Hey Dan, new guy here. I am the proud owner of Ray Butts EchoSonic amp #37. Ray and I conversed on several occasions back in 1997. He also wrote me a very nice letter and in it he told me this amp was originally sold to Gretsch. He kept a card file with details on each amp he made. My question is, do you have any recollection or knowledge of this amp or its history with the Gretsch Co.? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
EchoSonic #37 amp originaly sold to Gretsch
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Jun 29, 2008 11:39 p.m. EchoSonic37:
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Jun 30, 2008 9:23 a.m. Bear:
Welcome to the family EchoSonic37. We're glad you're here. Please provide us mere mortals with pictures of the holy grail of amplifiers. Soundclips would also be greatly appreciated.
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Jun 30, 2008 10:46 a.m. Proteus:
Absolutely too cool!
Not sure how often Dan checks the board, but the rest of us are surely interested in this artifact.
Pics! Sound clips! Tell the story of how you got it. Give it UP, man.
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Jun 30, 2008 11:33 a.m. antik:
It was my understanding there were some discussions concerning the marketing of these amps by Gretsch.
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Jun 30, 2008 12:12 p.m. Ray Sputnik:
Echosonic37,
Out of curiosity, how did you end up with the Echosonic? That is such a cool and rare amp.
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Jun 30, 2008 12:12 p.m. Bear:
I found some interesting history on Scotty Moore's EchoSonic here.
EchoSonic37, can you still get tape cartridges for it?
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Jun 30, 2008 5:17 p.m. Scott:
All I can say is that I'm incredibly envious.
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Jul 1, 2008 10:47 a.m. MBL:
Hey Hey!!! Another EchoSonic owner on the board. Cool! I'd certainly like to hear more about your amp and see pics of the particulars. For some reason, I remember speaking to someone about #37....Is your name Bob? and did you have another buddy that owned one as well?
I actually played mine last night. Heck, I'll just have to send a PM. Tim MBL
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Jul 1, 2008 10:53 a.m. MBL:
Bear...there is not cartridge per se. Just a tape loop. You simply make it yourself out of 1/4" tape and splice it. Tim MBL
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Jul 1, 2008 10:59 a.m. Bear:
I would really love to hear one these amps in person. They have this mystical quality about them. Thanks for the explanation MBL.
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Jul 1, 2008 11:06 a.m. MBL:
Here is a pic of the back of the one I built..it has an original tape board in it. But you can see that a cartridge wouldn't be used.
Tim MBL
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Jul 1, 2008 11:54 a.m. Bear:
That is SO COOL!!!
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Jul 1, 2008 10:07 p.m. EchoSonic37:
Hey all. New guy back again. Great to see the interest here. I've got a pic of the label here for you and I know this is only a tease but I need to spend a little bit of time with the amp and do a cleanup and then some thorough documentation. I initially posted here on Dan Duffy's Corner hoping to get a response from him. (Dan). Hopefully he will get this message and do just that. I will tell you that the amp was originally sent on 12/27/58 to Jimmy Webster at Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. This is per the handwritten letter that I recieved from Ray Butts dated 5/29/99. I also have a good story of the provenance of the amp and the couple of conversations I had with Ray along with his letter to me in '99. I have had the amp stored away since then and it is still in the exact condition as I recieved it. I will be posting some more info on EchoSonic #37 here at the Gretsch Pages but I will probably post in the Gretsch Amplifier Forum so keep an eye over there. 'Till then thanks!
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Jul 1, 2008 10:19 p.m. EchoSonic37:
Here's the front of #37
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Jul 2, 2008 5:55 a.m. MBL:
Right ON! Now we're talking. I think I got this amp mixed up with #26 and #27. I am pretty sure #26 doesn't exist anymore. I have no idea about #27. So delivered in December 58'. That's good info. Have you played the amp? This might be a silly question but, being this old, my original amp didn't work when I got it.
It seems that your amp has the later cabinet configuration with the recessed grill.
I'm sure that Dan could shed light on the Gretsch relationship, but my guess is that the amp might have been a bit complicated for what Gretsch wanted to get behind and sell. The tape board and adjustments should be just so for the amp to work like it should.
I have some experience with these, so if you need any help with getting yours up to snuff, let me know. If it has happened, I have dealt with it.
Also, those knobs get that moldy crap on them, I think it has to do with the type of plastic they used, kinda like the screen covers on a Philco Predicta TV. You can clean it, but its a pain.
Looking forward to seeing more!!! Tim MBL
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Jul 7, 2008 4:23 a.m. guitarguynz:
Oh man I love this sort of stuff....
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Jul 17, 2008 10:26 p.m. afire:
Eventually Rickenbacker actually was licensed to build them, and did around 1961. I almost bought one not long ago.
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Aug 4, 2008 8:21 a.m. shawnjulie:
very nice thanks for sharing those pictures!!!!
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Sep 29, 2008 7:01 p.m. Royce:
Hey afire, Since you passed on buying that Rickenbacker M-30 EK-O-SOUND Amplifier, do you mind telling me where it is, or if it's still there? (and how much they wanted for it?)..Did you get to play through it?..Was it working?..My dad was a working musician in the 60's and he used one of those amps, but it, along with some of the other band equipment, was stolen way back when, and he still talks about that amp to this day..How i would love to find one and give it to him for Christmas, Father's Day or his Birthday..The look on his face would be priceless.. Thanks, Royce
P.S. I Have an all original 1967 Gretsch Tennessean with it's OHSC that i would be willing to trade for one of these amplifiers.
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Oct 1, 2008 11:15 a.m. afire:
I don't have any recollection of who the seller was. It was listed in the VG classifieds probably about 2 years ago. Sorry I can't help more.
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Oct 1, 2008 1:02 p.m. fieldhdj:
Fantastic Thread - I missed it first time around. Thanks for what you have shared already, EchoSonic.
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Oct 4, 2008 1:28 p.m. Royce:
Thanks for the reply afire, it looks like i will need a little luck to even find one of these amps!
