"Stupid" Question about the Nocturne

Hey Tavo,

Got a question... The Space Echo 301 has the same preamp/boosting effect like your pedal - right? So, the pedal is for guitar players who don't own a Space Echo 301 - right too? So my main point is - whats happening if you own both and have both running at the same time...?

I would love to afford (I'm in the need of an new amp and got kids to feed too ) your pedal, but I'm also thinking if I "need" it absolutely 'cause I use a Watkins Tape Echo which has a Gain knob - It will make my Valve Junior clip at 8/9 'o clock with my TVJ Hotrod. Without using the Watkins it will clip not before 12 o' clock...

So basically what adds a real Space Echo 301 to your sound that your pedal doesn't - and what does your pedal, that a Space Echo can never do? And whats happening if you use both at the same time?

Nevertheless, you did an awesome job on this... The idea, the look... Just perfect. Thanks for serving the community and never give up on making Gretsches and Fenders chime!

No such thing as stupid questions.. my relentless questions started all this...
I think I can answer it best this way.. My Nocturne box is
based ONLY on the input gain and recovery circuit of an RE301
space echo. effectively "the preamp" section of that
big huge analog multi-effects rack in a box (thats why
the RE501 when full rack mount). Inside that sucker
following the preamp is an analog roland/boss chorus
complete with its bucket bridgade chips, then a full
blown tape echo with its own EQ (bass n treble only
eq the wet slapback signal, not the re3o1s preamp.
then there is a solid state spring reverb circuit. Its
truly one of the early multi-effects racks in one container.

There is no denying that when your guitar signal goes into a good
analog echo (discreet BBD circuit) or real tape echo the signal compresses just a tad and you get a certain saturation warmth taking place. Even cooler vibe happens with actual tape wow and flutter
(the EH DMM is cool like that but more clinical)...

So to capture that bit of "butter' that is in the RE-301 I went with
a different type of op-amp. I cant explain about it yet in detail because i'm waiting for better legal protection of the circuit.
I can say that it captured a real real close mojo to what happens when the signal of a guitar goes from the input preamp to the tape echo
head amp then to the recovery circuit.
this is why I added a bass cut control so that you could tame it a bit at
stage volume/ when the blonde amp is cranked to the point of breakup.

So thats how my Nocturne does what it does...

How is it better or different than a space echo?
1. In order to capture what Setzer's tone does correctly, you have
got to use the right guitar and pkups he uses, use the tubes he does, with the speakers he does , at the volume he uses with the Space echo level cranking into it they way he does, using the 50ft+ cables he does
for it ALL to happen.
Otherwise you will not get the right impedance matching that setzers pkups and preamp make the amp see... Those of us with non master
volume fender amps know this is a dang loud sound.
Basically If a dude owns an RE-301 and takes his guitar center 15ft normal cable into a regular amp running at medium levels, his tone will
so far away from Setzers it isnt funny.. Cant happen.
Billy Zoom sez plugging directly into a roland space echo is like your
guitar using a 5K pot (gretsch guitars use a 500K vol pot, strats a 250K)..which equates to darkish smarm.
You'd have to have your stock RE301 modified with a JFET impedance
booster and unless you are skilled at such things, its not gonna happen
either.

My Nocturne has a very high impedance buffer so you and your gretsch
can be sent to the Nocturnes gain circuit without a giant ass long cable
to GET that sound at a very low volume if you want or at raging live
BSO sound pressure levels.
This impedance buffer will also let you use a strat or a tele or p90s guit or PAF gibson and still get a very articulate guitar tone. Try that with
your guitar plugged into an RE-301 off the shelf.

Secondly, I'm using very nice grade audio components the Roland space
echo series never used including a true bypass switch, so when you switch the effect off, it is totally out of your guitar signal. This is helpful
if you play in a cover band and need a variety of sounds, or just need
to switch to an unsetzer gretsch sound.

Thirdly my Nocturne pedal weighs about 18 ounces and fits in the palm
of your hand. It could literally be velcro'd into the back of your amp.
Plus its not $1000 worth of obscure vintage artifact that always needs
the tape serviced.

The last reason is why I began the quest to make it.

peace,
tv
ps. I will go plug a nocturne into my RE301 to see what I get.
but then you might ask what happens if i plug my 301 into a nocturne?

tvthewiredturtle wrote:

ps. I will go plug a nocturne into my RE301 to see what I get.
but then you might ask what happens if i plug my 301 into a nocturne?

Maybe you'll get pure rockabilly-deathmetal sound.

thanks for talking time for answering and explaning. But now I'm pretty sure that the Nocturne is a must have for me! Hope my wife has the same intention

ChimingBell wrote:

tvthewiredturtle wrote:

ps. I will go plug a nocturne into my RE301 to see what I get.
but then you might ask what happens if i plug my 301 into a nocturne?

Maybe you'll get pure rockabilly-deathmetal sound.

thanks for talking time for answering and explaning. But now I'm pretty sure that the Nocturne is a must have for me! Hope my wife has the same intention

If its anything like my house, you'll have to look around and see what you can get
rid of on ebay to raise funds.

yeah or it would be like "If I'm gonna buy me a new toy, I'll have to buy you a present" - To please the gods of anger