1 Topic by Zen Guitar (edited by Zen Guitar 2011-03-05 19:31:49)

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Topic: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

I just picked up a new delay pedal... A Strymon El Capistan. Is anyone else using one of these here?

I just got the pedal and had a little time to take the El Capistan for a spin last night at
rehearsal. I wasn't able to get too deep, but from what I was able to
check out, I'm pretty impressed. If anyone's interested, I'll report more as I have some more
time with it.

Although I did spend a little time exploring the more ethereal sounds
where the repeats create a nice ambient wash and drift into self-
oscillation (it does this VERY well), most of the night I ran it as a
pretty standard lead echo.

For anyone interested, I uploaded a video excerpt from our rehearsal
where you can hear the pedal adding a bit of lead echo throughout.
http://youtu.be/6ixRsLtrTqo

This is my first Youtube video, so if you feel so inclined, click
"Like" and leave me a comment so I can feel special.  big_smile

The El Cap is in the fx loop of my Lone Star. Guitar is my R9 Lester.
Drive is courtesy of my OCD. Drums, bass, and B3 courtesy of my band.

Cheers,
-Matt

  • Devan
  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

Great clip - I really like your tone.

I got an El Capistan a few weeks ago - great delay pedal.  I'm still deciding whether it will totally replace the T-Rex Replica on my pedal board or complement it... There is a LOT to learn with this neat pedal.

Then again, since getting my Axe-FX a few weeks ago as well I am barely using my pedalboard...

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

Thanks for the kind words, Devan!

Seems like we have some similar tastes... I just got the El Cap. My other main delay pedal is the T-Rex Replica (which I love). I also have an Axe Fx, but I use that only for direct recording. Great stuff!

I want to see how the El Cap does in front of an overdriven amp (I had it in the fx loop), as I'm considering a Plexi (no loop). I know Joe cautions against this. How do you run yours?

Cheers,
-Matt

Devan wrote:

Great clip - I really like your tone.

I got an El Capistan a few weeks ago - great delay pedal.  I'm still deciding whether it will totally replace the T-Rex Replica on my pedal board or complement it... There is a LOT to learn with this neat pedal.

Then again, since getting my Axe-FX a few weeks ago as well I am barely using my pedalboard...

  • Registered: 2010-12-07
  • Posts: 49

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

for what it's worth, pete thorn did a vid of the el capistan.  he includes some vid of using it IN FRONT of his dirty amp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ai_T809U0A

can't wait until the strymon timeline comes out.  haven't gassed for a piece of gear like this since . . . . joe's epi LP!

www.myspace.com/orogenymusic
www.purevolume.com/orogeny
  • Registered: 2010-12-07
  • Posts: 49

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

also - are you zenguitarblues from tgp?

www.myspace.com/orogenymusic
www.purevolume.com/orogeny
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 197

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

I've had an ElCap for about... 6months?...   great pedal. The end-all-be-all tape echo simulation, imo.

I also just got a TC Flashback... woah.... tons of power in that little thing. If you've never heard of it, you HAVE to check it out...

http://www.tcelectronic.com/flashback.asp

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

michaeljohn wrote:

also - are you zenguitarblues from tgp?


No, my user name for most guitar related forums is the same as here... Zen Guitar. It's a derivation from my prog metal band, Zen By Numbers.

Cheers,
-Matt

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

Thanks for that link... Pete is an amazing player!

I thought about waiting for the TimeLine, but I think it is more than what I need at the moment. Also, from what I understand, it won't have all of the tape echo sounds and features of the El Cap... Just some of them. But it does have a ton of good stuff and looks to be an awesome pedal. Please let us know if you do get one and how it works out!

Cheers,
-Matt

michaeljohn wrote:

for what it's worth, pete thorn did a vid of the el capistan.  he includes some vid of using it IN FRONT of his dirty amp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ai_T809U0A

can't wait until the strymon timeline comes out.  haven't gassed for a piece of gear like this since . . . . joe's epi LP!

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

ruger9 wrote:

I've had an ElCap for about... 6months?...   great pedal. The end-all-be-all tape echo simulation, imo.

I also just got a TC Flashback... woah.... tons of power in that little thing. If you've never heard of it, you HAVE to check it out...

http://www.tcelectronic.com/flashback.asp

Thanks for the tip... I'll have to check that one out!

Cheers,
-Matt

  • Devan
  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

Zen Guitar wrote:

Thanks for the kind words, Devan!

Seems like we have some similar tastes... I just got the El Cap. My other main delay pedal is the T-Rex Replica (which I love). I also have an Axe Fx, but I use that only for direct recording. Great stuff!

I want to see how the El Cap does in front of an overdriven amp (I had it in the fx loop), as I'm considering a Plexi (no loop). I know Joe cautions against this. How do you run yours?

Cheers,
-Matt

Haha - yes, similar taste in gear, but one HUGE difference is that you actually have talent to use it well, and I am just a guitar hacker at the best of times.

I've only played with the El Cap in front of the amp at this stage (I have a Mesa Boogie DC-10 and a MkIIB) but been playing mainly clean.  I don't normally run dirt unless I am covering AC/DC style rock songs (and know just how much delay/loop THEY used!  tongue ).  One day I will consider running the reverb and delay through the FX loop, but that will mean a much more complicated wiring arrangement for my pedalboard...

Pic to pedalboard: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/479 … e7311e.jpg

As you can see, I like to keep things very, very simple...  big_smile

On the Axe-FX - What interface are you using to connect it to your DAW?  I've got a pretty crappy audio interface and the Axe-FX just sounded dull through it - not as great as when I plug it into the 'FX In' port on my DC-10 and use it as my power amp!

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"

11 Reply by Zen Guitar (edited by Zen Guitar 2011-03-08 22:29:23)

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Strymon El Capistan (video link from band rehearsal with pedal)

Devan wrote:

Haha - yes, similar taste in gear, but one HUGE difference is that you actually have talent to use it well, and I am just a guitar hacker at the best of times.

Thanks for the warm compliment, Devan. Very much appreciated. I'm sure you're no hacker--the finest players are usually the most humble.  wink


Devan wrote:

On the Axe-FX - What interface are you using to connect it to your DAW?  I've got a pretty crappy audio interface and the Axe-FX just sounded dull through it - not as great as when I plug it into the 'FX In' port on my DC-10 and use it as my power amp!

I'm running my Axe-Fx into a Mackie 1604VLZ Pro mixer into a Digi 002 Rack into my Mac running Pro Tools LE. Once dialed in (I'm re-dialing now after a number of firmware updates that have changed my sounds quite significantly), it sounds quite good, IMHO. I've also tried running the digital S/PDIF and both are quite comparable in my set-up.

Hope this helps!
-Matt