Danelectro DTE-1 Reel Echo

Very easy to use. Slider for delay time (no tap tempo though) knobs: mix (wet and dry), repeats, lo/hi, toggles: solid state/tube, warble on/off. Easy to get many different sounds, slap, chorus, reverb, etc.

The first thing that must be said is that this will suck your power and the more you have in front of it, the worse it will be. I have never used an echoplex, so I don't know if the same applies there.

Also there is a noticeable pop when you engage it. I run it thru a looper, so I avoid this. A looper is also a good way to take advantage of the sound on sound. I can leave the SOS going and turn off the loop. When I want the SOS back, I can turn the loop back on and there it is.

Back to the tone suck. Since it's delay, it goes near the end of the chain (ideally in the amp's effect loop). I don't have an effects loop, so mine is after a TS and fuzz box. Thru a clean amp with no effects, the loss isn't noticeable, but it will completely suck the fuzz right off the fuzz and drop the volume quite a bit. I remedied this by running another od pedal before it. They're both in a separate loop, so I can use both or just the reel echo if I'm playing clean. So sound quality is very good, there's a variety of different "effects" in this one package. The tone loss isn't a deal breaker, especially since I don't know how else you'd get these features outside of a true tape echo (and again, I don't know if that would suck the tone)

I never bring backup anything. I take care of my stuff and use it all regularly. I would think the chances are low that anything would cut out for the few hours I really need to depend on it, but there's always that chance, it's just not likely enough for me to haul backup gear.

My opinion on this unit keeps changing. There are times when I want to chuck it and get a DD6, but the possibilities with the reel echo are almost endless. I'm sure I'll find a set-up or (mod) where I can get it to work with as minimal tone loss as possible.

It's fairly simple to use, after you read the 1 page manual and realize what the controls do. I know other people have mentioned a problem with the sound on sound feature, but, as stated in the manual, all you have to do is turn the lo-fi all the way down and the repeats all the way up. Fairly simple. the slider is great for adjusting times in the middle of a somg, and the lo-fi switch is the best part of the pedal.

I use this with an epiphone casino-boss tu2-ibanez ts9-ibanez ts9-electroharmonix big muff pi-boss bf3-danelectro reel echo-either a 1969 fender twin reverb or a peavey classic 50 and it's great for a slapback sound on rhythym, or a fattening up of my leads. I don't really use the longer times, so I keep it under the 300 ms mark. It's great for what I need, but there is a slight volume drop, which is why I had to add the second tubesreamer into the chain. (I turn the drive all the way down and use it as a volume boost) It works great, other than the volume drop.

It's appears to be quite solid, being made out of metal, and I always gig without a backup.

Never dealt with them.

I play straight up rock'n'roll- lots of strokes, white stripes, rolling stones, the who, bowie, elvis costello, blondie, etc, and it works great for what I need. If they added a volume control, they could've tacked on another thirty bucks and I would've gladly paid it. If it were stolen or lost, I'd try out a few other pedals (ibanez ad-9, visual sound h20, memory man) but would probably end up purchasing another one, unless one of the above blew me away. For the price I paid, I'm very happy with it.

Knobs, slider, switches...hmmm..how hard could it be.
If you can't run this..you could be rentally metarded

