two times in the past two years. Does the Space Echo help me make music? This thing fucking breathes chi into my music. It brings down sounds and vibrations from higher dimensions. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in love with it, because as a guitarist, it is, without a doubt, the best thing to have happened to me.

It is pretty easy to get a great sound out of it, if you have one that works! The manual was rubbed off of mine so it didn't help much.. if you have one that works with a couple of hours you can get some really cool dubby trippy stuff, if your into Pink F. or King Tubby, Bob Marley stuff...

It sounds great a little noisey hissy but over all the warmth over powers it and that gritty sound is why we all like it anywaze.. This unit is the best that I have found to get that really roots reggae sound but only if it is working and most units are not working perfectly..

You probably would need to change the tape once a year. I think one in good condition kept in the studio should work fine for many years.. but if you have one that is already having problems it will probably only get worse

0, I am trying to get mine fixed I've looked at so many websites and no one can help, defiently not customer support on Rolands' site.. if you know a place or website that repairs roland space echo's let me know!

I play fusion of house and dub music and it works well for that. I have been playing music for about 15 years. If mine was stolen I would probably only buy it again if it was a unit I checked out first and was in Mint condition. This is one of the best sounding units, just wish it was more reliable..

Very easy to get a good sound out of this thing. You can even overdrive a bit, and get some really great overdriven delays/echos. But I will say that the reverb in it is not that great. I like to be able to push it more.

It is a bit noisy but I think it is worth it.There are too meny things out there today that do a "somewhat sound" , do you really want to havethe same sound as everyone else to is cuting corners ? REAL TAPE ECHO!!! This this is "Echo and the Bunnymen" in a box.

I have had the tape brake a few time's but it is ez to fix, and it does not happen that much at all. I use it at gigs, but hey, that is me.

None, INTERNET !!!

This thing is WONDERFUL so so meny things, you can almost use it as a pre-amp overdive. Get one, you will not be sorry.

Well, the echo is easy to use as an effect. But is a lot of rattle to maintain. You can't find the original tapes (if soemone does, please contact me), in a small country as mine, there aren't a suffucient number off people who know how to repair a precious piece of equipment as this. Tha maintenance isn't very hard, it is just how to find it. Therefore the 6.

How can you not be a space echo lover? This is the sound I was looking for. No echo can make me cry like this one. Problem is, now I'm talking about a perfect working space echo. Mine isn't. Mine is giving a distorted sound. The sound you get when your batteries on your sissy boss delay is running empty.
Still I give it a 10 for the sound it has when it works perfect.

Well, mine is 25 years old and the motor still works. But the sound died some time ago. I have to find me a new one. It still is operational and maybe the poor distorted sound I get comes from a minor problem (now if you all hope with me, then maybe it is just that). But I guess it wont let you down on a gig, more like in between.

Roland tells you to bug off. Well not in so many words. In no words at all actually, wich is basically the same. But hey, maybe someone else was lucky enough to get an answer from the roland company?
And I would like to give my repairman a 10, but the only repair man i know off is too busy working on this things that he has a waiting list of 6 months, if you're lucky. So please Roland, reissue these things, I cant afford to miss it, and I can't afford to fly allover the world to get the gear to fix it. Maybe I should learn how to fix it myself, so if anyone knows and wants to share this craft with me, look up to the email adress.

I play alternative rock, somewhere between radiohead/coldplay and massive attack/portishead. So you know why I love this jewel. Overal ratings are difficult. I'd give a leg for a working Re-201, but there is allways a maximum price you can pay before it becomes ridiculous, and it is getting close to the border (some products have allready crossed it, try to find a moog or a fender rhodes or a B3 hammond with a leslie) I'm pissed cos mines not working properly and I cant find a tape in my country (belgium) to see if it is just the tape, and you know that it doesn't work the same with self spliced tapes. I can't find someone to look at it and tell me what is wrong with it. But once it works then the tears roll over your cheeks and you know that it is worth all the trouble.

Easy enough to use, no major problems. Ive got a modified space echo, it has a little switch next to the From P.A input, it will only play the echo and not the bass note when switched on.

WOW!! Noisy as hell but thats why i bought it....Its good noise!!! The echo on the unit is amazing, it sounds out of this world when vocals are put through it too! Im running a Fender Tele(Squire though...I like them more!)--->Digitech Whammy-->Boss Tremelo-->Small Clone -->Big Muff-->Small Stone Phaser-->Electro Harmonix Frequency Analyzer-->Memory Man-->Space Echo-->Marshall JCM 800...WOW these effects sound awsome through the echo! I can really get some radiohead/portishead sounds outta the space echo too!

As its nearly 30 years old, i would like to be able to depend on it, but i can see this thing breaking down when i most need it! MAKE SURE YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR ECHOS PEOPLE!!!

