Jim Echoplex EP103 Delay

117
OCTOBER 2016 GUITARIST
JIM DUNLOP
The three knobs offer standard delay pedal functions:
Delay sets the delay time, Sustain sets the number of
repeats, and Volume sets the level of the delay against
the dry signal, with the two at parity at about 12 o’clock,
so you can take things further for repeats louder than
the original. The Volume knob has a dual function:
press-and-hold and this knob acts as an Age control to
simulate, says Dunlop, “the sonic qualities of an ageing
EP-3”. So, basically you can take it from pristine to
knackered in the sweep of the knob – and once you’ve
decided on a sound you like, you can press the knob
once again to store it. Consequent presses of the Volume
knob (something you could do with your foot while
you’re playing) will then instantly toggle between the
default sound and the ‘aged’ sound, which is indicated
by a red LED.
Without Age engaged, the repeats have a great sound
to them anyway, relatively clean but with a subtle
degeneration that makes each subsequent repeat more
blurry as it melts into the background. The Sustain
knob is thoughtfully graduated, running from a single
slap-back and initially adding in extra repeats very
gradually. It’s only in a very small arc of travel, near fully
clockwise, that you get into self-oscillation, so that’s
all easily controllable and means the rest of the travel
offers subtle variations on how you hear repeats beyond
the initial one.
The Age function changes a combination of the
parameters, all pertinent to how tape delays function
– notably, that tape degenerates over time and that
idiosyncrasies in the electro-mechanical realm, such
as worn pinch rollers, can cause ‘wow and flutter’-style
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Delay pedal
FEATURES: True relay
or trails bypass, 65 to
750ms delay time
(4s via tap tempo)
CONTROLS: Sustain,
Volume, Delay, Age,
internal mono/stereo
switch, bypass
footswitch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard input,
standard output, Tap
Tempo pedal input
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
(supplied), 240mA
DIMENSIONS: 64 (w) x
110 (d) x 50mm (h)
Westside Distribution
0844 326 2000
www.jimdunlop.com
modulation. Turning it up brings in some modulation
that starts like mild chorus and adds a percussive edge
to the repeats. As you advance it, the sound gets grittier
until the repeats get fatter and extremely woolly (as
you’d get if you really saturated the tape), while the
pitch variation intensifies.
The delay time range runs from a doubling effect
through slapback to about 750ms, so there’s plenty
there to cover all the common eventualities including
the rhythmic stuff, May-style harmonising and floaty
ambience… and if you add MXR’s M199 Tap Tempo
footswitch (£39 and reviewed in the Audition section
of this issue on p128), you can up the game with a
maximum four seconds of delay time.
Overall, you get a practical range of easily dialled-in
delays alongside plenty of tape echo-style colour that
you can exploit. Careful juxtaposition of all the knobs
will yield a myriad of sweet spots to complement
whatever you’re doing on guitar.
Verdict
If you want a real tape-based Echoplex, you’ll have to go
vintage or try Fulltone’s modern reproduction, but the
EP103 provides a decent, non-troublesome recreation
of that sound in a convenient package.
9
PROS Nice tape echo fl avour in a compact pedal; optional
bypass; adjustable tape-ageing parameter; tap tempo possibility
CONS You’d have to pair it with an EP101 for the fullest
recreation of the vintage EP-3 sound
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaris textra
GIT412.peds_dunlop.indd 117 01/09/2016 13:09