8.) Delay time range. The Echoplex had a minimum delay time of about 80ms (it couldn’t get any shorter since the
playback and record heads couldn’t get any closer together!) and a maximum delay time of about 800ms. This is
pretty close to the perfect range to have in a guitar delay device for most applications. Plus, the famous sounds
you’ve heard on records of EP-3 users, where the player would slide the Echo Delay slider from longest to shortest
delay times and back during their spaceship sound excursions or theremin solos, to get the authentic sound you’d
want to have that delay time range.
So, armed with this insight, we developed the Belle Epoch to incorporate all of these attributes into a compact
pedal that delivers an amazing musical experience with none of the maintenance of the real deal!
We wanted to incorporate all the attributes that made the EP-3 compelling and then some. The Echoplex is a
musical instrument unto itself and we wanted the Belle Epoch to be too!
So then, here’s what we did with the Belle Epoch:
• We used the same basic architecture for the audio path and mixer stages as the EP-3. The delay line is DSP-based,
but we carefully tuned the repeats to sound and respond like the Echoplex.
• We developed an all-discrete preamp that gives the same benets as the EP-3 but with even greater touch-
sensitivity. Your direct guitar signal only sees this preamp. There are no buer stages or op-amps anywhere in the
direct signal path. Plus, the Belle Epoch preamp can be run from 9 to 18 volts as opposed to the xed voltage
biasing of the original, giving you more powering and tonal options.
• We replicated the delay time range of the Echoplex, from 80ms to 800ms, to give you an authentic Echoplex
experience, going from the perfect slapback all the way to Brian May.
BELLE EPOCH FEATURES
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