Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

[Inkstained]

Goal: Beautiful, ambient excursions, with occasionally forays into slapback and bluesy experimentation.

It won't be on a pedal board, so size isn't an option.

I don't buy a lot of delay pedals (right now my only one is the DL-4), so it needs to have staying power. Boredom and bad tone are the enemies.

Thoughts?

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

The carbon copy is fantastic, and the modulation can be adjusted to your liking with trim pots onside the pedal. It's cheap and really nails the classic analog delay tone while being pretty low noise.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

The RE-20 will not do what you are looking for. It is not a short-delay analog style delay. It has 1-3 seconds of nonlinear ECHO w reverb.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

The RE-20 will not do what you are looking for. It is not a short-delay analog style delay. It has 1-3 seconds of nonlinear ECHO w reverb.

Not trying to talk myself into a decision, but the Space Echo surely does slapback. What's-his-face, the Stray Cats guy, uses a real-deal RE 201 for his slapback, and he's about as traditional as his pompador.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

You have 3 settings on the RE-20, 1 second, 2 seconds, and 3 seconds. I've had one since it's original release. 1 second is not slapback. It is an ECHO emulation unit, NOT slapback delay.

I love the Space Echo, and I use it a lot. But that still doesn't make it an analog delay unit, or comparable to one.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

So the repeat rate knob doesn't control interval between echoes?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

So the repeat rate knob doesn't control interval between echoes?

Good question. I really don't know; I've never used it like that. It's certainly not a clean interval control, for certain. At it's minimal setting, I don't know if it even does a single repeat. It's really something you just turn knobs until you get a sound you like type of thing, than a 'it will faithfully reproduce this exact sound with the knobs set for x' one ...

Even it if does, slap back is 75-250 mS of delay, not 1,000 mS.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

I'm a die hard Carbon Copy fan, so I'll throw in my vote for the CC. It does that fat, thick delay very well, and also has a great slapback sound. I use it for both types of delay in every show I play.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

Cool. Thanks for all the comments.

If money were no object, I'd get both. I've been leaning CC, so that should tell me something.

Still, there's something -- I don't know, spacey -- about the Space Echo.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

Still, there's something -- I don't know, spacey -- about the Space Echo.

Oh, make no mistake -- The Space Echo's a noisy, filthy, warm, euphonic, WONDERFUL sonic mess!

 

[Matt42]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

I've looked at the RE-20 a few times, and will say, if I bought another delay unit, there's a good chance it would be that one.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

The RE-20 is a great echo/delay machine indeed!
Love mine!

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

Nice board.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

The RE-20 will definitely do slapback style and it has echo/delay times of less than 1 second for sure. Just set the mode selector to 1 in the repeat only area and then turn the repeat rate knob to see how short the interval can be. Keep the intensity at about 8 o'clock. Make sure the direct switch is in the on position. TwilightOdyssey, you need to play with your pedal more!!!

Brad

I love my RE-20, I toyed with selling it then every time I plug it in, I realize what a great pedal it is. I have the Carbon Copy too but the Strymon Brigadier knocked it off my board.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

Briggleman, if you could have only one -- the RE-20 or the carbon copy -- which would it be?

 

[briggleman]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

Not even a contest for the way I use delay pedals. The RE-20 offers a lot more versatility and it sounds fantastic to my ears.

Do not get me wrong...... the Carbon Copy is a good/great pedal for the price and it also has some great tones.

Please also understand..... in my present stage of music, I play mostly acoustic and the Carbon Copy just did not do it for me with the Taylor I use. My present setup is a pigtronix Keymaster pedal and in the loop I use a Danelectro cool cat chorus (18 volt model) and a Stymon Brigadier delay.

Using the RE-20 with the Taylor acoustic is a trip. Absolutely love it, but for most of the music I play the Brigadier is the better fit.

I do not like the Reverb only setting on the RE-20..... but the settings with delay and reverb are better.

If you are interested, I will make you an offer on my Carbon copy. PM me if you want to go that direction. It is like new, however I no longer have the box.

Brad

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

I had never paid any attention to the RE-20 until I read this thread. I went and played through one today and I was knocked out! What a great sounding warm echo! For those of you who have one, are there any negatives?

 

[brunogio]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

I like the carbon copy for more modern sounds even though it can do slap back and bluesy sounding echo. I use it on my board with an Aqua Puss that I have set for the more vintage tones and I find the AP to be more open and airy than the CC.

I don't know this Boss model but never bonded with Boss echo pedals.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

I had never paid any attention to the RE-20 until I read this thread. I went and played through one today and I was knocked out! What a great sounding warm echo! For those of you who have one, are there any negatives?

The reverb only portion of this pedal does not do anything for me. It is very shallow, lacks depth, .... really do not know how to put it any other way.

Now when the reverb is combined with the delay portion of this pedal and you start to play with the bass and treble controls, thats when things get interesting. I do not think there is any other delay pedal out there that does what this one does, not strymon, Electro Harmonix, ... none that I have heard.
The other thing that I have found fascinating about this pedal, is that it is easy to dial into the rhythm, the beat of the song, and that is not even using its tap tempo function. I hate to say this, but sometimes the pedal controls me more than I control it.

Brad

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Boss RE-20 vs. MXR Carbon Copy?

Logically, I know I should go for the carbon. I already have the digital emulation thing going with the DL-4.

But I can't stop thinking about the space echo. I just feel like I'll be missing out if I don't get it.

Damn. I hate unreasoning infatuation.