A Reverb listing identifies this 1954 Ray Butts EchoSonic amp (serial #68) as being owned by Brian Setzer.

Chet Atkins is confirmed to have used The Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier, as noted in an article by Dave Hunter in Vintage Guitar® magazine. The EchoSonic, with fewer than 70 units ever made, was a key component in shaping the sound of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, attracting notable artists such as Luther Perkins, Roy Orbison, Paul Yandell, Carl Perkins, and Scotty Moore.

According to an article by Dave Hunter in Vintage Guitar® magazine titled "The Ray Butts EchoSonic," Roy Orbison is among the notable musicians who owned one of the fewer than 70 Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifiers ever produced.

Scotty Moore became aware of the EchoSonic around 1955 after hearing Chet Atkins use a similar echo effect on the radio. Recognizing its potential, Moore ordered a custom-built EchoSonic amplifier from Ray Butts. This acquisition marked a significant turning point, as it allowed Moore to bring the slapback echo sound from the studio environment onto the stage. From that moment onward, the EchoSonic became a central component of his guitar rig.

Moore’s use of the EchoSonic played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Elvis Presley’s music during the mid-1950s and beyond. While Elvis’s earliest Sun Records recordings, such as “That’s All Right,” relied on studio-based echo techniques, Moore’s adoption of the EchoSonic enabled a consistent and recognizable guitar tone in both live and recorded contexts. Songs like “Mystery Train” exemplify how this slapback echo contributed to the rhythmic drive and spaciousness characteristic of early rockabilly.

Technically, the EchoSonic was groundbreaking because it integrated a tape delay mechanism directly into the amplifier, with controls for echo intensity and delay time. This allowed guitarists to manipulate echo in real time during performance—something that had previously been impossible. However, the amplifier’s relatively low output power, around 25 watts, quickly became a limitation as Elvis’s performances grew larger and louder.

To address this issue, Ray Butts developed additional high-powered booster cabinets, effectively transforming Moore’s setup into a modular amplification system. By combining the EchoSonic with these external power units, Moore achieved a much higher overall output, reportedly reaching around 125 watts. This setup can be seen as an early precursor to modern multi-amp and rack-based live guitar systems.

The influence of the EchoSonic extended far beyond Moore’s immediate use. It laid the groundwork for later echo devices such as the Echoplex and contributed to the widespread adoption of delay effects in rock and popular music. Despite its impact, the EchoSonic remained an extremely rare piece of equipment, with fewer than 70 units ever produced.

Moore continued to use the EchoSonic throughout much of his career with Elvis Presley, including into the late 1960s, before eventually retiring it due to its fragility and historical significance.

According to Dave Hunter in Vintage Guitar® magazine, Carl Perkins is among the select few owners of The Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier, of which fewer than 70 units were ever produced.

Luther Perkins is confirmed to be an owner of The Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier, as detailed in an article by Dave Hunter for Vintage Guitar® magazine. The article notes that fewer than 70 of these amplifiers were made, with other notable owners including Chet Atkins, Roy Orbison, and Scotty Moore.

Paul Yandell is confirmed to have used The Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier, as noted in an article by Dave Hunter in Vintage Guitar magazine. The article highlights that fewer than 70 of these amplifiers were ever made, with notable owners including Chet Atkins, Luther Perkins, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Scotty Moore, along with Yandell.