Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo

Roland’s ultimate tape echo, in top operating condition following a full service by our tape echo specialist with various new parts as required, including new tape.

Buy your 501 from the company who supplied Roland with Space Echoes for their ‘Cause And Effects’ show celebrating 40 years of Boss pedals (click to read more)

We’re tape and disc echo specialists with many years’ experience working with and restoring these machines. Our BBC-trained engineer brings our tape delays up to (or better than) factory spec and our testing ensures machines that have superb reliability and – most important – that they sound incredible. Guaranteed to give reliable service and sound superb.

In perfect working order, this machine sounds fantastic: we have them calibrated to Roland factory spec, with the exception of the repeat intensity as Roland ‘improved’ them by removing the self-oscillation of the 201 and 301 – this machine now self-oscillates with ease.

Excellent condition. The face is very clean with very few signs of wear. The heads and internal surfaces are also very clean; tolex has some minor scuffs and scrapes but nothing serious. The heads are in excellent condition showing low wear. Currently has Japanese instructions but we can add our own repro version if required just ask (see them here). Click on the photos to zoom in and see more shots.

For sales in UK/EU the price will include VAT. VAT-free sales are possible to businesses and individuals in the EU (outside the UK) with a valid VAT Number – please get in touch if you wish to buy this way.

• It is a 100v Japanese model and will run fine on North American mains 115/120v without a transformer (we run all our tests using 120v power); however, a step-down transformer is recommended for extended use.
• A step-down transformer is required in the UK/EU.
• We do not recommend using cheap generic Chinese mains transformers and can supply a high quality UK-made unit if required.

Roland Space and Chorus Echoes are amazing machines – if you’re only going to have one tape echo, then this is the one (IMHO): the multi-head echo combinations, a good spring reverb, Roland chorus and the Sound On Sound feature all add up to a classic piece of studio gear.

This one sounds great and is in superb order: the echoes are good and clear, the chorus and spring reverb sound lush and have that evocative sound you’ve heard on countless records.

There are currently no operational issues with this machine, but please be aware that these units require some looking after and that regular use and maintenance are key to keeping this in good working order.

There are no crackly pots or noisy switch issues, though some crackle may develop when it’s not been used for a while – this can usually be rectified by repeated turns of the pot.