Never dealt with Roland, but i doubt they would know anything about the space echo...Too busy selling rubbish digital reverbs to rubbish bands!

As im really into bands such as Radiohead, Pumpkins, Pink Floyd, Primal Scream, Cooper Temple Clause, Mogwai i find this unit to bring out a certain tone, which is reminicent of these bands! If it were stolen i would definetly buy it again! Maybe even the 301?!?!I love the whole idea of there being lots of moving, noisy parts going around in it, i prefere hands on effects then digital ones! I also own a Memory Man, and thats got a very similar sound to the space echo, but theres something missing. If you can't afford/find a space echo i would recommend a Memory Man! I feel this as improved my sound and the way i play, and my life! My girlfriend is beginning to get jelous of it, i asked if it could come to bed with us but she told my to P**s O*f ! The sound out this thing is so good, you might even consider splitting up with your partner for one!

treble, bass, intenstiy, time (up to 400ms), echo volume, input vols, reverb.

the best echo ever! this blows everything else away. the delay is great, goes very fast, the reverb works well with the delay (not alone), you can overdrive the inputs for a nice full sound. The echo has a quite subtle vibrato/chorus sound which adds to the vintage beauty. it's quiter than most pedals and doesn't ruin your tone on or off. it goes from 1 repeat to infinte (self oscillation) when the rate changed speed and pitch. this complements every effect: distortion, tremolo, phase, filter. the only bad thing is having to replace tape (i haven't yet) because i don't often turn the effect off.

1960's and is my most reliable pedal.

i've been playing guitar for ten years.
radiohead have two of these. listen to the radio in EXIT MUSIC and NATIONAL ANTHEM aswell as the lead in SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK ALIEN, with a whammy. i play acoustic indie to space rock and this works with anything. if it were stolen i'd pay $1,000,000 to replace it. the LINE 4 immitation is nothing like this: that sounds clinical and the distortion is sharp in comparison to the bassy tape saturation of this.
my set up: Rickenbacker/USA Tele >>> Ibanez Tube Compressor >>> Frostwave Funk-a-Duck >>> Colorsound Wah >>> 70's EHX small stone >>> Boss BF-2 >>> AC-15TBX (shit).
You can find these in ebay. if you like echo, buy one now!

Well, having had tons of different echo units, I would definitely say this is a very easy to use plug and go unit. Mine is probably 30 years and it takes a little warming up (love to fix it, but, oh well, it is the price you pay). The reverb, like they said, is cheap and brash, but I love that! Too clean of a sound doesn't give any personality to what you do, anyway. But, boy, mess with it a little bit, and you can get all kinds of slapback, creamy washes, smooth repeats, anything. But, I suggest you play with it a while to find what you want.

I play a modified Japanese Jag with DiMarzio humbuckers in it. I tend to record direct to not color the tone of my effects, which are 95% analog, anyway. Is it noisy? A little, but I don't care so much. Like I said, its not noise, its like a little personality. Now, as for analog delays, I have the Boss DM-2 and a 80's guyatone analog delay,as well as a line 6 delay thingy. The tape echo is 100 times more musical than the line 6, The line 6 ACTS like a space echo, but the depth of the tone is what I find missing (but any way, I love line 6!). IF I HAD ONLY ONE EFFECT, IT WOULD BE THE SPACE ECHO!! For sure, hands down. The tone is just beautiful, not counting the reverb and the multi-tap effects you can do on it, it is the tone of the thing that counts. Its simply warm and lush (could romantic be a good word?). Fantastic.

Well, this thing is old, and I don"t know of many people that service it, but, in and of itself, it is o.k. The warmup time (of mine, being old) is a pain, but, oh well!

If anybody has info and space cho repairs, please email me. Thank You. Arigato Gozaimasu. Daedanhi Kamsa Hamnida.

Now, a little about myself. I lived in Japan for 3 years, and now, I live in Korea (I am into languages). I have a few different guitars (my favorite is the jag), and about 40 effects (rare, vintage, and modern) and I love them like my children (us guys and our toys). Even my businesss cards have a space echo on them, and an ex-lover made a space echo t-shirt as a present, so, I love this thing. My first one was a re-101 echo I found for 10 dollars at a junk shop in the japanese countryside. I knew the verve used one on their first album, and since then, I learned many artists used and still use them. I picked up two more since then (one for free, as a gift and one for $50, which I still use today). Well, the 101 died, and one of the re-201's echo got shortened (why? Don't know). So, I gave them to friends, and am now searching for one more (found it, cheap, but haven't got it yet). I like to play styles from the 60's to the late 90's (I especially love 80's psychedleic rock: echo and the bunnymen, the cure, the waterboys, the stone roses, and, of course, my bloody valentine), so the echo fits well in those categories. Like I said before, IT'S THE TONE. What I like about analog effects is the unpredictability of them. The slight pitch shift of the turning tape in the echo is great, but it is that soupy, thick, gorgeous TONE that would sell anyone thinking of buying. Digital can"t match it(yet, anyway, but I DO like and use my Line 6), and although I love analog pedals, they are still not the same. TONE. If was stolen, well, first, if children are listening, I can't use that kind of language, O.K.? I have a lot of effects to make a variety of sounds, but if I had one, it would be this. Very beautiful, but unpredictable (as in very slight pitch shift) sounds, which I think should appeal to all fans of delay. Basically, if you want perfection, get a digital delay, if you want beautiful.... If you think it is expensive, you will spend your money on something else, anyway. Don't consider price, consider sound and tone, which is what music is about. Breathtaking. Space echo. I wish roland would send make me a sponsor. I would tattoo a sign on my forehead (thus killing every chance have to get laid in the future ..."What the heck is that??? Oh this, it is a space echo! Not that, that!!!! hahahahaha)!

