fenderplucker wrote:Tab mentioned that Unchained Melody was recorded in March 1961. Hank was already using the Echomatic 2 in Jan 1961 (e.g. Find Me a Golden Street, Kon Tiki) and this machine could produce a single echo by turning down the levels of heads 1-3. However the delay for head 4 was usually around 350-360 mSec, longer than the 335 - 340 mSec measured for Unchained Melody. There is evidence that he had a variable speed version with tunes like Zambesi recorded using it running slower than normal (head 4 delay around 420 mSec). We had presumed that the 360 mSec delay was the maximum speed and, if so, it would rule out this machine being used on UM. Maybe it could run faster? If not, my guess would be that the echo was produced by a tape delay in the studio.
Paul.
I'm with you on this Paul, although it doesn't really matter to me as as said the Catalinbread pedal as well as the ESE give this option, as did David Martin's Binson if I remember right. It certainly isn't something I'll lose any sleep over as I've heard it on several machines - Chet Atkins used it a lot.