fenderplucker wrote:Having measured the echo timings from the original recordings I found no evidence of the use of variable speed on any of the Shadows tunes, apart from Zambesi (running slower) and possibly Flingel Bunt. The head amplitudes certainly change but not the basic head timing, apart from some quite small variations that are probably due to wear and changes in head pressure. This applies to both the Echomatic 1's (5 and 6 head machines) and the Echomatic 2's and the timings are essentially as shown on the TVS web site. There were versions of those machines with variable speed provided by either tapered or stepped drive pulleys, but no evidence of their use by The Shadows.
Fascinating stuff, Paul. Are you suggesting that it's likely Hank's Echomatic 2 didn't have a tapered drive pulley? I was unaware that they were ever made without them; have you come across evidence? The varying head amplitudes interest me because, as I'm sure you know, the control of the levels of the first three heads was built into the speed control: the faster the motor was set the louder those three heads were. It's a while since I've had an analogue echo working, but on my Meazzi I regularly altered the motor speed to match the records. Maybe not so much variation with the Echomatic 1 settings, but certainly with the Echomatic 2 tracks.
Hank has said in interview plenty of times that he would make sure to set the echo speed to match the tempo of the piece. I don't think Hank had the need to significantly alter the speed that often, but if it never changed then the variable nature of the head levels would raise unanswered questions in my mind - from a purely technical point of view, even if I'd never had a Meazzi. For example, head four "kicks back" much more on
Wonderful Land than on
Peace Pipe due to lower volume of heads 1, 2 & 3. As I said, the levels of those heads only changed when the speed control was altered.
I love this sort of chat. I've missed this.