The Demonfx Tape Echo is a delay pedal for electric guitar, with repeats inspired by classic tape echo units. It combines lo-fi-flavoured delay, lightly filtered echoes and modulation, covering everything from short slapback effects to more spacious, organic delay sounds.
Delay Time controls the interval between repeats and can be set from approximately 40 to 600 ms. This makes the pedal suitable for short slapback echoes that add fullness and rhythmic definition, as well as medium-length delay effects with more space around the playing.
Regen controls the number of repeats. A low setting produces a single echo, while higher settings create more repeats and can produce self-oscillating effects. Delay Level adjusts the level of the echoes in relation to the dry guitar signal, from a subtle background effect to a more prominent delay sound.
Echo modulation
Depth and Rate add wow and flutter modulation to the repeats. In a tape context, wow and flutter refers to small variations in pitch and movement that can occur as the tape passes over the heads. The controls can be used to give the echoes a subtle, lively movement or to create more pronounced chorus and pitch-shifting effects on the repeats.
Depth sets the modulation depth, while Rate determines its speed. The Depth and Rate LED provides a visual indication of the active modulation. Turning Depth fully down deactivates the modulation for a more direct echo sound.
Tape Echo connects to a standard guitar setup by connecting the guitar to the pedal’s input and the output to the amplifier. The five controls adjust the echo duration, number of repeats, level and modulation character.
Technical specifications
- Type: Delay pedal for electric guitar
- Delay time: approximately 40–600 ms
- Controls: Delay Time, Regen, Delay Level, Depth and Rate
- Modulation: Wow and flutter via Depth and Rate
- Power supply: 9 V DC