Boss DD20 Vs Boss RE-20 Space Echo

[drod2045]

If this is too redundant, I apologize and will delete. However, I am looking into both of these now. About a week or two ago, I was certain i was going to get a Space Echo. Now after looking at features on both models, I am leaning towards a DD20. I want this to be a discussion as to for my needs, and based on your trials/ownership, what would be the better suit for me.

I love the type of delay sounds EJ gets on his solos. It is ambient and doesnt take over. You hear the trails but it feels apart of the guitar (I know a lot of that is attributed to his overall rig too and echoplexes). I currently use a (dont laugh) Behringer Delay as my main solo sound. I am happy with the sound but want to upgrade. I also use a H20 in tandem at times for ambient sounds and even longer ambient trails. I like the slap back sound but it is not my go to sound. Ambience is basically my thing as I like to fill space in the songs/rooms with my band where it is needed; tastefully. I am in a rock band playing originals..rock as in mxing STP w/ Live w/ Blues and 90's influences.

Based on what I have researched, these are the feautures I like/dislike; this is what i ahve found in both

Space Echo:
-Clips (and name even) do the ambient thing well
-Tap tempo
-EQ on the repeats (bass, treb)
-Click wheel = easy access to 12 different sounds/modes
-Buttons appear to be very easy to work
-No presets?
-No modulation?

DD20:
-Clips sound good and it can do ambience/tape/analog/modulate/reverse
-tap tempo
-memory for presets
-Looper
-more buttons = seems harder to work
-ambient sounds as good as RE-20?

Im not good with difficult pedals. But I am willing to put in the learning curve for these two, but the RE-20 just seems like it would be a breeze to work with by the looks of it.

Lastly, are each fo these better out front or in the loop? I am using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe now and wont be changing that for quite some time. Thanks for any input.

 

[drod2045]

Does either of these pedals continue their delay when clicked off?

 

[FloridaSam]

Does either of these pedals continue their delay when clicked off?

The DD-20 definetly trails. I don't know for sure about the RE-20.

 

[drod2045]

Sam,
Do you own the DD20? How would say the tape/ambient solo sounds are? Have you compared it to a RE-20 at all? Difficult to get familiar with at all?

 

[RDM]

I use a DD-20 infront of my amp (no effects loop) and it sounds great. As far as what to go with, I'd go with the DD-20. It trails off when clicked off, there's not really any tone suck (you might have to have the tone set a bit high as I find the delay to be a bit dark) and the effects are really nice. It's pretty easy to use once you sit down with the manual for about 15 minutes and start playing with presets. Once you have it set, you're golden. DD-20 all the way.

 

[RDM]

I persoanlly like the tape/ambient sounds. I don't own the RE20, but have heard sound samples, and think the DD20 gets close. It's not going to be exact....but close enough for me.

 

[drod2045]

I would say that having a darker tone is good for the repeats, as in not too bright. Or do you mean you have to turn your amp's tone brighter to compensate?

I like trails that are heard but not overly bright so they dont take over your guitar sound. hmm...leaning more towards a DD20...AND its cheaper to boot!

 

[FloridaSam]

I own the DD-20. I haven't had any experience with the RE-20.

I own a EP-3, DD-5, DD-20, AD-80, First Act Delay, Effectron and have sold many others.

I love the DD-20.... enough that I bought it twice. I have owned real tape Space Echos in the past and think the tape simulation on the DD-20 is pretty darn good. Nothing warbles and sounds as organic as the EP-3 but if I was told today I had to live with only one delay the DD-20 would probably be the one. I use my delay for spacey, ambient tyoe stuff as well as Built to Spill type stuff and the DD-20 works fine. I like the versatility of the DD-20.

 

[RDM]

I would say that having a darker tone is good for the repeats, as in not too bright. Or do you mean you have to turn your amp's tone brighter to compensate?

I like trails that are heard but not overly bright so they dont take over your guitar sound. hmm...leaning more towards a DD20...AND its cheaper to boot!

