{"id":1552,"date":"2018-01-12T08:22:26","date_gmt":"2018-01-12T08:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/delaydude.de\/?p=1552"},"modified":"2018-10-25T15:36:44","modified_gmt":"2018-10-25T13:36:44","slug":"tape-echo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/tape-echo\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips & Tricks: Tape echo maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A real tape echo provides an extraordinary sound and is a worthwhile investment for your guitar sound. Unfortunately the maintenance of a tape echo is not as simple as the care of a digital or analog delay pedal.<\/p>\n

The tape<\/h3>\n

The delay is recorded on a tape and replayed by a playback head. Depending on how frequent and intense you use your tape echo you should change the tape. When you use your tape echo on stage and also in the rehearsal room it makes sense to keep a replacement tape with you.<\/p>\n

Over time, the tape wears off and the sound of the delay will change: the delay of a new tape has more treble and sounds clearer while an old tape will produce duller and maybe even overdriven sounds with wow and flutter. And if the tape has ever got stuck it might create extreme modulation sounds.<\/p>\n

The old tape should be kept save in any case (if it has been cracked it can be glued carefully on the backside). If you want to produce a modulated delay signal in the studio you can do this by using this old tape.
\nRecent tape echo emulations like the Strymon El Capistan<\/a> do have a pot for this \u2013 as a real tape echo owner you change the tape instead.<\/p>\n

Cleaning the tone heads<\/h3>\n

The permanent friction of the tape causes deposits, so the tone heads should also be cleaned occasionally. You can use a cotton swap and Isopropyl alcohol for this.
\nNever use alcohol to clean the rubber pinch roller because this will shrivel the rubber. For this part of the tape echo you better use special lubricants and rubber cleaner.<\/p>\n

Demagnetizing<\/h3>\n

Now and then it is recommended to demagnetize the tone heads.
\nYou can get a used demagnetizer for about 10, 00\u20ac.
\nIt is important to remove the tape before you start to demagnetize the tone heads and please read the instructions of the demagnetizer.<\/p>\n

Change the tubes<\/h3>\n

To vary the sound you can also change the tubes of your tape echo.
\nThe 12AY7<\/a> only deletes the tape and should (as long as it works) not be changed to ensure that the delete function will work on without problems.
\nBoth of the other tubes can be replaced at will and without biasing.
\nDepending on the brand you can create a warm and mid pushed or a clear and brilliant sound.<\/p>\n

After use it makes sense to encase the tape echo so the tape will not get dusty.
\nWhoever observes this, will be able to enjoy the marvelous Sound<\/a> of a real tape echo.
\nAnd for those who shy away from the effort, maybe a digital emulation that needs less care is more suitable.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1683,681,268,271,973],"tags":[494,490,491,460,493,359,213,71,459,492],"class_list":["post-1552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-delays","category-fulltone","category-pedals","category-tape-delays","category-tips-tricks","tag-12-ay7-tubes","tag-band-echo","tag-gleichlaufschwankungen","tag-roehren","tag-strymon-el-capistan","tag-tape-delay","tag-tape-echo","tag-tube-tape-echo","tag-tubes","tag-wow-and-flutter"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9GLlF-p2","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4685,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/fulltone-tube-tape-echo-vs-erica-synths-zen-delay\/","url_meta":{"origin":1552,"position":0},"title":"Fulltone Tube Tape Echo vs. Erica Synths Zen Delay","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Wednesday April 15th, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a comparison of the Fulltone Tube Tape Echo with the Erica Synths Zen Delay For both delays do not have true bypass, I used a true bypass looper (Lehle Parallel) for the audio recording. 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