OK, NOW I WORK ON ECHOPLEX UNITS..EP-2, EP-3 AND EP-4'S...SO I KNOW HOW A MAINTAINED / NEW TAPE ECHPLEX IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND..AND THEY SOUND AWESOME...BUT I'LL BE DIPPED IN PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE IF DANELECTRO DIDN'T HIT THE MARK VERY VERY VERY CLOSE TO SOUNDING EXACTLY LIKE AN ECHOPLEX UNIT. I WON'T ARGUE THE FACT THAT AN ECHOPLEX MAY HAVE A SMIDGE MORE OF THE CHORUSY SOUND...THAT IS, UNTIL YOU HIT THE WARBLE BUTTON ON THE DTE-1...WOW..NICE JOB DANELECTRO!! I'M TRULY IMPRESSED WITH MY FIRST EVER PURCHASE FROM DANELECTRO. I HAVE PLAYED ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PEDAL AVAILABLE TO MAN AND THIS LITTLE THING IS PHENOMINAL..PRODUCES BETTER ECHOPLEX TONES THAN A REPLEX..BY A LONG SHOT. I'VE PLAYED BOTH. IT IS NOT NOISY, THE EFFECTS HAVE A TONE OF SWEEP ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM, I PLAYED STRAIGHT INTO THE SYSTEM TONIGHT AND IT SOUNDED ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE ECHOPLEX IN A LIVE SYSTEM PLUG IN. THE SWITCH FOR SOLID STATE AND TUBE WAS A MIND BLOWER TOO..I HEARD IT CHANGE FROM AND EP-2 TO AN EP3 OR 4 !! THAT IS FLAT OUT COOL. THE SOUND MAN CAME UP TO ME AT CHURCH AND SAID, MAN YOU HAVE A LOT MORE DRIVE TONIGHT AND THAT THING SOUNDS AWESOME..! SO THIS LITTLE GUY WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY ARSENAL..FROM TODAY ON..IT MINE...GO BUY YOUR OWN...HA HA..GOT IT OFF EBAY FOR 109.00..NOT BAD.

THIS THING IS IN A NICE METAL CASE,,HAS A LITTLE WEIGHT TO IT, WHICH I WASN'T EXPECTING, BUT DANELECTRO SPENT A FEW BUCKS ON THIS ONE AND PUT IT IN A VERY NICE ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE..I PERSONNALLY WOULD HAVE COLORED IT BLACK WITH WHITE KNOBS TO LOOK LIKE AN ECHOPLEX..THAT'S JUST ME THOUGH. I'M SURE IT WON'T BREAK...

HAVEN'T EVERY NEEDED IT SO I'LL GAMBLE WITH A 10 HERE SINCE THIS UNIT DESERVES 10'S ACROSS THE BOARD, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT SOUNDS SOOO SWUEEEET.

I PLAY CHRISTIAN ROCK/ JAZZ/ BLUES/ ACCOUSTIC...ETC.
THIS WILL MATCH UP TO ANYTHING AS MOST DELAYS WILL..:)
I USE G LP'S, WOLFGANGS, TAYLORS. JSX, MESA, FENDER.. FRANKLIN MOD PEDALS, POD XT LIVE, GT-PRO, GT-8, TONELABS SE, GNX-4..ETC ETC.
I'VE BEEN PLAYING GUITAR FOR OVER 30 YEARS...SINCE I WAS A KID.
I WOULD REPLACE THIS IF STOLEN IN A MINUTE.
I LOVE THE WAY IT REPLICATES AN ECHOPLEX SOOOO CLOSE.
I DON'T HATE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, EXCEPT THE PUKE GREEN COLOR...BUT HEY, I WON'T LOSE IT..HAHA
MY FAVORITE FEATURE IS THE TAPE WARBLE...ACTUALLY WORKS AND SOUNDS GENUINE.
I HAVE TRIED THE REPLEX...AND ON & ON AND NOTHING, EXCEPT THIS ONE, CAME EVEN CLOSE TO THE TONES OF AN ECHOPLEX..
THIS IS A MUSIC MAKING TOOL AND NOT A HINDRANCE.

