The Fulltone Tube Tape Echo (TTE)
Why Buy A Fulltone Tube Tape Echo? If you ask that then you have never played a healthy Echoplex! No delay (rackmount or pedal, analog or digital) can replicate the natural, warm, and shimmery tones of an old Echoplex. Unless you've experienced it you don't know what you're missing.Yeah, but they're noisy and unreliable!Yes, they certainly WERE....but the Fulltone TubeTapeEcho (TTE) is dead-quiet, and Fulltone has completely re-vamped both the electronics, the tape transport path, and even the tape cartridge itself to the point of near-overkill. The Fulltone TTE produces less noise than most delay pedals. How much delay time can I get out of the Tube Tape Echo? From a quick slapback to over 1 second. There is a top panel-mounted dual speed toggle switch to choose between: Hi-Speed and Lo-Speed operation. Hi-Speed gets you lots of Highs, less Bass, and a True Repeat without the Pitch variation of the old Echoplex. Lo-Speed is waaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrm, lots of Bass, less highs, and a slight warble that imparts a natural chorus effect made popular by people like Eric Johnson.Why tubes? Because they sound so good.....the enhancement to your basic tone is something you will not want to play without once you feel it, and you'll never again have to worry about signal loss due to long cables and too many pedals on your pedalboard. What makes the Fulltone Tube Tape Echo better?
The big AC motors of yesteryear were noisy and inefficient so Fulltone replaced it with a servo-controlled hi-torque DC motor. Not only is this more quiet, but it is more stable and is 1/4 the size, allowing for a smaller overall housing as well.
The Tube Tape Echo uses 2 x 12AX7 tubes (for the Record and Playback sections) with @200 volts DC and supply the filaments with 12 volts DC to reduce the hum further. The erase/ Bias section function uses one x 12AU7.
Handwired audio path, and world-famous Fulltone Made-in-USA Craftsmanship. No PCB-mounted Tubes or Jacks in this thing.
The TTE Has Stereo outs! Yep, how many times have you longed for a slight slap or long bounce between 2 amps in the studio or on stage? But this ain't just stereo....there are 3 stereo modes.
Mode #1: Guitar/Echo on the Left---->Guitar/Echo on the Right
Mode #2: Guitar/Echo Left---> Echo on the right.
Mode #3: Guitar on the left----> Echo on the right amp.
Better Tape Heads. The TTE has proprietary (custom-made) Erase, Record, and Playback heads that not only have better frequency response than the oldies, but are designed to last well into your retirement.
Fulltone ETC-1 Tape cartridge...if you can't find it, make it yerself! The ETC-1 not only is a direct replacement for all Tube and solid state Echoplexes ever made, but it's loaded with a vastly superior tape loop made with polyester backing and a higher bias Tape formulation. The ETC-1 not only sounds MUCH better, but is not prone to the shedding of the replacement tape (made by another company) you've been using.
Nickel Plated Stainless Steel Parts because Fulltone makes the Tube Tape Echo to outlast you and me ...and look great.
Echo Tone Control. The TTE has a very full-range/full-frequency Echo Sound.....but you can alter it to as vintage as you want a Tone control affecting only the repeats.
Smaller. Old Echoplex EP-2 models have that cool little side compartment for storing stuff. Fulltone put that storage place into a Heavy duty (wood-reinforced) Cordura Nylon Gig-Bag. (included) This, along with some downsizing, due in part to the use of a DC motor, allows for a very compact, stout unit that can sit on your amp, in your pedalboard, or off to the side without taking up too much precious real estate.
Fulltone Tube Tape Echo Sound Sample:
Fulltone Tube Tape Echo
