The NUX Tape Core Deluxe Tape Echo Delay is a compact pedal that recreates the sound of a vintage tape echo using digital modeling. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as bringing "this particular delay sound, in compact form, with a slew of sonic options to choose from," and notes that it costs about 1/15th of what a vintage tape echo machine might run you1.
What it does
The Tape Core Deluxe models a tape echo digitally rather than using analog circuitry. Pedal of the Day's review credits NUX's TS/AC Technology with capturing "all of the natural sound, decay and modulation" of a tape delay1. At its core are three reproduction heads that yield seven different combinations of delay sounds, letting a player choose among different tape head spacings and the echo characters they produce1.
Controls and bypass
The pedal's bypass arrangement is unusual in that one toggle switch handles three jobs1:
- True bypass: the pedal is removed from the signal path when off
- Tails bypass: echoes are allowed to ring out and decay naturally when the pedal is switched off
- T-Lock: locks in your settings for live performances, so a knocked knob cannot change your sound mid-set1
The REPEAT knob also has a trick beyond ordinary feedback control. Pedal of the Day notes that "the maximum parameters of the REPEAT knob can be used to recreate the classic Infinite Feedback Oscillation effect," the runaway, self-generating repeats that players of vintage tape machines know well1.
Status and where it sits in NUX's range
One control worth knowing about before digging deeper: the Tape Core Deluxe's bypass is set with a toggle switch, which lets you choose true or tails bypass modes, along with a T-Lock mode that locks in your settings for live performances1. For a wider view of where it sits among delay options, the site's Delay Pedals page gathers the type as a whole.
Videos
Premier Guitar
NUX
Mike Hermans
Questions
Is the NUX Tape Core Deluxe analog or digital?
It is a digital pedal. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as digital modeling using NUX's TS/AC Technology, which the reviewer says captures the natural sound, decay and modulation of a real tape echo in a compact pedal rather than relying on analog circuitry.
Does the NUX Tape Core Deluxe have true bypass?
Yes, and it is selectable. A toggle switch on the pedal lets you choose between true bypass and tails bypass modes. The same switch also engages T-Lock mode, which locks in your settings so they cannot be changed accidentally during a live performance.
What is T-Lock on the Tape Core Deluxe?
T-Lock is a mode on the pedal's bypass toggle switch that locks in your settings for live performances, preventing accidental changes to the knobs while you are playing. It sits alongside the true bypass and tails bypass options on the same switch.
How many tape head combinations does it offer?
The Tape Core Deluxe features three reproduction heads that yield seven different combinations of delay sounds, according to Pedal of the Day's review, giving players a range of tape echo voicings from a single compact pedal.
Has NUX discontinued the Tape Core Deluxe?
NUX Audio's own product page lists the Tape Core Deluxe as a Legacy Product, which indicates it is no longer part of the company's current lineup. NUX has since released other tape echo pedals, including the NDD-7 Tape Echo.
Can the Tape Core Deluxe self-oscillate?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the maximum parameters of the REPEAT knob can be used to recreate the classic Infinite Feedback Oscillation effect, the runaway repeats familiar from vintage tape echo machines.
Sources (2)
- NUX Tape Core Deluxe Tape Echo Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2021-12-01
- Tape Core Deluxe, NUX Audio, 2025-11-25