If anybody is a convert, please email, and headline it "Space Echo" so I will not delete it. Thanks.

lots of knobs to fiddle with but great fun and you'll quickly learn it. Sure beats the tedium of scrolling through soft menus. Separate control plus EQ for reverb. Delay and delay/reverb settings offer many useful variations. The manual is stapled to the lid. Very flexible controls and I/O.

analog warmth! sure some tape hiss, but when played into a guitar amp it just adds some air. It's easy to dissassemble: use Caig Deoxit once to clean the pots and switch controller --you'll never have to open it up again. The effect is just tasty. The great thing about true tape delay is the attenuation of each successive repeat's high frequencies: as it fades, it cools off so that it doesn't interfere with the attack of the new note. It's a spring reverb --hey, the reverb tank inside has a label that states that it is hand assembled by "beautiful girls in controlled atmosphere" in Wisconsin: honest! I play amplified harmonica and this effect just drips cool. You can push it into self-ocsillation which results in a slamming, graduallly glowing percussive alien take over. My kids love playing with it to emulate space travel and ray guns. You can get a quick slap back or rockabilly or pretty much any other WARM delay effect.

Got it at a flea market for $30 without the Roland tape cartridge. You don't need one! Make a 17' loop (diagonal splice) of backcoated i/4 inch low to medium bias tape and prepare for tedium when you load it up cause it will loop all over the place and jump out at you. Be gentle, friend, and take your time. Keep the heads clean (isopropyl alcohol). This device is made well and should operate for a long time.

I'm sure that someone works on them: call Roland service for a referral.

I play rock, blues, etc. I would weep if it were stolen. I really love it: the sound is terrific and it's great to fiddle with the controls as you're playing. Oh yes, it has a delay cut remote pedal.
Bring this thing back into production! It kicks the ass of all the digital delays I've heard (OK, the new Line 6 delay thing is cool and good value, I guess).

This unit is dead easy to use & highly tweakable. All the control parameters are situated on the front of the panel including the outputs, so the only thing you'll have to feel around the back for is the little hole for the power cord recess. Front panel provides a peak level meter, VU meter, Two MIC volume dials & their respective inputs below those. Beside which is the single instrument input & instrument volume dial. A Normal/Echo switch to cancel effect, 11 stage 360degree Mode selector switch & then a Reverb only as the twelfth selection. Theres a PA out & then the normal output with a three way selector switch High/Medium/Low for the kind of output level you want depending on the amp you are using beside which is the Foot Switch/Echo cancel input. Above these are the Bass/Treble/Reverb Volume dials below which are the Rate/Intensity/Echo Volume dials. Finally the power on off switch. It's not hard to lose the manual because traditionally it's stapled against the inside lid where you access the tape section. Within this theres also a little instruction etched into the metal plating telling you exactly how to reload the tape 300hrs max they suggest before replacement. Finally there should be a little plastic packet sitting atop the tape cartridge containing the cleaning fluid & brushes for your own maintenance of the unit. Switch on twiddle the knobs & away you go.

The sound off this thing is nothing short of amazing. It's rich, warm thick dark & soupy. Gritty comes to mind & totally addictive once you start playing about with all the various combinations of tape speed ocillation, echo, reverb & delay repeats. This is contrary to what the previous reviewer had to say is a far from noisy unit. Please note people that the unit becomes noisy when other factors of maintenance come into play. The tape if it is old over 300hrs old will make the unit noisy. If the heads are not properly cleaned & maintained there again you will have noise. My unit has new tape & has been serviced & makes only the noise which you would expect from such a tape echo unit & nothing more than that. It actually carries a slightly compressed sound which is what others refer to as the dark sound of tape echo. I must again disagree with the the previous post when it was suggested that this thing eats your tone < Might want to try some EQ >. I havent has this problem at all & again it seems more to do with the tradesman than the tool & how well the tool has been maintained. Ofcourse this unit has a very trashy & brash Reverb which is fantastic & when you tweak the intentsity dial ofcourse the thing begins ocillating invariably & there again you get your NOISE! but this is much sought after noise & not the kind that offends. I'm running the RE-201 at the very end of my FX chain for my Guitar rig before which i have a couple of choice distortions hitting a wah then to a Zoom 9030 fx processor signal then runs to Octave, Vibrato, Phaser at which point any choice of two extra delays one digital & the other a DM-3 analogue. All this finally slaps the input stage of the Space Echo & travels to a SOUND CITY 120 head driving a Marshall Slant Cab. The sounds are truly amneotic!

