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I recently obtained a Maestro Echoplex from my Uncle. I am having a problem with it. The machine isn't echoing my guitar when I play. However, it does play without an echo and the audio already on the tape is able to echo so part of it is working. I am thinking the problem is with the erasing part of the head. I've already taken it to a local Electronics store that deals with old electronics. (Potter's in Seaside) If anyone knows ow I can fix this problem please comment. Thanks.
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You didn't mention anything about getting new tape in your cartridge. Did you replace the old tape? Usually getting new tape installed, and then taking your echo machine to a tech to get it biased and adjusted will solve the echo problem most the time. I'm sure you've cleaned your recording heads, so biasing your echo machine with the new tape should help the problem. -
Ya I got a new tape. I am just wondering, mine only has two tape heads on it. And I was wondering if some have two and some have three. Because there is a mounting post for one to go o the right side. It echoes my guitar now that I set the recording level but it still is playing what I had recorded on the tape before.Last edited by adam32790; 07-29-2008, 06:35 PM.Comment
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If the unit has a Sound on Sound switch, make sure you turn it off.Originally posted by adam32790 View PostComment
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it's off. oh and when the sound on sound is on it has a horrible screeching sound. I uploaded a video onto youtube. You can't hear the screech when i turn it on because it is such a high frequency. I still think that it's missing the head on the right side which would have to be the erasing head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_qk77WS82QLast edited by adam32790; 07-29-2008, 08:49 PM.Comment
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Your video was too dark to be of any help and you didn't take a good closeup of your machine to point out the missing tape head. Based on what you mentioned earlier, your echo machine is missing the right side tape head. Your having probs with sound on sound because your sound on sound head is missing.
Left tape head = Playback head
Middle sliding head = Recording/Erase head
Right tape head = Sound on Sound head
Since you're having problems with the Sound on Sound function not shutting off, and if you say there is an apparent missing tape head, it stands to reason this is causing the problem.Comment
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Since the record and erase heads are the same part, the erase head won't be mising if the record head is there. The sound on sound head and the playbeack head both go to the same input - to the playback amp - and are selected by the switch.
If it plays what is already on the tape, then the playback head works. The fact that what is already on the tape echos just means it used to work. The echo will be recorded on the tape during operation.
It sounds like your bias oscillator is not running. It could be a bad erase head, but I think the oscillator is far more likely. No oscillator - no record.
If the SOS head is missing, then the input to the very high gain playback amp would be untermnated, so I don't doubt it would screech. I don't think the trouble is the SOS not shutting off, it is just a loss of record/erase, so what is on the tape already is still there to play through. If the record gunction worked, then that other stuff would be written over.
Check out the bias oscillator. If the R/E head has continuity, it is probably OK.Education is what you're left with after you have forgotten what you have learned.Comment
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Thanks a lot for the feedback. So right now what it's doing is it does record my guitar on the tape which means that it is overlapping audio each time the tape makes a loop so yes the erase part must be bad.Last edited by adam32790; 07-30-2008, 08:27 PM.Comment
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If the Sound on Sound head is missing, (I assume that someone has unsoldered it from the circuit), I would check the wiring that turns on and off the erase function when the SOS is on. It could be that whoever removed the head disconnected something. Get a schematic for your unit and check for wiring errors or disconnected wires.Originally posted by adam32790 View PostComment
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