The Danelectro Reel Echo Tape Delay is a delay pedal that uses digital circuitry to imitate the sound of vintage tape echo machines. JHS Pedals' history of the delay effect names it among pedals built to capture that tape tone1, and Pedal of the Day's review found that "you just get some smooth and vintage delay tones with ease"2. It is no longer in production, so players looking for one have to hunt one down secondhand2.
What it does
Tape delay units produced some of the most distinctive delay sounds in music history, and the Reel Echo sets out to recreate them digitally rather than with a real tape loop2. Guitar World's Paul Riario included it in a buying guide on pedals that recreate 1970s sounds, writing "we really like Danelectro's Reel Echo pedal"3. Despite the feature set, Pedal of the Day noted that the pedal "can still fit on any normal-sized pedalboard"2.
Controls
The Reel Echo's control set leans into the tape machine theme:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time slider | A slider replaces the usual Time knob, giving complete control over the delay time2 |
| Repeats | Sets how many times the delayed effect is heard2 |
| Mix | Blends the repeats with your dry sound, from barely audible to dominating the signal2 |
| Lo-Fi | Rolls off the high frequencies of successive repeats for an authentic analog tape sound2 |
| Tone switch | Chooses between Solid State and Tube-like delay tones2 |
| Warble switch | Deviates the pitch of the repeats to capture the classic tape delay sound2 |
The Warble switch is the detail that sells the tape imitation: Guitar World described it as one that "simulates tape-pitch deviations"3, the gentle drift in pitch that a physical tape loop produces as it runs.
Sound On Sound
Beyond delay, the Reel Echo works as a short looper, which Danelectro dubbed Sound On Sound. You record a snippet of notes and play over it, which makes the pedal a compact practice and sketching tool as well as a delay2.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict was warm: "A gorgeous recreation of those sought-after tape-based delay sounds, it will engage you mind and provide you with hours"2. The same review judged it well suited for a player new to tape delay2. Guitar World, writing in 2013, counted it among the modern pedals that successfully recreate 1970s tones3.
The Reel Echo is discontinued. Danelectro's later delay pedals include the Danelectro Back Talk Reverse Delay, the Danelectro DE-1 Dan-Echo and the Danelectro D-4 Fab Echo, and the wider field is covered on the Delay Pedals page.
Videos
don felipe
shuttlebugrecords
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Danelectro Reel Echo a real tape delay?
No. The Reel Echo is a pedal that digitally simulates the tone of vintage tape delay machines rather than using an actual tape loop. Pedal of the Day called it a gorgeous recreation of sought-after tape-based delay sounds, and Guitar World's Paul Riario included it among pedals that recreate 1970s tones. Its Warble switch and Lo-Fi knob add the pitch deviations and darkened repeats that real tape produces.
Is the Danelectro Reel Echo still made?
No. Pedal of the Day noted in its November 2016 review that the Reel Echo was no longer in production, so players looking for one have to find it secondhand. Danelectro has continued to release other delay pedals, including the Back Talk Reverse Delay and the Dan-Echo.
What does the Warble switch do on the Reel Echo?
The Warble switch deviates the pitch of the repeats to imitate the flutter of a real tape machine. Pedal of the Day described it as helping to capture the classic tape delay sound, and Guitar World noted that it simulates tape-pitch deviations, the gentle warbling that a worn tape loop produces.
What is Sound On Sound on the Danelectro Reel Echo?
Sound On Sound is a short looper built into the Reel Echo. You can record a snippet of notes and then play over it, which makes the pedal useful for practicing or layering quick ideas without a separate looper on the board.
Why does the Reel Echo have a Time slider instead of a knob?
Danelectro fitted a slider in place of the usual Time knob, echoing the sliding controls found on old tape echo machines. Pedal of the Day found it gave complete control over the sound and made setting the delay time fun and easy.
Sources (3)
- ORIGIN OF DELAY, JHS Pedals
- Danelectro Reel Echo Tape Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2016-11-10
- Bell Bottom Blues: Five Modern Effect Pedals That Recreate Groovy '70s Sounds, Guitar World, 2013-04-24
