Who prefers the Roland 501 or 201 tape delays over the other?

[Dirty Halo]

... and why?

I own the 201, so I'm curious what you 501 think (do I have those model numbers right?)

Amazing effect unit, don't you think? One of those pieces that still gives me a smile everytime.

-andrews

[Futureman84]

I've got a 555 (rack mounted version of 501) and I love it.

I've used others (201 301) also, but I'm biased towards the one I own because I own it.

I like it's built in chorus even more than my SBF 325's .

I'm a delay slut also.

[Simonator]

I have mad gas for a 201. No interest in the 501. Think I'll wait until I move to Japan though, as they are much more affordable & abundant there.

201 is the one with all the mojo. 501 seems to be a lot cleaner.

I don't think one is necessarily better than the other... just depends on what you want to achieve. RE-201 is the dub monster.

[3phase]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

... and why?

I own the 201, so I'm curious what you 501 think (do I have those model numbers right?)

Amazing effect unit, don't you think? One of those pieces that still gives me a smile everytime.

-andrews

the 201 is actually better

[The Architecture]

501 owner here. I will admit Its not the 201...but the 201 doesnt do what the 501 does. The 501 gives me a very early 80s vibe...while the 201 would probably be more 70s retro...which id like to have as well.

After I buy this Ms20...its time to think about a 201 ;v

[3phase]

Originally Posted by The Architecture

501 owner here. I will admit Its not the 201...but the 201 doesnt do what the 501 does. The 501 gives me a very early 80s vibe...while the 201 would probably be more 70s retro...which id like to have as well.

After I buy this Ms20...its time to think about a 201 ;v

problem is that a 501 is not doing what a space echo does.. it has a dbx noise reduction inbuild that pretty much prevents the well known dubby feedback delays..

but definitely a nice sounding delay, and much less noise.. just not a space echo

[ahmo]

Not true. Every 501 I have seen screams like a banshee when the intensity is pushed.

Both are good, but the 201 is the classic.

[Heathfinnie]

I prefer the 301 to both. Sounds like the 201 but adds the sound on sound that the 201 lacks.

[Mr Arkadin]

How can there be 'a best' - no such thing: they're all good for different vibes.

Personally I have an RE-501 and RE-3 (Digital Space Echo) and I have a friend who has an RE-301 and RE-20 (Boss pedal), so the only main one I have no experience of is the RE-201 (the 100, 150 etc. didn't really make it to the UK in any numbers, if at all).

First off, the 501 is cleaner, but it's a heck of a long way from being clean, even when using the XLRs. It was designed to be studio quality (hence the 555). If I had the money I would probably get a 201 as a contrast to the 501 (the 301 is a good compromise between the two here). The 501 may be cleaner than the 201 but it is not going to sound like some digital rack unit. Remember it was designed when wow and flutter and tape noise were deemed evil so minimising and stabilising were top priority. The engineering on that thing is amazing and will last a very long time if you take care of it (occasional service etc.). And yes the 501 can go into danger zone on feedback loops, perhaps differently to the 201 but I'd still say it was a version of dub.

The RE-3 is also fantastic. Completely different, very early attempt at modelling before people started really using the term. A Warmth control adds a mad attempt at wow and flutter, the early digital controls step a lot, so real-time manipulation gives great glitchy effects - which of course would have been deemed a drawback when it was made: how fashion changes! The reverb (one knob: more or less reverb) is also very nice.

I also have a solid state DC-50 which, although touted as a 'Digital' Chorus (in 1976 - I don't think so) has a mad dubby feedback effect called Hall which makes a sound even with nothing plugged in. It looks a bit like a 201 too.