No...I just have the tone on the DD20 set higher than the presets show because I find that with my setup, it's a bit dark. Not sure if it's like that with everyone, or just my combination of guitar and amp.

 

[drod2045]

Wow, thanks RDM and Sam! Thats some inspiring info there

 

[klaveguitars]

Here's something I posted a while ago about the DD-20. Haven't tried the RE-20, I'm sure it's an excellent pedal if your main focus is a tape delay sim. The DD-20 will give you more features, and it's really easy to operate.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/305270

 

[drod2045]

wow..that tape sim sounds great in your clips! i dont see how the RE-20 could be that much better. I need to head to a GC and play with these i think. i hope they carry them

 

[fenderbender07]

I own a DD 20 and I love it! As far as delays go, you cant do much better for the price, and that being said, even high end models (T Rex Replica, etc.) can't do the variety of things that the DD 20 can (reverse, dual mode, etc). My 2 cents is this: the Space Echo does sound okay... and it will be good to add ambiance, etc. But I would stand by my theory that says with a little experience the DD 20 (and really, delays in general) they can be used to do what the Space Echo can, and so much more. True, there is no "ambiance" knob on the DD 20, but as you being to play you can begin to discover how to create tons of space in your playing. (Dont be scared of the controls... they're cake!) Hope that helps.

 

[screamingduck]

I've played both and now own a RE-20. I picked that because I really wanted a dedicated tape delay sim unit. The DD-20 is much more versaltile I guess but for what I wanted the RE-20 was the way for me.
The tape delay setting on the DD-20 is not bad but when you have a unit that tries to do many things usually they all suffer a bit so I'd rather have one thing that does it's purpose very well instead of several things just okay. Maybe you can get some qaulity time with each before you buy.

 

[fjs1962]

I bought a DD-20 when they first came out and it knocked a Line6 DL-4 off my pedalboard. So far even though I've tried several of the cool boutique delays nove have taken the place of the DD-20 for it's versatility and overall good tone.

I bought a RE-20 when they came out back in the summer and I thought it was great, very warm and "spacey" sounding. For atmospheric effects it's about the best non-tape echo I've heard. That said, after the fun of playing with the RE-20 wore off and it came time to get back to using delays in a more traditional setting the DD-20 still won out. One of the things that really killed the RE-20 for me (and I should have checked before buying it) is the fact that while you can tap in tempos, you can only tap in straight quarter notes (or eighth notes if you tap twice as fast ), no dotted eighth "Albert Lee" or "Edge" delays, and I use these quite a bit. In the end I sold the RE-20 because it wound up just sitting on the shelf. But like I said, it WAS cool to play with for the spacey, atmospheric stuff.

 

[drod2045]

very itneresting FJS

Question for ya: If EJ type delay to solo's and chords was the goal, which of the two would be better suited for me? I am not certain, but I was under the impression he uses all tape echo. I like the idea of having more options in the DD20, but while I may try one of those every so often, my main sound is the ambient trails like EJ I believe

Thanks

 

[fjs1962]

If the programability and extra features don't matter I'd have to say the RE-20 is the more organic sounding of the two, but not by a huge amount. Actually if you like EJ's delays hold out for the solid state version of the Fulltone tape echo that's coming

very itneresting FJS

Question for ya: If EJ type delay to solo's and chords was the goal, which of the two would be better suited for me? I am not certain, but I was under the impression he uses all tape echo. I like the idea of having more options in the DD20, but while I may try one of those every so often, my main sound is the ambient trails like EJ I believe

Thanks

 

[drod2045]

oooof, nice curve ball with that fulltne you threw!
I heard about that but I give myself a budget on a per pedal basis, and $450 is waaaaaay too much for me.

Does GC carry both these pedals frequently?

 

[onebigholiday]

Old thread... But does anyone have any new options on the original post?

 

[ERGExplorer]

Do a search for videos using "dd-20 re-20“ as your search term. There are a few done after this topic was active, allowing you to hear for yourself.

The videos don't get into the modes which the RE-20 just can't cover, so if you will be using any of those and the comparisons are close just against the RE-20-like modes, that will also help you decide.

Happy watching!