Vintage 1980 Roland RE-201 - Analog Space Echo -

Made in Japan

Serial Number: 985793

Excellent Working Condition

Freshly serviced, lubed and calibrated... Ready for the stage or studio!

Space. Echo. The essential elements of musical depth, whatever your style. Real-world or unearthly; subtle or extreme — reverb and delay are indispensable effects when it comes to creating character and dimension within your unique sonic picture.

Along with the standard delay controls of time (Repeat Rate), feedback (Intensity) and volume (Echo Volume) a dual EQ comprising Bass and Treble knobs allowed for detailed delay tone sculpting. Add to that separate reverb and preamp volume controls and the limits of the RE-201 Space Echo appear boundless.

RISE TO POPULARITY

The Roland RE-201 Space Echo was light years ahead of the competition and its timeless design remains just as relevant now. Representing the perfect balance of form and function it was built to withstand the rigors of the road, appealing to stage performers and studio engineers alike.

WOW AND FLUTTER

Sporting three separate channels consisting of two Mic inputs and one Instrument input — each endowed with its own Volume control — the Roland RE-201 Space Echo was able to handle multiple sources with ease. This distinctive-sounding preamp is praised for its ability to fatten up the incoming signal while adding harmonic richness and distortion. 

This was further complimented by the use of magnetic tape which also allowed for some tasteful saturation and natural compression. Simultaneously, as the tape slowly aged with repeated use, its distinctive wow and flutter produced slight changes in pitch that furnished the signal with a subtle chorusing effect.

PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS

While such imperfections may have been deemed incorrect on paper, it appears the RE-201 Space Echo could do no wrong. In fact, these apparent flaws merely served to enhance its appeal and ultimately proved to be some of its greatest strengths. 

Such was its demand, the RE-201 Space Echo remained in production throughout the ’70s and ’80s, despite the development of other more technically advanced musical equipment.

NAMM TEC AWARDS

In 2016, the original RE-201 Space Echo was awarded a TEC Award by the NAMM Foundation.

The Next Generation Of Space Echo

SPACE ECHO IN MUSIC

HOW DID IT INSPIRE AND INFLUENCE?

Microphones, drum machines, synthesizers and guitars — the RE-201 Space Echo was built to handle it all and could even be hooked up to a mixing desk via its dedicated From PA input. Such a broad range of applications encouraged a plethora of uses by countless artists who fell in love with its ethereal charms.

FROM DUB TO ROCKABILLY

(AND BEYOND)

Finding its way into an infinitely wide diversity of musical genres — from dub, trip hop and EDM to rockabilly, post-punk, and experimental rock — has proven anybody can own their own corner of the Space Echo universe.

ICONIC SPACE ECHO SOUNDS

Some of the most iconic RE-201 Space Echo sounds can be heard in the productions of dub pioneers King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry, who made great use of the unit’s outstanding saturation and distortion qualities. Having worked and toured with various reggae bands, Portishead engineer Dave McDonald in turn introduced Geoff Barrow to the joys of Space Echo. Subsequently, the RE-201 became a major feature of Portishead recordings, notably on drum and vocal tracks.

Paired with guitar, the RE-201 Space Echo really shows off its full breadth of capabilities, ranging from the kind of detailed dreamy ambience heard on Vini Reilly’s Durutti Column records to mangled, feedback-induced loops à la Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood.

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