Best tape echo delay?

[Jakeboy]

I am not a delay guy. I don't use many pedals. Now that I am recording a lit instead of gigging, I think I could use a good delay. I like using them as plug ins when I record.

so, I am looking at these:'

Catalinbread Belle Epoch

Catalinbread Echorec

Catalinbread Montavillian

Keeley Memphis Sun

Keeley Magnetic Tape

 

if you have experience with any of these, I'd like to know what you think. 

Thanks!

 

mark

 

[jaberwock]

Catalinbread Belle Epoch sounds absolutely beautiful, but lack of tap tempo is a big issue for me; the Strymon El Capistan is very nearly as good sonically,  and has all he functionality you could ever need, plus a very nice spring reverb, and that's why it's been on my very minimal pedal board for three years, and doesn't look like coming off.

  Sorry I haven't tried the others.   Jaberwock

[Jakeboy]

JW, thank you for that answer. I have a good Strymon Flint for reverb and trem. That's one for the BE.

[Sugartune]

The Memphis Sun is very cool for what it does, but is somewhat limited within it's range. It's a great set it and forget effect for slapback and such, but if you wanted longer delay, I'd go for something else. I have a 30ms, that I use as a set and forget and have a old Tech21 Boost DLA that works for my limited use of longer delay times. 

Memphis is on sale from Keeley direct. $169, I believe.

[Jakeboy]

I will not use delay for much more than a SnapBack or basic echo. Those are the two I am considering.....Belle Epoch and the Memphis Sun.

[sixesandsevens]

+1 on the El Capistan.  It's awesome, and I only have the first one.

[jaberwock]

The El Capistan could be overkill for just "slap back and basic echo", plus the Belle Epoch is smaller, and a fair bit cheaper.

[Disturber]

An old Ibanez AD80 does the trick better than any modern digital pedal. It's got the funkines innit. Especially if you use it to record. The analog thing is where it's at when it comes to sounding great. The El Capistan is way to modern sounding and bright.

[jaberwock]

The El Capistan  does a remarkably good job of replicating a tape delay; using the tape age, and wow and flutter  controls, it can get pretty dark, and murky if you should so want it; agreed some of the old bucket brigade delays sound super fat and warm for slapback, I have an MXR carbon copy on my board set up for this, and the El Cap for longer delays.

 I don't think you could go wrong with the Belle Epoch if you don't need tap tempo.