I MUST SAY, DANELECTRO, YOU GUYS DID AN AWESOME JOB ON THIS AND KEPT THE PRICE WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE LITTLE GUYS OUT THERE. I DIDN'T NEED TO BUY THIS, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO HAUL MY NOS ECHOPLEX EP-3 AROUND AND CHANCE GETTING IT DAMAGED OR STOLEN..SO I CHECKED OUT A FEW OPTIONS AND ENDED UP WITH THE DTE-1 BY REFERRAL FROM OTHER PRO GUYS..THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
DON'T HESITATE TO BUY THIS IF YOU LIKE THE TONE OF AN ECHOPLEX.
LISTEN TO U-2 AND YOU'LL HEAR TONS OF ECHOPLEX TONES FROM THE "EDGE".
HONESTLY, HE WOULD LOVE THIS ONE AND WOULD SAY..MAN, THAT IS IT..THEY NAILED THE TONE....NICE JOB DANELECTRO.

Although I found the pedal easy to use. I feel that a better manual for this product would help greatly, you know some suggested settings for maybe a U2 type of sound or some examples of other band type set ups.

My current set up is a whole slew of homemade strats and homemade kramer knock-offs thru my main amp , which is an Ampeg R212 re-issue.
My sound is right out of Van Halen's Women and Children First.

This pedal opened up some great tonal qualities when I used it in series with a Boss DD-3 thru the effects loop.

I have to give it a 9 just for that !!

The only reason I don't give it a 10 is it still missing a little something. But, I couldn't be more pleased.

So far ...I think it is built like a tank ( as others have mentioned )...Can it take road abuse ???? I don't know yet.

Overall, sure looks like a pedal that would've cost $300 to $400

I have been playing for 20 + years.I play alot like Warren Demartini with a heavy Van Halen / Eric Johnson influence.I have had a lot of stuff stolen over the years and I am a less is more type of player these days (with effect units) but,I would definitely replace this if it were lost,stolen or broken. I use it almost always in the tube/vintage mode w/ tape warble on - It is more of an effect for coloring my sound but, it does a lot of stuff an echoplex does. The sound on sound is probably better on other units with a longer delay time.I personally can't find a use for SOS with my style .

Very easy to use, controls laid out nicely. Just plug it in and adjust to your liking.

I bought the Reel-Echo about 3 years ago as a replacement for my Echoplex (which it seems some other reviewers have as well). I don't like digital delays; especially the Boss stop boxes. I was happy to find that Danelectro was making this worty replacement for a tape echo. There is a lever which adjusts the distance of the "playback heads" so that your delay is longer or shorter depending on which way you move it. Then you have to dial in how loud you want it to accompany your playing, and how many times it will repeat before dropping out. There is also a selector switch for tube or solid state sound. Tube has more analog warmth to it, but I am personally used to solid state since that is the type of echoplex I owned. You can also switch between clean or warbled sound. this effect resembles a tape warble as it goes through heads. The Reel-Echo sounds REEL good, actually. As a lover of analog effects, this still sits on my board and gets used frequently and really is an adequate replacement for a real Echoplex.

The unit is reliable, but I would use it plugged in. That being said, you also have to use the right adapter with it. I have some pedals that will work perfectly with a radioshack 9v adapter, but if you use anything on this except the Danelectro adapter or a Boss adapter, it will buzz. Trust me, I tried to troubleshoot that forever. With a battery it will run fine, but I think it tends to run out rather quickly. Too fast for my liking. Plus, if you have it on your pedalboard and it's plugged in, you don;t have to worry about disconnecting the input cable and draining the battery out. It's a heavy, durable pedal but I would not stomp hard on the switches. they have been fine for me but I don't really use it outside the studio. They have that look to them; like they might get stuck inside if you push them too hard.

Never needed them so far.

Good pedal that serves as a great replacement for the ever-so-unreliable Echolpex. IK hesitated at first because I really don't like Danelectro effects but this one seems to be good. I also don't feel like it takes away from my tone much either. I wouldn't think it has a natural bypass but still it's not really noticable to me anyway. I never understood the sound on sound function, and it seems multiple users have the same trouble. It doesn;'t work like the Echoplex did. Even so, I never use it anyway. I use an MXR 1500 digital delay rackmount in conjunction with the Reel-Echo. That can provide me a hold function while I bypass and use the echo delay on the Reel. I don't think anyone would steal it because frankly it looks like a toy, but if it were stolen I'm sure I would explore my options for higher end equipment as I rarely ever but the same thing twice. But even so, for about 150 bucks (i think, don't remember) you can't go wrong and it still sounds as good as that natural tape delay that is so highly sought after.

