What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

[Corbic]

Title says all.

I've been listening to lots of classic recordings where they used old tape delays, and I got to thinking, maybe it'd be better if I get something like that instead of something like the DL4.

The pros I see are the more vintage sound of a tape echo. My main question about them are whether I can get just like a slapback style delay out of one or will it constantly be an echo repeating it over and over?

What are some cons to using one of these?

This Hiwatt tape echo looks pretty nice and is the lowest price I've seen on a new tape echo. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hiwatt-CTE-Custom-Tape-Echo?sku=152500

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

Tape delays are great but they without a doubt the biggest pain in the rear in the gear world...no picky guitar or amp can compare to the crap involved with trying to actually use a tape delay...the new stuff (analog or digital) is just fine and will be much easier to deal with. I love a good tape delay but I don't own one anymore...too much trouble unless you have lots of free tiome and extra money to keep it going!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

I should add to my post...tape delays do have an amazing tone which a lot of people do prefer to a delay pedal, that said they are a large pain in the neck and can often be very costly to maintain, replace tape, keep =clean and keep in working order. I would not use a tape delay as my only delay and I would not try and gig with one...

 

[Stratman]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

Tape delays have amazing depth of tone that is added by the preamp and tape.

Problem wise, be ready to clean those heads, try and find a lot of replacement tapes, head go bad (Require degaussing and wear out), etc...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

Sounds like a lot of trouble for tonal differences 99.9% of the folks you explain them to still won't hear

 

[mrchodito]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

How can you afford that at age 15? I'm moving into your house...

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

I had a Korg Space Echo and it spent a lot of time in my closet until I sold it. The main appeal is that you can get long delay times and the "warmth" as previously mentioned. They are inherently Lo Fi gear. The problem is that tapes don't last that long and they are expensive to replace. You also need to clean the heads and demagnetize them regularly as well as realign them. Since the tape is also a physical entity the tape can become kinked, stretched or even break which affects sound quality and reliability. The space echo I bought had a faulty reverb tank which created horrible noise.

On the positive side tape delay units boost the signal which gives you a funky square wave distortion which nudges a cranked tube amp over the edge. Also with tape delays you get a subtle "warble" from the tape which gives off a pseudo chorus effect. Tape delay units are very forgiving and tend to mask sloppy playing while solid state units just repeat sour notes!

I switched to a Korg SDD-2000 solid state unit which has long delay times and also has a modulation control which approximates a tape echo very well and still has the same warmth. A lot of players in the 80's had the SDD-2000 in their racks like Andy Summers and The Edge. Players looking for tape warmth with greater reliabilty. I have newer and more advanced rack units in my rack but nothing sounds as warm as the SDD-2000! It isn't Hi Fi but it is far more reliable than a tape unit with the same feel.

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

The DL4 models both of the Maestro tape echo machines (one with tubes, one without) and the Roland Space Echo and gives you the ability to control wow and flutter, the amount of gain, different combinations of heads, etc., without all of the maintenance crap that goes along with an old tape delay. I had a Roland Space Echo once upon a time, but I would have preferred the technology available in the DL4 so that I wouldn't have to worry about tapes breaking and the whole litany of other things that go wrong with them. The tone of the Space Echo may have been slightly better than the DL4, but not enough to justify putting up with all of the crap that goes along with using an actual tape delay. IMO, of course.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

Get the L6 DL4 and be done with it. I've got 3 sounds setup on mine. A spacious reverby sound, a tape delay with a nice organic decay, and a very transparent digital delay. The fourth button is my tap tempo, and I couldn't live without that feature.

That pedal is the industry standard and they've sold zillions of them. It's a modern classic. That said, I'd kill to have a Fulltone Tube Tape Echo, but I agree with everyone about tape cartridge issues being a downside. The Fulltone is the only tube tape unit I'd ever want.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

There are other delays in this world....tried a Fulltone twice...both time the tape made itself into nice spaghetti
I have had a Roland 301 space-echo, borrowed a Echoplex delay a "few" times....the Line6 is nowhere near a tape echo...maybe it is a standart but it does not sound remotely like a good tapeunit.
Tape is like plate is for reverb, the highest end!

 

[Rich_T]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

They sound the tits, but are far more hassle than they are worth in my experience. Finding replacement parts at reasonable prices is nigh-on impossible.

 

[jaydub]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

what about the boss dd 20? ive heard a fair bit of bad stuff about the dl4

 

[Animal]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

Pros: Cool sound
Cons: Everything else

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

There are other delays in this world....tried a Fulltone twice...both time the tape made itself into nice spaghetti
I have had a Roland 301 space-echo, borrowed a Echoplex delay a "few" times....the Line6 is nowhere near a tape echo...maybe it is a standart but it does not sound remotely like a good tapeunit.
Tape is like plate is for reverb, the highest end!

In the same way a Plexitone pedal is not a 67 Superlead, the DL4 is not a tape echo. However, clearly there are fantastic tones and flexability offered by these gadgets. Not meant to be a shot or anything negative, but more of just an observation. I have an Akai pedal that does a great lofi delay. I use it both live and when recording. It has the fuzzy decay that I love.

For me, as a guy who owns only 35 + year old amps, I am ironically not inclined to get a tape unit. The headaches of keeping them going from gig to gig just are not worth it. To many mechanical issues.... With the amps, I swap out filter caps and I am pretty much set to go...

 

[Corbic]

Re: What are the benefits to an actual analog tape delay?

How can you afford that at age 15? I'm moving into your house...

Well, I can't at the moment, I'm thinking about gear for the future when I can afford it (again :laugh2: ).

Thanks for all the replies everyone. From the sounds of it, maintaining the tape echo would be a lot of a hassle. So Line 6 DL4 it is...after the amp, cab, Les Paul, and... :laugh2: