Klemt Echoette NG51A

[Mark]

I didn't find a good area for posting this thread so I thought here will do.

I'm looking at servicing a Klemt Echoette NG51A. The unit is working with a few quirks. I'm still trying to work out what is normal with these units.

I will approach it electronically first and then mechanically.

I'll post photo's of the unit I have in the next few days.

Has anyone here fixed such an echo unit and if so do you have recommendations?

[Mark]

Here are the pictures.

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5267_zps633dc55e.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5261_zpsf43e74dc.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5266_zps3844a4a9.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5265_zps6ae75807.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5264_zpse54250df.jpg[/img]

[IMG:766:1024]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5257_zpsd7a7fe43.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5262_zps521acb8b.jpg[/img]

[deeder]

Nice Echolette, I can share my experience about tape replacement, since I had a Roland RE-501 and did some maintenance work on it.

I've A/B tested all sorts of tape, sourcing them in USA, Canada and Europe.
So here is my best choice, according to the technical characteristics:
BASF LGR 50 broadcast audio tape (sourced in Poland).
Stay away from some ridiculous fake tapes like RT-1L you can find on the bay for instance.

Looking at the third picture, these brown resistors near the motor are they carbon comp or carbon film?

[Structo]

Is that large metal component a Flux Capacitor?

[Mark]

Tom if only it was a flux capacitor!
I'd go back in time and buy up vintage guitars!

That is an interesting question Deeder. The resistors look more like carbon film than carbon comps, but I'm hardly an expert on resistor packaging. I think the 10M resistors in this unit are a bit of a worry, I'd prefer to see metal film resistors for accuracy and low noise.

[gui_tarzan]

I'm good with a soldering iron but I wouldn't touch that.

Those caps look terrible.

[Mark]

I've had worse jobs Jim, but not in a LONG time. The wax coupling caps look like they are shot and the filter caps are issue as there is such a narrow footprint for them on the chassis.

Edit: These echo units seem to be largely unknown. Here is a recording on You Tube of the Klemt Echoette.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEee1K7ZFBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKq4QQufhVI

[gui_tarzan]

Beautiful tone.

[deeder]

Sounds incredible warm, better by far than a transistor Roland RE according to my taste. The Echolette seems to have been made especially for guitar.

This one you are servicing looks like a 63’/67’ model http://www.echolette.de/
The ‘Toneblende’ circuit in particular and the tube reverb circuitry are pretty interesting. I’m wondering if this schem would be set up well in a guitar amp.

[Mark]

Agreed Deeder.

I've done a little bit of work to the Echolette.


[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5277_zps29a9106c.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5268_zpsc3bd7929.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5269_zps87093c20.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5270_zps85af6641.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5271_zpseb79ffc0.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5272_zps7d659a94.jpg[/img]

This is a really good idea, there is a certain elegance to this design, if I was an enterprising type of guy, I'd have these made and sell them.

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5273_zps1d6da1cf.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5274_zps3c88b9e8.jpg[/img]

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5275_zps01d710c2.jpg[/img]

If you've ever wondered why the filter caps aren't replaced in these units, I think you'll find this is the reason why. Have a look at the mounting technic.

[IMG766]http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/mark1406_album/Klemt%20Echoette%20S/DSCN5276_zpsa248a935.jpg[/img]

Where do you find a cap like that?

It is starting to come together and there are more caps to be replaced, but I don't have the type and values that I want to use. It is nearly working properly (still has an intermittent issue) but there is wow and flutter present.

I forgot to mention the resistors, I haven't measured all of them, but the ones I thought would be out of tolerance have measured good. So far it is the ERO caps that are a problem, and the pinch roller.

[deeder]

This would be helpful for your restoration

[Mark]

Thanks Deeder, I may have to get this version in english.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KLEMT-ECHOLETTE ... 20e37ffa2b

http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com/index.shtml

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-X-KLEMT-ECHO ... 20dabea69d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Klemt-Echolette ... 258075e06d

[Kazooman]

Your Echolette looks to be in pretty good shape. I have four of them in various states of repair. I can send you an English language version of the owner's manual if you PM me with an email address. I can also provide a copy of the schematic.

I have gotten a lot of advice from Bobby Staedel on repairing the Echolettes. He is the guy to go to for repairs. I actually bought my first copy directly from him.

These units are very hard to work on since they were point to point hand wired and then the guts were dropped in the chassis. Now there is no way to get down to some of the components without removing many connections. It is good that you have taken a lot of pictures. You may need them to find your way back home.



I looked far and wide for suitable filter cap replacements and never found anything that would fit on the chassis like the originals. I have left well enough alone on three of my Echolettes, but one suffered a broken lead to a filter cap and I had to install replacements. I ended up with one at the original position and one farther over on the chassis. Totally non-vintage, but it worked out. I have also needed to replace a few of the tube sockets. That is a real challenge. I'll post a pic later.

Do you have a good oscilloscope? You really need one to adjust the capacitors for the recording heads to get the appropriate voltages. A DMM can't handle the high frequency and will give bogus readings.

[IMG:639:426]http://i51.tinypic.com/330e3c0.jpg[/img]

[Kazooman]

Here is a pic of the filter cap replacement. I used a pair of J-J cans. They, like all other choices I found, are too large in diameter to fit side by side in the original spot. I mounted one near the original place and one on the only vacant piece of real estate available. As you can see, they are attached using standard mounting rings that are held to the chassis on nylon spacers to allow room for the wiring.

[IMG:640:480]http://i60.tinypic.com/2uqbslt.jpg[/img]

[Mark]

Those are great pictures, and that looks like the only way you'll get filters onto that chassis. I've never seen electro's like this before and I imagine I never will again.

What was the issue with the valve socket?
I ask as I'm getting some spurious noises that come and go with some tapping. I haven't been able to pin it down to one particular area yet, but it will keep.

I do have a CRO. How did you set up the tape bias?

I suspect the set up is a bit suspect as there is no way I can get the repeats to be louder than the original signal which my Memory Man does.

I'll have to take close up photo's of the tape path too. The rollers have a red hue to them which is unusual.