Echoplex EP-3 (serial no. 9503)
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Les Paul’s experiments with simultaneous playback and recording on reel-to-reel machines introduced the sounds of tape-based “echo” to popular music in the late 1940s. However, these sounds were not available to the average musician until engineer Mike Battle invented the Echoplex in 1959. Battle’s design features a moveable second play head, allowing artist to easily adjust the timing and length of their delayed sound. Steve Miller created the swirling synthesizers and cascading guitar parts on “Fly Like an Eagle” (1976) with this Echoplex. Battle’s device inspired many other effect units, including the Univox EC-80A Echo Chamber and the Roland RE-201 Space Echo.
Technical Description:
Solid state circuitry; echo and "sound on sound" modes, echo sustain and volume controls, sliding tape head to adjust echo delay time, foot switchable echo on/off and playback controls
Technical Description:
Solid state circuitry; echo and "sound on sound" modes, echo sustain and volume controls, sliding tape head to adjust echo delay time, foot switchable echo on/off and playback controls
Artwork Details
- Title: Echoplex EP-3 (serial no. 9503)
- Artist: Mike Battle (American, 1918–2008)
- Artist: Steve Miller
- Date: ca. 1971
- Medium: Wood, metal, plastic, magnetic tape
- Dimensions: Height: 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.)
Width: 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.)
Depth: 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm.)
Weight: 18 lbs. - Classification: Electrophone
- Credit Line: Courtesy of Steve Miller
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments