lol
Active member
I really want to try one of these. So far out of the Xotic EP pre, Catalinbread Epoch boost, J Rockett APE and Chase tone Secret pre the Chasetone is my favorite. The 3 way toggle on the Chasetone definitely makes a difference.
I really want to try one of these. So far out of the Xotic EP pre, Catalinbread Epoch boost, J Rockett APE and Chase tone Secret pre the Chasetone is my favorite. The 3 way toggle on the Chasetone definitely makes a difference.
lol
Active member
When I first got the Chasetone I didn't get it initally. I had thought it was some sort of clean boost, so it didn't stay on my board. Then I did some reading about what it was supposed to do, so I put it back on the board and now it stays lol. Absolutely love it.
PDC
Well-known member
FWIW, I had an XOTIC EP Booster and I could not connect with it for the life of me. Not with any guitar, not with any amp. It always seemed to roll off the high end in a way that could only be described as laying a thick, wet blanket in front of my cabinet. And I tried every combination of ups and downs with the internal DIP switches. It was just plain ‘weird.’ I later discovered the Spark Mini (single knob version) and swear by it. It is the most transparent boost I have ever used.
Kapo_Polenton
Well-known member
Same, hated that thing (the Xotic I mean) Just didn't sound right. Have the same issue with their super clean booster too. Thought it would do exactly what I wanted but alas... no. I am starting to think xotic pedals just aren't for me. They always impart something on the sound which I do not like.
mentoneman
Well-known member
currently running the chase tone secret pre on bright, after a catalinbread bella epoch deluxe/ running in the loop of a rockett APE preamp.
the BED was decent but in the loop of the APE is is so much closer to a real tape echo.
the secret pre hits a boss DD-500 running a sde-3000 preset. really great toys.
the BED was decent but in the loop of the APE is is so much closer to a real tape echo.
the secret pre hits a boss DD-500 running a sde-3000 preset. really great toys.
SpiderWars
Well-known member
I'm a little confused. Does the APE impart the preamp tone to the dry signal or is it only for whatever is in the loop? I was thinking if I had the APE I wouldn't need the Secret. Or conversely, I was thinking if I had the Secret, there's my EP preamp and I wouldn't need the APE. Can you explain why you need both?
P
PhilC
Well-known member
Have a Chase. Like it for clean sounds. Don't use it for dirt. A bit too drastic.
H
harddriver
Well-known member
I have one of the first Chase Secret Preamp Dark model like the later EP's were darker, I specifically asked him to make just like my EP3 which was a dark later EP3 version.
I also have a custom Clinch EP-PRE with a bright and dark switch Peter Installed for me. Both a stellar units but after head to head comparisons with my actual EP3 echoplex I felt that the Chase was a little more accurate sounding and in the feel department that way it responded. That may have to do with the fact that Chase used the actual vintage JFET whereas Clinch used a modern equivalent. It is nice the Chase added the bright, mid and dark switch to let you choose how bright or dark sounding you want it on the new versions. For Zep or VH or you just like what the EP3 preamp does to the signal they are both fantastic pedals....
You can't go wrong with either IMHO.... I'm not sure Clinch makes them anymore I think he was about to retire a few years back.
I also have a custom Clinch EP-PRE with a bright and dark switch Peter Installed for me. Both a stellar units but after head to head comparisons with my actual EP3 echoplex I felt that the Chase was a little more accurate sounding and in the feel department that way it responded. That may have to do with the fact that Chase used the actual vintage JFET whereas Clinch used a modern equivalent. It is nice the Chase added the bright, mid and dark switch to let you choose how bright or dark sounding you want it on the new versions. For Zep or VH or you just like what the EP3 preamp does to the signal they are both fantastic pedals....
You can't go wrong with either IMHO.... I'm not sure Clinch makes them anymore I think he was about to retire a few years back.
SpiderWars
Well-known member
You guys are a bad influence. I wasn't even looking for this but I ordered a Chase. 
When somebody offers a good deal like that it's hard to refuse. Very reasonably priced imo.
