Old Fender Echo Chamber need photo. Solid state Ecco-Fonics

[Ken Fox]

I am restoring one and have the circuit board done (new caps and a few transistors). I need a picture of the tape loop and heads. I am sure I am missing something there!

I have a bad erase/record head. The erase coil show open. Trying to find a head now (old Nortronics part).

I have a schematic and am ordering an owner's manual from Fender tomorrow.

The echo is an early 60's model from what I can tell.

Any help or advice appreciated!!

[Papa Joe Pollick]

I bought one in the early 60s and when it developed a problem I contacted Fender and they said they didn't make it and couldn't help me..It was made by another outfit in LA.I tried to contact the maker and they were out of buisness..No one seemed to know anything about it.Ended up trashing it..But it sure was nice when it was working.....PJ...

[Ken Fox]

The were made by Ecco-Fonics. Mine looks like a cover is missing. Not sure if they used a short tape loop or a tape cartridge of some sort.

I just send fender $5.00 for the manual, a copy from their archives.

[Larry Robinson]

I had one of those back when they first came out. They used an "endless" tape cartridge. It really sounded great when it was working.

[Papa Joe Pollick]

As I recall,it was a cartridge..PJ...

[Ken Fox]

I had a hunch it was a cartridge. Hope someone has a picture. Maybe the manual will shed some light. Will have to retro-fit something in there for sure

[Michael Brebes]

A good picture but unfortunately not a whole lot of help for the tape path:
http://www.brettallenstudiorental.com/E ... cho_50.jpg

[Ken Fox]

Much appreciated. Now I can see the cover and how it was attached. I could not see the cover as a separate piece in the only picture I could find on the net.

Unfortunately I did not get the cover!

[Papa Joe Pollick]

Ken,you probably allready know about this guy.Anyway if you don't he might be able to help..PJ...

http://www.orbitelectronix.com/

[Bobby Rountree]

Hi Ken...Maybe this will help...I had one of these in the early 60's.....I was in radio at the time and used these machines....The heads were identical as I remember.

http://www.jimprice.com/prosound/carts.htm
Bobby

[Ernest Cawby]

Hal Kennedy of the dixie Echoes used one for years he live in Fl. may still have it.Cape Canaveral fl.

Ken I went back and reread I think Hal had an Eco Plex, or something like that.

ernie

[Ken Fox]

I order the manual from fender (archived for many years now!!). I hope it will reveal a bit more info.

My erase head read open so I am am still in pursuit of a record/erase head (all in one, Ortronics)

[Michael Brebes]

You might want to contact JRF Magnetics for a replacement head. They are in New Jersey.
http://www.jrfmagnetics.com/

[Ken Fox]

Thanks, I have John French looking for a head in his inventory now!

With a little luck.....

[Robert Burton]

I had two of those back in the 60's one had a cassett and the other an endless loop. Sounded great when it worked. But I spent more time untangling tape and splicing tape than using it good luck on your project.

[Ulric Utsi-Åhlin]

I sold the remainder of my Tape-Echo inventory a
couple of years back,and I still remember the hours
of maintenance required to keep them rolling...still
though...when I spot something like this I get that
old time Tape Echo feeling again...better not look...
McUtsi

[Ken Fox]

Still have the old echo. Never finished it. Got the board all rebuilt and a new record head. Never could find a tape cartridge for it.

Any hope some of you may have one?

[Mike Wheeler]

Might you be able to re-engineer an 8-track cartridge? All you need is an endless 1/4 inch tape loop, right?

[Ron Whitworth]

Hi Ken;
Here are some photos - I hope this helps you out-
Good luck on your project.
I know it is long but the link does work.
Click on the picture you want & it should enlarge it.
Ron

Link to Google search.

[Craig Baker]

Ken,
I have several broadcast carts around here. If you can get the tape to ride over the pinch roller it might just work. Let me know.

Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

[Ken Fox]

For those who might have one of these here are some photos. Found that same site earlier today with photos. Very helpful

[Ken Fox]

Some old photos I had from 2010! Glad I kept these:




My echo when I first got it!




Before and after cap replacements on main board:

[Stephen Stecko]

Hi Ken,
Were you ever able to your echo working? I bought one of these on ebay in 2007 and it has never worked. I would really like to get a list of the caps and other electronics you changed out...is that possible?

In 2008 I found Joe Dundovic who was the founder Nortronics. He sold me a playback head but I never replaced the record/erase head, did you find one?

My unit came without a tape cartridge but luckily I was able find one on ebay circa 2008.

I saw a video on youtube where a guy named Jimi Photon had one of these units modified to use an echoplex cartridge.

Also I could reverse engineer my cartridge on CAD and gen one up for you with 3d printed parts and nylon rollers from Ace Hardware if you are interested.

I wish I had seen your posts on this when you first started them because I was trying to do the same things at the time, oh well!

Let me know what you think, thx,
Steve

[Ken Fox]

Sold it years ago. Never got the tape head to work.

[Stephen Stecko]

OK Thx Ken Your post really helped me.