Strymon El Capistan vs. Real Tape Delays: Maestro Echoplex EP-3

[CopperfoxMusic]

It wasn't until the third round that I heard the Echoplex as being "better" but that should be a testament to the Strymon.

[alanpitfall]

In this comparison the Strymon sounds thin, weak and a bit brittle.

[speedsalot]

I have a great old EP-3, Maxon AD-900, old MXR, and Chandler rack mount delays, and just purchased an El Capistan about 3 weeks ago. The Strymon is the best sounding "new" delay I've ever heard. Nothing else even comes close. The Echoplex and Strymon are a close match, but when dependability and consistency are considered, it's a no-brainer.

[Mark70609]

Agreed great comparison. How does the Fulltone tape echo compare to vintage units.

[DemoColorScheme]

@Mark70609

I haven't played the TTE, but it's a more stable unit due to them not being so old as vintage tape delays, though this can be altered by changing the roller, for instance, to a more worn in one. I do think they're less prone to failing and they're more reliable. Sound-wise, it's pretty clean and hi-fi, which I dig.

[triviani1234]

I just love how the echoplex gets into self-oscillation.. beautiful!!

[DemoColorScheme]

@triviani1234

Absolutely! I ended up selling it because I didn't really bond with it, but ... the oscillation this thing throws out is the best I've ever heard.

[41224jason]

I call a mistrial!

1) the two echos are recorded at different volumes. makes it difficult to judge accurately

2) the EP3 is obviously in great condition--really clean and bright sounding. why didn't you try to match the sound with the strymon as best you could, instead of placing the controls where they were (to make a darker, dirtier sound)

to me, they both sound like great tape echoes, just at different stages in their life. just wanted to point that out.

[DemoColorScheme]

@41224jason

If you read the comments below, you'll read this:

... I know it has those functions and we did do that exactly. The El Cap does do bass roll-off, but not progressively - you can obviously hear the difference between the EP-3 and the El Cap in the slope of the regeneration. The EP-3 keeps losing bass, the El Cap doesn't.

Also .................... :

[DemoColorScheme]

@41224jason

The volume was identical. Each phrase was recorded with a looper placed in front of the units. Dry levels weren't messed with. The EP-3 is just a unit that ads high end, not only in the feedback slope, but in the pre-amp as well. It cuts bass which makes it pop more and sound a bit more focused.

We set the El Cap at its brightest. The settings in the pic were not the setting we used.

[DemoColorScheme]

@41224jason

The El Cap can be bright, but when you set it up against the EP-3, it becomes obvious that the EP-3 is brighter, a lot brighter. No mistrial, really. I didn't set one unit up to fail over the other.

[Winterland68]

Great Comparison.  You can really hear the difference. Thanks.

[DemoColorScheme]

@Winterland68

You're welcome.

[Stringprodigy]

Sounds like it's saying "play it, play it, play it" at first...

[theShowStopper321]

Tape echoes are very clean in regards to repeats. I don't know why modern manufactures make the imitations saying dark, gritty, and dirty. I understand how tapes can wear out, but still they sound very clean and hi-fi compared to BBD.

[DemoColorScheme]

@theShowStopper321

Tape delays can get dark, gritty and dirty, trust me ...

[alanpitfall]

I judge stuff by how it sounds and how it works while it's doing it.

I don't have a grudge against digital gear, I've got lots of it myself.

The fact is, good though the Strymon is, it does not sound nearly as good as the real thing.

[dumalucky]

the Strymon is great, fantastic.... but its fake!! its that simple.. its pretending to be something it isnt.. and no matter how good it is.. it will always be fake....

[Imat00l]

@dumalucky You visit here just say that? It's not fake, it is what it does, it's an emulator of basic tape delay effect in a convenient package and cost. Purist morons like yourself needs to shut their posterior up.

[dumalucky]

@Imat00l Hey? take your medication..

[jcshirke]

It would have been helpful if you posted the second level menu settings on the El Cap. Also, did you turn off the reverb on the El Cap? I can get my El Cap to sound pretty much exactly like my TTE, and I feel pretty confident you could do the same to get the El Cap to sound just like the EP-3. I'm not sure about the feedback slope...are you positive that can't be altered so that the repeats gradually lose bass?

[DemoColorScheme]

@jcshirke

I didn't use the reverb because the EP-3 doesn't have reverb. I also set the bias and such at the maximum position for bass loss, but it's not gradual, like the EP-3. The TTE and the EP-3 are completely different units. In regards to the bass loss on the repeats, the EP-3 is just unique.

[yellowecho]

If you put an EP-Booster in the chain with the ElCap it'll sound closer to the real deal. Thanks for the demo, dude.

