The Echoplex is a tape delay effect, first made in 1959. Designed by Mike Battle, the Echoplex set a standard for the effect in the 1960s—it is still regarded as “the standard by which everything else is measured.” It was used by some of the most notable guitar players of the era; original Echoplexes are highly sought after.
Big innovation was the moving head, which allowed the operator to change the delay time.
The first Echoplex with vacuum tubes was marketed in 1961.
Along with the Echo Repeats control and the movable head to vary delay time, these three-knob Echoplexes were similar in function to the early-’60s Ecco-Fonics they displaced.
