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Description

Step into the world of sonic exploration with the Maestro Echoplex, a legendary effects processor that has been a staple in studios and on stages since its inception. Renowned for its authentic tape delay sound, the Echoplex effortlessly bridges the gap between vintage warmth and modern precision. Ideal for musicians and producers who demand a versatile, high-quality echo effect, this unit adds depth and texture to any musical piece. With its intuitive interface, the Echoplex is designed for easy navigation, allowing you to create everything from subtle echoes to complex, layered soundscapes.

The Echoplex’s standout feature is its all-analog circuitry, which delivers unparalleled sound quality and character. This ensures that every note retains its original timbre, while still offering the flexibility to experiment with a broad range of delay times and feedback settings. Whether you're chasing the elusive tone of a classic rock anthem or crafting your own unique sound, the Maestro Echoplex provides the tools to bring your creative vision to life.

Key Features:

  • Authentic tape delay sound
  • All-analog circuitry for superior audio quality
  • Adjustable delay time and feedback controls
  • Intuitive user interface for easy operation
  • Suitable for live performances and studio recording
  • Iconic sound used by legendary musicians and producers
That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show – Echoplex EP-3 vs Strymon TimeLine, EHX Memory Man & Analogman ARDX20

Video thumbnail for That Pedal Show – Echoplex EP-3 vs Strymon TimeLine, EHX Memory Man & Analogman ARDX20 by That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show – Echoplex EP-3 vs Strymon TimeLine, EHX Memory Man & Analogman ARDX20

That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show

Video thumbnail for Maestro Echoplex EP-3 Solid State Tape Delay: Andy's Vintage Picks | Reverb Tone Report by Reverb

Maestro Echoplex EP-3 Solid State Tape Delay: Andy's Vintage Picks | Reverb Tone Report

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for Maestro Echoplex 3 EP-3 tape echo by Alex T

Maestro Echoplex 3 EP-3 tape echo

Alex T

Alex T

Video thumbnail for 1973 Maestro EP-3 Echoplex Tape Delay - Quick Test - David Hislop by David Hislop

1973 Maestro EP-3 Echoplex Tape Delay - Quick Test - David Hislop

David Hislop

David Hislop

Video thumbnail for Maestro Echoplex EP-3 Vintage Tape Echo by Guitarsenal

Maestro Echoplex EP-3 Vintage Tape Echo

Guitarsenal

Guitarsenal

Video thumbnail for Maestro EP-3 Echoplex Tape Echo Delay Demo with Steve Kiernan | Guitar Hangar by Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Maestro EP-3 Echoplex Tape Echo Delay Demo with Steve Kiernan | Guitar Hangar

Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Guitar Hangar - Lessons, Rentals, Repairs, and More

Video thumbnail for Maestro Echoplex. Demonstration Record 1972 by Adrian Täckman

Maestro Echoplex. Demonstration Record 1972

Adrian Täckman

Adrian Täckman

Video thumbnail for The Maestro Echoplex EP-3: greatest tape delay ever by Tone Science

The Maestro Echoplex EP-3: greatest tape delay ever

Tone Science

Tone Science

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Maestro Echoplex.

Features and functionality

  • The Belle Epoch Deluxe applies the preamp to the entire signal path, while Dunlop and Hermida models only apply it to the repeats.

    Source
  • Strymon's El Capistan offers a single head mode that can emulate Echoplex sounds but lacks the crucial preamp feature.

    Source
  • The Belle Epoch Deluxe runs its preamp at 22 volts, closely mimicking the original Echoplex's expansive sound, unlike typical 9-volt pedals.

    Source
  • The Belle Epoch Deluxe allows control over the record level, affecting how clean or distorted the repeats sound, offering versatility in tone shaping.

    Source
  • The TC Electronics Flashback pedal's TonePrint slots allow users to simulate aged tape echoes with added warble, enhancing its versatility for vintage tones.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Dunlop Echoplex is often considered a strong performer, although some view it as a weaker clone compared to the original EP-3.

    Source
  • The Deluxe Memory Man was originally intended as a tape delay clone, highlighting its potential for those seeking EP-3 tones.

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  • Compared to the Binson and Space Echo, the Echoplex is described as having a unique degradation over time that digital versions struggle to replicate fully.

    Source
  • Catalinbread's Belle Epoch is noted for its superior performance compared to the TC Electronics Flashback when seeking authentic vintage tape echo sounds.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Owners have found the Dunlop Echoplex to be an excellent deal at around $115, but at $200, it competes closely with the Catalinbread offerings.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Many tape delay pedals can approximate EP-3 tones, making direct clones less necessary for capturing the essence of the sound.

    Source
  • The Belle Epoch Deluxe is favored for live performances due to its additional modes and features, offering a distinct advantage over plugins in dynamic settings.

    Source

Build quality

  • Early production Maestro Echoplex pedals reportedly used the same high-quality components as the EP-3, but later models switched to cheaper parts, affecting performance.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Real Echoplex units, especially older ones, are noted for being noisy and unreliable due to wear and tear, making them a maintenance challenge.

    Source
  • TonePrint app users can adjust the TC Electronics Flashback's heads and wow/flutter settings to better replicate the "worn" delay sound of classic tape machines.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners frequently find the Echoplex's physical size and weight impractical for pedalboards, pushing them towards smaller, more manageable alternatives.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 13 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
crystalhazeband

Echoplex Maestro

The Echoplex has always been one of my closest friends in the LIVE Music business, though I have only used it for recording on the CRYSTAL HAZE BAND 2 Dead of Night album, and the CRYSTAL HAZE BAND Tornado House Album, plus it is in our Live Recordings.

mkn_upa

BUt why I gave it to a friend???

WWWHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYY??????? Cr y cry cry.........

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Isaiah Mitchell uses Maestro Echoplex

Isaiah Mitchell

Guitarist

Howlin Rain

...
Verified via Isaiahmitchell

Listed under "delays and reverbs" on his site

See how Neal Morse uses Maestro Echoplex

Neal Morse

Singer, Guitarist

Flying Colors

...
Verified via Radiantrecords

Neal uses the Echoplex in his own Studio.

See how Mark Pritchard uses Maestro Echoplex

Mark Pritchard

Music Producer

Global Communication

...
Verified via Emusician

In the interview they ask "What specifically are your favorite pieces of gear? What can''t you live without in the studio?" To which Mark responds "Moog Minimoog, Yamaha DX-100, a spring reverb, Echoplex Tape Echo, EMS Synthi A, Universal Audio Precision Maximizer, ARP Odyssey and a Waterphone. I probably have used the Minimoog on more tracks that any other synth that I own."

See how Ed King uses Maestro Echoplex

Ed King

Guitarist, Bassist

Lynyrd Skynyrd

...
Verified via Proboards

"Saturday Night Special was recorded at least 6 months before the album NUTHIN FANCY was done.

Artimus wasn't even in the band yet - Leon & I auditioned Artimus one Summer day in '74 in Atlanta and were working up a three-piece version of SNS. (We were thinking about a change of drummers, though we hadn't done it yet.) Kooper stopped by and told us about the movie - we packed everything up, moved over to the studio and cut it...no vocals or other guitars. I used an echoplex (effect) that I'd just purchased....but never used it live."

See how Ron Mael uses Maestro Echoplex

Ron Mael

Keyboardist

Sparks

...
Verified via Soundonsound

"There was a kind of haunting quality to the RMI with the Echoplex. Real tape delay gave it a little of a wobbly feel. That sound, these days, you can approximate it, but to get that thing, you need the old gear. I'm not a big collector of vintage gear, but I kept that Echoplex, 'cause it's just such a beautiful machine.”

See how John Osborne uses Maestro Echoplex

John Osborne

Guitarist

Brothers Osborne

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video titled "EPIC HOME STUDIO Setup 2024 | John Osborne (studio tour)" by Andrew Masters on YouTube, a Maestro Echoplex EP-3 tape delay unit is visible at 6:37, positioned on top of a Roland RE-201 Space Echo in John Osborne's studio.

See how Steve Hillage uses Maestro Echoplex

Steve Hillage

Guitarist

Gong

...
Verified via Muzines

"I got into drum machines originally through playing with echo", Hillage reveals. "I first got an Echoplex in 1974, and I got a very early digital stopwatch and calibrated my Echoplex in milliseconds so I could quickly change the timing for different tempos. I had the figures written in big letters onstage so I could see them."

See how Adrian Quesada uses Maestro Echoplex

Adrian Quesada

Guitarist, Music Producer

Black Pumas

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, which got posted on Quesada's Insatagram profile, one of the items that can be seen is the Maestro Echoplex.

See how Mick Ralphs uses Maestro Echoplex

Mick Ralphs

Guitarist

Bad Company

...
Verified via Vintage Guitar® magazine

Mick Ralphs is confirmed to use the Maestro Echoplex as part of his classic onstage sound, typically combined with a Stratocaster and a Roland Boss Chorus, or earlier, an MXR Phase 90 or 100 set at a slow speed. This information is sourced from Wolf Marshall's article "Fretprints: Mick Ralphs" in Vintage Guitar® magazine.

See how Glen Buxton uses Maestro Echoplex

Glen Buxton

Guitarist

Alice Cooper

...
Verified via Guitar Lobby

Buxton owned an Echoplex and reportedly used it to write songs, particularly in the late sixties. Alice Cooper said that Glen Buxton even used his Echoplex to jam along with legendary Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barret: “he would sit in the room and play his Echoplex with his guitar, and Syd Barrett was on the other bed with his Echoplex. Glen would play one thing and Syd would play something back.”

See how Masonna uses Maestro Echoplex

Masonna

Composer, Music Producer

Acid Eater

...
Verified via Photo

The Maestro Echoplex EP-3 is listed on several Sapce Machine albums and appears in the album photos on Cosmos From Diode Ladder Filter

See how True Widow uses Maestro Echoplex

True Widow

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Google

Excellent photo of Dan's two echoplex units placed in front of his Super Reverb and Tweed Blues DeVille.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Maestro Echoplex, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Gibson Les Paul Standard Solid Body Electric Guitars
4
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp Combo Guitar Amplifiers
3
Hohner Clavinet D6
Hohner Clavinet D6 Vintage & Electric Pianos
2
Fender Telecaster
Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitars
2
Crowther Hot Cake
Crowther Hot Cake Distortion Effects Pedals
2
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall JCM800 2203 Guitar Amplifier Heads
2
EMS Synthi A
EMS Synthi A Synthesizers
2

Community setups

Show yours
bios7

bios7

Gear IQ 97

3 alternative and related items for Maestro Echoplex, curated by the Equipboard community.

Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler

$208.00 - $257.52

Vintage or Discontinued similar sound
Maestro Echoplex EP-2

$1,200.00

Vintage or Discontinued

Successor of the EP-1.

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