The NUX Tape Core Deluxe is a tape echo delay pedal that recreates the sound of a vintage tape delay machine in a compact stompbox, with what Pedal of the Day called "a slew of sonic options to choose from"1. It is made by NUX1.
NUX lists the Tape Core Deluxe as a Legacy Product, so it is no longer part of the maker's current lineup, though the user manual remains available for download from the NUX website2.
What it does
Instead of running your signal past an actual tape loop, the Tape Core Deluxe models one digitally. Pedal of the Day describes it as featuring "3 reproduction heads yielding 7 different combinations of delay sounds, where all of the natural sound, decay and modulation was created using cutting-edge TS/AC Technology"1. In other words, the pedal copies the behavior of a tape machine's playback heads: each of the three modeled heads reads the "tape" at a different point, and combining them gives seven distinct repeat patterns, the same way switching heads on a physical tape echo would1.
The pedal also reproduces one of the classic behaviors of a real tape machine. At its maximum settings, the REPEAT knob recreates the classic Infinite Feedback Oscillation effect, the runaway self-oscillation that builds until the repeats take on a life of their own. Pedal of the Day noted this effect "was, until now, only available on the physical machine"1.
Controls and bypass
- REPEAT knob: Sets the number of repeats; at maximum parameters it recreates the classic Infinite Feedback Oscillation effect1.
- Bypass toggle switch: Chooses between true bypass and tails bypass modes, so repeats either stop immediately or fade out naturally when you switch the pedal off1.
- T-Lock mode: Locks in your settings for live performances, guarding against accidental knob changes on stage1.
Where it came from and what reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Tape Core Deluxe in December 2021, covering its seven repro tape head combinations, TS/AC Technology modeling, Sound-on-Sound feature and Tape Core Editor software1. The reviewer also pointed to its value, noting "it costs about 1/15th of what a vintage machine might run you, so there's that as well"1.
Writing again in 2024, in a review of the NUX Verb Core Deluxe, the same site looked back on the Tape Core Deluxe as "amazing"3.
"it costs about 1/15th of what a vintage machine might run you, so there's that as well."
Related NUX delay pedals
NUX has since carried the tape echo idea forward in other pedals, including the NUX NDD-7 Tape Echo, a Roland Space Echo tribute with seven Repro-Tape combos, a 40-second looper and MIDI, and the NUX Time Core Deluxe stereo delay. Players looking at NUX delays can also compare the NUX Duotime Dual Delay Engine and the NUX Atlantic delay and reverb combo.
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Questions
Is the NUX Tape Core Deluxe analog or digital?
It is digital. The pedal uses NUX's TS/AC Technology to model the natural sound, decay and modulation of a vintage tape echo machine, rather than passing your signal through an actual tape loop.
Does the NUX Tape Core Deluxe have true bypass?
Yes, and it also offers a tails bypass option. A toggle switch on the pedal lets you choose between true bypass and tails bypass modes, so repeats can either cut immediately or fade out naturally when you disengage the pedal.
What is T-Lock on the Tape Core Deluxe?
T-Lock is a mode that locks in your settings for live performances. Once engaged, it keeps the pedal's controls from being changed accidentally on a dark stage or in transit.
How many tape head combinations does it offer?
The pedal has three reproduction tape heads that yield seven different combinations of delay sounds. Each combination gives a different repeat pattern, in the way selecting different heads on a physical tape echo machine would.
Has NUX discontinued the Tape Core Deluxe?
Yes. NUX lists the Tape Core Deluxe as a Legacy Product on its website, meaning it is no longer part of the current lineup. The user manual is still available for download from NUX.
Can the Tape Core Deluxe self-oscillate?
Yes. At its maximum settings, the REPEAT knob recreates the classic Infinite Feedback Oscillation effect, the runaway feedback behavior that until this pedal was only available on a physical tape echo machine.
Sources (3)
- NUX Tape Core Deluxe Tape Echo Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2021-12-01
- Tape Core Deluxe, NUX Audio, 2025-11-25
- NUX Verb Core Deluxe Stereo Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2024-04-09
