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

This is the 2nd clip / video in the 'Strymon El Capistan vs. Real Tape Delays' series (the first being the Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo). I don't own an El Capistan myself, but a guy I know, Wouter (WtrPlyr), and I got together to set up this concept and compare some of the tape delays I have to the El Capistan, which is a tape delay modeler/emulator (a very nice one and the best out there, in stompbox format, that is).

We used the DigiTech JamMan Stereo and recorded a dry loop every time and routed that through the El Capistan and the EP-3 - both of them were in a true bypass looper (RJM Music Effects Gizmo).

You be the own judge of which one you prefer.
I do have to say that I don't think the El Capistan does the EP-3 sound at all. I was hoping the Low End Contour function would enable me to cut the lows on the repeats so they become brighter, like on the EP-3, but this isn't the case. I wasn't expecting it though, since the EP-3 has a really unique thing going on, in that department.

Hear the El Capistan vs. the Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo here:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76ON0Ixrr9s

Hear the El Capistan on its own here:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCy7MxS1QWE

- - -

Gear used for recording:
- PreSonus FirePod
- Ableton Live 6.01
Plugins:
- Guitar Rig 4 (2x Twin Reverb models)
- PSP Master Compressor

- - -

Gear used:

Guitar:
- Fender '08 California Series U.S.A. Stratocaster
[Fender Tex-Mex Pickups]
.010 Fender Bullet String (tuned in drop C# / Db Tuning)

Signal Chain:
- DigiTech JamMan Stereo
- RJM Music Effects Gizmo*:
FRONT IN - BUFFER IN - LOOPS IN
::LOOP 1::
- 70ies MXR Dyna Comp Block Logo (Script innards) (modded: power input, white LED)
::LOOP 2::
- Strymon El Capistan
::LOOP 3::
- '76 EHX Electric Mistress (modded: true bypass, green LED, calibration, volume drop mod, level/mix knob, power input)
::LOOP 4::
- Maestro Echoplex EP-3 / Roland RE-501 (switched)
LOOP 1-4 OUT - G-SYSTEM RIG IN:
- t.c. electronic G-System [4-cable method]
::LOOP 1::
- Keeley C4 Compressor
::LOOP 2::
- Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret [18V]
::LOOP 3::
- EHX Deluxe Memory Man [modded: true bypass]
::LOOP 4::
- BOSS RV-5
::AFTER THE G-SYTEM INSERT SEND::
- t.c. electronic Nova Drive NDR-1*
EFFECTS GIZMO CLICK IN - EFFECTS GIZMO CLICK OUT
- Into the PreSonus FirePod

* = (connected to the G-System with MIDI - MIDIman Thru 1x4)

Various:
- 2x Burkey Flatliner SIX (power supply) (one for each separate rig)

- - -

More info on the total gear [for all you gearheads]:
- http://guitargeek.com/chat/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100652

All mods by Technophobia Analog Audio Solutions:
- http://technophobia.co.nr/

- - -

For info on my music projects, see:
- Arafúra:
http://www.facebook.com/ArafuraMusic
Ambient / Dream-Pop / Shoegaze / Post-Rock

- IZAH:
http://www.IZAHband.com
Post-Metal / Sludge / Post-Rock / Noise

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Strymon
• El
• Capistan
• vs
• Real
• Tape
• Delays
• Delay
• Echoplex
• Plex
• EP-3
• EP
• EP3
• Cap
• Cappy
• Spring
• Reverb
• Wow
• Flutter
• Wow&Flutter
• Crinkle
• Bias
• Natural
• Modulation
• dTape
• Digital
• Technology
• Emulation
• Emulator
• Modeling
• Model
• Oscillation
• Binson
• EchoRec
• Rec
• Roland
• RE-501
• RE501
• RE
• 501
• RE-201
• RE201
• 201
• Chorus
• Echo
• Space

[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

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.

[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.

[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

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 .................... :