Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo

Excellent cosmetic condition. Serviced, guaranteed and sounding superb; will be supplied set to 240 or 120v operation as required.

Buy your 501 from the company who supplied Roland with Space Echoes for their 'Cause And Effects' show celebrating 40 years of Boss pedals - read more here.

This RE-501 appears to be an early pre-production unit as there are a significant number of differences between this machine and others that we have seen. These differences were both cosmetic and down to the level of small components - where needed we have replaced parts to bring it up to spec and the sound is fantastic and not significantly different from a "normal" 501. However it remains an interesting example for sure. Below are a few features that support our suspicions:

• The serial number is S000003, which is incredibly low, but also includes the "S" at the beginning which is unusual.
• The head-covering plate is not chromed but made of stainless steel. It is also a different shape compared to other RE-501s.
• The printing on the face is slightly different e.g. ON in Sound On Sound is larger.
• The power supply for this unit was an older version - we have switched it for the more stable one used in later units.
• This unit was missing components found in later units - these have been added to this one.
• Most of the op-amps are different to the later machines.
• The compression/expander circuit is different.
• Capacitor values used across the whole of the PCB are different.

The 501 was the pinnacle of Roland's tape echo tech - high fidelity with fantastic chorus and sound on sound - read more about the different Roland models here. Sounding as good as they get and working very well following a full service by our tape echo specialist with various new parts as required, including new tape. Set up to factory spec but tweaked for self-oscillation (Roland removed it from this model).

Choose your voltage - 100v Japanese machine that will be set up for either 240 or 120v operation as required.

CONDITION: In excellent cosmetic condition, the face is superb with some minor oxidation spots. The tolex is clean with some scratches and dings around the edges. Internally, this unit is superb with almost no signs of oxidation to the surfaces. See photos for more information on cosmetic condition.

Heads in excellent condition showing low wear.

Instructions have been replaced with our own English reproductions.

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.

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.

Visit our in-depth Roland tape echo information pages now for everything you need to know about these machines.

REPLACEMENT TAPES: We have written a fair bit about our journeys in tape and the misinformation and poor quality tapes that seem to fill the internet. You can buy tried and tested replacement tape loops from echofix.com - these are the only tapes we recommend. We may also have a very limited supply of sealed original NOS RT1-L tapes - see our store or get in touch.

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

Some crackle is always possible from pots/switches when not used for a while - this can be cleared with use.