I'm retiring my old Ibanez EM5 echomachines for something newer....What's the best delay out there to replace them?

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harddriver

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I've had these EM5 echomachines for years I really like them but the electronics are getting old and I'm thinking of something new/newer. I already have a Boss DD500 but i use that in my W/D/W setup so I don't mount the DD500 to my main pedal board.

I am running two delays one set for a short slapback and one long (330/400ms)delay. I am also running a Clinch EP-PRE in front of them for the whole echoplex effect.

I'm thinking MXR Carbon Copy analog delays as an effective quality delay that's simple to set and use???????? These seemed to have proved themselves a decent delay since their release.

What are your thoughts/suggestions?
 
The next evolution, my favorite delay ever.
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The other delay that hit my radar was the Belle Epoch but I don't need a EP3 preamp since I have those. I think the Belle Epoch has a built in EP3 preamp from what I read.
 
Alright how about the Strymon El Capistan? Those have interested my since they came out.........I guess there are Version 1 and 2 whatever the differences are.
 
I am starting to consider picking up another DD500...............................As I do like the EP3 echoplex algorithm within the DD500 but I kinda need two separate delays but I may be able to just run the DD500 in stereo mode for my short slapback and longer delay and wire things up with my bypass looper pedal.
 
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harddriver said:
Alright how about the Strymon El Capistan? Those have interested my since they came out.........I guess there are Version 1 and 2 whatever the differences are.
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I love that pedal. Best tweakable tape emulation IMO.
 
The El Cap is what is on my ‘before dirt’ board. I had the Belle Epoch (not the Deluxe) and it was cool but I liked the El Cap better. But I run it bypass and I’m not using any EP type preamp, they just never sound ‘better’ to my ear. Even the Chase Secret. Strymon also has a Brig dBucket delay that is supposed to be really cool too.
 
The AMT ADG-1 looks cool af but since it’s pure analog no tap tempo. I don’t know why I don’t own one…I rarely use tap tempo.
 
A newer pedal that comes somewhat close to the mighty DE7's echo mode is the Mooer Echolizer or Dinner Yellow Fall.
Digital, but analog sounding and good self oscillation. The last part is where most digital delays fail and I've tried a shit-ton. My at home delay is a TC Alter Ego V2, and that one doesn't do a proper self oscillation either, so I added an Ibanez Analog Mini Delay next to it.
Self oscillation isn't just for shoe gaze emo stuff... Judas Priest's "Star Breaker" uses it in the intro....
 
harddriver said:
I've had these EM5 echomachines for years I really like them but the electronics are getting old and I'm thinking of something new/newer. I already have a Boss DD500 but i use that in my W/D/W setup so I don't mount the DD500 to my main pedal board.

I am running two delays one set for a short slapback and one long (330/400ms)delay. I am also running a Clinch EP-PRE in front of them for the whole echoplex effect.

I'm thinking MXR Carbon Copy analog delays as an effective quality delay that's simple to set and use???????? These seemed to have proved themselves a decent delay since their release.

What are your thoughts/suggestions?
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Fuck all the suggestions til now....

GET THE BEST

Boss SDE-3, the one that just released. A simple yet versatile delay pedal that is capable of anything with crystal clear sound.


Hungry Robots The Wash V1/V2. Best Analog delay pedal I've ever used.

Honorable mentionings:


Keely Halo delay (Based on Timon Klein's sounds)


MXR Joshua (Based on U2's sounds)
 
SpiderWars said:
The El Cap is what is on my ‘before dirt’ board. I had the Belle Epoch (not the Deluxe) and it was cool but I liked the El Cap better. But I run it bypass and I’m not using any EP type preamp, they just never sound ‘better’ to my ear. Even the Chase Secret. Strymon also has a Brig dBucket delay that is supposed to be really cool too.
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So the Strymon is a digital delay by design then. I know alot of people love them. What exactly do you mean that you run the El Capistan in bypass, does it incorporate some kind of EP3 type of preamp like the Belle Epoch?

I would be running these delays in front of the amp off a looper pedal. I remember my original EP3 echoplex the initial echo set for 1 repeat was quite pronounced and the EM5's always replicated that quite well and the decays.

The plex echoplex algorithm in the DD500 also does a good job of replicating that although I mainly got the DD500 for the SDE3000 modeling for my W/D/W setup.
 
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harddriver said:
So the Strymon is a digital delay by design then. I know alot of people love them. I would be running these delays in front of the amp off a looper pedal. I remember my original EP3 echoplex the initial echo set for 1 repeat was quite pronounced and the EM5's always replicated that quite well and the decays.

The plex echoplex algorithm in the DD500 also does a good job of replicating that although I mainly got the DD500 for the SDE3000 modeling for my W/D/W setup.
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You still playing' gigs ?

:unsure:
 
Ben Waylin said:
You still playing' gigs ?

:unsure:
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Nope...Not since 2003. I'm just looking at what's out there to replace those EM5's that I really like for my pedal board rebuild. I've been running the EM-5's since 2009 and they have done a hell of a job replicating my EP3 echoplex but I feel they are getting long in the tooth.

I'd like to try the Strymon El Capistan but I've already heard the echoplex algorithm in the DD500 and it's no slouch but I'm just kicking the tires on what's out there and still considering other possible options besides the DD500.

For around 200 bucks I can pick up a DD500 and see how it does, I may end up staying the EM5's I won't know until I test drive the replacements.
 
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It's expensive, but if you want the most capable and best sounding analog delay you can get, I'd recommend the Suhr Discovery.

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If what you're going for is a warmer sounding digital delay, I'd check out the Keeley Halo.

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If you want a simple and straightforward warm sounding analog delay, the MXR Carbon Copy has been a staple for like the last 20 years.

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