[DemoColorScheme]

@yellowecho

Nope, I disagree ... I've had pre-amp pedals (I did a demo of the Nocturne Dyno Brain with the El Cap) and while those pedals 'warm it up' with their EQ change, the feedback slope of the El Cap, obviously, doesn't change.

[metalcore929]

Fantastic demo, which guitar are you using here? A Strat?

[DemoColorScheme]

@metalcore929

Thanks! Means a lot, coming from you. And yeah, I was using a Fender '08 California Series U.S.A. Stratocaster [Fender Tex-Mex Pickups] w/ .010 Fender Bullet String (tuned in drop C# / Db Tuning)

[alanpitfall]

Although Strymon pedals sound great, if you own a real tape unit you can hear the difference in sound quality straight away. The digital pedals sound harder and harsher and don't regenerate convincingly.

[Ilovemyfender2]

The echoplex clearly sounds better, but for convenience the El Capistn

[noah1i8]

So, what do you think does the echoplex thing better: El Capistan or Deluxe Memory Man?

[DemoColorScheme]

@noah1i8

Neither, to be honest. They both don't do bass roll-off on the repeats, hence why both don't do it. I still think an old digital delay comes closer to an EP-3 than a BBD or the El Cap.

[Jules6120]

@DemoColorScheme

The El Capistan DOES bass roll-off on the repeats. If you hold the Tap and Bypass footswitches down at the same time and turn the TAPE AGE knob clockwise it will progressively cut bass frequencies from the repeats. This is a hidden function of the pedal.

I have both the DMM and recently got the El Capistan (I also have a Fulltone TTE). I think the El Capistan allows you to tweak your sound and come as close as I have been able to get to a Tape Echo - I love it.

[DemoColorScheme]

@Jules6120

... I know it has those functions and we did do that exactly. The El Cap does do bass roll-off, but not progressively - you can obviously hear the difference between the EP-3 and the El Cap in the slope of the regeneration. The EP-3 keeps losing bass, the El Cap doesn't.

And while I love my El Cap, I really do, there are just some things that it can't do when you start comparing. However, if you don't compare it to anything else, you can start using its own voicing.

[Jules6120]

@DemoColorScheme

Fair comment regarding the progressive bass roll off - you are absolutely correct. I read back my post and meant it to mean "the more you turn the knob the more bass is cut".

Thanks for posting the video.

[thomasjeeh]

@Jules6120 dude, you actually own the fulltone tte? that's fucking awesome, what's your best experience with it?

[ihaveaverybadcold]

@DemoColorScheme so whats the best pedal for bas roll off

[DemoColorScheme]

@ihaveaverybadcold

For the Echoplex bass roll off, you mean? Well, nothing, it's a progression that develops in the feedback slope, so you can't change that. However, the natural bass cut provided by the EP-3's pre-amp can be obtained with pedals that emulate that pre-amp, like the Badgerplex Pre, Xotic EP Booster and the ClinchFX EP-Pre.

[giuliettaEVH]

Where can I find the sale Maestro Echoplex??????

[DemoColorScheme]

@giuliettaEVH

eBay, for instance.

[giuliettaEVH]

@DemoColorScheme ..thanks



[darioEVH]

Maestro Echoplex EP-3 for me is better

[cosmogang]

I really love both of the pedals in this demo. I love how the Strymon is a bit smoother and cloudier than the EP-3, but the EP-3 has this beautiful snap on the attack of the notes from the preamp, and it has this sound that I will describe as "vintage hi-fi" or "analogue enhancer" it's an oxymoron, but I don't know. It sounds good, guess that's it.

[DemoColorScheme]

@cosmogang

Yeah, good description. It's a great unit, for sure.

[cosmogang]

Drool......... I want that EP-3!

[DemoColorScheme]

@cosmogang

And that one you DO like? ;) It is the brightest of them all and doesn't really get cloudy.

[Tomurow]

Great series of vids on these delays! The EP-3 sounds glorious!!!! Thanks Andrew!

[DemoColorScheme]

@Tomurow

Thanks! (I don't know if you meant you're Andrew or addressed me as Andrew - but I'm Michel, haha)

[Tomurow]

@DemoColorScheme Ooops. sorry Michel! I got you confused with Andrew Stuart Olthing for a second! You guys are my heroes! Sorry! Great vid, all the same!

[DemoColorScheme]

@Tomurow

Yeah, I thought so. ;)

[andy92811]

The EP-3 sounds so amazing, I can hear the famous pre-amp section working.

[DemoColorScheme]

@andy92811

Agreed. It's definitely part of its sound.