Univox Unicord DE-1 Delay

One button, two switches, four jacks and four knobs. Doesn't really get any easier.

Spectacular lo-fi analog delay sound. Not pristine like a Space Echo with a new tape, more like a EH Memoryman or a boss DM2 that has had too much beer spilled onto it. You can get almost 300 ms out of it at the longest setting, which means you're not really gonna be able to do sound-on-sound awesomeness. That said, it's a great budget bucket brigade delay that has vintage tone without "LQQK VINTAGE!!!" pricing.
I'm gonna give it an 8, because it sound cool, not pristine.

It lives in a metal box that has remnants of duct tape sticking to it when we had to tape it down on stage. It just keeps going. . .

nope.

It doesn't need tape. It uses BBD technology, like the DM2, the memoryman or that Moogerfooger thing. Stop looking for tape, seriously.

I'm glad that I found this delay. I'm not a guitar player, I just like guitar effects on my synths and so I stick my head into guitar shops on a regular basis. The shop that I got this from had a couple of keyboards too, so I just asked the sales guy if I could try the delay out with one of the synths. After hearing it do the rotten-analog-shriek-noise-feedbacky-thing, the sales guy looked at me and said, "If you don't want it, I'm grabbing it." They had never tried it out.

Has Volume, Balance, Echo Repeat and delay time knobs. The delay ranges from 10ms to 200ms I believe. About as simple to use compared to the new-fangled digital delays used by most musicians. However, it takes some time to find a setting that has a good balance of output with minimal noise. The unit has a high and low input and three output settings, so it is not impossible to find a clean sound.

If used correctly, the unit can make anything from slap-back echo, to ambient noise to shards of guitar. Perfect for shoegaze and post-punk. Fills out synths very well. Creates background noise if on highest output setting, but is more than adequate in a lo-fi setting. Rounds out vocals very well, and basically turns to gold everything it touches (I'll try not to gush too much).

I bought it on ebay for $50 in Sept. 2000 and it has worked ever since. No problems I can think of.

Do they still sell tape cartridges for these units?

For a lucky find on ebay, I can't imagine playing or recording without it. It lasted through my musical growing pains and is still the basis of my sound. It's a warm analog treat that is so rare these days, I don't think I've come across another on ebay in 7 years. If you find one, or any similar univox chamber (EC-80?), buy it. Ask questions later. It is greater than the sum of its low-mid price range parts.

This is a small rack mount tape delay marketed by the Univox parent company in the late seventies. Part of the "Unicord Stage Effects" line made in Japan. Two inputs (-50&-20db0), one output with a switch to control output level (-40,-20&0db), volume knob, peak level indicator light, balance knob, repeat knob and delay knob. Foot switch bypass, but you need a footswitch for the bypass, there is no switch on the unit. 117v/60hz. Bought used, so no manual - it's pretty basic though.

Note that the unit I have is 26-29 years old and I've owned it for the past 16 years. I don't think it's ever been opened up. With some work it might sound better than I suggest here.

I've read that it is very similar to the Univox EC 800, but I've never used one, so I can't compare. You have to play with the input and output combinations to avoid some terrrible white noise, but it can be done, however you may need to adjust your basic amp set-up that may not work with anything else you're doing.

Not good as a delay if you're looking for nice mechanical sounding repeats. More of a warm echo. If the 'delay' is cranked you get that metallic sound we all love so much. If the repeat is pushed at leat 3/4 you start to get some great feedback or horrible feedback - depends on your style I guess. I think if it was new I could get some very "The Edge"-like sounds from it.

If I used it, it would be for a mild background echo. It would be fantastic for a noise band, though - quick turning of the knobs gives that great whupperblurgerbll sound.

I've never gigged with it. As far as reliability, I purchased it in 1990 and it stopped working completely a couple years later. Fast forward to 2006, I found it in a basement of a friend's house, took it home, plugged it in and it works fine. Go figure...

Univox/Unicord is long gone.

It was a fun toy when bought and I just learning to play. Now it's kind of a curiosity. Still, there might be some use for it - some of the noises it makes are quite unique. I don't think really collectable. I'd think it worth more than $50 considering all the delay/echo options that are out there anymore.