Strymon Help. Which should I buy. Spend my cash please.

[buyusfear]

I've been hearing great things about Strymon for over a year now and I'm totally GAS'ing for one of their pedals.
I'm a 65mps guy, and Dan Boul praises these pedals pretty hard, so that's all I need.

My first choice was an El Capistan, with the favourite pedal.
Second would be the Orbit, as I've been meaning to get a flanger. (actually I'm torn between these two)
I don't think the timeline is within my budget, as in I won't get the best ROI on it. I'm a classic rock, modern rock player, who like to add seasoning to his tone.
I'd like to add the Lex, but get a pretty cool leslie sound out of my RetroSonic Chorus pedal; however really dislike the chorus of that pedal, (find it to shrill).
I need a comp, but I've heard better things about the Empress and Jangle Box, so that kinda takes the 0b1 off the table)
So, essentially, I kinda wanna pull the trigger on the El Capistan. Should I look at a different pedal? I have a delay (Carbon Copy, works great, should I get a digital delay instead)

My current board has:
Fulltone FD2, OCD, Jekyll & Hyde, Retrosonic Chorus, Carbon Copy.

Thanks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/buyusfear/56Junior2011Oct16.jpg

[snouter]

I recommend the TimeLine in case you want to use an additional amp and utilize stereo modulation pedals in the future.

[DrSlow]

I've picked up a Lex a couple weeks ago and, I gotta say, that there is just no comparison between the leslie tones you get out of a chorus pedal when you crank it up and what that thing can do. It's just a delicious sounding box.

That being said, I'll bet the overwhelming majority of people recommend the El Cap. I don't think you can go wrong with that one.

[waggclan]

I've got a Blue Sky paired with a Brigadier and couldn't be happier. Easy to use and sounds phenomenal. Add in my Analogman modded MXR CSP-026 Phase 90 from time to time and I'm done... ;)

[buyusfear]

Thanks so far dudes

[wundergussy]

The El Cap sure is great for spacey ambient stuff, but might not beat your CC for slap-back thickener. My 2 cents. Keep both on your board.

[rp108]

Ha, addicts think alike. I am looking at getting the orbit soon.

[buyusfear]

The El Cap sure is great for spacey ambient stuff, but might not beat your CC for slap-back thickener. My 2 cents. Keep both on your board.

hahah, Actually, my plan was to take the FD2 off and shift everything over to make room for the elCap and CC2.

[Flight1311]

Although the Timeline cannot replace an El Cap - it does have some good tape echo settings on it. Plus it has a TON of more options. I highly recommend it. The El Cap with the favorite button only allows you to store two presets. The Timeline has 200. I thought I would only need 4 or 5 at the most but I have 20 stored myself. It's a pretty amazing pedal.

Also, I am not sure if you're a reverb guy but the Blue Sky is another highly recommended pedal.

[buyusfear]

Although the Timeline cannot replace an El Cap - it does have some good tape echo settings on it. Plus it has a TON of more options. I highly recommend it. The El Cap with the favorite button only allows you to store two presets. The Timeline has 200. I thought I would only need 4 or 5 at the most but I have 20 stored myself. It's a pretty amazing pedal.

Also, I am not sure if you're a reverb guy but the Blue Sky is another highly recommended pedal.

Ok, some great points. All of which I've been mulling over, and over and over.
The timeline would be the obvious choice, but, its a lot of meat for my potatoes :huh

THe Blue Sky would be a strong competitor, but the elCap has some reverb.
And i'm not a huge verb guy.

:dunno

[Flight1311]

I've never owned an El Cap but I do have 3 Strymon pedals, so I feel safe in saying that no matter what you choose, you can't go wrong. I think you'd be really happy with the El Cap. And yes, if you are not a big reverb guy then the El Cap might satisify all your needs.

[Jangles]

Hey man,

The Strymon stuff is top of the line. I had the El Capistan, and though it was AWESOME, I preferred my Timefactor. The El Cap has it's own sound, and is very very musical and inspiring. One thing that put me off on it is the fact that when you're tapping the tempo the sound doesn't click with it, it just goes off until you're done tapping.

The Bluesky is the Strymon I've kept on my board. I (currently) use it for two main settings. The first being a "shimmer" and the second being an unrealistically huge reverb. It's a very unique pedal, and unlike any reverb pedal I've ever played.

Best of luck friend!

[buyusfear]

This video helps..

Dan Boul showcasing their new prototypes passive effects loop with 3 Strymon Effect Pedals : OB1, Blue Sky Reverb, and El Capistan Echo

PASnQzJNBeQ

[TheRiotTapes]

+1000 for the EC... a VERY amazing pedal!

I recorded this the other night at rehearsal... pretty much everything you hear is the EC... (can't really hear bass, the second guitar is pretty quiet, the drums come in at the end)... it's the first time we played the song, ever, so it's rough... but it'll give you a bit of an idea...

recorded on an iPhone...

I4X3ateX0Uk

[buyusfear]

+1000 for the EC... a VERY amazing pedal!

I recorded this the other night at rehearsal... pretty much everything you hear is the EC...

