BINSON ECHOREC EC 3

We’re tape and disc echo specialists and always have a good selection of vintage echo machines. 

Check out our other listings for more serviced Binsons, valve and solid state Copicats, Roland Space/Chorus Echo units. I’ve personally collected Binsons for many years and have sold many exceptional examples to very satisfied customers. If some of the wording below seems familiar, it’s because other sellers have taken to copying my descriptions verbatim for their own listings. This description is relevant to this machine only:  Echorec EC 3 sn 6287.

We’ve sold dozens of Echorecs in the past ten years; we understand how they should sound and function. Along the way we’ve learned that many Binsons sold on Ebay as working well (even ones that have been serviced and rewired) are not always up to scratch. 

We guarantee that this machine will not disappoint: see the YouTube demo below (coming soon) to hear for yourself how good this machine sounds.

{YouTube demos to follow}

Binson EC 3 disc echo for sale in good cosmetic condition (see detailed photos) and superb working order.

It’s just had a full mechanical and electrical overhaul by our Binson specialist and is sounding great.

These rare desktop versions of the Italian disc echo units were made in the 70s around the same time as the legendary PE models. This is a solid state (transistor) model – it is extremely well made, reliable and versatile – as any head can be switched to replay or regeneration the user has access to a wide range of multiple and scatter echoes.

It has a few cosmetic flaws – scratches/scuffs to the finish and the drum has lost much of it’s hammerite paint finish; there’s a chunk missing out of the rear of the right hand ‘wooden’ end cheek (see photo). None of this affects performance and this machine does not disappoint. It sounds wonderful and inspires creativity when you play through it – whoever buys this will be getting a great machine in top operational condition which should give many years good service. 

The motor starts well and spins happily and without issue. It will go into self-oscillation very swiftly on certain settings if required (this can be adjusted via the internal trimpot for more subtle or extreme effects, but it’s been set-up for optimum performance) 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. 

There are currently no operational issues with this unit at all, but please be aware that these units require looking after and that regular use and 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 positioned 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.