Marshall Time Modulator 5002 'A' System

An extraordinary piece of kit for sale serviced and in superb working order. These are incredible devices and unlike anything else we've heard - go from subtle phase shifting to wild flanging to completely out there, speaker-shredding crazy. 

CONDITION: Excellent cosmetic condition with only the most minor signs of age to the face. The case is very clean with some rack rash. See photos for more information on cosmetic condition.

Supplied with a custom power supply set for 240v for UK/EU.

Inputs and output are via the ¼” jack sockets on the front panel.

Serviced, tested and in full working order.

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It took me years to find one for our studio - not many were made, and they don't come up for sale very often as people tend to hang on to them. Being a modulation freak, it was always high on my wish-list - ours is going nowhere, but this one is available.

Designed in the late seventies by Steven St. Croix, this is a truly legendary effect that represents the pinnacle of analogue circuit design – see below for some of the history of how it began as a bet (really).

Not always the simplest effect to operate - the various delay/phasing/flanging type effects from this analogue rack seem limitless and unlike other modulation/delay racks we've used - controls interact in unusual ways and are not necessarily intuitive. It rewards perseverance with some amazing sounds, but treat it with extreme caution and operate at modest volume levels - the levels of feedback that can emanate from this thing can destroy speakers, not to mention your eardrums! 

Our own MTM was used by Reinhold Mack on the recording of Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ (not the one for sale here), and I suspect Tony Visconti used one on David Bowie’s late 70s recordings (eg the main ‘Ashes To Ashes’ riff). It’s a very versatile and fabulously-deep box of tricks that will surprise and inspire you: by no means is this just another me-too flanger.. 

Intelligent devices have this to say about it: (they make a Marshall Time Modulator plug in version - find it here)

Before there was much "digital" anything, and before records were considered something anachronistic and nostalgia evoking, back when "Dark Side of the Moon" was new and Hip-Hop kind of a distant dream, Stephen St. Croix had an idea: What would happen if you took the the longest analog delay line possible, gave it the greatest signal to noise ratio in a piece of outboard gear, and then made the modulation of it possible over such a wide range that it could effect sound in ways sublime AND outrageous. Something so utilitarian and necessary that it could fit in equally well on Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life," or as the means of giving extra gravitas to the sound of a bad acid trip. Stephen called it: The Marshall Time Modulator. You'll call it "indispensable”. 

From the Studio Electronics Marshall Time Modulator page: (they service and supply parts):

The MTM is an analog effects unit that Steve developed in the late 70's. It doesn't truly modulate time (you can't go back and buy Apple stock for $15!) It does however modulate and manipulate audio delay time, producing many unique and amazing effects. The input signal passes through two analog delay lines. The delay time is adjusted by manual control, a wide range LFO circuit, or (for most effects) a combination of the two. Dry and delayed signal are combined, with feedback added to taste.

This simplified description may sound quite dull, but the sounds produced by the MTM are utterly amazing. Effects include positive, negative, and resonant flanges, cardboard tube echo, automatic double (and triple) tracking with pitch and delay dithering, circus vibrato, arpeggio, pitch quantizing, and many more. The MTM was used on many hit records.

In an interview with the Device Newsletter in 1979, Steve said that he developed the very first prototype in 1975, to win a bet. He brought it into a studio to try it out in session, and everyone was blown away. The AES Convention happened to be a few days away, and everyone encouraged Steve to produce a finished demo model and show it, which he did. His booth was mobbed at the AES and the Time Modulator instantly got lots of great press. Initial prototype runs were produced, with early batches going to Stevie Wonder and Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis. Wrestling with improvements and tweaks, it was another two years or so to before Steve went into production. But when the 5002 Time Modulator was finally released it scored rave reviews in Studio Sound, REP, and Modern Recording, and sales took off.

The 5002 was followed by the 5402, which featured a new control set and greatly extended delay times. Steve also developed the AR-300 Tape Eliminator, which simulated delay at various tape "speeds". It included a tape-like EQ curve and natural sounding tape compression -- just like the boxes released today. Of course, he beat all the new guys to it, by 20 years or so!

It's worth repeating that these were analog boxes, totally free of quantization noise and other digital artifacts. The MTM had a signal to noise ratio of 95 db! This was an amazing and unheard of feat, that most modern gear still can't equal. Steve was a real perfectionist.

Some of our gear will have VAT at 20% added in the UK/EU, but a lot of it won't. This should hopefully clarify the situation but if you have any questions then please get in touch.

ITEMS WITH VAT:

• These items will have two prices visible: with and without the tax.
• If you are buying in the UK/EU you will receive an invoice showing the tax component.
• If you are buying these items outside the EU when you get to the check out and enter your shipping location you will be charged the ex-VAT price.
• VAT-free sales are also possible to businesses within the EU with a valid VAT number. You will need to contact us in order to buy via this means.

ITEMS WITHOUT VAT:

• Much of what we sell is classified as "Second Hand Goods" and so while we still pay some tax, there is no recoverable/deductible component for sales to any part of the world.
• So, the price you see is the price you pay wherever you are.

ALSO NOTE:

• Shipping charges are also subject to VAT at 20% within the UK/EU - this is included within the prices you see for shipping to those areas - it is not shown separately in the cart but will be shown on the VAT invoice you receive with your goods.

We are very experienced at packing and shipping valuable and sensitive gear worldwide. Binson Echorecs, large valve amps, vintage synths, rare racks, and even a CS-80 or two - you name it, we've sent it and it has arrived in one piece and ready to play.

SHIPPING DISCOUNT ON MULTIPLE ITEMS:

We keep it simple: if you buy more than one item you only pay the shipping on the item that has the highest shipping cost. This is the same no matter how many items you buy together (so the more you buy together, the bigger your shipping discount). If you check all the items out all together this will be calculated automatically at checkout. However, if you make an order and then wish to add to it before it ships please get in touch and we will refund the shipping on the item(s) that are cheaper to ship.

Note that this also allows you to purchase add on items such as transformers and other accessories, and also t-shirts and other merch, without paying any extra shipping on them.

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CAN I COLLECT MY GEAR (and save on shipping?)

Yes! If you want to use this option either get in touch before you purchase, or contact us afterwards and we will just refund you the shipping. Note that collection is by appointment only and only during weekday office hours.

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MORE SHIPPING INFO:

The shipping prices for our gear vary considerably depending on the type of gear, value and destination. To see shipping costs put the item you are interested in the cart and then either use the shipping estimator or go into the check out process. Or just contact us and we'll tell you what you need to know.

It is a fact that, with vintage items, there are going to be times when gear arrives in need of some adjustment or calibration, and some times a piece of gear that was working 100% just chooses the day after arriving for a new fault to develop. However, having been working with sensitive vintage gear for many years, we are very experienced at dealing with these occurrences and will always work with you and get the problem solved as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Note that we have have not entered automatic shipping for every country. The countries we ship to most often will have shipping rates and we are in the process of adding more shipping fees to the check out process. But if you are looking at an item that doesn't have the fee information you need then please use the contact page or call on +44 1773 856475.

Which carriers do we use?

We usually use Royal Mail, UPS and DPD/Interlink - it depends on the item and destination as to which is the most economical. If you have a preference then we should be able to accommodate it (but we may need to pass on any additional costs) - just let us know what you need.