Chandler Digital Echo

This is an update to my previous review. My old brown unit is now having a problem--when I switch it on, I have to hit the imput really hard for the effect to turn on. One heavy pick attack and it works fine. Kinda weird. In Chandler's defense, this is the first problem I've had since I bought it 9-10 years ago, and it is the only effect that I've used that whole time.

This unit is extremely easy to use, just a few knobs, although it would be nice to have a bit more flexibility in switching sounds real-time. You're basically restricted to what you can dial in on the fly, but the good news is it always sounds great.

I use this with a '79 335 and and Mesa Tremoverb, sometimes running the delay to an old Gibsonette amp for a really clear slapback. I actually have 2 of these, one tan and one black, so I can set one for salpback and the other for longer solo settings. You don't get really long delays, although they are longer than my Echoplexes and there's virtually no noise. I play Allman Bros type rock, but use them more for Jimmy Page style slap, or longer times for spacey jams. I've modified the black one to use a keyboard expression rocker pedal to control the time, but it's hard to set it just right.

I've used these for years without any trouble other than the cheapo wall wart plug dying.

I'd buy another now, even having two. I play a lot of different styles, and use it instead of reverb a lot of the time, which is a another great use. Perfect for classic rock. I love the sound and ease of dialing it in, but the external transformer sucks in a big way. Compared to my echoplexes, it's totally quiet and never breaks down, and gives me 85% of the echoplex tone, which is 50% more than anything else I've tried.

A good sound requires a tweaking on equipment and user sides both. The unit has only knobs and a minimum of switches, so while somewhat simplified, it is also limited. You can do echo/delay OR you can get flange/chorus effects, not both.

Using this for guitar for now. It's quiet, just quiet. The guitar determines the noise level. The echo/delay is very high quality, imagine an Echoplex with no noise or distortion. The flange/chorus fx are beautiful, highly adjustable. Eric Johnson is said to have used one of these.

no opinion

Disappointing. voicemail only.

Oddly, the chorus/flange mode is my favorite effect on this one, it can range between delicate flange to Leslie Speaker From Hell. The echo/delay is only that. WHAT IT DOESN'T DO is multi-tap reverb so as to simulate spring or plate. It's close to being a one-trick pony, but the quality of the trick is so top-notch, I'll keep it. If stolen, I'd replace it with a more versatile device.

9