Page 1 of 4
TVS or EFTP

Posted:
08 Nov 2009, 09:57
by Apache1
I would like to know of those of you out there your preferences ??
Is the TVS3 better than the Q20 with EFTP ?
I ask this not to cause problems between the Charlie Hall Camp and The Guys at the other side of the planet, but there is a great difference
in the price of the units and I have not personally experienced using a TVS3 but do have EFTP, I would never part with my EFTP unit but if the
TVS3 is a far better unit then I would consider seriously looking at one.
Does anyone have both, or has anyone been fortunate enough to have experimented and played through both ?
John.
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
08 Nov 2009, 12:08
by dave robinson
TVS3 - if you can afford it.
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
08 Nov 2009, 14:25
by Alainlafrance
Hi John
I did.
After many years using the Alesis Q20 with EFTP patches.
Then I tried the ESE Echomatic VI, a great echo machine but adjustable in the old-cumbersome- way but with fine results.
Then I received my TVS3 in Feb 2008 and since then I've always used it, selling my Q20.
The main difference is that you get access to the Meazzi sound thanks to the inside preamp which gives you that -programmable- vintage sound.
And then you can either use the perfect factory presets from Paul Rossiter or modify them or do your own in an easy way through your PC.
Programmation is digital, sound path is all analog.
Last night I attended the Cliff & The Shadows concert in Paris and it was stunning (the acoustics of the concert Hall were State Of The Art) and everybody were breathless about Hank's sound on JMI+TVS3.
TVS3 has a price, it's not expensive, it's costly but well worth IMHO.
I'll never part with it.
Alain
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
08 Nov 2009, 23:50
by Apache1
Thanks Dave & Alain,
You both are saying the same thing, I suppose over the years we spend Thousands on our equipment, looks like I shall have to start putting some pennies
to one side.
Thanks John
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
09 Nov 2009, 23:03
by Tab
I've owned two Q2s both with EFTP and have frequent access to a Q20 and have recently compared the TVS3 with both the Q2 and Q20.
Whilst there is little difference in the echoes, the TVS3 takes the 'sound' to a completely different level. Added is that richness and quality found on tracks such as 'Golden Street', Sleepwalk etc. and many other early tracks.
Some say that it is too much to pay for an echo machine but quality seldom comes cheap and it is still a lot cheaper than the 34346 (I'm never sure I've got those numbers in the correct order) replica that several have opted for.
Kind regards,
Terry
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
09 Nov 2009, 23:50
by OLDEREK
Money is for spending, we only come this way once why not enjoy it to the full..........My Doctor told me last year
"When you get to 60 you don't have to save anymore"..............Thanks Doc`..

Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
10 Nov 2009, 06:32
by emielvisser48
Is the difference between the two the fact that the one is digital, "cold", and the other analoge, so "warm"?
I have heard many digital echo machins and they all are cold. My Atlantis 1 is analoge and sounds much warmer.
I wonder if you have the same experience.
Regards,
Emiel
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
10 Nov 2009, 08:54
by Tab
Hi Emiel,
I'm sure that the analogue part of the machine plays a big part in the sound quality, but I'm not a technical expert - you would have to ask Paul (the designer) to comment on that.
All I know is that whilst the Q2/20s are excellent, the TVS3 is better. I have no experience of the Atlantis other than hearing Colin Pryce-Jones of The Rapiers, who, I understand has used one, and his sound is superb and faithful to the original recordings.
Kind regards,
Terry
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
10 Nov 2009, 09:46
by Didier
Tab wrote:All I know is that whilst the Q2/20s are excellent, the TVS3 is better. I have no experience of the Atlantis other than hearing Colin Pryce-Jones of The Rapiers, who, I understand has used one, and his sound is superb and faithful to the original recordings.
There are other options, such as a Q20 and a PB Box, I have heard a comparative test between this and a TVS3, results were excellent and similar for both (the PB Box is more or less the equivalent of a TVS2)
Of course the TVS3 is more practical with everything in a single unit, but the overall cost is higher.
I have heard the Atlantis played by Colin Pryce-Jones and also by Phil Kelly, both got very good sound.
Didier
Re: TVS or EFTP

Posted:
10 Nov 2009, 10:06
by Apache1
Well it looks like everyone is saying the same thing, that the analogue sound seems to crack it. What prompted me to ask this question is :-
The Guitar Man Album in the footnotes Hank is credited with using the TVS3 on this album and it is well written that the Cliff & The Shadows 50th
Anniversary Tour (Incorporating all the old numbers) he is using the TVS3. !! But !! Although Hanks sound on the albumn and the tour was good
and very rich, he seemed to be lacking the edge in the sound that he got on "Midnight" and "The Stranger" and the clang or twang of F.B.I. ? tracks like these from the early days. and the Meazzi is the machine from the early days. The TVS you tell me copies the Meazzi exactly.
Everyone hears things differently and obviously opinions differ, but can the TVS3 get these brittle sounds that EFTP can ?
The Guitar Man Album allthough was a big seller for Hank, to me his sound was very singular throughout the whole album, and dissaponting.
Can the TVS3 step up to the mark for the period when Hank used the Baby Binson ?
John