When somebody offers a good deal like that it's hard to refuse. Very reasonably priced imo.
Mark Skid
Well-known member
As a component of the EP3, okay. As a stand-alone device, it's a needless accoutrement.
psychodave
Well-known member
Again, I’ve tried them all, both versions of a Chase tone, MXR, Xotic, Clinch, etc. The Badgerplex sounded 99.9% like my EP3 units. It adds a little bit of gain like the echoplex but the biggest thing that set it apart from every other unit on the market was compression. All of those other units, except for the Badgerplex didn’t have the compression of a real echoplex. I did extensive testing as I wanted something to be as close to my original units as possible so I could save wear and tear. Badgerplex was the best. I got mine in 2012 and Robert from Badgerplex updated mine for free and included a few different TIS 58 transistors to tone sculpt a little. The Korean TIS 58 was the winner. A friend even changed his transistor after hearing mine. 
Build quality is top notch. The charge pump makes it run at the correct voltage of the original when using 12-18 volt adapter. It also has a built in buffer that is completely bypassed when the switch is off. It’s great for when you want just a touch more high end clarity. I rarely use the buffer though.
Just took a picture of it with my original echoplex units. The unit to the right is a very early EP3 and is the best echoplex I’ve every owned or heard. I’ve owned likely 5+ units. I still have a Roland Space echo as well. I bought all of these in the 90’s for around $100-150 each.
Build quality is top notch. The charge pump makes it run at the correct voltage of the original when using 12-18 volt adapter. It also has a built in buffer that is completely bypassed when the switch is off. It’s great for when you want just a touch more high end clarity. I rarely use the buffer though.
Just took a picture of it with my original echoplex units. The unit to the right is a very early EP3 and is the best echoplex I’ve every owned or heard. I’ve owned likely 5+ units. I still have a Roland Space echo as well. I bought all of these in the 90’s for around $100-150 each.
Kapo_Polenton
Well-known member
So when it is engaged, does it keep the highs or sort of round them and dull them like a lot of the other ones seem to do ?Again, I’ve tried them all, both versions of a Chase tone, MXR, Xotic, Clinch, etc. The Badgerplex sounded 99.9% like my EP3 units. It adds a little bit of gain like the echoplex but the biggest thing that set it apart from every other unit on the market was compression. All of those other units, except for the Badgerplex didn’t have the compression of a real echoplex. I did extensive testing as I wanted something to be as close to my original units as possible so I could save wear and tear. Badgerplex was the best. I got mine in 2012 and Robert from Badgerplex updated mine for free and included a few different TIS 58 transistors to tone sculpt a little. The Korean TIS 58 was the winner. A friend even changed his transistor after hearing mine.
View attachment 87652
Build quality is top notch. The charge pump makes it run at the correct voltage of the original when using 12-18 volt adapter. It also has a built in buffer that is completely bypassed when the switch is off. It’s great for when you want just a touch more high end clarity. I rarely use the buffer though.
View attachment 87655
Just took a picture of it with my original echoplex units. The unit to the right is a very early EP3 and is the best echoplex I’ve every owned or heard. I’ve owned likely 5+ units. I still have a Roland Space echo as well. I bought all of these in the 90’s for around $100-150 each.
View attachment 87658
Bishop5150
Well-known member
Another recommendation for Clinch Fx.
psychodave
Well-known member
It adds a little gain (depending on the knob settings) a little compression and tone. It rounds the sound a little bit. The buffer switch certainly brings back the lost high from the echoplex impedance change. It’s not a drastic change, but I hear and feel it.
mentoneman
Well-known member
the APE increases the range of fine tuning of the preamp section of the Bella Epoch Deluxe, so i can dial the preamp attack and gradual break up precisely to my guitar output and touch. prior to getting the APE i was struggling to get the feel and sound of the BED preamp section just right without breaking up in a weird raspy was, and i wasn't buying the hype about how perfectly the pedal captured the real echoplex because of this.
