morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 20 2010 08:24 PM
Just pulled the trigger on one of these, and I'm pretty excited:
http://www.strymon.net/products/elcapistan/
Anyone here have one or even heard of them? Not that I'm unhappy with my MXR Carbon Copy... I kinda wanted to see what else is out there to get closer to a kind of 60's Euro-echo sound, and based on videos, this thing looks crazy! There's an obsessive amount of controls to simulate a tape's age and warble, some sort of spring reverb "B" setting (won't replace the tank, but pretty cool nonetheless), and you can even use it as a looper. Someone did a video comparison to an Echoplex and Roland Echo Chorus, and I think it stands up pretty well considering the size and price:
Strymon El Capistan vs. Real Tape Delays: Maestro Echoplex EP-3
Strymon El Capistan vs. Real Tape Delays: Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo
Not quite the same nice lo-fi sound (cleaner I guess), but I'm not keen on tracking down and maintaining a real echoplex. A couple more sound demos with more interesting playing here:
Strymon El Capistan delay pedal demo- By Pete Thorn
Strymon El Capistan - Clip (in stereo)
Won't be arriving in time for X-mas, but still stoked!
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2226
North Carolina
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Posted on Dec 20 2010 09:13 PM
Hey Morph! I know you will, but keep us posted on how this sounds. I recently ran across the same pedal when exploring options for delay. Sound clips, write ups sound pretty sweet.
I also saw this one with similar capabilities/sounds - the Empress Effects Vintage Modified Super Delay that looked pretty interesting; ability to select tape wear and whatnot.
I'm definitely interested in hearing what folks have to say about the El Capistan or the Empress VMSD...
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 20 2010 09:33 PM
You got it! I'm planning to spend some time with this and nothing else in the signal path, so I'll try to do some samples asap. That Empress looks really cool too; I like that it has memory for 8 presets. (The Strymon can't do that, but has an extender pedal you can purchase separately that can hold ONE favorite; still, it's $100 less even with this option.)
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2226
North Carolina
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Posted on Dec 21 2010 07:32 AM
Yeah, no joke on the loot gap!
As I'd just been casually window browsing (wouldn't even say window shopping really) on the interwebz, I didn't really even pay much attention to prices - just exploring the endless options for delay.
I've looked some more at that one you've ordered, I really appreciate the finer control it provides on wow/flutter & tape age by comparison. I also totally missed the secondary functions stuff it does first time I saw it. Pretty cool!
Geeked for you, man. Should be lots of fun, lots of sounds. Good stuff!
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
Last edited: Dec 21, 2010 11:56:46
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Dec 21 2010 09:04 AM
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 21 2010 09:37 AM
$450 is a bit excessive for any pedal, but those Empresses are sort of known for that; I guess that's just the price of boutique quality. Excluding the G-Spring, $300 is much more than I've ever spent on any effect, but I'm sure it would easily sell if I happen to not like it. (Which I don't think is very likely; having a pretty convincing single, multi or fixed head unit on my board with full control of not only the condition of the machine but also the tape's condition should give more than enough flexibility.)
And as I mentioned, there is a hidden spring reverb setting that has me a little intrigued- they claim it drips, though I doubt it is trying to emulate a tank the way a FRV-1 tried to, we'll see though; it might be good enough as a failsafe or bedroom jammer.
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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thankseddie
Joined: Oct 03, 2010
Posts: 27
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Posted on Dec 25 2010 01:01 PM
I've had an El Capistan for a few months and I love it.
I don't think I've even scratched the surface in terms of finding all the sounds it can make. I bought it figuring that I could sell it pretty easily if I didn 't love it, now I can't imagine ever parting with it.
It is a very warm and natural delay, and a whole lot more.
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 25 2010 09:07 PM
That's very encouraging, Eddie! It's on the way, I should have it in my hands when I return to work next year, sooooo very stoked... hopefully I'm not stoking myself too much though, hahaha...
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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rotnroby
Joined: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 877
Santa Barbara Ca... in the 805
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Posted on Dec 26 2010 12:29 PM
Got one too.. Bought it about a month ago.. It's a very convincing box!!! I had a Fulltone TTE and this thing really sounds amazing! Lot's of options!!!!
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 26 2010 10:45 PM
All right, that's it- I'm sneaking into work on the 28th or 29th to get my pedal! Hopefully I'll be in and out before anyone discovers me. I'm not officially back until the 3rd, that's too long to wait! (Damned P.O. Box!!!)
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Dec 26 2010 10:51 PM
All the demos I've heard are very slow repeats, does this thing get pretty fast repeats with a lot of echo? I personally like a lot of delay, but I don't like hearing the individual repeats.
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rotnroby
Joined: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 877
Santa Barbara Ca... in the 805
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Posted on Dec 27 2010 09:15 AM
JakeDobner
All the demos I've heard are very slow repeats, does this thing get pretty fast repeats with a lot of echo? I personally like a lot of delay, but I don't like hearing the individual repeats.
fast repeats are obtainable .... Nice little unit... Tons of options!!!
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elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
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Posted on Dec 27 2010 02:05 PM
Nice write-up (and an "Editors Pick" award) in the new Guitar player Mag.
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 28 2010 08:35 PM
My El Capistan is sitting here in front of me now; I made an excuse to travel 45 minutes to work and 45 back to get it, but I'm glad I did! I've spent the last hour and a half getting acquainted with nothing else in the chain- my first impression is very favorable; it makes my MXR CC seem like a one-trick pony in comparison. With the fixed head setting on mode B and all dials at noon (repeats at about 1:00 and "spring reverb" on full), I think it nails the dreamy Wilsey sound, and I've barely scratched the surface!
I was thinking if any other El Cap owners wanted to share their favorite settings in this thread, that would be most bitchin... I'll try to do the same...
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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rotnroby
Joined: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 877
Santa Barbara Ca... in the 805
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Posted on Dec 28 2010 08:39 PM
Try the milti head setting.. Fast delay echo you can get the Hank Marvin sound spot on!!!!
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 28 2010 09:21 PM
Cool! Now if I can also get that Atlantics/echolette sound with the weird tails, there will be no turning back!
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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rotnroby
Joined: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 877
Santa Barbara Ca... in the 805
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Posted on Dec 28 2010 09:44 PM
You will be suprised all the options bro!!! You doing great for just a few hours ... Enjoy it as I think it's the best sounding pedal on my board!!!
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1266
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Dec 29 2010 09:53 AM
Nice pedal morphball!
After weeks of debating I finally had to admit I just couldn't afford the Strymon right now, and instead picked up one of these used-
Not nearly as many options or parameters as the El Capistan, but it sounds pretty decent and will have to do for now....
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Dec 29 2010 11:25 AM
Once upon a time I was looking into a Tech21 practice amp, they seem to make good stuff. Looks like it has a good amount of tweaking, how does it sound?
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1266
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Dec 29 2010 11:56 AM
Here's a pretty thorough demo clip from YouTube-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX656oviAQw
The flutter control gives you an o.k. tape echo simulation, probably nowhere near the Strymon, but like I said 120 bucks was all the budget would allow so it's on my pedal board for the foreseeable future... Or at least until the next G.A.S. attack
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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