The Catalinbread Belle Epoch Plus is a compact delay pedal that emulates a tape echo, built by Catalinbread and released in December 2025. It is a new version of the company's flagship Belle Epoch circuit, a line Catalinbread describes as inspired by the Maestro Echoplex EP-3, "perhaps the most famous tape delay ever"12. Delicious Audio reports that with the Plus, Catalinbread "has officially elevated its iconic tape echo emulation," positioning it as "the most versatile and user-friendly version of their flagship circuit"2.
Where the original Belle Epoch aimed at the EP-3's character, the Plus is reported to deliver "a more 'hi-fi' and sparkling tone while retaining its classic feel," with the Echoplex-style preamp "meticulously tweaked for a higher dynamic range"2. The big additions are full tap tempo, entered by holding the footswitch, and a three-mode tape wear selector2.
A tape echo emulation with a hi-fi tone
The Belle Epoch circuit is a digital delay with an all-discrete preamp, designed to emulate tape echo rather than use it1. Catalinbread says the preamp gives "the same benefits but with added gain control and more touch-sensitivity" as the EP-3's record preamp1. On the Plus, the tape saturation circuit "emulates the crunch found on the EP-3 when you dig in"3.
The tape wear selector is the Plus's signature new feature. Delicious Audio calls it "a brilliant three-mode tape wear selector, allowing players to choose between a pristine, 'fresh-off-the-line' echo or" a dusty, degraded vintage character2. In practice it moves the whole pedal between clean, modern-sounding repeats and aged, lo-fi tape behavior.
The controls
The Plus carries five knobs plus the tape wear selector. Catalinbread's own control descriptions for the circuit2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Echo Delay | Governs the delay time, up to ~900ms of tape-like delay; turning the knob in tap mode returns the delay time to the knob position3 |
| Mix | Redesigned on the Plus; on the Belle Epoch it replicates the EP-3's Echo Volume control using the same basic passive mixer circuit, minimum dry only, maximum wet only245 |
| Sustain | Controls the amount of signal fed back into the delay line: down for slapback, up for a barrage of repeats, and it may self-oscillate at extreme settings3 |
| Rec Level | Governs how hard the preamp hits the delay line and affects the first repeat; includes the tape saturation circuit emulating the EP-3's crunch3 |
| Tape FX | Increases the amount of "tape warble" in the repeats, emulating the wow and flutter of tape echoes3 |
The Rec Level control does not touch the dry signal, only the first repeat, which is how the original EP-3's record level worked1. On the original Belle Epoch, the equivalent control "sets how hard the 'tape' or delay line is hit"1.
Tap tempo is new to the compact format. Hold the footswitch to enter tap mode and tap your tempo; the Plus is the first compact Belle Epoch to integrate full tap tempo2. Turning the Echo Delay knob while in tap mode hands control back to the knob3.
Where it sits in the Belle Epoch family
The original Belle Epoch Tape Echo is a pedal6 with an internal gain pot and an internal bypass type switch6. Inside the box, a trimpot sets gain and volume7. In review, Huw Price found that with shorter delay times and minimal repeats, "the Belle Epoch absolutely nails authentic-sounding slapback echo"8.
The Belle Epoch Deluxe is the larger sibling: a stereo pedal that Delicious Audio describes as "an exact reproduction of the iconic 1970's Maestro Echoplex EP-3," the only difference being that there is no tape9. It adds six programs, expression control, tap tempo and a second Echo Oscillation footswitch7, and its upfront controls replicate those on the original EP-3. Premier Guitar's reviewer found "each of the controls is satisfyingly sensitive and responsive"10, and Gearnews wrote that on first listen the Deluxe "does sound pretty much exactly like an original Echoplex"11.
The Plus sits between them: the pedal format of the original, with a three-mode tape wear selector that lets players choose between a pristine, "fresh-off-the-line" echo or a dusty, degraded vintage character2.
"We are extremely pleased to announce the launch of the Belle Epoch +"
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Questions
How do I use tap tempo on the Belle Epoch Plus?
Hold the footswitch to enter tap mode, then tap your tempo. The pedal integrates full tap tempo into the Belle Epoch circuit for the first time. If you turn the Echo Delay knob while in tap mode, the delay time returns to the knob position, so you can switch between tapped and knob-set times on the fly.
What does the tape wear selector do?
It is a three-mode switch that sets how worn the emulated tape sounds. One end gives a pristine, fresh-off-the-line echo, the other a dusty, degraded vintage character, with a middle setting in between. It lets you move from clean repeats to lo-fi, aged tape behavior without touching the other controls.
What is the difference between the Belle Epoch Plus and the Belle Epoch Deluxe?
The Plus is a compact, single-footswitch pedal built around the Belle Epoch circuit with tap tempo and a tape wear selector. The Deluxe is a larger stereo pedal described as an exact reproduction of the Echoplex EP-3's specifications, with six programs, expression control, tap tempo and a second Echo Oscillation footswitch.
Is the Belle Epoch Plus based on an Echoplex?
Yes. The Belle Epoch family is derived from the Maestro Echoplex EP-3, the tape delay Catalinbread calls perhaps the most famous ever. The Plus keeps the Echoplex-style preamp, tweaked for a higher dynamic range, and its tape saturation circuit emulates the crunch found on the EP-3 when you dig in.
What does the Rec Level knob do on the Belle Epoch Plus?
It governs how hard the preamp hits the delay line and shapes the first repeat. It does not affect the dry signal. The control includes a tape saturation circuit that emulates the crunch of the EP-3, so higher settings dirty up the repeats while lower settings keep them clean.
Sources (11)
- Epoch Set (B-Stock), Catalinbread Effects
- Catalinbread Belle Epoch Plus Tape Echo, Delicious Audio, 2025-12-09
- Belle Epoch +, Catalinbread Effects
- Saved by the Belle Epoch, Catalinbread Effects
- The Belle Epoch + is Here!, Premier Guitar, 2025-11-15
- Belle Epoch (Black and Silver), Catalinbread Effects
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-01
- Catalinbread Topanga & Belle Epoch review, Guitar.com, 2015-06-29
- Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe, Delicious Audio, 2024-04-08
- Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-12-25
- Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe, an Echoplex recreation, nears release, gearnews.com, 2017-06-09