You can depend on this unit as long as you do your maintenance. Do it not & you'll find out sooner or later what happens. I would have to gig it without a backup because i own the one only. When maintained theres nothing to fear here. Be careful though as the reverb is sensitive to shock so handle with care when loading or gigging. I havent gigged it yet & i'm still deciding whether i will actually take it out with me or just use the DM-3 analogue to approximate the tape delay sound & keep the Unit out of harms way for home studio use only. Hmmmmm

Roland don't do these anymore but there are experts to be found by contacting any of your local music stores or second hand/vinatge guitar repair places .. they always know WHO does the service on these things. I have no trouble with service having a small cartel of guys that do this stuff. So the ten goes to those guys actually

I have to say sorry if this is too glowing a report to be printed whereas you say nothing is perfect ? i don't think i should have to scratch my head to be critical or to fault find. The Space Echo gets a ten right across the board as far as i'm concerned because i genuinely can't find anything wrong with it. So having said all this lets get on with the overall rating. This product is a perfect match for the kind of music i play which is very intense Space Rock/ Avant Garde buzzsaw/psychedelique sound scaping. So the SPACE ECHO was a unit MADE for the stuff i write in my band. I've been playing for 12 years doing session work for even longer. I own a slew of guitars & amps effects & drums ..sitars etc etc .. but this isn't going to help anyone wanting to know about the RE-201 soooo. I never come on saying i wish something had something or WAS something else because it's just a waste of energy but! i'll make a tiny exception & this can serve as a warning to others about the models & the differences between them. Ok the models in the ROLAND TAPE DELAY'S run thus. RE-101 < Tape delay ONLY >- the little known RE-150 - the RE-210 SPACE ECHO with Reverb < this unit has NO 'sound on sound' function > the RE-301 CHORUS ECHO < this unit HAS 'sound on sound'& is NOT a SPACE ECHO!!!!! & neither are any models after this model > the RE-501 & 555 all have the Sound on Sound function. The only thing i wish the SPACE ECHO had was the sound on sound funtion so in future i am on the look out for a RE-301 Chorus echo. The point is although they are ALL generically known as SPACE ECHO'S the only SPACE ECHO truly is the RE-201 which has the SPRING REVERB. The only product i compared this unit to was an Echoplex which had the sound on sound capability up to 3 minutes worth but looking at it & how open the casing was & errr i got wary fast ...like looking at a beautiful OLD motor car & then thinking about all the upkeep you're going to have to do on it. I avoided it in favour of the more reliable SPACE ECHO with the trade off of not having that sound on sound function but i'm happy anyway & less the headache. I will wait as i said for a 301. If this were lost or stolen i would be supremely dark for as long as it took me to get another, sleepless nights & all that. This baby is adorable, magical, It's tape delay people.

It's fairly easy to use. Lots of knobs, you have a mode selector, bass and treble controls for the echos, reverb level, rate, effect level, intensity, and three volume controls (one per input). You have to watch where you have the intensity knob, or it will go into self oscillation at awkward times. There are a lot's of different modes, but once you play around a bit and figure out what you like, it's a breeze. It requires more care than a pedal. You have to keep the heads clean, the motor oiled, and change the tape every now and again. Roland has stopped making the tapes, so you will have to splice your own.

This is it kids, a tape echo unit. It doesn't get much sweeter than this. For an old unit, it's very quiet. If you are anal about signal noise, you will notice it, but it isn't that bad. The echo's sound amazing. The reverb isn't great on it's own, but it isn't made to be a reverb unit. It adds a nice nice dimension to the echos. When you turn the intensity up beyond half, it goes into self oscillation mode, and starts generating all sorts of sounds on it's own. You will quickly recognize this from albums all over the place. The only reason for a 9 instead of a ten is that it really kills your tone, worse than anything else I've used.

Well, it's over 20 years old, and it still works, so i'd say thats dependable. The reverb died about four months after I bought it. This is a common problem with Space Echos. I would gig without a backup simply because I don't have another one.

I doubt if Roland will touch these.

Spectacular. It beats analog delays into the ground. If it was lost or stolen, I would cry for a while, then replace it by paying three times what I paid for mine. Roland should clue in here. People love analog gear, and people want these. they really reissue them.