Better for slapback: Carbon Copy, Aqua Puss II, or Malekko 616?

[AshlandBump]

Title pretty much says it all -- I use a DMMXO for modulation but thinking about getting another analog delay for slapback settings. Which of these three is preferred for that sound?

[charmboy]

I can't speak for the other two since I haven't tried them, but the Carbon Copy does really great slap back. I have a TTE and was using an ARDX20 for a while but the CC holds it's own with the big boys.

[WoodyStrat]

I have owned all three an my experience would give this ranking:

1. Aqua Puss by a really long shot!
2. Malekko 616
3. Carbon Copy

The difference between the CC and Malekko is pretty small in terms of quality of slap back. Different but close. The Aqua Puss always seemed like a one trick pony but for strait rockabilly/country slapback...YEE HAW!!

[Funky Monkey]

Aqua Puss mk2 has my absolute favorite slapback...there isn't an analog pedal I've tried that I like more.

[Staticbuster]

The CC does a really great slapback, but maybe try to dig up and old Ibanez Delay Champ....that thing does the best analog slapback I've ever heard; it gets a lot shorter or 'tighter' delay times than the CC.

[MadFrank]

I asked this question a while back and the CC and Aqua Puss pretty much came out tops in terms of recomendations. While listening to loads of demos of various delay's I also found that the Analogueman dual-delay pedal had a great sounding slap-back effect. Coupled with it's simplicity and the fact that I'm a fanboi anyway, it's at the top of my list. I would guess the El cap does a great job of this too, being a convincing 'tape' echo.

[TheReverendCommon]

Aqua Puss for slapback, hands down.

[pennylink]

Check out the Keeley/Ibanez AD9 also. Excels at slapback and short delays with VERY little tone coloration.

[jw112]

Aqua Puss for slapback, hands down.

What he said

[jnepo1]

The Aqua Puss for slapback.

[magnus02]

I'm on the same quest...

I've tried:

Aqua puss II
Analogman ardx20
Maxon ad 900
El capistan

The el cap is NOT a good candidate, just doesn't cut it for this. The analogman I really like but the repeats are a little dirty (on mine at least, running off a pp2) which might not make it ideal. The aqua puss as others have said is excellent and cheap. My favorite so far is the maxon though. Great for slapback but can do slightly longer times and mines modded for expression control of delay time which is excellent.

For simple slapback, if you have other areas covered, just get the aqua puss and you won't be disappointed at all. Excellent pedal.

[Barbiche2]

Aqua Puss!

[winonatele]

The AP would be good. Another to put on the list would be the Retro-Sonic Analog Delay.

[tjmicsak]

I bet there's a AP for a good price in the emporium right now...

[MrSoGood]

I haven't tried the Malekko, but I demo'd the Aqua Puss and the CC at the same time, and I bought the Aqua Puss. I love it for slapback!

[u2streets]

I'll the Retro Sonic Analog Delay head and shoulders over the AP mkII.

[Rosette]

Aqua Puss mk2 has my absolute favorite slapback...there isn't an analog pedal I've tried that I like more.

this.

[capt4inslow]

Aqua Puss Mk II RI is damn slappy.

[clc12rock]

Haven't tried the Malekko, but I A/B'd the AP and the CC and I went with the CC and I love it. I'd say another contender should be the Mad Professor DBD. Never tried that one either, but I've always wanted to.

[rhinocaster]

Nice to see the Aqua Puss II getting the attention it deserves as a superior slapback delay pedal.

The AP is the absolute worst for atmospheric or long delay sounds, but it's right at the top of the heap when you want a tight slapback delay with plenty of BOING! :)

[Lolaviola]

The CC is my least favorite analog delay for slapback. I just can't get it to sit right in the mix; the repeats are very mid-rangey. My AD9 did better slapback because it had a bassier voice. YMMV, but I use CC for atmospheric or tape-like 3-4 repeats.

[mojoslide]

I've tried the CC and AP and the AP kills it for slapback. Probably the best slapback tone I've ever heard.

[traviswalk]

I would just throw in that the new Flashback has a great slapback setting, sounds great. I also agree the Aqua Puss would be the winner among those suggested, but the Flashback is great and offers the other settings.

[Funky Monkey]

I would just throw in that the new Flashback has a great slapback setting, sounds great. I also agree the Aqua Puss would be the winner among those suggested, but the Flashback is great and offers the other settings.

Absolutely. Yet I thnk I might like the Tape setting with the delay time just under 9:00 and the level just above 10:00 better than the dedicated Slapback setting. For all I know, they're the same sim...they sound very close. Compared to the Aqua Puss slapback, I'm on the fence, but leaning towards the Aqua. Enough to put both on my board? Probably not. The Flashback is exceptionally good and I'd have no problems gigging with just it.

I didn't mention the Flashback because it wasn't listed as one of the choices. However, I'm here to tell you, after a week with it (a couple good practices, one session and one gig) there really isn't a compact digital delay pedal that I like better. This thing floored me.

[traviswalk]

I didn't mention the Flashback because it wasn't listed as one of the choices. However, I'm here to tell you, after a week with it (a couple good practices, one session and one gig) there really isn't a compact digital delay pedal that I like better. This thing floored me.

:aok for its size and functionality, the Flashback is tops!

[kevinhifi]

I have a Flashback on the way that I'm excited to try out. Right now, I have a Lovepedal Echo Baby on my board set up for slapback, and I'm really digging it. When you want a pedal that's a one-trick pony, you don't want it to be big. The Echo Baby is small, has internal trimmers and other functions to help tweak the one-trick to your liking, and sounds really great with the shorter delay times. Just another option to add to your list. I like it so much, I'll probably keep it on the board along with the Flashback to have quick access or to get slapback+long delay combo sounds.

I've used the CC and think the Echo Baby is more natural sounding as a slapbacker. I can't comment on the other two in your list.

[nixpix]

I've had the Carbon Cop and currently have the Aqua Puss. Slapback is my only use of delay right now, not long delays or modulation or anything like that. I liked the CC at first, but then after a while of playing rockabilly stuff with my friends I didn't like how the repeats sounded. They kinda got lost and weren't defined enough. My wife ordered me the Aqua Puss MKII when it first came out early last year and I've been using it ever since! I feel that for pure slap, it sounds better than the Carbon Copy.

[cubistguitar]

Analogman AR20DL

[El Gallo Negro]

I pretty much always play with slapback and have never been super stoked on my CC for that purpose, but it sounds beautiful on longer stuff. I'm gonna definitely grab an AP in the near future.

[barryg_nyc]

Btw - MF will price-match Amazon.com prices - so I was able to order an Aqua Puss from MF for $118 (w/ free shipping) earlier this week.
At that price, nothing beats it for slapback.

[El Gallo Negro]

Oh, snapski. I got a used AP on the way. I iz excited.

[mondo500]

If you can track down a Malekko E300B (or D if you like it darker), slapback is what it's best at... don't know if they'll ever become as sought-after as Malekko's other discontinued offerings (dunno why, as they fulfil the same criteria), but at least it means they can still be had fairly cheap...

[shredtrash]

Check out the Keeley/Ibanez AD9 also. Excels at slapback and short delays with VERY little tone coloration.

I actually disagree with this. I used the Keeley for a couple of years and went back to the Carbon Copy because the Keeley was so dark.