The Drunk Beaver Vinnytsia Echo Machine is a digital delay pedal and the builder's evolved take on the Ibanez EM-5 Soundtank Echo Machine. It was announced in July 2024, with tap tempo added and the delay time extended, and it was built in a run of only 20 pedals1.
Controls
The pedal keeps the original EM-5's simple three-knob layout and adds a second footswitch for tap tempo, styled as an arcade-style blue button1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay Level | Sets the level of the delayed signal1 |
| Feedback / Repeats | Sets how many repeats the delay produces1 |
| Delay Time | Sets the delay time from 40 ms to 700 ms1 |
| Engage footswitch | Switches the effect on and off1 |
| Blue Tap Tempo footswitch | Sets the delay time by tapping, via the arcade-style blue button1 |
Where it came from
The Ibanez EM-5 Echo Machine was made by Ibanez, and RockBoard's PedalPedia describes its intent this way: "The EM5 replicates the great spacey sound of the old tape echo's without the hassle of cleaning heads and replacing tapes"2. The two references disagree on the original's circuit type: Guitar Pedal X calls the EM-5 "a digital delay with a discrete delay chip clock"1, while RockBoard's PedalPedia lists its circuit type as analog2.
Drunk Beaver's version changes the circuit in two ways. Vitalii replaced the original's discrete delay chip clock with a microcontroller (MCU), and that change "enabled the possibility to add tap tempo - via the arcade-style blue button"1. The delay time was also extended from the original's 50 to 600 ms to 40 to 700 ms, and the pedal has more maximum gain for the delay line than the source pedal, with low-noise op-amps in the signal path1.
For context on the pedal it is based on: Aion FX notes that the EM-5 was generally overlooked during production and "could be found for $50-70 up until a few years ago", while today it rarely sells for less than $30031.
Availability
The Vinnytsia Echo Machine was ordered direct from the Drunk Beaver webstore, where it was listed at $175 plus shipping and taxes where applicable1. With only 20 made, it was a small limited run rather than a standing product1.
"So what we have here is a really smart and neat simple delay - which is super easy to deploy."
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer called it "a prime candidate for a fantastic sounding simple delay overall"1.
The Vinnytsia Echo Machine's original discrete delay chip clock has been replaced with a microcontroller (MCU), a modification Vitalii made to the circuit1. For other delays, see the site's Delay Pedals page.
Questions
Is the Vinnytsia Echo Machine true bypass?
Guitar Pedal X's review of the pedal lists true bypass among its features, alongside low-noise op-amps in the signal path and more maximum gain for the delay line than the original Ibanez EM-5 it is based on. That means the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when switched off, which matters on a pedalboard where the delay sits alongside other effects.
What is the delay time range?
The Delay Time control runs from 40 ms to 700 ms. Guitar Pedal X notes that Drunk Beaver extended the range from the original EM-5's 50 to 600 ms, adding a little shorter minimum and a little longer maximum. The Blue Tap Tempo footswitch sets the delay time to your playing tempo as well.
What is the Vinnytsia Echo Machine based on?
It is Drunk Beaver's evolved take on the Ibanez EM-5 Soundtank Echo Machine. Builder Vitalii replaced the original's discrete delay chip clock with a microcontroller, which made tap tempo possible, and extended the delay time range. The EM-5 itself aimed to reproduce the spacey sound of old tape echoes without tape maintenance.
How many Vinnytsia Echo Machines were made?
Only 20 were made, according to Guitar Pedal X's July 2024 review. The pedal was offered direct from the Drunk Beaver webstore at $175 plus shipping and taxes where applicable, so the run was small and sold through that one channel.
Where was the Vinnytsia Echo Machine sold?
It was ordered direct from the Drunk Beaver webstore, priced at $175 plus shipping and taxes where applicable. It was not a retail-store release: Guitar Pedal X reported the limited run of 20 pedals at the time of the announcement in July 2024.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-07-12
- EM-5 Echo Machine by Ibanez, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Elysium Ambient Delay / Ibanez® EM5 Echomachine, Aion FX, 2022-09-24