[3phase]

yep..it screams to but dont gets so spacy.. i had a 555.. was a cool unit but very heavy.. and a 301.. but i never used the chorus.. The 201 has a switch that stops the motor..and the motor is the critial part here..
So thats somehow an advantage.
and some different echo head config ..so differnt echo patterns..

else wise it sounds like the 301..

the sound on sound of the 301+5xx is defently a nice thing :-)

but my preference is the 201 when i ever get one again for a good price...
they get more and more expensiv as it looks..

and probably the 301 is still the bargain version..because everybody wants 201 or 501...or?

And is the 501 still more expensiv than the 201?
I actually think that this might change one day.

[sftd]

I use to have a 201 and 101, the 201 was in far worse shape than the 101 and I ended up giving to a friend that needed it/wanted to have it repaired more than I.

So all I have now is the 101. Maybe it was just me but aside from the reverb (not present on the 101) they sounded pretty much the exact same.

All that said I know people love both the 101 and 201 for its mojo or dirt/grit whatever, but for someone like myself who does a ton of work ITB it can almost be a bit too dirty. And this is coming from someone who grew up with "lofi" artists like BoC as huge influences.

I find that if I use it on a song it only ends up being in very short very specific bits.

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz.com App

[Dirty Halo]

Thanks guys, I actually didn't know the preferences were that strong.

They are ALL great, I LOVE these things!

Is the 501 Chorus similar to the racked SBF unti (do I have that right). I'm pretty sure it isn't the same as the Dimension D, but could be wrong (another grat unit I LOVE LOVE LOVE!)

-andrews

[Arcadia]

I had the 501 and yes, the chorus is nice, but different that the SBF-325. I preferred the SBFs sound for this.

As for the delay, I would not call it "clean" in any way, but having both the RE-20 pedal and UAD RE-201 I did not find the real thing to be so much better and ended up selling my 501 cause I didn't want to have to deal with the maintenance of a tape unit. And I got almost 600 euro for it, which I was able to put into some other gear.

[sftd]

Originally Posted by Arcadia

I had the 501 and yes, the chorus is nice, but different that the SBF-325. I preferred the SBFs sound for this.

As for the delay, I would not call it "clean" in any way, but having both the RE-20 pedal and UAD RE-201 I did not find the real thing to be so much better and ended up selling my 501 cause I didn't want to have to deal with the maintenance of a tape unit. And I got almost 600 euro for it, which I was able to put into some other gear.

In reference to this, I have to agree.

I use Echoboy by Soundtoys more often than I use my 101.

[The Architecture]

I find the reason why I work otb so much now is because of the chorus echo unit. Ive tried ITB stuff but it just wasnt giving me the same grit and vibe as I wanted. I have gotten some screaming echos out of the chorus echo...but it doesn't space out like it was mentioned earlier.

now I want a 201....crap....

[walth]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

... and why?

I own the 201, so I'm curious what you 501 think (do I have those model numbers right?)

Amazing effect unit, don't you think? One of those pieces that still gives me a smile everytime.

-andrews

the echoplex was cool. i hear there's a plug-in by UA.

[lowkey]

Originally Posted by Simonator

I have mad gas for a 201. No interest in the 501. Think I'll wait until I move to Japan though, as they are much more affordable & abundant there.
.

i got my 201 when i ws on holidays in Japan. $600us. When i got it back to australia and had it serviced the tech said it was in mint condition and hardly been used! the japanese do look after things well...its just the voltage thats a bit tricky.

[sleestack]

make a tape echo out of an old tube ampex r2r, I bet it would blow all these boxes away

[hmmm]

Originally Posted by sftd

In reference to this, I have to agree.

I use Echoboy by Soundtoys more often than I use my 101.

Thats interesting. Why do you prefer the soundtoys?

[The Architecture]

Originally Posted by sleestack

make a tape echo out of an old tube ampex r2r, I bet it would blow all these boxes away

I would like to see that! All i got is a scully 280 and a teach 3340s.

[razorblade]

Any guitar player can tell you the correct answer is Echoplex EP-2.

[James Meeker]

I like the RE-201 best. It pretty much does one thing very, very well with a minimum of fuss. I really need to have one in my personal setup.