GEAR DATABASE

In this episode we start by asking: what’s the big deal about tape echo?
It sounds frikkin awesome, that’s the deal! However, it also comes with its fair share of problems including high cost, reliability issues, fiddly tape replacement and of course, the not-inconsiderable size impact on (or off) your pedalboard.

All that aside, countless players have used – and still use – vintage and modern tape echo machines to create wonderful tones thanks to their unique character, depth and feel.

The pick of the bunch for us is the Maestro Echoplex EP-3, just like the one we have here. We called it in – thanks to Charlie Chandler of http://www.guitarexperience.co.uk/ – in order to compare it to the new T-Rex Replicator tape delay… but the T-Rex never showed and Charlie needs his EP-3 back for a gig asap. Hmmm. We move to Plan B.

So in this video we ask: how do more modern delays compare to the EP-3 for tape echo simulation?

We’ve chosen the (digital) Strymon TimeLine, (analogue) Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man 1100-TT and (analogue) Analogman ARDX20 to see how they all compare.
We also add the all-important Xotic EP Booster that’s derived from the original EP-3’s much loved preamp circuit, to see what that does to the more modern pedals.
We’re also using a Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem overdrive/distortion to create our gainer tones.

Amps today are a Lazy J20 and a Mallard 20-watt Marshall Plexi clone. They’re both on all the time, set to a fairly clean tone.

Guitars are Dan’s Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster, a Collings SoCo and Mick’s Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster.

As ever, all signal routing and pedal switching is handled effortlessly by TheGigRig G2.
For more on the G2, see www.thegigrig.com

Thanks for watching – we hope you enjoy this video!

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