It could not be any easier to use. Its perfect for those those who hate complicated equipment.

This is where it shines. The only echo I liked other than this was the Echoplex (the oringal tape one) and I hate to admit it but in many ways this is better. Since its digital, I was really biased to not like it. As far as I am concerned this is the best "Echoplex" sim I have ever heard and may even surpass what it tries to emulate.

All NON tape echoes&delays sound processed, even analog ones. This is the only one that gets that tape slur correct which makes the echoes not compete with the original sound and allow to crank up the delay and still sound natural.

There's no moving parts, unlike the Echoplex so it has to be more reliable.

No Opininion.

Although I have many pedals, I mainly use a few and this has become part of my permanant setup. For what this pedal offers, its a bargain and one I would have to replace if it got stolen or broke.

I got the Danelectro "Reel" Echo about 6 days ago. When I first got it, I was expecting it would take some time "a-fiddlin'" to get the delay time and delay sound I wanted, as will any new piece of equipment. It acutally took far LESS time than I imagined! This pedal is sooo easy to use.

I mean, basically, you've got 4 settings to tweak to get your delay time/sound set to your liking: Mix, Lo-Fi, Repeats, and Speed Range.

The mix controls the ratio between how much of the main signal (plucked string) and the delay signal you hear. When set at minimum, only the main signal comes thru, and when set at maximum, only the delay signal comes thru. Anywhere between, it is varying mix of the two.

The Lo-Fi rolls off some of the high frequency in the delay signal. It is just like a "tone knob" for the delay signal, while you've got the tone knob on your guitar for the main signal.

The Repeats, obviously, controls how many repeats you hear after plucking the sting. Minimum is only one echo, and maximum is several echoes (or an infinate number of echos if the Lo-Fi is at minimum; it will echo until you turn it off!!!)

The Speed Range slider controls the amount of delay, or time between each echo. You get up to 1.5 seconds of delay. At minimum, you get a cool vintage "reverb-like" effect. The other features are just "extras" that you can use.

The tone switch gives you the option of having a warmer echo on the "tube" setting, or a brighter echo on the "solid state" setting.

The warble switch is just an extra effect. When the pedal is delaying, the echo will have a chourus/vibrato effect. What I liked about the warble switch is when on, you can turn the main signal off (putting mix on maximum) and turn the slider to minimum and you have a chourus pedal right there!

The Sound-on-Sound lets you record an up to 1.5 second lick (depending on where the slider is set) and play over it. You have to turn the repeats to max and the Lo-Fi to minimum for it to work though. When you do this just play the lick and when you are done, hit the SOS button and it will play it indefinatly.

The Reel Echo has a very warm and "natural" echo. I use a Fender Esquire reissue thru a Fender Frontman 15R amp at home. I bought this pedal mainly to simulate the tape delay heard by Johnny Cash's original guitarist, Luther Perkins. During his days at SUN, Sam Phillips utilized the "feather echo", which is a faster delay. At CBS, however, they utilized a longer delay. I can easily imiate these two perfectly with the Reel Echo!

Is it noisy? A little. During normal "clean" delay settings and when set on "solid-state" and no warble, it is not noisy. However, when you switch on the warble switch, you do get a little static noise, but it is not unbearable. It is actually not enough to complain about! Also, when you set it on "tube" you get the same static as above. I have also noticed that the tube setting makes the delay signal considerably weaker than when it is set on solid-state.

The only reason I gave it a 9 is because the scale on here says a 10 is "Pristine sound quality." You need a real tape delay unit for that!

From what I have seen, this thing is indestructable. I have drop it once, and it held up. The case feels bullet-proof.

I have not gigged with it, but I would not hesitate to use it live without a back-up.

I have not dealt with the company, so I wouldn't know.

This unit is a perfect match for the type of music I play. I mean, there's no other unit out there like it! I have been playing for over 10 years and have never played a comparable unit!

What I love about this pedal is the warm, realistic, and natural delay you get from it! The Lo-Fi is probably my favorite feature becasue it allows to to adjust the "warmth" of the delay. The delay is natural regardless of where the Lo-Fi is set!

There are a few things I would like to have different, or have added. You know, most old tape delay units that depended on tape speed for the delay speed had a slight rise in pitch. You can hear this on about half or more of the SUN recordings of Johnny Cash back in the fifties. I honestly thought before I bought it, that this is what the warble switch did, but I was wrong!

Also, I'll be honest, the sound-on-sound feature is basically useless with only 1.5 seconds of delay. I mean, I will never use that feature probably, so it doesn't matter much to me, but I thought I would address that.

One more thing, you get a unique vintage reverb effect with this pedal when the delay is on. This is great in some conditions, but I wish I could turn it off in others.

I also reccomend that you invest $10 in a Danelectro power adaptor. This thing CONSUMES batteries and if you go buy a normal AC adaptor, you will get a loud hum. Get the Danelectro Zero-Hum adaptor!

Overall, this is an amazing product! It is worth every dime and I don't regret it one bit! It does have its flaws, but they are sooo minor that it doesn't even matter really!

REALLY easy to get a GREAT sound out of it. Very nice repeats and just enough features to coax a good variety of tones out of it. For all the features, though, it's laid out very nicely and simply so adjusting with a foot or toe is a peice of cake, which is awesome. No menus, which is refreshing. Very similar in function to a EHX Memory Man.

The Sound-On-Sound feature is a little counter-intuitive to me, and I thought mine was broken at first. It does NOT "record" a loop when you press the switch, like you might think. Instead, what it does is when you have the "repeats" cranked FULL UP and the "lo-fi" OFF, activating S.O.S. keeps the "loop" repeating but doesn't record what you're playing over it. The loop will repeat infinitely. Then, devactivate S.O.S. to add to your loop as desired.

So note: It only works with the "repeats" at MAX and the "lo-fi" (degrading effect) OFF.

It makes sense once you do it once, and is very easy to use. Unfortunately the manual doesn't describe how it works very well. Perhaps those folks (unlike me) with experience with real tape echo units with S.O.S. would know this already.

I use several other pedals before this and a Boss DD-20 after it. It's not noisy at all, which is good. The effect sounds very good. I got this because I couldn't quite get the Boss DD-20 to replicate that super-musical slapback echo sound that I love so much. The Boss is a wonderful unit too, it does a LOT more effects and can get close in tape/analog sounds, just not perfectly. I was skeptical of the Reel Echo, but was really infatuated when I heard it could make *THAT* sound. The S.O.S. feature is really cool too, I use it together with the DD-20's S.O.S. feature and get some wild loops going.

As mentioned, I've never had a real tape unit, but I have a very picky ear, and this thing sounds good. If I wasn't so picky I'd be fine with the DD-20, an otherwise ingenius pedal, but I needed that certain echo sound: It's that warm, real rock and roll sound that you know it when you hear it.

I also love all the 'extras' like the tube switch, the lo-fi dial, and the chorus switch. Reminds me of a Memory Man, except the Reel Echo is more transparent and doesn't color your sound like some EHX units do. It's exactly what I wanted, nothing I don't, and more. The extra control over the tone of the 'repeats' is just awesome.

It's really, really heavy-duty. I adjust the settings with my feet and without concern.

N/A

I play a lot of different styles of music, but delay (or "echo") is an important element throughout. I like looping with my DD-20 and the Reel Echo's S.O.S. feature allows for an extra dimension which is nice, though at the end of the day, I need a delay that I can dial down to a reverby slapback too, and the Reel Echo really shines in that regard as well.

