BOSS
RE-202
$399.99Reference price
A pedal that recreates the 1974 Roland RE-201 Space Echo. It was developed through BOSS's thorough examination of everything from the tonal changes rooted in the magnetic tape and motor mechanism to the SPRING REVERB and the preamp circuit that flatters an instrument's sound. Alongside the faithful recreation it adds many modern features, bringing tape echo sound into today's environments.
A tape echo carrying the Space Echo into the present through reanalysis of original units
A pedal centered on recreating the Roland RE-201 Space Echo, with modern feature expansions added. It was developed by verifying everything from the tonal changes rooted in the magnetic tape and motor mechanism to the SPRING REVERB and preamp circuit through reanalysis of original units.
Tape echo and the RE-201
Because a tape echo records and plays back on magnetic tape driven by a motor, its sound changes with condition and rotation speed, giving it a distinctive wobble. The RE-201 combined a free-running transport that reduced tape stress and rhythmic echoes from three evenly spaced playback heads with the coloration of a spring reverb and preamp.
Recreation through reanalysis of original units
Multiple RE-201s, including a mint-condition example, were reanalyzed, verifying the friction, the recording and playback mechanism, the motor behavior, and even the SPRING REVERB with its Z-shaped spring layout. The smooth pitch changes when adjusting REPEAT RATE and the oscillation when raising INTENSITY behave just like the original.
Control down to the tape's condition
The central MODE SELECTOR chooses from 12 playback head combinations, and the tape condition can be switched between NEW and AGED. WOW & FLUTTER adjusts the modulation from rotational wobble, while SATURATION adjusts the degree of magnetic saturation and preamp drive.
Extensions beyond the original
A fourth playback head not found on the original widens the echo variations, and the reverb offers five types: SPRING plus HALL, PLATE, ROOM, and AMBIENCE. REPEAT RATE extends to twice the original, WARP/TWIST, tap tempo, carryover, and stereo I/O are supported, and external MIDI control can recall up to 127 settings.
- RE-201 sound and behavior recreated through reanalysis of original units
- 12 sound variations from four playback heads
- Five reverb types including SPRING
- NEW/AGED tape condition selection
- SATURATION control over magnetic saturation and preamp drive
- WARP/TWIST and tap tempo
- Up to 127 memories recallable via MIDI
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Specifications
| Manufacturer | BOSSOpens in a new tab |
|---|---|
| Product | RE-202Opens in a new tab |
| Type | Compact pedal |
| Functions | Delay |
| Release year | 2022 |
| Power | AC adapter |
| Current draw | 140mA |
| Dimensions | W192 × H52 × D133 mm |
| Bypass | Buffered bypass |
| Status | Available |
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