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--- In , "Casey Cash" <surfgitar@y...>
wrote:
> Had the chance to watch the Shadow's DVD recently (very nice) and
> wonder if anyone knows what type of effects/amp Hank Marvin uses
with
> his stratocaster? Sounds like some type of delay, maybe an analog
tape
> loop similar to the old echoplex. It seems to be an very important
> part of his sound. Thanks
Casey, Hank has been using an Alesis Q2 and/or Q20 for something
like six or seven years. (I think both units have been out of
production for a few years now.) They are programmed by a couple of
guys who very thoroughly researched the vintage European multi-head
tube tape-echo machines, and replicated the various staggered-head
patterns as well as the particular tape-like decay of repeats. They
programmed the Alesis units with various echo patterns, and Hank can
now bring up an appropriate echo setting by just flicking to a new
setting (actually his guitar tech does this offstage for him during
his live shows, so he doesn't have to even think about it). These
are also available to the public - go here for more info:
or here for the direct link to the echo page:
You can also get the programmed echos with the Zoom RFX 2000/2200
units. I have one of those, and it sounds very good, though I heard
that it doesn't sound quite as good as the Alesis unit. Also, check
out Sounds Like The Shadows echos:
These are designed for Yamaha Magicstomp floor units, which can now
be bought new for $100 (I just got one a couple of weeks ago), and
the echoes guys will email you the programming for $55 which you can
download into the unit. I've been hearing very good things about
these echos, and will try them out very soon. The advantage over
the Zoom unit is that it's just a floor unit rather than a rack-
mounted one.
As far as the amps. Hank stopped using Vox AC30s in the mid-'80s
(after several of them crapped out on him). He used some Mesa
Boogie amps for a while (Mark II or III, I think). In the nineties
he mostly used a Matchless DC-30 and then around 2000 started using
his signature model by KCP, made by the Echoes From the Past guys.
It's very similar to AC30/DC30. This year he used their newest model
called Pinnacle, though those crapped out on him during their
European tour, too, so he went back to Matchless from what I
understand. It appears that the Pinnacles broke down because of
some simple manufacturing error, but otherwise are really good
amps. You can also check them out on the EFTP site.
Hope that helps.
Ivan
