Klemt Echoette NG51A
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Klemt Echoette NG51A
It's so pretty now that it's cleaned up!
I build and repair tube amps. http://amps.monkeymatic.com
Re: Klemt Echoette NG51A
The "valve socket" just wouldn't make good contact on the tube anymore. I tried carefully cleaning the contacts and bending them to make a tighter fit, but they were still a source of noise. I agree that tapping around will give you all sorts of noise. There seem to be a lot of microphonic components in these old echos. The real problem was that the sockets in question were mounted to the chassis with a rubber standoff (like the onw shown in your picture). The rubber was so old it just crumbled and the socket no longer had any support.
I actually took the bad electrolytic cap apart in hope of stuffing the can with new caps, but I could not find anything small enough in the voltage required. It would have retained the vintage look.
I doubt that you will ever get the echos to be louder than the dry signal, but there are a lot of adjustments that effect the echo level besides the main pot on the front panel. There is a master level trim pot on the chassis on the side with the tape (nachall pegel) and then there is the tape bias.
The tape bias is set by adjusting the trimmer caps on the end of the chassis. The ECC 82 tube is the oscillator. If you check the output it should be at about 60 KHz. Referring to your pictures, the first one showing the end of the chassis has three trimpots (resistors - black shafts) and three variable caps (recessed brass colored screws), one set for each recording head. The oscillator voltage feeds these three caps (and the erase head. You need to measure the voltage at the output side of the cap. Heads 1, 2, and 3 should be set to 60, 90, and 120 V respectively. You should use a non-conducting tool to make these adjustments. The effect of your body will alter the values a bit.
When you get the schematic from me you will see the signal path clearly. The dry signal goes through the main pots on the front panel, then through the trim pots at the end of the chassis, then through a fixed value resistor and to the recording heads. So, in addition to the master reverb level control on the front panel, there is the master reverb level trim pot on the chassis and then two pots and a variable capacitor for each head to impact the overall echo results. Trying to find the sweet spot settings for these eleven adjustments can be a challenge!
The other issue is the mechanical aspects. The tape needs to move at a constant speed or you will get a warble in the echo. That might be a great sounding effect, but it is not what you are supposed to hear. The pinch roller tends to be dried out and hard with age. Replacements are available of Ebay, but they are not cheap. Be certain to always press the echo off button before shutting the echo down to lift the pinch roller away from the motor capstan. If you get a dent in the the roller you will regret it. You can buy replacement tapes on Ebay. I just make my own.
I see that I have a message (I forgot to open it before starting this note). It has to be your email address. I will send you the schematic and manual (several emails due to the size of my files).
Good luck with your Echolette. They are fun to play around with and VERY challenging to restore to their original condition.
I actually took the bad electrolytic cap apart in hope of stuffing the can with new caps, but I could not find anything small enough in the voltage required. It would have retained the vintage look.
I doubt that you will ever get the echos to be louder than the dry signal, but there are a lot of adjustments that effect the echo level besides the main pot on the front panel. There is a master level trim pot on the chassis on the side with the tape (nachall pegel) and then there is the tape bias.
The tape bias is set by adjusting the trimmer caps on the end of the chassis. The ECC 82 tube is the oscillator. If you check the output it should be at about 60 KHz. Referring to your pictures, the first one showing the end of the chassis has three trimpots (resistors - black shafts) and three variable caps (recessed brass colored screws), one set for each recording head. The oscillator voltage feeds these three caps (and the erase head. You need to measure the voltage at the output side of the cap. Heads 1, 2, and 3 should be set to 60, 90, and 120 V respectively. You should use a non-conducting tool to make these adjustments. The effect of your body will alter the values a bit.
When you get the schematic from me you will see the signal path clearly. The dry signal goes through the main pots on the front panel, then through the trim pots at the end of the chassis, then through a fixed value resistor and to the recording heads. So, in addition to the master reverb level control on the front panel, there is the master reverb level trim pot on the chassis and then two pots and a variable capacitor for each head to impact the overall echo results. Trying to find the sweet spot settings for these eleven adjustments can be a challenge!
The other issue is the mechanical aspects. The tape needs to move at a constant speed or you will get a warble in the echo. That might be a great sounding effect, but it is not what you are supposed to hear. The pinch roller tends to be dried out and hard with age. Replacements are available of Ebay, but they are not cheap. Be certain to always press the echo off button before shutting the echo down to lift the pinch roller away from the motor capstan. If you get a dent in the the roller you will regret it. You can buy replacement tapes on Ebay. I just make my own.
I see that I have a message (I forgot to open it before starting this note). It has to be your email address. I will send you the schematic and manual (several emails due to the size of my files).
Good luck with your Echolette. They are fun to play around with and VERY challenging to restore to their original condition.
Last edited by Kazooman on Tue May 13, 2014 1:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Klemt Echoette NG51A
Oops - double post. When I hit submit I got an error message, so I tried again. Now I see that the message was posted three times!
Last edited by Kazooman on Tue May 13, 2014 12:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Klemt Echoette NG51A
Oops - Triple post