The Fjord Fuzz Loke Tape Echo is a delay pedal built to behave like a virtual reel-to-reel tape deck. Introduced in November 2023, it is a notable step for its maker: according to Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, "this stompbox is the first digital effect by Fjord Fuzz"1. Rather than a straightforward echo, it aims to reproduce the whole range of things old tape machines did to a signal, deliberately and by accident.
What it does to your sound
Delicious Audio describes the Loke as offering "the full suite of exciting effects found on old school reel-to-reel tape gear"1. The list is long, and it covers much of what players associate with tape machines and their quirks:
- Beatles-style tape flange trick
- Lofi warped vinyl textures
- Flanger, chorus and vibrato
- Distorted tape delays
- Artificial stereo-widening double tracking
- Faux reverb
- Percussive tape echo with machine errors
- Whale calls
- Full wet delay
For a player, that means one pedal covering territory usually spread across a flanger, chorus or vibrato, all filtered through a tape machine character1.
The design idea: two almost identical signals
The pedal is named after Loke, the Norse god of mischief, described as "the embodiment of duality"1. That name points at how the circuit works. As De Gregorio explains, "LOKE gives you two almost identical signals," each with enough output to drive your preamp into overdrive, one carrying a slight tape tint that can be shifted in time by 0 to 100 ms or 0 to 400 ms1. The two time ranges are the heart of the design: short shifts produce modulation and lo-fi colors, longer ones produce recognizable echoes.
Controls and footswitches
The Loke has two footswitches and six knobs, laid out as follows1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Right footswitch | Regular on/off |
| Left footswitch | Switches between the two time ranges: 0 to 100 ms for modulation and lo-fi sounds, 0 to 400 ms for regular echo sounds |
| Two larger knobs (top) | Feedback and Delay time |
| Two smaller knobs (left) | Wet and Dry levels |
| Two smaller knobs (right) | Modulation speed and Depth |
The Wet and Dry knobs are worth a closer look. They feed two separate channels, each with its own preamp, and both can overdrive. The dry channel is described as very clean, while the wet side carries a tape echo color that is warmer and less bright1. That means the pedal can add a touch of saturation even at modest echo settings.
The delay time can also be controlled via an Expression In jack. As De Gregorio puts it, "the expression control gives you the option of warping the time parameter with hands-free operation"1, which is how players get the drifting, seasick pitch wobble tape machines are known for.
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Questions
Is the Fjord Fuzz Loke Tape Echo analog or digital?
It is digital. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, writing when the pedal was introduced in November 2023, noted that the Loke is the first digital effect made by Fjord Fuzz, a builder previously known for analog designs. It models the behavior of a reel-to-reel tape machine rather than using actual tape.
What are the two time ranges on the Loke Tape Echo?
The left footswitch switches the delay time between two ranges: 0 to 100 ms for modulation and lo-fi sounds, and 0 to 400 ms for regular echo sounds. The idea is that the pedal gives you two almost identical signals, one shifted slightly in time, and the range you pick sets how far apart they sit.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Loke Tape Echo?
Yes. The Loke has an Expression In that controls the delay time, so you can warp the time parameter with hands-free operation while playing. An expression pedal is not included, but the jack is built in for that purpose.
Can the Loke Tape Echo do tape flange sounds?
Yes. Delicious Audio describes the Loke as offering the full suite of effects found on old school reel-to-reel tape gear, including the Beatles-style tape flange trick, alongside flanger, chorus, vibrato, lo-fi warped vinyl textures and more.
Does the Loke Tape Echo have separate wet and dry controls?
Yes. The two smaller knobs on the left side set Wet and Dry levels. The two channels have separate preamps and can both overdrive: the dry channel is described as very clean, while the wet side carries a tape echo color that is warmer and less bright.
Sources (1)
- Fjord Fuzz Loke Tape Echo, Delicious Audio, 2023-11-10
