“This is a powerhouse of a stompbox that manages to keep things simple while offering endless inspiration”: Strymon EC-1 Single Head dTape Echo pedal review

If you’ve ever chased the warm, warbly magic of a vintage tape echo but didn’t want to deal with the maintenance, weight, or skyrocketing price of an old Echoplex, Strymon has just the thing. Enter the new EC-1, a no-nonsense, single-head tape echo pedal that delivers the lush repeats, coveted smooth preamp drive, and unpredictability of an original unit from the ‘60s – all in a pedalboard-friendly enclosure. 

Packing Strymon’s renowned analog-inspired DSP wizardry, the EC-1 takes the core tone of their beloved El Capistan and distills it into a more streamlined, gig-ready package. As you’d expect, you get a tube-modeled preamp with selectable voicings, which has enough built-in saturation to take your echoes from clean and glassy to dark and smeared. You also gain deep control over the tape age, with the ability to dial in pristine repeats only possible with fresh tape to charactiful dark echoes that are a result of a degraded tape. 

The unique mechanics control introduces wow and flutter to the equation while pressing the bypass control activates the tap tempo. Oh, and did I mention full MIDI control, stereo operation, and expression pedal support? Yeah, this thing’s got all the modern bells and whistles you’d expect from digital pedal masters Strymon, all without losing that old-school mojo. 

So, does the EC-1 capture the true essence of a vintage tape echo, or is it just another digital delay in disguise? Let’s plug in, crank it up, and find out.

Specifications

• Price: $279/£279/€319
• Type: Delay
• Controls: Time, Record Level, Mix, Tape Age, Repeats, Mechanics
• Features: Selectable tube-modeled preamp voices, tap tempo, stereo operation for independent processing of the left and right stereo inputs, and expression pedal capability. High-impedance, ultra-low noise discrete Class A JFET stereo input and MIDI control.
• Connectivity: Input, Output, Expression, 9V Power
• Bypass: True Bypass
• Power: 9V, 250mA
• Dimensions (cm): 11.7x 6.9x 6.4
• Weight (kg): 0.28
• Contact: Strymon

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★★★ 

Since its debut with the beloved OB.1 compressor back in 2009, Strymon has earned a well-deserved reputation for crafting exceptional, thoughtfully designed stompboxes, and the new EC-1 is a fantastic addition to its ever-growing lineup. 

This compact pedal is smart and contemporary with its lightweight anodized aluminum chassis that feels as sturdy as it looks. Sporting a sleek, minimalist design in a cool grey finish, it’s exactly what I expect from pedal-titans Strymon. 

The footswitch feels incredibly smooth under my feet, taking almost no pressure at all to switch on and off

And those vintage-inspired cream knobs? They look like they were borrowed from a Fender Super-Sonic amp, bringing a delightful retro flair to this modern stomp. Sure, it would have been fun to see chicken-head dials like those on the classic Echoplex, but honestly, the tactile controls used here feel solid, smooth, and easy to dial in – and that’s the most important thing! 

The footswitch feels incredibly smooth under my feet, taking almost no pressure at all to switch on and off – so there’s no need to stomp on this switch like you’re trying to crush a bug. The EC-1 comes set to true bypass by default, but fear not if you’re concerned about long cable runs messing with your tone, you can easily flip it to buffered bypass.

Let’s talk about the top of the pedal. Nestled among the input, output, and expression jack sockets is a mono/stereo switch that’s not only super easy to reach but also cleverly recessed into the pedal’s body. This means you won’t accidentally knock it while fumbling with cables. Okay, it’s not the most revolutionary thing you’ll see on a pedal, but it’s small details like this that show Strymon has thoroughly thought out this impressive stomp’s design. 

Usability

Usability rating: ★★★★☆

What’s really impressive is that you can tap in a new tempo while a delay is already playing without experiencing any pitch shifts, clicks, or worbles – something I personally love

If you find larger delay units like the TimeLine and Volante – or even the more compact El Capistan – a bit overwhelming, the EC-1 might just be the perfect pedal for you. Strymon has brilliantly stripped down the process of dialing in your delay, making it refreshingly simple to use. But don’t be fooled by its straightforward interface; this pedal comes packed with a variety of sounds, from crystal-clear repeats to gritty echoes rich with saturation.

Being a Strymon product, the EC-1 naturally includes a good dose of digital flexibility and a host of modern features. However, its single footswitch can be awkward to use at times. 

By pressing and holding the footswitch for just one second, you can easily access the tap tempo. What’s really impressive is that you can tap in a new tempo while a delay is already playing without experiencing any pitch shifts, clicks, or worbles – something I personally love. Now, don’t worry, if you’re in the mood to get adventurous with pitch-shifting echoes, it is still available – simply turn the time knob.

