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xbassman_K « Useful and cheap! »
Published on 05/02/13 at 06:00
Best value:
Excellent
An analog delay at this price? Is that possible? Um, first we need to know what is meant by "analog" ... This pedal uses a hybrid, that is coupled with a chip that processes the signal analog circuit, in this case a PT2399. You should know that this type of circuit is commonly used by many manufacturers delay pedals to establish labeling their products as "analog". And a range of prices, cheaper, as is the case of our Artec, the much more expensive "pedals shops" through proposed by enthusiasts of the "do it yourself" kits. .. I'll come back later.
So no, this is not a pedal "full analog" per se, but it is not a digital delay and far away! But I would say that it tends more to be classified as analog than digital, which is also the name, so for me, there is not really misrepresentation of the product as can suggest to other opinions.
To read previous comments elsewhere, I see that there are grumpy, and frankly I do not understand why ... Always be the same and yet syndrome "if it's cheap, it's the shit." That said, it is a phenomenon that is not new at the guitar, and I'm old enough to have experienced an influx of Japanese pedals in the 70's, many said at the time that it did not sound a "caramel" (to use a time expression), I particularly remember having bought me some green pedal myself made spoof by my peers (who swore by the "Made in USA" 3x more expensive), and But that has gradually become the holy grail of overdrive ... Like what.
UTILIZATION
But back to our Artec. The production is very good quality, the controls are more traditional for a delay, ie Time, Mix and Repeat, no particular concern implementation, everything works as expected. The switch is good, but not "true bypass" as can be read on the Artec site and curiously it was not yet specified or on the original box or on the mode of employment that accompanied it, then maybe newer versions (mine is 2011) have this feature ... Otherwise, no background noise (as I have read it), nothing to report either side of a possible drop in level, in short it works as expected! Well it is true that with max 440ms of delay, it is sometimes just a little, but as you know what is expected, is done with!
SOUND QUALITY
It is especially in this area that I do not understand the grumpy previous opinions. The sound of this pedal less than 40 €, is just pretty good for the price and it should be taken for what it is: a pedal 40 €! What I find rather well is that it reacts almost exactly like a real vintage analog delay pedal (sounds less!). I have an EH Memory Man which must date from 1977 which I'm pretty used to it, but unfortunately because of his age beginning to show the time, and I intend to spare for his old age. That's why I bought this Artec as a substitute, you can imagine the sounds it provides are different in texture, but what I find rather similar is his way of reacting to behave. So I'm finally very little disoriented, which was never the case with digital delays. And frankly, if the sound textures are top notch in terms of analog delay, they are ample, eg slap back is downright good. There is no doubt that fans of Gilmour will turn into something really completely analog, but nevertheless this pedal is capable of very good things eventually.
Except with my Memory Man, I had the opportunity to compare (in condition, with a group) with the MXR Carbon Copy and Way Huge SupaPuss. Relatively speaking it is the comparison with the MXR (though more expensive), even if it is a true analog is still more "hot" in its report and has a longer period and a maximum modulation (I have not been overwhelmed by the effectiveness of something else), it is safe in all fairness, it is better, but from a pragmatic point of view the price difference with the Artec not not fully justified: it is almost 4x more expensive, but certainly not 4x better! However, in the case of SupaPuss, there is another world, Artec does not actually weight or my old Memory Man way! But it is more than 6x more expensive!
I mostly use it with a Telecaster, but sometimes a SG in a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, it is last in my chain after a MXR Phase 100, a TS9, a comp and sometimes fuzz after the TS9. I never noticed his inaudible (as I have noted in the previous review), nor any level problem or the "weird" ...
OVERALL OPINION
This is a pedal that uses a circuit that is found in many other manufacturers (ModTone, Belcat, Excalibur, etc ...) and at prices well ... Different. The ModTone costs 120 € for example. But many among the followers of the "boutique" and "DIY" (do it yourself), again at prices that border on anything and I do not really see why I would pay more for a circuit up myself, I have better things to do though but I have experience and skills to do so. Fortunately, I'm a little tight around all this frenzy effects pedals precisely because I know what lies in these little boxes, the rather pragmatic kind. It is not uncommon to find the same circuit made in China in many different packages with different brands (sometimes stamped "Made in USA"! Yes, yes ...), only the marketing discourse differs not sound! And to return to the Artec, to my knowledge it is the cheapest of the lot of pedals that use it in the belly! Point bar!
