BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

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Telliot
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BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Telliot » Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:42 am

I've been kind of obsessed with the RE-201 Space Echo lately. I don't play out, so a standalone studio tool that has analog reverb and delay with that kind of warmth and grit would be great. The prices are steadily rising and I've been wondering how the BOSS reissue holds up to the original. I realize it can't be the same, but are the differences significant enough to justify biting the bullet and getting the real deal? There's an RE-101 being sold on the local CL, but from what I've gathered it doesn't have the same sonic qualities (or the reverb, obvs).
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by MechaBulletBill » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:14 am

It's more like it captures the feeling and responds in a similar way. Obviously, it's never gonna get as dirty or warbly as a real unit in need of attention, but I haven't yet found anything (in a stomp) that I like as much as the re20. Belle epoch was very close but no real improvement so I didn't keep it.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by pad » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:39 am

Just thinking about Thee Oh Sees, !
Ive got a bit GAS too for either of them, if you got the money and want a good investment id go for the Roland RE-201 and its just the real thing! But havent tried the RE-20 out yet but might be worth a hit.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by cestlamort » Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:26 am

I'd get the real deal if you can find one for a price you're okay with. I wouldn't worry about the reverb (it's kind of clanky, in my opinion) so keep an eye out for the (more affordable) RE-150. The RE-101 might get you close, too. I'd suggest trying to get one in as good a condition as possible (I had an RE-501 that had a history of issues and a history of owners being disappointed with it).

The RE-20 is pretty cool, too. It wasn't quite the same as the RE-201 (missing a little something) but is fun and much easier to maintain. And you can try a new one out and return it if it doesn't work out.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:24 pm

Now that my Danelectro Reel Echo itch has been well & truly scratched (not bad but not great either so I sold it on for a very healthy profit) I'm thinking about getting an RE-20. I've read a few comparison threads on various forums & I reckon they're well worth trying out.
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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by MechaBulletBill » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:05 am

I just last night checked out the caroline kilobyte... I know it's not a tape sim but it gets dirty and has nice oscillation. That could be an re20 killer for me.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Jaguar018 » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:27 am

I've had both. Bought the RE 20 first. It was cool, but the sweeping LED light created this annoying super low swishing sound. It was probably just my power supply even though I tried to isolate it.

The RE 201-- bought one that needed some work. Got it worked on, but not by a RE 201 specialist. I found the whole maintenance requirements really stressful. Like that I was going to screw it up. I sold it on. You can find deals from time to time, when dopes like me sell them.

With that said, my scientific findings and measurements determined that it sounded 20x better than the RE 20. Well... sort of. When the 201 was dialed in it was a golden god. It's kind of like those meals you make at home. Let's say you make spaghetti every two weeks, and most of the time it's pretty good-- but every once in a while everything comes together and you're like, "DAMN, THAT'S SOME GOOD SPAGHETTI!" and then the next time you make it-- it reverts back to being pretty good. The RE 20 was always pretty good spaghetti. I have heard the 201 sounding so warm and amazing. Incomparable.

Since you are Mr. Home recording perfectionist tweaker guy, I'd pony up the cash and get the 201. Subtle recording differences are exactly what will make it worth it. Live on stage I wouldn't bother.

Keep in mind that 201s are good investments-- better than the RE 20. They do cost a lot more, but if you sell it you're almost sure to get your money back. If you buy one, try it out, and find recording with it blows, you can flip it and go to bed knowing you don't need to go down that road again.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Telliot » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:06 pm

That's a great analogy! Also, I'm suddenly very hungry for spaghetti. :?

It seems units that have been kept in good condition and maintained well are regularly going for more than $1k these days. I found one that was in really nice condition with NOS tape that was $1400! That seems really high to me, but the market for these seems to be steadily getting hotter.
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by StevenO » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:22 pm

I remember seeing the RE-201s going for $350-$500 and thinking "woah, so expensive! I'd never pay that much".

Eating those words quite a bit lately...

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Telliot » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:29 pm

Yeah, it seems to be the way these days.
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by cestlamort » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:23 pm

StevenO wrote:I remember seeing the RE-201s going for $350-$500 and thinking "woah, so expensive! I'd never pay that much".

Eating those words quite a bit lately...
Yep. I lucked into an RE-201 for maybe $450 ... and the (always kind of broken RE-501 for around there), which was more than I'd paid for pretty much any music gear at the time (well, other than an $800 guitar). I wish I'd held on to the 501, too. (Probably 7-8 years ago now. I think I balked at the $200+ estimate to get it up and running, but would pay that in a heartbeat now).

I just bought RE-20 for playing out/out of town. We'll see how the second time around for that one goes.

Depending on what you want to do, a good DMM or Ibanez AD-202 could be a good alternative.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Telliot » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:31 pm

I'd be using it as an outboard piece of equipment. If it were for a live rig I would just get something else.
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Jaguar018 » Tue Mar 21, 2017 4:42 am

I would look around for ones that need servicing.

I think the one I got was for $400 or $500. It needed work, but with repairs that still came in at less than a pristine one. They sell tape for them all over eBay. I would not get too caught up with NOS tape. There are a few repair places here and abroad that could get it back in tip-top shape.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by Kent » Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:20 am

See if you can find a Multivox MX-312 Tape Echo.

I prefer it to the RE-201 enough that I sold the Roland and kept this one. They tend to be less expensive as they don't have the internet hype machine behind them.

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Re: BOSS RE-20 vs Roland RE-201

Post by secretroutines » Tue Mar 21, 2017 2:59 pm

Telliot wrote:I'd be using it as an outboard piece of equipment. If it were for a live rig I would just get something else.
If you're toying with shelling out re201 money, check out the t rex replicator. It's an actual tape delay in a stompbox, so you could use it live or as an outboard unit.

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