will it stand up to my Strymon EL Capistan Dtape echo that I keep lovingly employed behind my Atomic Brain, or will it replace it? I dont know yet. It is shipping to me and you bet its getting put to the challenge cuz I LOVE my EL Capistan!

http://proguitarshop.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/e/belle-epoch-6.jpg

http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969

Skeeter the El Capistan has a very nice input gain boost feature, not to mention bass and treble controls all from the outside of the box. I'm not thrilled that this forthcoming bell epoch has its most valuable controls as trimmers inside the box. Got the ship notice early yesterday so it will be fun to pop open that box.. yes G.A.S. has me in its clutches again.

http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969

I expect detailed reports, gentlemen!

The Hicadoolas

It would be interesting to hear it against a well maintained Echoplex.
One of the things I really like about the Echoplex is that it sits on my amp and the controls are well within reach. Also the simplicity of the layout; Repeat knob, mix knob, sound on sound switch, and lever to choose the delay time. Something I always wondered is do any of these pedals do sound on sound? I use this feature sometimes where I'll flick the sound on sound switch, delay whatever is already on the tape, and then manipulate the speed and repeats, resulting in those classic flying saucer type sounds. You get some really unpredictable sounds like this. Sometimes I think I should get one of these as a back-up, just in case (rareley needed, but you never know) but the price is close to what I can get another EP3 for so that always puts me off.

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

Last edited: Sep 04, 2013 07:53:41

Tony at Orbit also sells the EP-3 preamp section in a very affordable pedal with the correct transistors that you can place in front of a good delay of your choice. It will give you the exact gritchiness of an EP-3 and works great as an 'always on' pedal or for goosing some dirt boxes.

http://blueruins.bandcamp.com

I expected, when I went to the website to read up on the Catalinbread Belle Epoch, to find that CAtalinbread had included the Echoplex preamp circuit in their pedal. I am very shocked, considering how popular this preamp circuit currently is, that they didn't include it.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

killbabykill34 wrote:

I expected, when I went to the website to read up on the Catalinbread Belle Epoch, to find that CAtalinbread had included the Echoplex preamp circuit in their pedal. I am very shocked, considering how popular this preamp circuit currently is, that they didn't include it.

I believe they did include it. Analog too, only the actual repeats are DSP. There's an internal trim pot to set the gain/volume, and it stays on in bypass when you use the trails mode.

I can't tell you how accurate it sounds though. I've never played an Echoplex. I had an exotic EP Booster, but I think everyone knows that it isn't actually based on an EP3. I do expect the Belle Ephoch to sound awesome though! It should arrive tomorrow.

AXXA wrote:

killbabykill34 wrote:

I expected, when I went to the website to read up on the Catalinbread Belle Epoch, to find that CAtalinbread had included the Echoplex preamp circuit in their pedal. I am very shocked, considering how popular this preamp circuit currently is, that they didn't include it.

I believe they did include it. Analog too, only the actual repeats are DSP. There's an internal trim pot to set the gain/volume, and it stays on in bypass when you use the trails mode.

I can't tell you how accurate it sounds though. I've never played an Echoplex. I had an exotic EP Booster, but I think everyone knows that it isn't actually based on an EP3. I do expect the Belle Ephoch to sound awesome though! It should arrive tomorrow.

The video just doesn't offer the warm tone colorization the Echoplex is known for. Between that and the lack of any marketing materials stating so lead me to believe that there was no attempt to recreate the Echoplex front end, which is essential to what most people love about the original unit.

If you want a nice reference then I would suggest picking up a handful of the old Dead Kennedys recordings-expecially 'Police Truck'.

Victor,
You are correct about the voltage, which would surely make a difference. While still 9-Volt, the pedal I posted above comes damned close.
The EP Boost is a good pedal, but surely doesn't nail the preamp.
Lastly, the ClinchFX EP-PRE contains the NOS circuit of the EP-3 and I have heard nothing but good things. Below is what they say about the power supply, which sort of addresses your concern about voltage.

"Power Supply
The EP-PRE pedal operates from a 9V to 12V DC, Centre Negative power supply that has become the standard for most pedals.

The original EP-3® preamp operates from a zener regulated supply of about 20 Volts DC. The characteristics of the power supply are significant to the operation to the circuit. It just doesn’t work properly on 9 Volts, so the EP-PRE has a Charge-Pump power supply that converts the 9 Volts to more than 17 Volts, and 12 Volts to just over 23V . A Charge-Pump came closer to recreating the dynamics of the power supply in the EP-3® than I could achieve with an external 18 Volt supply."

http://www.clinchfx.com/ep-pre/

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

Last edited: Sep 05, 2013 08:14:48

SlacktoneDave wrote:

killbabykill34 wrote:

Well, it sounds good. But I have mentioned on here before the Stiff Amplification Repeat Offender Delay, which I think has a better sound. The Repeat Offender has a NOS front end pre-amp identical to that of the Echoplex,which leads to it sounding much closer to the real thing. It also cost a bit less too. However, there seems to be some tweakability on the Belle Epoch that the Repeat Offender lacks.

http://orbitelectronix.com/stiff/products.php

I played briefly through one of these, and it sounds great. If I get one, which is my plan especially if I travel again, is to get where the Ep preamp is not bypassed when the echo is switched off.

Back in the at I had my tech put in a high tech relay to bypass in my ss echoplex. I hated it what it did to the sound. Now I know why. It's he pre.

I used one in the studio for a track on our recent album. It belonged to Chad Shivers of The Mystery Men? and I was absolutely blown away. There are many points on the album where I use some sort of delay, but the moment when this pedal kicks in it is unmistakable. The idea of making sure the pre stays engaged even when the delay is not is a terrific idea. Hell, the idea of a second switch just for the pre would be ideal.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

I emailed Tony last year and mentioned that I thought his delay pedal would be greatly enhanced by the ability to run the preamp section seperately. Maybe if he hears it from more than 1 person he might?
I have the Maestro Boost and it gives me the same flavour that the Echoplex I owned for 12 years did. This is the only pedal I've ever bought 2 of just to have a backup because I wouldn't want to live without it.

http://blueruins.bandcamp.com