The Gecko Geckoplex EP-5 is a tape-style delay and reverb pedal built by Gecko Pedals of Eugene, Oregon. It is modeled on the Echoplex tape delay machine, and on That Pedal Show the presenters described it as "basically an Echoplex type pedal" with preamp features1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio called it "about as close as possible to having an actual tape delay unit on your pedalboard," handling everything from a simple slap-back echo to spacious, ambient soundscapes2.
The pedal uses analog sounds with digital functionality: tap tempo, presets, and a motorized delay slider that physically moves as you step through presets, echoing the way the slider on an original Echoplex moved the playback head to change the delay time31. Pedal of the Day's review found it full-featured and versatile, noting that it combines aspects of several vintage tape machines, including the Binson Echorec, the Roland Space Echo, and the Echoplex3.
Controls and what they do
The Geckoplex EP-5 carries six effect knobs plus a gain control and several switches23.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Echo VOLUME | Sets the level of the echo signal3 |
| REPEATS | Sets the number of repeats3 |
| TONE | Shapes the character of the echoes3 |
| WARP | Adds the character of worn-out tape2 |
| REVERB | Independent reverb, which can take the pedal into ambient territory2 |
| SHIFT | A Gecko Pedals original effect (see below)23 |
| GAIN | Adjusts the analog FET input preamp, up to +11dB2 |
| TRAILS toggle | Chooses whether trailing effects are heard after the unit is switched off2 |
The Shift knob is the pedal's signature control. It simulates shifting the delay slider back and forth while a note is played, causing the echoes to bend in pitch down and back up, or up and back down, depending on the knob's direction2. That is the same effect you get by dragging the playback head on a real tape machine while it repeats.
Other performance features include:
- Tap tempo with selectable subdivisions: eighth note, quarter note, and dotted eighth note3
- An external tap tempo switch jack for remote control of delay time3
- Sound on Sound mode for looping playback of up to 40 seconds3
- Separate WET/DRY outputs for dual amp setups3
- Buffered outputs that drive amps with clarity through long cables or into Lo-Z inputs3
The preamp and bypass
Up front, the pedal has an analog FET input preamp gain stage delivering up to +11dB, adjustable by the GAIN knob2. On the V2, the pedal can be fully bypassed, and the off-state output modes are user selectable: buffered with the preamp active, or fully bypassed2.
Version 2 and the limited edition
In 2022, Gecko Pedals released the Geckoplex EP-5 V22. The update added:
- Full MIDI control, with up to 64 MIDI accessible presets, clock sync, and clock master mode2
- User selectable max delay time of 650ms, 1 second, or 2 seconds2
- Full bypass with selectable off-state output modes2
- A Limited Edition white version2
The original version, reviewed by Pedal of the Day in 2021, already carried the core feature set: up to 2 seconds of delay time, 3 fully programmable presets with seamless switching, tap tempo with subdivisions, and the WET/DRY outputs3.
How it compares with the original Echoplex
The Echoplex tape delay machine has inspired a lot of echo pedals, and the Geckoplex takes its name and its slider concept from it2. On the original Echoplex, the slider physically moved the playback head, and that is what changed the delay time1. The Geckoplex recreates that behavior with a motorized slider that moves as you go through the presets1, and the Shift knob recreates the pitch bends you hear when a player drags that head around by hand2.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the original in October 2021 and found it "full-featured and versatile," fit for modern use while harkening back to vintage sounds3. In a later 2023 piece, the site called it "one of our favorite pedals ever"4.
"it is really lovely"
On That Pedal Show's New Pedal Day episode (published 29 November 2022, 42 minutes 14 seconds long), Dan and Mick ran the Geckoplex alongside the Kernom Ridge, Dreadbox Darkness, and Boss SL-2 Slicer, creating tones with each and noting its tap tempo, MIDI presets, built-in small box reverb, and the motorized slider15.
Where it is made
Each Geckoplex is built by hand in the USA in small batches with genuine, quality components, and hand numbered on the back23. Delicious Audio reports that absolutely everything is done in-house by the Eugene, Oregon builder, including circuit board assembly, machining, powder coating, screen printing, assembly, and testing2. Pedal of the Day's earlier review describes the same fully in-house process in Portland, Oregon, so the two reports disagree on the city3. The enclosure is a genuine Hammond Manufacturing all-metal box, powder coated, with artwork printed in epoxy ink for durability2.
Videos
AndyDemos
Demos In The Dark
Mike Hermans
Questions
Where is the Gecko Geckoplex EP-5 made?
It is built by hand in the USA in small batches. Delicious Audio reports the builder is based in Eugene, Oregon, with all processes done in-house, while Pedal of the Day's earlier review describes the same in-house work happening in Portland, Oregon. Each unit is hand numbered on the back.
What does the Shift knob do on the Geckoplex EP-5?
Shift is a Gecko Pedals original control. It simulates pushing the delay slider back and forth while a note is playing, so the echoes bend in pitch down and back up, or up and back down, depending on which way you turn the knob. It mimics what happens when you move the playback head on a real tape echo.
Does the Geckoplex EP-5 have MIDI?
The V2 version, released in 2022, has full MIDI control with up to 64 MIDI accessible presets, clock sync, and clock master mode. The original version stores 3 presets on the pedal itself and has no MIDI.
What is the maximum delay time on the Geckoplex EP-5 V2?
The V2 has a user selectable maximum delay time of 650ms, 1 second, or 2 seconds. The original version was rated at up to 2 seconds of delay time.
Does the Geckoplex EP-5 have trails?
Yes. A TRAILS toggle switch controls whether trailing effects are heard after the unit is switched off, so you can choose whether echoes and reverb ring out or cut immediately.
How many presets does the Geckoplex EP-5 store?
The pedal holds 3 fully programmable presets with seamless switching between them. On the V2, full MIDI access expands this to up to 64 MIDI accessible presets.
Sources (5)
- Kernom Ridge, Geckoplex EP-5, Dreadbox Darkness, Boss SL-2 Slicer New Pedal Day, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2022-11-29
- Gecko Geckoplex EP-5 V2 Delay/Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-07-19
- Gecko Pedals Geckoplex EP-5 Tape Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2021-10-06
- Gecko Pedals O-Face Modulated Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2023-11-22
- New Pedal Day Kernom Ridge, Geckoplex EP-5, Dreadbox Darkness, Boss SL-2 Slicer, That Pedal Show, 2022-11-29
