Metropoulos Forum

I've been looking at EP type boost pedals lately and it got me thinking... How much boost was Ed really getting from the Echoplex? I do notice that it seems like later Roth era stuff seems cleaner and may have to do with going from the EP to the rackmount delays, but that could be my imagination.

A stock EP3 doesn't really boost at all. The perceived (slight) boost comes from the layering of your dry signal with your delayed signal, therefore increasing your input signal strength, in front of a distorting amp. Hope this helps.

Does a echoplex have a internal pot to calibrate the output?

Badger plex trilogy will let you explore all of this and everything in between or have it basically stock early or late ep3 designs. Not pluggin for a pedal maker, but it is pretty badass I think. Tons of options, a bit pricey, but once you look at the amazing pcb layout and the parts and options, internal jumpers, etc???
Its all your WONDER IN ONE BOX SOLVED Pretty bad ass pedal, that for what it is, made me very content in my purchase. Didn't feel I was missing anything or wishin for somethin else.
On top of that it has a straight up boost mode as well to explore. I don't use that though as I didn't care for it, but its there. Even buffered or unbuffered options.

dirtycooter wrote:Badger plex trilogy will let you explore all of this and everything in between or have it basically stock early or late ep3 designs. Not pluggin for a pedal maker, but it is pretty badass I think. Tons of options, a bit pricey, but once you look at the amazing pcb layout and the parts and options, internal jumpers, etc???
Its all your WONDER IN ONE BOX SOLVED Pretty bad ass pedal, that for what it is, made me very content in my purchase. Didn't feel I was missing anything or wishin for somethin else.
On top of that it has a straight up boost mode as well to explore. I don't use that though as I didn't care for it, but its there. Even buffered or unbuffered options.

I wasn't asking so much for recommendations. I was wondering what the boost level of Ed's EP3 was as far as its contribution to his gain levels.

guitar007 wrote:A stock EP3 doesn't really boost at all. The perceived (slight) boost comes from the layering of your dry signal with your delayed signal, therefore increasing your input signal strength, in front of a distorting amp. Hope this helps.

This is so true. The EP3 really doesn't add much of anything with the echo turned off. Maybe adds a slight lower midrange bump. That's why those echoplex pedals are kind of a joke imo. Silly actually.

I have a tube EP2 that actually thins out the tone and adds treble

I used an EP-4 as main boost in front of a JTM45 as my main rig for over a year maybe two. Was using 13K/14K Bill Lawrence L90s in a variety of strat-a-likes. A Phase 90 in front of the EP-4 warmed things up a bit.
Basically it had two outputs. I believe the difference between the High and Low outputs was that the Low output was either attenuated or pulled down to ground. At the moment I cannot access any EP-4 schematic to check this due to Google now not allowing certain searches to show up in the UK due to copyright issues. A possible assumption is that the High output would be comparable to the EP-3[ ie :non attenuated].
I recall that a combination of this High output fed into a Boss 10 band gave me plentiful gain for my rhythm tones. Solos were boosted by a Maxon re-issue Tube Screamer. A very enjoyable rig. Volume could be an issue particularly as I was lead vocalist as well and trying to balance vocal monitoring. Eventually gave up on the rig due to set up times added to setting up the PA system and the tendency of the tapes to self destruct, including emitting blood curdling screeches when the tape jammed.
The whole rig, ie: every component added up to the final resultant tone.
Another part of the formula is I believe the "leaning" on the 20W/25W Celestions. 20 years ago I was playing gigs on the UK festival scene. Much travelling basically "blagging " lifts with the result of having to use a minimal sized rig. Basically 1X 12" with a Celestion 20W/25W. A JCM800 50W through one of these sounded glorious...For about 3 months. Still got a bunch of these to be re-coned in my attic. This is maybe worth looking at a part of the mystery. I believe I hear some of that cone destruction in VH1.
Sorry for the waffle.Hope there is some useful info contained in this, and may act as a catalyst for further forensics.

stefsk wrote:cannot access any EP-4 schematic

This any good mate...
http://www.amparchives.com/Amp%20Archiv ... 20EP-4.pdf

Jape
Thanks for that. Page 31 {EP-4 schematic} seems to indicate that there are 2 more transistors in an EP-4 than an EP-3 after the Mix control. Cannot print off at moment to work out exact comparison so have my head craned at a 90 degree angle!
Sorry might've gone down a wrong Rabbithole Guys!
Cheers
Stefan

The EP 4 has 2 outputs, a High and a Normal. The EP3's output is like the normal in the EP4.

When exactly did the Echoplex leave Ed's rig?

The last time I heard Ed use an echoplex was on the Letterman show in New York 1985.

echoplexi1974 wrote:The last time I heard Ed use an echoplex was on the Letterman show in New York 1985.

Did he use it on 1984?

If he did, I don't really hear it. Maybe he turned off the echo and ran it in bypass mode?

echoplexi1974 wrote:If he did, I don't really hear it. Maybe he turned off the echo and ran it in bypass mode?

The main reason I'm wondering is that 1984 sounds significantly less gainy and the mids are different. Starting to wonder what part the EP3 did or didn't play in that.