Best delay pedal

[mikepick]

I finally had a bit of time with the El Cap and it now sits on the board kicking off the Nova Delay and the DBD. The El Cap can do the DBD sound pretty well and due to the true analog bypass the El Cap sits where the Nova sat. I knew the D/A converter in the Nova wasn't perfect, but I loved the delay a lot and still wish the Strymon had reverse and Ducked/dynamic delay as those were some of my go to delay sounds for Blues/Rock. BUT, when I took the Nova out of the chain, and put the El Cap in, the dynamics increased at least 100%! My BJFe pedals now sound even more bouncy and juicy! The only downside is the El Cap isnt stereo in, like the Nova was, so I lose the stereo flanger sound from the Orbit.

So, now I get to learn more about the ins and outs of tape delay simulation, but what is really cool is the new possibilities of the sound on sound setting(s) and it can also do the magnetic drum delay which I feel captures that early Pink Floyd delay sound. I also use a tweed deluxe, and have a Bludotone Tweed Bassman on order, so the chance to add reverb with a saturated delay, that is similar to what the DBD does, creates a huge ambient solo sound. So, the big selling points are many for the El Cap, but it wont do everything I would like. But with faster processors and the clever Geeks at Strymon there may come a day....

I am going to keep the Nova Delay around for the sounds I like, but I will use it with a stereo splitter, so I can keep it out of the signal path. I think the DBD will be up for sale to help pay for the El Cap.

Now I need to wire an extension cord internally from the plug in front of the PP2+ to the underside of the board so I just need the one plug to power everything. Even the PP2+ cant power two Strymons and a Fulltone MDV-2 I hope to power the MDV-2 with the extension cord to a wall wart under the board.

Thanks for your post

Does the El Cap handle overdrive as wel as the DBD?

[Donner]

well I got one of the first batch and have played the EC extensively and am very impressed... I at first was sure I had found my last delay and was 'done'.
I have one of the GOOD L6 echoparks (too bad there were so many not so good ones) that I still use regularly and an old Ibanez DML modulated delay and the DBD (and some others...)

I really liked that the EC is pretty 'flat' - it doenst change your tone much at all - its what I love about the Ibanez, it just delays your tone without re eqing it... and I love the tapish modulation in stereo that is the sound I have always had in my head and its controllable ...

but I also have lately been putting the old favorites back on as each has its own reason to be.... the DML has a sound I dont get from the others and the EP has reverse/ducking/sweep and tape artifacts not found elsewhere.... and still my favorite just to have going all the time is the DBD into the Holy Grail hall reverb setting - it just is a perfect space to play in and it doenst need tap....

So I love the EC sounds but it doenst 'run the table' by itself.

[hawaii121]

Read back to original post and thought I might be hijacking with my post - moving elsewhere...

[jdandry]

It's a rack, and no tap or really fancy stuff but I love my Chandler Stereo Digital Echo. About $200 or so.

[hawaii121]

Just had my first session with a Roland Space echo re 201 - if I didn't own the echoczar, this thing would probably be a permanent fixture - absolutely incredible sounding delay.

[Donner]

I just got a Korg Stage Echo again after about a 20 year absence.....
Its being repaired and Im trying hard not to think about it until its ready

its really the only effect I had for a few years in the 80s and Im really curious to hear what it sounds like now in context of everything Ive heard since .....

I also want to try a chandler again against the Ibanez DMLs I use in that space.......

[Joeleo]

Forgive me if i'm hijacking the thread, not my intention, but something i've been curious about has been mentioned once or twice in this thread already.

Do you think owning both an El Cap and a DBD would be redundant? I have an El Capistan (love it!!!) and am planning to get a couple other delays after the holidays to complement it and to get some washy multi-delay happening. I had been thinking about the PCB version of the DBD, but it sounds like they might kind of cover each other's territory based on the responses of some.

