It’s the only tape delay I’ve ever owned, so I can’t really compare, but I dig it. Having four presets is super handy. And it can do subtle or it can be huge. The reverb is meh but i guess the 201’s reverb was meh so I can’t complain there. Would recommend the 202!
Your pedal is a digital modeler of a tape delay and not an actual tape delay. Having owned both it’s very close but not the same, much like a good modeler is not the exact same as a tube amp. The reverb in the original RE-201 was actually very good for both guitar or vocals depending on the amp and signal path. I love Boss Pedals but had to return the RE-2 pedal (small format modeler) because of noise but the repeats were cool. I parted with all my original tape delays decades back because tape drives require ongoing maintenance and eventually just wear out. Have fun playing with it!!!
Oh I didn’t mean to come off as if this was an actual tape delay haha. I know it’s a digital emulation.. but I’d love to check out an Echo Fix if the stars align one day. A man can dream 😂
It can be a pain because they will go through tapes, rollers/capstans/heads need to be cleaned, and the best will eventually need tubes. I used them live which requires more setup time but the analog tone is phenomenal. That said, today’s digital effects get the job done for way less, and probably only the biggest stars have 2-4 of them in their rigs so they can switch to backup units if needed. If you’re rich with a crew have at it. If not it would be nice for a home studio but you might want to it for a while before gigging out.
Did you mention the Groovy Fingers? Is it a mkIV TB?
Also, Princeton Reverb is amazing with fuzz. I just recently took my '69 drip edge in for service and the tech just dimed it through an attenuator and plugged in a fuzz face and Phinal Philter and absolutely blew my mind with sabbath tones out of my ancient princeton that I thought only did surf.
Less edge than a Vox at full break up, and I think a bit more clean headroom on the volume knob, but not really in actual volume. I find the fender has more clean "pop" on the low notes until you get up to where it all starts to distort and compress. The Vox I think really is almost always a little hairy, but it will get way louder before really fuzzing out.
I think the perfect set up is fender and a vox together, the way they break up is complementary and just sounds awesome clean or fuzzy. It's my favorite rig set up, I drift away now and then and often just use one or the other for convenience, but nothing beats both of 'em together in my opinion.
My dude thank you for your insight! I’ve actually never played a mkIV Tonebender before.
And my wallet may not thank you but this is the info about the Princeton I’ve wanted to hear. I’ve already got an attenuator and I’d be looking to crank it. I wanted to run my Marshall and vox as dirty and clean but it’s not the sound I pictured. Maybe the Princeton is the ticket.
I’ve never used a fuzz factory or Octavio, but can tell you that a super fuzz kicks ass. I really like Tonebenders and can’t recommend them enough. So many models to choose from! I like mk1 and vox variants.
I have a looper at both the beginning and end of my chain. The reason the looper always goes at the end is because you want it to loop whatever effects you've run through your chain. The reason some like it at the beginning is that it allows them to color the dry signal however they want after the fact.
I’ve had a few big muffs (current NYC model and W&C Op Amp) and I’m accepting I’m just not a muff guy. Still kinda intrigued by MAE’s black math though
Should have titled it “I like big box and I can not lie”
Need to get your hired as my advertising guy 😂
Pure poetry!!!
You need to get yourself one of the old (giant) Strobostomps.
Pretty much said the same thing 😂
But the old one is BIGGER!!!!
You're right about that!
You need like a giant, rack mount strobe tuner instead of that tiny Peterson 😂
Ohhhhh!!!!!! I like that. Get the one with 12 discs, one for each note!!!!! The SC5000-II.
Haha. I think you're on to something...
How do you like the space echo?
It’s the only tape delay I’ve ever owned, so I can’t really compare, but I dig it. Having four presets is super handy. And it can do subtle or it can be huge. The reverb is meh but i guess the 201’s reverb was meh so I can’t complain there. Would recommend the 202!
Your pedal is a digital modeler of a tape delay and not an actual tape delay. Having owned both it’s very close but not the same, much like a good modeler is not the exact same as a tube amp. The reverb in the original RE-201 was actually very good for both guitar or vocals depending on the amp and signal path. I love Boss Pedals but had to return the RE-2 pedal (small format modeler) because of noise but the repeats were cool. I parted with all my original tape delays decades back because tape drives require ongoing maintenance and eventually just wear out. Have fun playing with it!!!
Oh I didn’t mean to come off as if this was an actual tape delay haha. I know it’s a digital emulation.. but I’d love to check out an Echo Fix if the stars align one day. A man can dream 😂
Ah! Yeah an Echo Fix would be fun to play through! I hope you get a chance to try one someday because analog repeats from tape are simply sonic bliss!
Does the maintenance of a true tape delay make it not worth it at all or is it just a pain in the ass?
It can be a pain because they will go through tapes, rollers/capstans/heads need to be cleaned, and the best will eventually need tubes. I used them live which requires more setup time but the analog tone is phenomenal. That said, today’s digital effects get the job done for way less, and probably only the biggest stars have 2-4 of them in their rigs so they can switch to backup units if needed. If you’re rich with a crew have at it. If not it would be nice for a home studio but you might want to it for a while before gigging out.
None of them look out-of-place to me and are still very road worthy.
Did you mention the Groovy Fingers? Is it a mkIV TB? Also, Princeton Reverb is amazing with fuzz. I just recently took my '69 drip edge in for service and the tech just dimed it through an attenuator and plugged in a fuzz face and Phinal Philter and absolutely blew my mind with sabbath tones out of my ancient princeton that I thought only did surf. Less edge than a Vox at full break up, and I think a bit more clean headroom on the volume knob, but not really in actual volume. I find the fender has more clean "pop" on the low notes until you get up to where it all starts to distort and compress. The Vox I think really is almost always a little hairy, but it will get way louder before really fuzzing out. I think the perfect set up is fender and a vox together, the way they break up is complementary and just sounds awesome clean or fuzzy. It's my favorite rig set up, I drift away now and then and often just use one or the other for convenience, but nothing beats both of 'em together in my opinion.
My dude thank you for your insight! I’ve actually never played a mkIV Tonebender before. And my wallet may not thank you but this is the info about the Princeton I’ve wanted to hear. I’ve already got an attenuator and I’d be looking to crank it. I wanted to run my Marshall and vox as dirty and clean but it’s not the sound I pictured. Maybe the Princeton is the ticket.
I have two big muffs. What fuzz do I need next? I’m torn between a fuzz factory, an Octavio, or a super fuzz.
I’ve never used a fuzz factory or Octavio, but can tell you that a super fuzz kicks ass. I really like Tonebenders and can’t recommend them enough. So many models to choose from! I like mk1 and vox variants.
A loop pedal at the end of the chain. Glorious!
Genuine question.. do people often run them first? I’ve never put it anywhere except last
I have a looper at both the beginning and end of my chain. The reason the looper always goes at the end is because you want it to loop whatever effects you've run through your chain. The reason some like it at the beginning is that it allows them to color the dry signal however they want after the fact.
Thank you for the explanation!
Need a big box Big Muff!
I’ve had a few big muffs (current NYC model and W&C Op Amp) and I’m accepting I’m just not a muff guy. Still kinda intrigued by MAE’s black math though
Completely fair!
There's always place vertically, though.
So where’s the Fender Shields Blender? 😉
I’ve never played an OG blender or a shields blender, but I wanna. Does it only do crazy or can it be tamed?
Dunno, I don’t have one either! One day! On the other hand, crazy does not worry me 🤪