Fulltone tube tape echo User manual

Owner’s Manual
Version 7
Covers serial #3664 and higher…
June 2013 and later

Basic History of major TTE Revisions
Serial# 2326 6/2008: Discontinue 12AT7 for V3 Erase tube. Change to Fulltone
12AU7. Warning! You must use either Shugwang 12AU7 or Fulltone 12AU7. Most
tubes will not erase properly, no matter how much you’d like to use that vintage NOS
tube you bought for way too much money ;)
Serial# 3179 4/2011: Discontinue padded gig bag, first TTE with removable, hinged
Lid. Majority of production uses Blonde Tolex.
Serial# 3460 5/2012: Changed Preamp circuit, revised EQ of preamp to be more
Full-range, with less change to the original instrument tone. Previous versions were
much brighter, lacking in bass frequencies.
Serial# 3480 10/2012: First production TTE with “Relay-Activated Echo Cancel.”
This is a major improvement in that using an Echo Cancel Footswitch no longer has
a negative effect on the sound quality and volume of the Echoes! From this point on,
you are not limited to using a short cable for an Echo Footswitch, and instead can
use up to 500’ of any 2 conductor, standard instrument cable. Fulltone unveils our
Echo Cancel Footswitch (ECF) which requires no external power for its status LED’s
(more info or purchase here)
Serial# 3664 6/2013: TTE goes to all black metal and black Tolex cabinet & lid.
Major improvement to tape transport initiated by changing the spacing on the tape
guide posts, eliminating much of the friction and reducing tape jam.

Table of Contents
Page 1 Product Overview
Page 2 Top Panel Diagram
Page 3 Additional Diagrams
Operating the TTE
Page 4 Initial Set-Up
Page 5 Let’s Play in Mono!
Page 6 Let’s Play in Mono! (Continued)
Page 7 All about ((STEREO))
Maintenance and Service
Page 8 Service Diagrams
Page 9 Service Diagrams (Continued)
Page 10 Tape, Tape Heads, and Transport
Page 11 Tape, Tape Heads, and Transport (continued)
Page 12 Additional Tape Path Maintenance
Page 13 Tubes!
Page 14 Rewiring transformer to 220/240 Operation
Page 15 Warranty and Contact

Page 1
Product Overview
The Fulltone Tube Tape Echo,althoughinspired by Market Electronics’ Echoplex of theearly to
mid-‘60’s, isa far moreevolved design which eliminatesall of the noise,inconsistencies, and
reliability issues associated with the Echoplexes.
Some of the TTE’s featuresinclude:
1. 1 x 12AX7 Tubes for Record, 1x12AX7 for Playback, 1 x 12AU7. Use only Fulltone brand
12AU7 for V3 (Erase tube) or unit may not erase properly!
2. Mono and ((Stereo)) outputs with 3distinctstereo image choices!
3. DC on the Tube filaments for no-hum operation.
4. Torroidal Transformer for low EMF, quiet operation.
5. Brushless/3 phase DCServo Motor for reliable, quiet tape transport.
6. Blushless DC Fan to keep the whole thing running cool.
7. Nickel-plated steel with all stainless-steel hardware, every bolt and spacer.
8. Super-Tough Baltic Birch-ply cabinet with Blonde Tolex covering.
9. Proprietary Erase, Record,and Playback headsdesigned to outlive you.
10. All Hand-Wired point-to-point Audio pathway. All Handmade in the U.S.A.
11. Removable Lid (should be closed and latched while transporting)
12. 2-Speed operation (withtrimmer adjustment)for a choice between Hi-Fi or Warm Vintage
sounds.
13. Adjustable Tube-PoweredVolume Control forup to 25 dB volume-boost.
14. A Tone control affecting theRepeatsonly.
15. Our own Echo Tape Cartridge (ETC-1) is loaded with Mastering quality tape and designed
to last many months, unlike the few weeks you get from other Echoplex-type cartridges.
16. True Bypass toggle switch for setting the right Volume for your rig as well asa 1/4"jack for
“Echo Cancel”allowing youto keep the TTE’s TubePreamp in the signalpath atalltimes.

Page 2
Top Panel Diagram