For the price you're paying for this pedal, we frankly for money. But if I had to do, and I would rather save would buy the Way Huge SupaPuss I took a slap with this pedal ... Besides, I'm saving right now ...
So no, this is not a pedal "full analog" per se, but it is not a digital delay and far away! But I would say that it tends more to be classified as analog than digital, which is also the name, so for me, there is not really misrepresentation of the product as can suggest to other opinions.
To read previous comments elsewhere, I see that there are grumpy, and frankly I do not understand why ... Always be the same and yet syndrome "if it's cheap, it's the shit." That said, it is a phenomenon that is not new at the guitar, and I'm old enough to have experienced an influx of Japanese pedals in the 70's, many said at the time that it did not sound a "caramel" (to use a time expression), I particularly remember having bought me some green pedal myself made spoof by my peers (who swore by the "Made in USA" 3x more expensive), and But that has gradually become the holy grail of overdrive ... Like what.
UTILIZATION
But back to our Artec. The production is very good quality, the controls are more traditional for a delay, ie Time, Mix and Repeat, no particular concern implementation, everything works as expected. The switch is good, but not "true bypass" as can be read on the Artec site and curiously it was not yet specified or on the original box or on the mode of employment that accompanied it, then maybe newer versions (mine is 2011) have this feature ... Otherwise, no background noise (as I have read it), nothing to report either side of a possible drop in level, in short it works as expected! Well it is true that with max 440ms of delay, it is sometimes just a little, but as you know what is expected, is done with!
SOUND QUALITY
It is especially in this area that I do not understand the grumpy previous opinions. The sound of this pedal less than 40 €, is just pretty good for the price and it should be taken for what it is: a pedal 40 €! What I find rather well is that it reacts almost exactly like a real vintage analog delay pedal (sounds less!). I have an EH Memory Man which must date from 1977 which I'm pretty used to it, but unfortunately because of his age beginning to show the time, and I intend to spare for his old age. That's why I bought this Artec as a substitute, you can imagine the sounds it provides are different in texture, but what I find rather similar is his way of reacting to behave. So I'm finally very little disoriented, which was never the case with digital delays. And frankly, if the sound textures are top notch in terms of analog delay, they are ample, eg slap back is downright good. There is no doubt that fans of Gilmour will turn into something really completely analog, but nevertheless this pedal is capable of very good things eventually.
Except with my Memory Man, I had the opportunity to compare (in condition, with a group) with the MXR Carbon Copy and Way Huge SupaPuss. Relatively speaking it is the comparison with the MXR (though more expensive), even if it is a true analog is still more "hot" in its report and has a longer period and a maximum modulation (I have not been overwhelmed by the effectiveness of something else), it is safe in all fairness, it is better, but from a pragmatic point of view the price difference with the Artec not not fully justified: it is almost 4x more expensive, but certainly not 4x better! However, in the case of SupaPuss, there is another world, Artec does not actually weight or my old Memory Man way! But it is more than 6x more expensive!
I mostly use it with a Telecaster, but sometimes a SG in a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, it is last in my chain after a MXR Phase 100, a TS9, a comp and sometimes fuzz after the TS9. I never noticed his inaudible (as I have noted in the previous review), nor any level problem or the "weird" ...
OVERALL OPINION
This is a pedal that uses a circuit that is found in many other manufacturers (ModTone, Belcat, Excalibur, etc ...) and at prices well ... Different. The ModTone costs 120 € for example. But many among the followers of the "boutique" and "DIY" (do it yourself), again at prices that border on anything and I do not really see why I would pay more for a circuit up myself, I have better things to do though but I have experience and skills to do so. Fortunately, I'm a little tight around all this frenzy effects pedals precisely because I know what lies in these little boxes, the rather pragmatic kind. It is not uncommon to find the same circuit made in China in many different packages with different brands (sometimes stamped "Made in USA"! Yes, yes ...), only the marketing discourse differs not sound! And to return to the Artec, to my knowledge it is the cheapest of the lot of pedals that use it in the belly! Point bar!
For the price you're paying for this pedal, we frankly for money. But if I had to do, and I would rather save would buy the Way Huge SupaPuss I took a slap with this pedal ... Besides, I'm saving right now ...