Recommendations for a cheap echo pedal

WetSound

Joined: Jan 15, 2013
Posts: 2
New York
United States

Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:30 PM

Hi.
I am on a no-salary budget yet need an echo pedal effect. I am not sure if a delay pedal would accomplish the same surf effect. I know there is a Danelectro® echo pedal for around $15. Heard it is not great.

Any suggestions?

Top

JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:33 PM

Delay won't get you towards a 'surf' reverb sound.

Better off saving your money, in my opinion.

Top

Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:54 PM

The Danelectro fab echo is probably the one you saw for $15. It's pretty good for slap back and that's about it.

Top

Duceditor

Joined: Mar 09, 2014
Posts: 83
The Monadnocks, NH
United States

Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:58 PM

Having a pedal that can give you a slap echo is one component of the 'drip' sound inherent in classic surf reverb, but it is a small secondary one.

If you have an amp with a decent spring reverb (such as an older or reissue Twin Reverb) it can be the missing piece, but foremost is getting the very distinctive spring sound.

The least expensive source I have found is the Boss FRV-1 Fender `63 Reverb pedal. That, coupled with a single 'slap' echo (I use Vanishing Point on a Digitech iStomp to get this effect, but I am sure many other could also do the job), does it for me to near perfection with the same guitar settings and techniques (both PUPs, palm muting, etc) used with a traditional, separate, spring reverb.

Recognize that the sound you hear on classic surf recordings is the product of the entire chain including what was done in the studio.

—

Still rockin' after all these years!

Top

CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
3 News Pins

Posted on Aug 08 2014 10:40 PM

The Behringer VD400 Vintage Delay is a terrific sounding echo. Doesn't sound great for longer delays but for slap back or echo it's really good and can be found new for $30.00
I have people ask about mine all the time. They usually think I'm using something much more expensive or boutique.
As stated previously though - reverb is much more of the surf "sound" than echo.

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

Top

vintagesurfdude

Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
United States

Posted on Aug 08 2014 11:44 PM

Jake's got a good point, trying to make do sometimes leads to throwing good money after bad. Your best reverb pedal choice is likely the FRV-1, at least it sounds the most like a outboard reverb tank IMHO. I use a Holy Grail for my non reverb Princeton but it won't drip, so the tank is my surfy reverb choice. In fact for my surf stuff, I sub the tank for the on board reverb in my SFSR or SFVR combo amps.

Top

tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Aug 09 2014 12:11 AM

I occasionally use a cheap belcat delay for the slapback, but for reverb, a spring pan of some kind (whether its in a SF/BF type amp or a stand alone tank).

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Top

boatanchors

Joined: Aug 15, 2011
Posts: 60
Normandy
France

Posted on Aug 09 2014 02:52 AM

For me, in Surf Music, only reverb. If you want to play others songs (Shadows for example) with Delay, you have Behringer EM600 (Clone Line 6 Echo Park). It's a little price (30 € in France) and I think same price in USA. You have for your money.

For me, the must is Spring Reveb with tank. Another possibility is Danelectro spring.

Better to wait and save money.

Top

normj

Joined: Apr 26, 2010
Posts: 882
central Indiana
United States

Posted on Aug 09 2014 03:16 AM

The early Danelectro echo pedal is very good. There is one listed in the classified section now. That pedal is probably the best of the inexpensive echo pedals. It is from that early series Danelectro produced. Those are larger than the later pedals and better constructed (metal cases instead of plastic).

I cannot speak directly to the Boss Fender Reverb pedal. I did buy a Boss Fender Deluxe Reverb pedal and do not like it. It did not handle higher output pickups (like my Jazzmaster's) very well. I thought the cheapie (about $15) Danelectro Corned Beef reverb sounded better (and it is none too good).

