BINSON ECHOREC 4ET

Offered for sale here is my Binson Echorec 4ET disc echo in near mint cosmetic condition (see the detailed photos below) and perfect working order.

It was built by an ex Binson engineer in Italy from NOS parts and has seen very low hours use from new.
It’s an interesting take on the Binson design and in the best Binson tradition, encourages and rewards sonic experimentation and abuse .
Whoever buys this will be getting a very unusual echo in good operational condition which should give many years good service.

It allows selection of a combination of the 4 replay heads via the 4 individual toggle switches – selectable for play back or play out (echo out, or feedback) for multiple head combinations and echo patterns. A further toggle switch selects between Repeat or Binson’s unique Swell, with the Length Rep Swell pot controlling the amount of feedback – from minimal to frenzied cosmic mayhem… The real creative beauty of this machine is the way you can quickly switch heads in/out and between playback/playout; this, together with the Swell/Repeat switch and the Feedback control can make for some really wild and expressive echo ‘playing’ unlike any other echo we’ve come across. It’s been a hard decision to part with this, but it’s not getting enough use.

The motor starts well and spins happily and without issue. It will go into self-oscillation very swiftly and it’s capable of all sorts of cosmic noises – Binsons do tend to encourage experimental noise-mongering. The repeats are not hifi – this is after all 50 year-old technology – if you want perfect repeats, buy a digital delay.

It’s a UK/EU 240v unit.

These machines need regular use and maintenance to remain in good working order.
There are currently no operational issues with this unit at all, but please be aware that these units require looking after and that regular maintenance is the key to keeping this in good working order. They are very delicate: minute adjustments are made to the heads’ positions for optimum performance, so it is possible that this machine will need to be calibrated again after shipping (most withstand shipping with careful packing, but the buyer should be prepared to have this done if required).
(Please note: it is always possible with vintage equipment that some crackly pots/sliders may develop over time when equipment has not been used – even during shipping – this can usually be easily rectified either by use or judicious application of suitable switch-cleaning spray).

Binson Echorecs are amazingly-engineered machines: where a tape echo’s (ie Copicat) input sound is recorded to tape, on a Binson it is recorded onto a circular spinning disc which has replay heads poisitioned around it. It is possible to select single and repeating echoes – these units have a sound all of their own. They look fantastic at night (or on a darkened stage) with the magic eye valve gowing green and the backlit plexiglass fascia.

Binsons were one of the must-have pieces of equipment for bands in the early sixties, alongside the Fender Stratocaster and Vox AC30. Famously-used and abused by Barrett, Gilmour, Waters and Wright of Pink Floyd in the 60s and early 70s (Echorec 2s are very much in evidence on Live at Pompeii and can be seen on photos from many Floyd live shows), Binsons are increasingly sought-after today by studios, mix engineers and producers for their unique sound: Michael Brauer (Stones, McCartney, Coldplay) famously has an Echorec 2 in his arsenal of vintage delays.

This is a vintage unit and may not take kindly to being shipped. It will be well-packed, but if it’s not behaving as it should on receipt, please get in touch. Please be aware that to own a machine such as this, you must be prepared to have it regularly checked over and maintained by a competent technician: it should withstand being shipped, but further calibration may be necessary.