adding the APE i can honestly say it is as close as i've ever come to reproducing the magic *feel* of a real tape echo in pedal form.
eric johnson went as far as to remove the tape from his echoplexes and use the actual echoplex preamp into his belle epoch pedals. that would be interesting!
true you don't NEED both APE and Secret Pre.... but sure sounds great to have both!
i am using the secret after the BED/APE to enhance the signal feeding into the next pedal-the Boss DD-500. besides if i kick the BED/APE off i'd loose that preamping into the Boss without the Secret in there.
the secret pre switch is set to bright and barely cracked but it makes a big difference for my Boss sde-3000 style delay tone and touch sensitivity. even those old rack delays had great analog preamps.
every delay *pedal* i have ever owned shared the same weakness of not capturing the magic feel of the real tape echo preamps and how it interacts with the delay section. the best response in that regard for me have been the H&K replex and original Damage Control Timeline, which both coincidentally(?) utilized hybrid tube circuits, and a vintage EH MM deluxe with the AC cord.
mentoneman
Well-known member
i experimented with the chase into a mesa mark III lead channel, and it does a really neat thing...
mentoneman
Well-known member
yo bro bro-i had the earlier badgerplex which was cool but it did not do it for me. i remember you posting about this one and wished i had scored this version!Again, I’ve tried them all, both versions of a Chase tone, MXR, Xotic, Clinch, etc. The Badgerplex sounded 99.9% like my EP3 units. It adds a little bit of gain like the echoplex but the biggest thing that set it apart from every other unit on the market was compression. All of those other units, except for the Badgerplex didn’t have the compression of a real echoplex. I did extensive testing as I wanted something to be as close to my original units as possible so I could save wear and tear. Badgerplex was the best. I got mine in 2012 and Robert from Badgerplex updated mine for free and included a few different TIS 58 transistors to tone sculpt a little. The Korean TIS 58 was the winner. A friend even changed his transistor after hearing mine.
View attachment 87652
Build quality is top notch. The charge pump makes it run at the correct voltage of the original when using 12-18 volt adapter. It also has a built in buffer that is completely bypassed when the switch is off. It’s great for when you want just a touch more high end clarity. I rarely use the buffer though.
View attachment 87655
Just took a picture of it with my original echoplex units. The unit to the right is a very early EP3 and is the best echoplex I’ve every owned or heard. I’ve owned likely 5+ units. I still have a Roland Space echo as well. I bought all of these in the 90’s for around $100-150 each.
View attachment 87658
SpiderWars
Well-known member
Thanks! So now I'm curious, I have a 90's EH Deluxe Memory Man and those have a weird weak buffer that clips (it's part of the sound, I get that). Would an APE help with that? Or would that be putting more sauce on top of sauce?
I have a Replex with as bad transformer. Used it for years in the loop of a too bright amp. Everything about the echo of those was great...but the excessive tone suck was an issue. Man were they dark.
Dave has the coolest stuff and has dog ears. I'm just trying to see if I want/like an EP pre. I had several EP3's in the 90's and TBH, I didn't like the pre. It wasn't pure/pristine which is what I was after at the time. I didn't 'get' that the pre was part of the package. And the tapes were a PITA so I sold them. There really is no substitute for that echo.
mentoneman
Well-known member
i couldn't tell you re: APE/EHMMD but i too eventually sold off my old DMM due to that super finicky clipping input not playing nicely enough with various drive pedals-same with my old CE-1. one of the sweetest tones i found with the EHMM was putting a vintage ADA flanger set to chorus in front of it, feeding into an old Ampeg V4 half stack on a clean tone. so fat and hypnotic.
i used the replex with my w/d mojave rigs after being turned on to it by Victor Mason/Plexi Palace-Mojave Ampworks, with excellent results! but the bulky size of the box and power supply made it unpedalboard friendly.
i've only borrowed echoplexes to mess with briefly but they were pretty cool sounding to me. i owned the roland space echo RE-150 and i have yet to find any pedal that replicates the sound/feel experience of that box: