rockabilly slapback?

[digital eagle audio]

i'm talking like that sweet elvis sun-session type of slapback.
anyone know the best way to get that sound (specifically, how long of a delay, and how wet of a signal).
but if anyone happens to know what gear they were using, that would be cool, too.
thanks!

[joel hamilton]

A tape machine, at 15 IPS will do it quite well. Put it on a send, and hit record, then switch to repro.

OR, get a tape echo unit like the hiwatt custom tape echo, or echoplex, or echolette, or even the space echo to a lesser degree. Maybe a mtchless tape echo, or binson echorec.

You can also get a good rockabilly slap with an analog delay unit, like the Ibanez AD202. Pretty much any delay, darkened down, and timed to the 16th note will work. One slap, no regeneration, and really dark.

A 3 head cassette deck will work as well. i always liked the tascam jammers or the studers because they have a vari-speed control so you can change the delay. Get a really crappy old answering machine endless loop cassette and slap away!

[soundguy]

they were using tape machines. The physical space between the rec and play head combined with the tape speed determined the slap echo. 7.5 and 15 ips is a really classic sound on old rockabilly stuff.

dave

[digital eagle audio]

A 3 head cassette deck will work as well. i always liked the tascam jammers or the studers because they have a vari-speed control so you can change the delay. Get a really crappy old answering machine endless loop cassette and slap away!

i think i get it. my old fostex four-track would work for this, right?

[Mix413]

A cassette 4 track will only only if it's got three heads:

Erase > Record > playback

Check garage sales and pawn shops for old consumer reel to reel recorders. Teac, Pioneer, Akai, etc. Check it out carefully before buying because the drive belts tend to rot when they get old.

[I'm Painting Again]

a cassette 4 track might not sound as good as a tube ampex at 15ips though..

[soundguy]

probably not, but if its just a slap delay mixed 10dB lower than the main vocal, you can get away with a lot I think, including a cassette IMO.

dave

[I'm Painting Again]

right totally..I'm just noting a difference in the sound..they might have used something along the lines of that on Elvis..

[jaguarsg]

isn't slapback generally around 115ms or thereabouts?

[Slider]

isn't slapback generally around 115ms or thereabouts?

Yep. Elvis (Ampex) slap = 114ms.
Why doesn't someone make a cheap cassette echo box?
That would be great.

[joel hamilton]

isn't slapback generally around 115ms or thereabouts?

Yep. Elvis (Ampex) slap = 114ms.
Why doesn't someone make a cheap cassette echo box?
That would be great.

Because casette decks havent gotten cheap enough?

[Judas Jetski]

D'you suppose one of those Danelectro Reel Echo pedals might do the trick?

I'm sure it'd be a lot noisier than anything rackmount, which I suppose would be bad. And I suppose it's a pretty cheesy tactic. But depending on what was being recorded and how, a little noise might not be terminal.

I found the Sun Records box set at the library just the other day. Lots of nice, juicy delay...

[digital eagle audio]

isn't slapback generally around 115ms or thereabouts?

Yep. Elvis (Ampex) slap = 114ms.
Why doesn't someone make a cheap cassette echo box?
That would be great.

that would be great.
it doesn't seem like it would be too hard, either.

[I'm Painting Again]

D'you suppose one of those Danelectro Reel Echo pedals might do the trick?

I've used the danecho with not the best results but not bad either..more on the nice and good side..use this method on with a blend/second track method rather than on the original only for (imho better) results..

[Girl Toes]

I grew up on rockabilly, been in bands, etc... Tape does it, not just for the MS, but for the decay. Thats equally important. Digital as well as analog BB have never really cut it.