Binson Echorec. Space Echo. Echoplex. These are a few of the incredible tape delay machines that came out of the 1960’s and 70’s, to create some of the most unique and fantastic sounds we’ve ever heard. Today’s pedal combines aspects of many of these machines into one glorious, options-laden unit, fit for modern use and harkening back to vintage sounds. The Gecko Pedals Geckoplex EP-5 Tape Delay is full-featured and versatile, handling anything from a simple slap-back, to creating dreamy, spacious science-fiction soundscapes that combine reverb with nearly endless, twisted, wavering echoes.
There’s so much going on here, as you can see from the controls, but once you get a handle on how everything works and start experimenting, the sky’s the limit. Utilizing analog sounds with digital functionality (tap tempo, presets, etc.) forms a tape echo delay the likes of which we haven’t yet come across, one that shoots right to the top of our favorite delays list (which is fairly large, as you know if you follow us at all).
Here are some of the features the Geckoplex provides:
– Analog FET input preamp gain stage, with gain up to +11dB, adjustable by the GAIN knob
– Up to 2 seconds of delay time
– Sound on Sound mode for looping playback of up to 40 seconds
– Separate WET/DRY outputs for use with dual amp setups
– The dry signal can be switched off on the wet output for pure WET/DRY outputs (internal switch)
– 3 Fully programmable presets, with seamless switching between them
– Expression pedal support, allowing full control of any set of controls over any desired range on each preset
– Tap tempo with selectable subdivisions (eighth note, quarter note, and dotted eighth note subdivisions)
– External tap tempo switch jack allows remote control of the delay time
– TRAILS toggle switch to control whether trailing effects are heard after the unit is switched off
– Buffered outputs, capable of easily driving amps with clarity, even through long cables or into Lo-Z inputs
– Motorized delay slide control to set the delay time, similar to a tape write head position lever found on some vintage tape delay units
– 6 effect control knobs: echo VOLUME, REPEATS, TONE, WARP, an independent REVERB, and a Gecko Pedals original effect: SHIFT
– LED level meter bar (6 LEDs)
The result of over 10 years of designing and testing, the Geckoplex EP-5 is built by hand in the USA, in small batches, with genuine, quality components. Absolutely everything, including circuit board assembly, machining, powder coating, screen printing, assembly, and testing are done in-house, in Portland, OR, ensuring strict high-quality and reliability for each unit. To get a better idea about how the Geckoplex sounds, grab a tasty beverage and carve out 15 minutes of your life to watch our demo video below, where we run through all the functions and create some truly spectacular sounds. If this is their only pedal ever, we offer huge congrats to the Gecko Pedals crew…if not, we can’t wait to see what they have in store next. Be sure to check out their website for more info, and give ’em a follow on all the socials! Cheers!!
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