T-Rex Replicator Jr

Fishboy7

I’m thinking of ordering one of these. 

 

What’s the general consensus?  Worth the spend?  

Wazmeister

I bought the original one (the bronze)... erratic, noisy, overrated and vastly over
priced !

Havent tried this newer version though 

Teetonetal

Not in my opinion. Expensive to get a very simple sound, it''s only single head. It's bigger brother has an indifferent reputation too

Fishboy7

Thanks, that is interesting, Possibly not a sensible impulse purchase then, 

pmg

Wazmeister said:

I bought the original one (the bronze)... erratic, noisy, overrated and vastly over
priced !

Havent tried this newer version though 

Ive got one which is currently being used for reamping vocals.  Was temperamental initially until changing the cassette, cleaning the headsand recalibrating.  Sounds great now.  I suppose that’s tape delays for you.

breezytele

My understanding is that the minimum delay time is too long for any slap back .
I was interested until I discovered that. 

In choosing which single one of the two heads to use for the junior, they picked the ‘longer’ one.

Conversion to the other head position is not straightforward, as the tap tempo would then be on a 2:1 ratio. (This latter point was in an email from TRex , in answer to my questions)

pmg

breezytele said:

My understanding is that the minimum delay time is too long for any slap back .
I was interested until I discovered that. 

In choosing which single one of the two heads to use for the junior, they picked the ‘longer’ one.

Conversion to the other head position is not straightforward, as the tap tempo would then be on a 2:1 ratio. (This latter point was in an email from TRex , in answer to my questions)

shortest time on the replicator is 80ms so yes too long for slapback.  if they've chosen the longer head for the jr it will be 160ms

mburekenge

It seems like they really rushed this product out without giving it enough r&d time.

A shame as it's a great concept 

They were at pains to stress their new Binson remake will be a while yet. Hopefully they learn from the replicator  

pmg

i must say once i got it working consistently it does sound great

Strat_a_tat_tat

pmg said:

i must say once i got it working consistently it does sound great

What's the key to getting it working well?

pmg

I replaced the tape, reset the heads and cleaned the capstan, heads and pinchwheel.  So far so good

Strat_a_tat_tat

pmg said:

I replaced the tape, reset the heads and cleaned the capstan, heads and pinchwheel.  So far so good

Thanks.

Did they change the design of the tape cartridge... I seem to think the earlier ones were a bit different.

Fishboy7

Here is a pretty cool home made version for £300 on eBay: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cassette-Tape-Delay-Echomatic-Analog-Delay-like-Echoplex-Space-Echo/142695332111?hash=item21394df90f:g:YTgAAOSw7p5aYoLh

Teetonetal

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

pmg said:

I replaced the tape, reset the heads and cleaned the capstan, heads and pinchwheel.  So far so good

Thanks.

Did they change the design of the tape cartridge... I seem to think the earlier ones were a bit different.

Yes, they released a version 2 cartridge sometime ago that was supposed to help.

I was in the market for a tspe echo for a long time... ended up with a Roland 501, which is ace. I read a huge amount of contrasting reviews for the replicator.

BTW bax shop often has b stock ones and the "Discount" code normally works. Seen them for as little as £320

pmg

From researching online yes they did which has apparently resulted in improved consistency.  I think the original tapes with mine were the old design and worn/knackered.  The replacement tapes were vastly superior.  I must admit I’m a complete novice with tape so it took a while to setup but now Im happy with it.  

Used it so far on guitar -the way the repeats sat behind the dry tone was very nice and it “felt” good when playing.  Currently using it for reamping vocals which is also sounding great.  

The actual sound of the tape playing is quite loud in isolation which I found quite surprising (never had a tape delay so not sure if this is the norm, it has moving mechanical parts after all) but you can’t hear it when playing so no big deal.

mburekenge

Teetonetal said:

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

pmg said:

I replaced the tape, reset the heads and cleaned the capstan, heads and pinchwheel.  So far so good

Thanks.

Did they change the design of the tape cartridge... I seem to think the earlier ones were a bit different.

Yes, they released a version 2 cartridge sometime ago that was supposed to help.

I was in the market for a tspe echo for a long time... ended up with a Roland 501, which is ace. I read a huge amount of contrasting reviews for the replicator.

BTW bax shop often has b stock ones and the "Discount" code normally works. Seen them for as little as £320

The Rolands are great. Re201 here. Dublicious.

TimmyO

The demo of it on That Pedal Show sounded *AMAZING* to me - not tried one in the flesh.

I've had a go on @JEPBLEP 's Space Echo and it's a sound that the digital sims get VERY close too but not quite perfect 

builttospill

https://www.thomann.de/gb/t_rex_replicator_junior_tape_echo.htm Thought I’d re bump this thread... thomann are knocking these out for £260.... are they still shite?

mattismetal

I'm checking one out at this price. Love some tape delay

stonevibe

Thought about it, then remembered all the 'joy' of tape echo when I was a kid and you could buy them for sweet fanny Adams at Car Boot sales. Never again! 

roberty

Had a watkins copycat and an el capistan. Sold the copycat