We met a legend 2004
(By Lars G. Vinger and Glenn Bergman)

Charlie Hall

When planning our trip to the U.K. and Nottingham to join The Shadows reunion concert we noticed that the little city of Ely was on our way from Stansted Airport to Nottingham. Ely is the hometown (or should it be home city!) of EFTP – Echoes From The Past.
Lars already has an Alesis Q2 equipped with the EFTP and had been in contact with the EFTP-men, Charlie Hall and Peter Alden before by email.
Because Glenn planned to buy the low budget EFTP in the ZOOM RFX-2000 he contacted “The Echo Man Himself”, Charlie Hall and asked if it was possible to pick up the unit from Ely, saving GB£ 35.- for the postage to Sweden. Charlie thought it was a good idea and invited us to Ely to collect the RFX from EFTP. Charlie also invited us to his home after office hours so we could have some time to meet and talk.
Lars had bought an EFTP in 1998 and ”knew” Charlie very well via the Internet and Glenn, who had the chance to get the longed-for RFX, were both very excited to meet him in person so we made an appointment with Charlie.

We arrived at Ely by train in the afternoon, then after lunch had a walk around the city.
Ely is a small city with about 15 000 inhabitants, but believe it or not, it has a cathedral (dated 1109) that is about three times bigger than the biggest cathedral in Sweden!

We met Charlie at the EFTP plant in the afternoon and he then drove us in his car to his house. Charlie’s black cat Taz didn’t like the strangers at all (it was maybe Lars’ moustache that frightened him) but at last Charlie managed to get him into the kitchen for supper.

Charlie is a genuine English gentleman, hospitable, kind and very humble.
Glenn announced very clearly during the car ride to Charlie’s house that we were very honoured to visit him and that we considered him as a living legend but Charlie dismissed our opinion in a very humble manner. Glenn insisted and told Charlie, “Like it or not, we consider you as a legend, you invented the echo machine Hank has been using since 1996! No doubt about that!”

We had a great time with Charlie, he told us all about his work together with Peter to develop the EFTP in the Alesis Q2/Q20 and later the RFX-2000. It was very interesting to hear of the fantastic research and development they had done.
Charlie told us about his first meeting with Hank, presenting the “invention” for Hank at Arbiter headquarters in Hendon, London on Friday 22nd November 1996 and how Hank reacted when he tested the machine. On that day there were recorded 4 very short demo recordings for the Japanese Hank B. Marvin signature Stratocaster and the recordings were featured on the Guitarist magazine CD to accompany the written review.
Charlie told us some information in confidence that we promised to keep to ourselves and so we do! But one thing, one of Hank’s Q2 units from his UK stage rack, signed by The Man Himself is now safe in the care of Charlie, after Hank’s Q2 units were swapped by EFTP for Q20 units in his rack.
Of course we had to test Glenn’s new RFX.
Charlie picked up his Fiesta red special Stratocaster, an excellent guitar, made by – Peter Alden!! Charlie regularly plays the guitar in a local band. We connected the guitar to Charlie’s Black Box (a buffer preamplifier), then to the RFX and ended into a Fender Bassman ’59 reissue. Lars, who hadn’t had hold of a guitar for some 10 hours!, started the test, used to the EFTP in Q2 as he is. Lovely tunes sounded in Charlie’s house. The cat became quiet too. Lars approved the RFX and Glenn got the chance to test it. Same result. Of course. The EFTP/RFX is a very good echo machine, that’s for sure!

We had to catch the train from Ely to Nottingham at 2100 hours but Charlie ended our visit by explaining the research and development of the amplifier KCP very thoroughly. Charlie showed us a lot of papers sketching the search and development Ken, Charlie and Peter did on the way to the final solution. Sorry to say, neither Lars nor Glenn are engineers in electronics but we understood this much, there has been a lot of work done in the development of the KCP amp. The KCP must be good because Hank is satisfied.

Charlie drove us to Ely Central station and we made our farewells on the platform. We went further on our way to Nottingham after a very nice and warm meeting with one of our idols in mind. Our trip to U.K. started – just swell! (It continued in that way all along, a memory for life!)
And nowadays in Glenn’s guitar corner there is an EFTP/RFX, signed by Charlie Hall!

We want say it again: Thank you very much Charlie for a lovely time in Ely!
Lars-Göran and Glenn from Sweden

PS: Take a look at our pictures with comments by Lars.

Epilogue by Lars

This year has been very special for me and maybe it’s very difficult to put into words. I have my friend Glenn to thank for all the arrangements for our trip to England. It was fantastic to meet Charlie Hall at last. We had “spoken” a lot by e-mail for some years before this meeting.
In Nottingham I had a wonderful time together with Glenn, maybe because we shared the same interest of The Shadows and Hank Marvin.
Glenn had booked Bed & Breakfast for us at Pat’s Place. Pat was a really nice old lady. Glenn and I talked a lot with her and we became very good friends. Many jokes were shared.(Believe it or not, when we checked out we got a bottle of wine, a big bar of chocolate, a nice personal card and a big hug!).
The concert with The Shadows was fantastic, those who know me will know how I felt at this special moment. They know that I’m no ordinary fan. I have seen Hank Marvin in 2000 and 2002 but this was very special. Glenn and I had perfect seats at the concert plus the sound was great, The Shadows were amazing and Glenn was a fantastic photographer, I know because I have the pictures.
Thanks Glenn, Charlie and The SHADOWS.

Lars G. Vinger

The picture page

We met a legend 2004 - my comments to the pictures.
Lars G. Vinger

Ely Cathedral

I have never seen a building like this. When I visit Ely next time I shall make a visit to the cathedral, maybe it has some echo chambers.

Glenn & Charlie

I was honoured to be the photographer of this special moment. Glenn arranged everything for me for the big adventure to England to see my heroes, The Shadows and Mr Charlie Hall.

Lars G. Vinger & Charlie Hall

I’m very proud of this picture. Charlie Hall and his EFTP changed my life. When I played using a Q2 with EFTP for the first time I couldn’t believe it was me playing along with the backing track. The sound was fantastic and the first tune that was played was Wonderful land. The second one was Walking in the air (The Snowman) because I love that echo.
This was the summer of 1998 and later on I ordered a Q2. The Q2 arrived at my home on the 28th October (Hank’s birthday), maybe a sign (he he).
After practicing a lot I searched for musicians at the local radio station to form a band. The rest is history, but it was the Q2 with Charlie’s EFTP that started it all.

Charlie Hall

If you have any questions about echoes, music, guitars, recordings etc., Charlie always gives you the time to answer anything you are asking for. His answers are always very clear so you understand most of the things he is explaining.

Q20

This is the fantastic unit that so many try to copy in illegal ways. I’m very proud to have bought mine, it’s worth every penny.