Members Jnichols2727 Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 With the Timeline on the horizon, I'm seeing the El Cap starting to pop up in the $250-$260 range. I've tried several different delays over the last year and I keep coming back to the CC. As much as I like the CC, I'm looking for the "next step". Something with tap tempo, etc. For those who have the El Cap, do you still love it or has the honeymoon ended? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitapick Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 It's a great pedal. I love it. The sound quality's awesome. Besides the stage applications, it's also a great compositional tool. Very inspirational! The Timeline's going to be fantastic...but I love El Cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members juri Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I do think it lives up to the hype... I hear good things about the flashback as well, have yet to try both. Don't expect the El Cap to sound like your CC with tap tempo though. CC = Analog DelayEl Cap = Tape Delay Simulator 2 different types of delays with different sound characteristics.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Seth Carmody Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 Like juri says, it's a tape echo sim, so won't sound like your favorite BBD delay. I tested one for about 30 minutes when I was trying to decide between it or the memory lane jr. It's a quality unit, if a bit clean/clinical sounding compared to the memory lane jr, which has a bit more of an analogue bbd character to it. The repeats also decay quite differently compared to a BBD delay; greater tone/volume loss that creates a more realistic sense of space, but wasn't what I was wanting. The Brigadier would be a closer comparator, but there wasn't one in stock to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members V Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I love the el cap to death. I'm planning to get a timeline when they come out but I'm not planning to get rid of the el cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PKTrono Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 i love mine. feels good on my skin and {censored} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eric.chambers Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 It took me a long time to finally buy into the hype, sell my Skreddy Echo and get an El Capistan. I loved my Skreddy to death, but now that my honeymoon phase is coming to an end, I'm glad I made the switch. The El Capistan has sooo much to offer, and it all sounds incredible. So in closing, for me at least, it was worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 http://www.harmonycentral.com/docs/DOC-1982 The El Cap and the Skreddy are both very capable tape echo delays IMO. They each have some features the other lacks, but both are incredible sounding pedals. Each does it's own take on the whole tape delay thing, and it would be hard to call a "winner" between them IMO. But yeah, Strymon is really on a roll with their stuff, and IMO, their reputation for making cool pedals is very well deserved. The El Capistan is a great sounding pedal with a lot of tweakability. And one of the coolest names ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eric.chambers Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 http://www.harmonycentral.com/docs/DOC-1982 The El Cap and the Skreddy are both very capable tape echo delays IMO. They each have some features the other lacks, but both are incredible sounding pedals. Each does it's own take on the whole tape delay thing, and it would be hard to call a "winner" between them IMO. But yeah, Strymon is really on a roll with their stuff, and IMO, their reputation for making cool pedals is very well deserved. The El Capistan is a great sounding pedal with a lot of tweakability. And one of the coolest names ever. OK. Phil, please don't make fun of me, but I have no idea what El Capistan means. Can you please enlighten me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Sure. It's a play on words. Two things. First of all, here in California, in Yosemite National Park, we have this beautiful rock formation called El Capitan. Google it. It's gorgeous, and the pictures don't do it justice compared to seeing it in person. It's massive and awesome. And yes, you can get an echo off of it. Second, most tape deck's tape drive paths use a component called a capstan. A capstan is a round metal roller that spins and pinches the tape between it and a rubber roller and drives the tape through the transport. So the name is a play on, and combination of those two words - El Capitan and a tape deck's capstan. El Capistan. To me, it implies a big, massive awesome tape delay. But it's more than just a clever name - it's a seriously cool pedal IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eric.chambers Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 Sure. It's a play on words. Two things. First of all, here in California, in Yosemite National Park, we have this beautiful rock formation called El Capitan. Google it. It's gorgeous, and the pictures don't do it justice compared to seeing it in person. It's massive and awesome. Second, most tape deck's tape drive paths use a component called a capstan. A capstan is a round metal roller that spins and pinches the tape between it and a rubber roller and drives the tape through the transport. So the name is a play on, and combination of those two words - El Capitan and a tape deck's capstan. El Capistan. Thanks Phil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Any time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members V Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 Huh I didn'r realize the captain part came from that rock formation. I thought it was just general spanish coolness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Huh I didn'r realize the captain part came from that rock formation. I thought it was just general spanish coolness. Maybe it was - I have no "insider" knowledge either way... although I will ask if I think about it the next time I talk to them. But living here in California, it's hard not to be aware of Yosemite, and El Capitan is one of the most widely known / recognized landmarks there. And like I said, there's the added coolness factor of the big natural echo you can get off that 3,000' rock face. I really do think the name was probably an adaptation and a play on words based on that, and on capstan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members V Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 yeah it totally makes sense now that you mention it. But I've never been to California so, there's that factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goaway Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 yea its pretty amazing. i want one, but not bad enough to replace my superdelay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jnichols2727 Posted July 3, 2011 Author Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 Thanks for the info. I had a flashback which I liked but I found myself only using the tape and analog modes. If I pick up an el cap I may keep my cc as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jb1911 Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I love my El Capistan, sounds great and it has so much versatility. I have a favorite switch hooked up to it and set it for a slap back with a bit of reverb for rock a billy {censored} and the other setting is for a long swampy ambient kind of sound. Then there's this: [video=youtube;9coEY6PLFGs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9coEY6PLFGs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dap99 Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 Love my El Cap. Also love my Skrecho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zooey Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 El Cap was soupy and indistinct. I sent it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveinLondon Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I love mine. It took the place of a Malekko 616. I'm playing clean jazz tones 99.9% of the time, so integrity of my dry signal is important. The El Cap is totally transparent in that respect. With the versatility of the tape age and filter controls, I can get the soft, dark repeats I like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members christianatl Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I never even played a delay before I came to HCFX, and now I have fancy delay GAS. Jerks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnorkelMonkey Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I will own one someday. For now I have a small pile of echo units my favorites being my Echoplex EP-3 and my DE-7 if that tells you anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Loobs Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I thought it was without doubt the best delay pedal I've ever played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitapick Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 Huh I didn'r realize the captain part came from that rock formation. I thought it was just general spanish coolness.I asked the folks at Strymon and they said it's the play on words that Phil mentions. The capstan from the old tape units and the fact that El Capitan in Yosemite is awesome and you can hear an echo from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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