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mooseherman
Published on 04/20/10 at 15:56
This is a pretty interesting echo pedal. It doesn't function in the same way as most reverbs or delays do. Instead, it tries (and succeeds) in recreating the classic sounds of old school records "slapback" echo. The best examples of this sound are heard on Sun Records' classics, by artists such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. This is a simple pedal to operate. There is a 1/4" input and output and two knobs. The pedal turns on by simply depressing the top part of the pedal. It is analog technology. There are no MIDI or computer capabilities with this pedal, and it's not rackable.
UTILIZATION
This is possibly the easiest pedal to use that I've tried. There are two knobs which control volume and speed. The setup couldn't be any easier. The manual is pretty much unnecessary unless you have no idea what the pedal itself is, in which case you probably shouldn't be using it.
SOUND QUALITY
This effect is pretty indiscriminate when it comes to gear. It will sound equally good on a hollow body and a Strat, with a Marshall stack or an AC30. It doesn't really color the sound too much for me, but some people might find that it does. I think that the color that this sound brings is part of its charm, personally, and the slapback echo wouldn't really work without it. The effect itself sounds great, and is honestly far better than anything I've heard Danelectro do before. It is a bit limited in its use, however. The only effect possible is the very cliche slap echo that you've heard on things from the 50s. The cool thing is that it's available in pedal form and not simply as a studio effect. The noise is a slight issue if you're trying to add too many things to it, but I think that combining this pedal with others is simply a bad idea. You're better off with a more versatile reverb or delay if you are combining effects. When it keeping it simple, by using no other effect or a slight overdrive, you're making the most of this pedal.
OVERALL OPINION
I would say that this pedal's probably not for most people. I can't think of much use for it in a practical setting, since I don't really use the slap echo very much. However, I've heard it used to great effect in many new and old recordings, so if it's something you are interested in, check it out. It's surprisingly cheap and sounds good. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes vintage sounds and is looking for something a little different.
UTILIZATION
This is possibly the easiest pedal to use that I've tried. There are two knobs which control volume and speed. The setup couldn't be any easier. The manual is pretty much unnecessary unless you have no idea what the pedal itself is, in which case you probably shouldn't be using it.
SOUND QUALITY
This effect is pretty indiscriminate when it comes to gear. It will sound equally good on a hollow body and a Strat, with a Marshall stack or an AC30. It doesn't really color the sound too much for me, but some people might find that it does. I think that the color that this sound brings is part of its charm, personally, and the slapback echo wouldn't really work without it. The effect itself sounds great, and is honestly far better than anything I've heard Danelectro do before. It is a bit limited in its use, however. The only effect possible is the very cliche slap echo that you've heard on things from the 50s. The cool thing is that it's available in pedal form and not simply as a studio effect. The noise is a slight issue if you're trying to add too many things to it, but I think that combining this pedal with others is simply a bad idea. You're better off with a more versatile reverb or delay if you are combining effects. When it keeping it simple, by using no other effect or a slight overdrive, you're making the most of this pedal.
OVERALL OPINION
I would say that this pedal's probably not for most people. I can't think of much use for it in a practical setting, since I don't really use the slap echo very much. However, I've heard it used to great effect in many new and old recordings, so if it's something you are interested in, check it out. It's surprisingly cheap and sounds good. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes vintage sounds and is looking for something a little different.