Roland Stereo RE-201 Space Echo (Soundgas RE-402)

This is the culmination of several years’ work: a two channel stereo Roland Space Echo with our early preamp mod: the RE-402 is the ultimate RE-201.

One tape, one motor, one set of stereo heads, two separate chassis/circuits – one each for left and right with full controls/features. Individually selectable head patterns for each side from the stereo heads plus all the usual controls and features of a standard 201, naturally including two spring reverb tanks.

We’ve installed our early preamp modification for the very best RE-201 sound.

The pictures show the prototype – we still have a few more things to add: Dr Huw is designing an internal mix function for mono in/stereo out ping pong delays. I’m currently using desk sends with the prototype to feed each side back into the other which is absolutely joyous and easily the most glorious tape echo experience I’ve had).

EARLY PREAMPS? We have modified this to have the same preamp spec as the very early Space Echoes. These clip more evenly and more musically. They also do so at a lower signal strength which gives a little more control; they sound particularly good with guitar. We only do this to machines that are performing extremely well; in particular it is essential that the heads are at peak performance in order to get the full benefit of the modification.

CASE TBC: We are investigating case options: whether to recycle two original black tolexed cases into one, or to have a cabinet maker create bespoke wooden cases (possibly as an upgrade option).

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Of course all parts of this machine will be given our “standard” full echo overhaul. For those not familiar with our work, in addition to the basic service, recapping and set up, this includes:

• One of our new tapes
• One of our pinch rollers (more info to come about these, but essentially it’s an original pinch roller with a new bearing and new rubber – time consuming to produce, but only the best will give the best long term performance)
• Heads re-lapped to bring performance to better-than Roland factory spec – they are now more even and run at low head gain (so you have the maximum amount of headroom available)
• Rebuilt motor
• Switchable voltage transformer installed (120/240v)

Every machine is also tested by a musician (test equipment: their ears!) before shipping. Every one supplied with 12 months warranty and ongoing service support.

The price of unrestored 201s has more than doubled in the past two years and good machines are getting harder to source: we only ever use the very best low use machines for our restorations and the results speak (or sing) for themselves. Motors and heads are the parts we most often need to break machines for: one of the happy benefits of this project is that we are able to reuse and recycle more vintage components that might otherwise be scrap.

We are unlikely to build vast numbers of 402s as they are time consuming and expensive to create, and they will be released in small preorder runs like this so we can build them in manageable batches.