I love the extra features. If I could change something, I'd add more delay time, and maybe a tap tempo. The slider is actually pretty easy to dial in, but still, 1 1/2 seconds is a pretty short MAX delay (though still actually longer than the Memory Man, I think).

If lost, I might wait and save up for something just like it but in the expensive boutique market, just to try something new, if such a product exists. I heard that the Hughes & Kettner Replex is quite nice, for example, though twice or 3x as much. But if I didn't have the money, I would be very comfortable buying another Reel Echo.

Also note: It's kind of a big pedal too, which is good for tuning in with your toe, but does take up a chunk of space. Of course, most comparable products (i.e. the DD-20, Line 6, Memory Man, Replex) are all pretty big too, so I can't fault Danelectro.

Rock solid, sounds great, very creative to use and tweak on the fly (or dime into oscillation madness, if you wish). I love the Reel Echo.

i have never reviewed here before but frequently use HC for the reviews, but the person below who gave this a 2 for sound. CRRRAAAAZZZY!! there are great sounds all over this pedal. i didnt see anyone else note that the slider used to access the rate of delay is awesome! very easy to fine tune access to great slapback vintage analog tone. warble is not something i utilize for any effect its just one of those things dano does to all their pedals by adding gadgets that differentiate them from other pedal manufacturers. the lo fi knob is cool also i hate that cold digital delay sound other pedals give off.

great! rockabilly, slow blues ala red house, pink floyd sound on sound function... another gadget but it is still something fun to mess around with. easy to recreate analog sounds with lo fi knob and tube switch for that extra warmth. not a 10 because it isnt ANALOG like my stereo memory man, but it is sooo close its hard to tell them apart.

its danelectro but feels like a much sturdier pedal than they usually are known for.

i have never dealt with danelectro but own a few of their cheaper pedals (tuna melt tremolo, rocky road rotary speaker(another pedal ruined by excess gadgets(i have modded mine to leave out that sickly overdrive knob and now it is COLD SHOT sweet))and i love the fact that they try to provide a good product at low cost to customer. sorry too many parenthesis.

i play everything from waylon jennings to qotsa, no rap crap metal or new age country pop slop. i am talking music. compared to my boss dd5 and eh stereo memory man i use this the most, even though the eh sounds a little better(it is old and a little beat up, while the dano is shiny and stylish). the boss sucks, unless you want that long satriani/vai delay. true bypass would be nice but i cant tell any tone sucking unless a bunch of extra pedals are used. i have a zvex sho, nobels odr-1 original green version, dls chorus vibrato(works well with the dano), fulldrive clyde wah to a marshall jcm 2000 dsl 201 or peavey classic 20 most people still refuse to admit a small tube amp has more tone than any boutiquee overdrive. my primary guitar is a 1987 G&L asat. i have been playing for 8 years, but in that time have been very addicted to tone hunting. visit musictoyz or tonefrenzy or thegearpage for more tone hunting fun and this is danelectros best pedal. try it out ad if you dont like it go for a dd-6 because if you dont like this you dont like analog, unless you can afford a way huge aqua puss , ad-9 ad-999, or diamond memory lane of course.. no didnt think so.

easy read through the one sheet of directions and then experiment,come on its only a couple of knobs,if you can drive a car ,play with the radio,eat luch and bs on the phone at the same time this pedal should be a breeze for you!

this is as good as it gets unless you buy the real tape echo machine,then lug it around,i like it on some warm leads and some clen tones even with a lil chorus,reeeeeeeelllllll nice!

its like anything else,but its a pedal it takes more of a beating than rack gear

i love tape echo,always liked it on leads,i have this and a dd-3 thats all i need.its warm sounding like an old tape delay the warble sounds cool on a clean setting ,try playing a slow picked song,its like havin a lil tremolo in it.