Top

DaveF

Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1117
Green Valley, AZ
United States

Posted on Aug 09 2014 08:52 AM

tc electronics has a small reverb pedal on sale at gc for $110.
Only has 1 knob.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/TC-Electronic-Hall-Of-Fame-Mini-Reverb-Guitar-Effects-Pedal-109123976-i3068697.gc

Top

WetSound Joined: Jan 15, 2013 Posts: 2 New York	Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:30 PM Hi. I am on a no-salary budget yet need an echo pedal effect. I am not sure if a delay pedal would accomplish the same surf effect. I know there is a Danelectro® echo pedal for around $15. Heard it is not great. Any suggestions? Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:33 PM Delay won't get you towards a 'surf' reverb sound. Better off saving your money, in my opinion. Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:54 PM The Danelectro fab echo is probably the one you saw for $15. It's pretty good for slap back and that's about it. Top
Duceditor Joined: Mar 09, 2014 Posts: 83 The Monadnocks, NH	Posted on Aug 08 2014 07:58 PM Having a pedal that can give you a slap echo is one component of the 'drip' sound inherent in classic surf reverb, but it is a small secondary one. If you have an amp with a decent spring reverb (such as an older or reissue Twin Reverb) it can be the missing piece, but foremost is getting the very distinctive spring sound. The least expensive source I have found is the Boss FRV-1 Fender `63 Reverb pedal. That, coupled with a single 'slap' echo (I use Vanishing Point on a Digitech iStomp to get this effect, but I am sure many other could also do the job), does it for me to near perfection with the same guitar settings and techniques (both PUPs, palm muting, etc) used with a traditional, separate, spring reverb. Recognize that the sound you hear on classic surf recordings is the product of the entire chain including what was done in the studio. — Still rockin' after all these years! Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4054 Buffalo, N.Y.	Posted on Aug 08 2014 10:40 PM The Behringer VD400 Vintage Delay is a terrific sounding echo. Doesn't sound great for longer delays but for slap back or echo it's really good and can be found new for $30.00 I have people ask about mine all the time. They usually think I'm using something much more expensive or boutique. As stated previously though - reverb is much more of the surf "sound" than echo. — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
vintagesurfdude Joined: Nov 28, 2011 Posts: 795 Prescott Valley, AZ	Posted on Aug 08 2014 11:44 PM Jake's got a good point, trying to make do sometimes leads to throwing good money after bad. Your best reverb pedal choice is likely the FRV-1, at least it sounds the most like a outboard reverb tank IMHO. I use a Holy Grail for my non reverb Princeton but it won't drip, so the tank is my surfy reverb choice. In fact for my surf stuff, I sub the tank for the on board reverb in my SFSR or SFVR combo amps. Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Aug 09 2014 12:11 AM I occasionally use a cheap belcat delay for the slapback, but for reverb, a spring pan of some kind (whether its in a SF/BF type amp or a stand alone tank). — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Top
boatanchors Joined: Aug 15, 2011 Posts: 60 Normandy	Posted on Aug 09 2014 02:52 AM For me, in Surf Music, only reverb. If you want to play others songs (Shadows for example) with Delay, you have Behringer EM600 (Clone Line 6 Echo Park). It's a little price (30 € in France) and I think same price in USA. You have for your money. For me, the must is Spring Reveb with tank. Another possibility is Danelectro spring. Better to wait and save money. Top
normj Joined: Apr 26, 2010 Posts: 882 central Indiana	Posted on Aug 09 2014 03:16 AM The early Danelectro echo pedal is very good. There is one listed in the classified section now. That pedal is probably the best of the inexpensive echo pedals. It is from that early series Danelectro produced. Those are larger than the later pedals and better constructed (metal cases instead of plastic). I cannot speak directly to the Boss Fender Reverb pedal. I did buy a Boss Fender Deluxe Reverb pedal and do not like it. It did not handle higher output pickups (like my Jazzmaster's) very well. I thought the cheapie (about $15) Danelectro Corned Beef reverb sounded better (and it is none too good). Top
DaveF Joined: May 10, 2009 Posts: 1117 Green Valley, AZ	Posted on Aug 09 2014 08:52 AM tc electronics has a small reverb pedal on sale at gc for $110. Only has 1 knob. http://www.guitarcenter.com/TC-Electronic-Hall-Of-Fame-Mini-Reverb-Guitar-Effects-Pedal-109123976-i3068697.gc Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Recommendations for a cheap echo pedal