To enter “save” mode, just hold down the footswitch for two seconds. You’ll know you’ve successfully entered this mode when the LED shifts from red to green. As you’d expect from Strymon, the EC-1 features complete MIDI implementation and offers 300 presets, allowing you to control it remotely through commands sent from your controller or DAW via the EXP/MIDI jack or USB-C connection.

The thought of having to hold down the pedal for a second before I can adjust my tempo is a bit cumbersome for my taste

While I don’t mind having the MIDI control activated via the same footswitch as the pedal’s bypass, I do wish there were a separate tap tempo switch. When I’m playing live, I often need to make quick tweaks to my delay speed – especially when the band has an enthusiastic drummer, and we aren’t playing to a click track. The thought of having to hold down the pedal for a second before I can adjust my tempo is a bit cumbersome for my taste.

I get why the EC-1 was designed this way, and it worked great for the previously released Cloudburst. Personally, I’d much prefer having instant access to my tempo with a dedicated secondary switch. It just makes the whole experience more fluid, in my opinion. 

Sound

Sound rating: ★★★★★

If you are at all familiar with Strymon’s dTape technology, it’ll come as no surprise that the Californian pedal giant has managed to nail the vintage vibe of an original unit

I’ve always had a soft spot for the natural, imperfect sound of a tape delay. I love the defects and blemishes that attach themselves to the repeats. I appreciate the richness that is created when slight variations of pitch are introduced to my signal, and most importantly, I adore how inspiring it is to play. Thankfully, the EC-1 perfectly recreates the sound of a true tape echo, warts, and all.

Now, if you are at all familiar with Strymon’s dTape technology, it’ll come as no surprise that the Californian pedal giant has managed to nail the vintage vibe of an original unit – while also offering up a surprising amount of sonic flexibility. But be warned, overusing some of the controls can result in a delay sound that is likely to cause some audience members to feel a little seasick.  

At the center of the pedal, there’s an inconspicuous toggle switch that lets you adjust the signal gain sent to the virtual record head. In the low setting, you achieve unity gain with an optimized bias, perfect for crisp and clear repeats. The medium position offers a 6dB boost in the input signal along with an increased bias, resulting in slightly smoother repeats. Lastly, the high setting provides a substantial 12dB boost in signal, with even more bias for crunchy, saturated repeats.

I enjoyed using it on the “medium record level” setting, which strikes a perfect balance by providing just the right amount of saturation without being overwhelming. In my opinion, this level adds warmth and depth to the echoes, enhancing the overall tone without overshadowing the original signal.

I love how I can create everything from crisp, clear delays to more textured, lo-fi sounds, depending on how far I push the dial

One of the standout features for me is the tape age dial. It’s incredibly valuable for fine-tuning the delay sound. By adjusting this dial, I can simulate the natural wear and deterioration of vintage tape, which adds subtle variations and character to the repeats. I love how I can create everything from crisp, clear delays to more textured, lo-fi sounds, depending on how far I push the dial. This flexibility makes the EC-1 not only versatile but also deeply satisfying to use. 

Pair this with the unique Mechanics dial, and things get even more exciting. This control adjusts the modulation and fluctuation characteristics of the delay, allowing you to emulate the natural inconsistencies that come from the moving parts inside tape machines. 

At the lower end of the Mechanics control, you’ll notice a smooth wow and flutter but hit around one o’clock, and those subtle fluctuations give way to snappy, faster disturbances. Think of crinkles and splices that perfectly mimic the artifacts found on a well-used tape. 

I really enjoyed experimenting with this control because it can bring a new dimension to my sound. However, I’ve found that if I overuse it, the effect can start to sound strange and almost cartoony. So, while I love the rich textures it adds, I have to be mindful of how far I push it to maintain that authentic quality in my delays. Finding the right balance is key to achieving the perfect atmospheric delay without veering into overly exaggerated territory.

Below are a few examples of sounds I managed to get out of the Strymon EC-1. Each example uses the exact same amp sound and guitar – a Gibson ES-335 into a Vox AC30. I’ve added a light touch of digital reverb within Pro Tools and light compression to keep the volume consistent throughout the demos. 

Verdict

Simply put, the Strymon EC-1 is a fantastic delay pedal that really shines when it comes to sound quality. It really nails those classic tape delay vibes and isn’t afraid to model the uglier side of the machine, too.  

The only little hiccup is that it uses just one footswitch for a bunch of functions, so it can be a bit tricky for performers who like to make quick tweaks on the fly – but honestly, that’s just a small thing!

This is a powerhouse of a stomp that manages to keep things simple while offering endless inspiration. It’s definitely a must-have for any pedalboard if you want to supercharge your sound with some timeless delay magic.

Guitar World verdict: Small, impeccably made, and with a tone to die for, Strymon’s new EC-1 may just take the crown as the best tape delay on the market for players who not only want to keep things simple but also want to save precious pedal real estate. 

Also consider

Hands-on demos

Strymon

Mark Johnston

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