[colourtones]

I too am a delay/echo junkie. Started my journey 15 years ago with an original Deluxe Memory Man with transformer attached AC plug. I was not savvy enough to understand the potential of operating it or knowledgable/experienced enough to know the difference in bucket brigade chips. Keeping that in mind, it sounded excellent and probably had Panasonic MN3005's. I next went into an obsession with the EP-2 Green Tube Echoplexes. I had 4 at one time(yes 4) and 1 solid state EP-3. I loved the tone yet loathed the maintenance. I slowly sold them off and during that period obtained a Maxon AD900 with the 2 Panasonic MN3005's. It sounded very excellent and could be dialed in but never quite satisfied my tape echo ears. I sold it and bought a SIB Red digital Echodrive. That was truly incredible and a tweakers delight. As warm as it gets, from my experience (which does not include the rack Lexicon PCM-42) for digital delay/echo. A very fun pedal to cut the clock time in half or double with the switch(do they call it range?) on the side. This led me to find the ultra rare and elusive SIB Blue Echodrive. It sports 2 Panasonic MN3005 and a tube preamp(like the red). It has more than enough delay time on tap (at least 600ms) for most analog applications and fully satisfies my tape delay/echo needs. I have had 3 of these at different times and will always keep one.(which is all I have now) The diminishing echos are beautiful and the ability to alter the gain structure by substituting the 12AX7 with a 12AT7, 12AU7, etc.. makes this pedal the top rung of the ladder for me. I have always wanted to try the original Maxon AD80(18volt), the Roland Boss DM-1, etc.. but cannot imagine anything better than the SIB Blue. Having said all that the video posts of the FEOTM sound outstanding and better(if my memory serves me correct, pun intended) than the original Deluxe Memory Man. I read in a post on "these go to 11"(I think) they are able to substitute whatever chips are in the FEOTM with the MN3005's. Obtaining them is another i$$ue.

[thesjkexperience]

Forgive me if i'm hijacking the thread, not my intention, but something i've been curious about has been mentioned once or twice in this thread already.

Do you think owning both an El Cap and a DBD would be redundant? I have an El Capistan (love it!!!) and am planning to get a couple other delays after the holidays to complement it and to get some washy multi-delay happening. I had been thinking about the PCB version of the DBD, but it sounds like they might kind of cover each other's territory based on the responses of some.

You can get the El Cap to sound like the DBD and the El Cap can add modulation to that sound as well along with longer delay times. But, the feel of the DBD is a little squishy and works so well as an "on all the time" or for solos. I can see having both for that reason, but then you also need the board space

That said I let go of my DBD when I got the El Cap, but this week sold my Nova Delay and El Cap I loved the features of the Nova, but the digital conversion killed the dynamics of my BJFEs and changed the general frequency response. The El Cap doesn't do Ducking or Reverse and that was the reason for letting it go.

TC has a new stomp box sized delay coming out that does have ducking and reverse along with other great features, but lacks true tap tempo The up side is it is small, cheap and easy to power. I think it will even run on a battery!

Strymon has the Timeline coming out in April or May and that has EVERYTHING you could want! But, it is going to be around $450 - $499 and the box is pretty large. I also don't have a space for powering it on my PP2+ as I have the Strymon Orbit and a Fulltone MDV-2 which also are mA hogs.

[The Luke]

Forgive me if i'm hijacking the thread, not my intention, but something i've been curious about has been mentioned once or twice in this thread already.

Do you think owning both an El Cap and a DBD would be redundant? I have an El Capistan (love it!!!) and am planning to get a couple other delays after the holidays to complement it and to get some washy multi-delay happening. I had been thinking about the PCB version of the DBD, but it sounds like they might kind of cover each other's territory based on the responses of some.

You can get the El Cap to sound like the DBD and the El Cap can add modulation to that sound as well along with longer delay times. But, the feel of the DBD is a little squishy and works so well as an "on all the time" or for solos. I can see having both for that reason, but then you also need the board space

That said I let go of my DBD when I got the El Cap, but this week sold my Nova Delay and El Cap I loved the features of the Nova, but the digital conversion killed the dynamics of my BJFEs and changed the general frequency response. The El Cap doesn't do Ducking or Reverse and that was the reason for letting it go.

TC has a new stomp box sized delay coming out that does have ducking and reverse along with other great features, but lacks true tap tempo The up side is it is small, cheap and easy to power. I think it will even run on a battery!

Strymon has the Timeline coming out in April or May and that has EVERYTHING you could want! But, it is going to be around $450 - $499 and the box is pretty large. I also don't have a space for powering it on my PP2+ as I have the Strymon Orbit and a Fulltone MDV-2 which also are mA hogs.

I had a nova delay, which was good, I just didn't see the point in having presets when they are so hard to change in the middle of rocking out. Besides, I never used tap tempo and no longer have the need for rhythm and solo delays now, so I am using a DBD. This suits my needs - it is simple, and sounds great. I only use it for the odd solo.
However, I am debating adding another amp to my live rig and and tempted by the new TC flashback as it has stereo outs AND ins.
Has anyone compared the DBD and flashback?