Electro-Harmonix Reboots its BBD Slap-Back Echo as prompted by Josh Scott
EHX really needs to sort out its pedal format nomenclature - calling this obviously ’Mini’ pedal a ’Pico’ - because it’s own Mini size is ridiculous, at BB-enclosure format, and where everyone else’s ’Compact’ is a Nano! EHX needs to transport itself into reality on that score as the template for compact was set back in the 70’s by Boss and MXR - while EHX was still peddling briefcase size pedals!
In any case its latest killer product is the Mini / Pico Slap-Back Echo - made with the same BBD chip as goes in the various current Memory Man variants. This is EHX’s very first mini pedal - considering there are so many cool Mini Analog BBD type delays now - it makes sense for EHX to get in on the action!
Controls - Gain (+20dB), Time : 45ms / 65ms / 100ms, Blend (Dry > Wet).
The topology is quite different to the original - which just had a Blend control and binary On/Off Filter. The mini gets an additional Gain dial - for the preamp part pf the circuit - to warm-up and enhance the detail of the echo. And there is now a 3-way Toggle-switch which gives you 45ms, 65ms, or 100ms of Delay.
It’s obviously very much honed towards doing those short bouncy delays - and is perfect for that purpose.
Of the Big 3 Pedal Brands - only Boss has still to get into Mini Pedals - while Dunlop / MXR has been reeling out a series of Killer Minis for a while.
In terms of Mini Analog Delay pedals - there are several really cool varieties out there now - including from Ibanez, Mooer, Pigtronix and Xvive, as well as a Mini format of the legendary MXR Carbon Copy too - so plenty of choice nowadays!
I typically don’t go for Mono delays - but for something so neat I might just give it a go! Very reasonably priced too at $81 and available from most of your typical EHX dealers already!
Would be interesting to know if any of you dear readers have used the original Slab-Back Echo at some stage, or still have it as part of your essential rig - or at least as an understudy!
Demos
