Strymon EC-1 Single Head dTape Echo

The Strymon EC-1 Single Head dTape Echo is a compact digital tape delay pedal from Strymon, built on the company's dTape modeling technology. It is a single-head tape echo: instead of offering several tape machines and head combinations, it models one specific unit, a Cesar Diaz-modified Echoplex EP-2 tube tape delay, and puts it in a small box with one footswitch¹².

Strymon says its dTape system "allows precise replication of every aspect of every tape echo we've studied," including the moving head, tape condition, bias setting, and the mechanical effects of motors, capstan slippage and tape irregularities¹. GuitarPlayer's reviewer, Christopher Scapelliti, found the result convincing, calling it "a convincing emulation of one of guitar's most hallowed effects" and a great-sounding, versatile and tweakable tape delay overall².

A modeled single-head tape echo

The EC-1 is a digital pedal that models tape echo rather than using actual tape. Strymon's dTape technology reproduces the behavior of a vintage machine: the moving playback head, tape condition, bias setting, and the mechanical wobble from motors, capstan slippage and tape irregularities¹⁵. Pedal of the Day describes the result as the sound of a classic '60s tape echo, complete with the harmonic richness of the accompanying tube preamp⁵.

GuitarPlayer's review describes the sound in concrete terms: "There's no mistaking the EC-1's characteristic tape delay emulation, from its warmth and slightly blurry echoes to the reduced bandwidth of each successive repeat"¹². Live Edit mode adds an optional preamp model that mimics the sonic character of the EP-2's original tube preamp, plus a preamp boost that works with either preamp setting; the preamp model can be defeated altogether².

Based on a Cesar Diaz-modified Echoplex EP-2

The specific machine the EC-1 models has a story. Cesar Diaz, guitar tech and amp builder, heavily modified an Echoplex EP-2. According to Strymon's Gregg Stock and Pete Celi, as reported by GuitarPlayer and Premier Guitar, "His mods created a single unit with the best attributes of both tube and solid-state Echoplexes"⁴⁶. MusicRadar reports that this Diaz-modded EP-2 sample significantly informed the EC-1's development, giving it a special character⁷.

The EC-1 is also a direct descendant of Strymon's own El Capistan dTape Echo. GuitarPlayer describes the EC-1 as "a single-head tape echo pedal based on the award-winning dTape algorithm at the heart of the company's El Capistan dTape Echo"¹². Strymon itself frames the relationship simply: "EC-1 is a compact, single footswitch digital tape delay pedal, based on the original El Capistan"⁸.

The controls and the tap tempo footswitch

The EC-1 keeps its control set small. The front panel carries familiar dials for Time and Repeats, along with adjustable Tape Speed¹⁹. The Time control sets delay time from 50ms to 1 second; in Tap Tempo mode it selects the tap division: eighth-note triplets, eighth notes, dotted eighth notes or quarter notes².

The single footswitch does double duty. It works as the bypass switch, and it enters Tap Tempo mode: hold the switch down until the LED status light turns blue, then tap to set the tempo². Strymon notes that onboard single-switch tap tempo "was added in lieu of a second footswitch"⁸. Not every reviewer loved this arrangement; Guitar World's reviewer would have preferred a separate tap-tempo switch, finding the hold-then-tap routine cumbersome¹⁰.

The rear EXP/MIDI jack can be assigned to an expression pedal, an external tap tempo switch, a tap to call up one favorite preset stored in the pedal, or an infinite hold². Strymon's MultiSwitch Plus accessory expands this: in Custom Mode its three footswitches give you Tap Tempo (A), Favorite Preset selection (B), and Infinite Repeats (C)¹¹.

Power and connections: 9V, 250mA, stereo and MIDI

The EC-1 runs on 9V DC, center negative, with a minimum of 250mA²³. It does not ship with a power adaptor; Strymon sells the adapter separately¹²³.

For connections, the pedal has a single 1/4-inch input jack and a single 1/4-inch output jack, both switchable between mono and stereo operation by a switch above the jacks; stereo use requires TRS adaptors or TRS cables². Strymon describes the output as a low impedance TRS stereo output, and the pedal features full stereo in and out, processing incoming stereo signals independently¹.

MIDI is fully implemented. The EXP/MIDI jack handles MIDI signals, and a USB-C jack on the pedal handles computer MIDI and firmware updates¹². With full MIDI implementation and 300 presets, the EC-1 can be controlled remotely by sending MIDI commands²¹. One favorite preset can also be stored in the pedal and called up with a tap through the EXP/MIDI jack².

How the EC-1 differs from the El Capistan

The El Capistan is the bigger, earlier expression of the same dTape algorithm, with multiple tape heads and machine types. The EC-1 narrows the focus to a single head modeled on the Diaz-modded EP-2, in a compact box with one footswitch¹⁸². Strymon's own summary of the difference is that the EC-1 is a compact, single footswitch digital tape delay pedal based on the original El Capistan, with onboard single-switch tap tempo added in place of a second footswitch⁸.

Within Strymon's current compact delay lineup, the EC-1 sits alongside the Brig dBucket Delay, which emulates analog bucket-brigade delay rather than tape¹². Players comparing Strymon's tape-flavored delays can also look at the Volante Magnetic Echo Machine and the TimeLine MX Multi Delay, the company's flagship multi-engine delay workstation.

What reviewers said

Published reviews of the EC-1 have been positive about the sound, with some reservations about the single-footswitch layout²¹⁰.

• GuitarPlayer's Christopher Scapelliti called it "a convincing emulation of one of guitar's most hallowed effects" and a great-sounding tape delay that is versatile and tweakable overall².
• The same review noted the characteristic tape delay emulation, from warmth and slightly blurry echoes to the reduced bandwidth of each successive repeat².
• Guitar World's reviewer liked the pedal but would have preferred a separate tap-tempo switch, finding the hold-then-tap entry to tempo mode cumbersome¹⁰.
• MusicRadar's review lists the bypass footswitch among the pedal's core controls¹³.

One practical note from GuitarPlayer: the box contains only a quick-start guide, so the full manual has to be downloaded from strymon.net².

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