Cool clip, thanks. (killer vocalist too)

So I just watched this clip, and didn't know it could do this....
:omg

_n29OncKKC8

[telepunk]

I wouldn't get the BlueSky if you "aren't much of a reverb guy" as that is a LOT of money in just reverb.

If you are just adding "seasoning" to your tone and not numerous, diverse delayed effects, the Timeline will be way too much and a waste of money.

I would go for the El Capistan. It's such a great tape effect and it would compliment your Carbon Copy. I used to have a Carbon Copy. You could set the Carbon Copy to thicken chords and such, and then have two different settings on the El Cap - one that is a tonally different low mix than your Carbon Copy, and one that is more spacey and modulated to replace the chorus sound you don't like in the retro. Personally, I like using the Strymon dTape (I have a Timeline) as a low mix modulation better than typical chorus anyway.

[buyusfear]

Ok,

Thanks all for your input.

I just pulled the trigger on an El Capistan, and a favorite pedal. And a shirt :aok

Now the wait starts...

[Flight1311]

Hey, at least they are in stock - I had to wait weeks / months for all my Strymon pedals. Congrats on the purchase, I think you'll be really happy.

[JakeELee]

I just bought the El Cap and I'm really pleased, so I wouldn't have any hesitation recommending that pedal to anyone. The Strymon pedals are pretty dang impressive. I will be getting the flanger and the chorus as well.

[buyusfear]

Hey, at least they are in stock - I had to wait weeks / months for all my Strymon pedals. Congrats on the purchase, I think you'll be really happy.

yeah, the in stock thing was another factor, and nice to know I`m not going to have to wait forever for it.

I just bought the El Cap and I'm really pleased, so I wouldn't have any hesitation recommending that pedal to anyone. The Strymon pedals are pretty dang impressive. I will be getting the flanger and the chorus as well.

I think the El Cap will give me a ton of fun for the mean time, and keep me busy.
Then eventually i`d like to get the reverb, and lex.
All in good time though...

[TheRiotTapes]

Cool clip, thanks. (killer vocalist too)

So I just watched this clip, and didn't know it could do this....
:omg

_n29OncKKC8

She's the best vocalist I know... I auditioned 70+ in two countries andf actually moved from London to Ireland to work with her.. complete amateur when I met her as well...

She's special!

Here's a much better example

http://soundcloud.com/the-riot-tapes/key-monitor-1/s-j1qZg


And that exact el Cap clip is what made me pull the trigger!!

[jakethesnake]

I would get the El Cap. I have both a Carbon Copy and El Cap and they cover any delay needs I have. Great combo!

[Zooey]

I found the El Cap to be indistinct and washed out. I sent it back and got the Brigadier. The Brigadier sounds better to me, but I'm always fiddling with it when playing live and trying to get the delayed signal to mesh with the dry in a natural way. Maybe if I were strictly a studio or bedroom player, I'd like it better.

It's not a popular opinion, but at the end of the day, neither of these pedals are better for what I do than a Line6 Echo Park at 1/3 the price.

[AndrewC]

I've owned every single Strymon pedal except the Brigadier. The El Cap is outstanding - I only sold it to get the Timeline, which is phenomenal. That would be my first choice as it's so flexible - I can't imagine I will ever want another delay.

The Orbit is excellent too - it's capable of some very nice subtle 80s chorus sounds as well as more extreme flange sounds. I prefer it to the Ola chorus.

The Lex is excellent, especially with an expression pedal. I wish they would use soft touch buttons though like they do on the Timeline - when you're playing at home or recording it's annoying to hear the CLICK every time you switch from slow to fast.

I would give the OB.1 compressor a miss - although it's very transparent and the boost is a nice bonus, as a compressor it doesn't have enough squish. I replaced mine with a Barber Tone Press.

[buyusfear]

I've owned every single Strymon pedal except the Brigadier. The El Cap is outstanding - I only sold it to get the Timeline, which is phenomenal. That would be my first choice as it's so flexible - I can't imagine I will ever want another delay.

The Orbit is excellent too - it's capable of some very nice subtle 80s chorus sounds as well as more extreme flange sounds. I prefer it to the Ola chorus.

The Lex is excellent, especially with an expression pedal. I wish they would use soft touch buttons though like they do on the Timeline - when you're playing at home or recording it's annoying to hear the CLICK every time you switch from slow to fast.

I would give the OB.1 compressor a miss - although it's very transparent and the boost is a nice bonus, as a compressor it doesn't have enough squish. I replaced mine with a Barber Tone Press.

Nice reviews,

Thanks

[buyusfear]

Just got the Strymon El Capistan.
Love it. Totally lived up to its hype.

Thanks again for the input

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/buyusfear/StrymonElCapistan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/buyusfear/StrymonElCapistan3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/buyusfear/StrymonElCapistan2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/buyusfear/StrymonElCapistan1.jpg

[rp108]

I have an El Capistan, Orbit, and Blue Sky. They are all excellent pedals. I don't use flanger a lot but the Orbit sounds awesome, especially with high gain.

Depends on what you need more but you can't loose with any of those pedals.