El Capistan vs. TC-Flashback

[amiller]

Based on the responses you guys were kind enough to post to my previous thread here asking about delays in generally, I've narrowed it down to either a Flashback or an El Capistan.

What say ye?

 

[Gainzilla]

Hands down, the Flashback.. My reasons are that pound for pound and dollar for dollar, the Flashback just has more. Granted, the El Cap does what it sets out to do, nail true tape echo. That said, you get something similar( albeit without a bunch of the tape options) that is very convincing on the Flashback and a bunch more..

Just my .02

 

[Ah Via Musicom]

Both are amazing but i like the flashback. That said all strymon pedals are great.

 

[university81]

both are definitely great

If you really love tape echo I'd go for the el cap, if you don't need the separate tap tempo and need various delay types/looper/chorus the flashback,

 

[Gooseman]

Wow, the Flashback is that great? I've never tried it but I would've thought the hands down response would be that the more expensive Strymon would be best. I'm really intrigued now.

 

[King Loudness]

Sold my FB, got a Strymon on order. Will post my thoughts when it arrives...

W.

 

[Digital Jams]

El Cap for me hands down, if I need a digi delay on the same board I will grab a used DD-3 for that purpose.

I have listened to 100s of vids and the Stryman stuff is just warmer, decays are better, and simple to use. I love mine and have not even thought of replacing it.

Check Rackdoctor's vids out and listen to different delays,

https://www.youtube.com/user/RACKDOCTOR


Yeah the $300 is hard to swallow though.

 

[The Hoff]

I really enjoyed the el cap when I had it. Flashback, for the money, is absolutely amazing though. Endless tweaks, etc., especially with the tone print feature. Really don't think you'd regret it either way.

 

[Anonymous]

If you want an Echoplex EP-3 in a box, get the El Cap... If you were blindfolded and just listened you'd never no the difference...

Steve

 

[SLOgriff]

Hands down, the Flashback.. My reasons are that pound for pound and dollar for dollar, the Flashback just has more. Granted, the El Cap does what it sets out to do, nail true tape echo. That said, you get something similar( albeit without a bunch of the tape options) that is very convincing on the Flashback and a bunch more..

Just my .02

Yeah...what he said!

 

[boost]

I think it's all about what you need in a delay. The El Cap may sound better if you're looking for that tape delay sound. Cons would be size and price, but if that sound is what you're after, then the El Cap is the way to go.

Flashback offers more versatility, lower price tag, and smaller footprint. I think the tape setting sounds good on the flashback but probably pales in comparison to the El Cap.

They are both delays, but I think they are two different animals. It's all about what's right for you.

 

[chumbucket]

Both great delays but the El Capistan trumps it. It's a better unit but it's also three times as much. I paid $119 for a new Flashback shipped to me.

 

[thiswaythatway]

If I had to pick one the El Capistan is the clear winner. The modulation is a lot better and you can adjust it, unlike the Flashback. And I like the live settings, meaning no modes to switch to. If you want a darker sound, turn the knob. Want more modulation, turn a knob. Plus tap tempo, a favorite switch, reverb. To me, the El Cap has more.

 

[amiller]

So, I checked out a bunch of vids on the net and I'm pretty impressed with both units. I'm leaning toward the El Capistan purely because of the quality of the sounds. For my needs I don't feel I need the endless tweak-ability the Flashback offers. I just want a great sounding basic delay. The El Capistan sounds pretty amazing on the vids I saw.

But, man, the price difference is a lot. I guess I could justify the price of the El Capistan because it also has reverb...two pedals in one. Although, I'm not sure how much I'll actually use the verb.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

So where's the Timeline fit in the picture? Thought it was now the Shizzle Forizzle?

 

[Digital Jams]

So where's the Timeline fit in the picture? Thought it was now the Shizzle Forizzle?

If someone wants IBM's Deep Blue to surf the net I guess the Timeline would be good for a splash of delay

The verb option on the El Cap is cool and you can adjust it from barely there to obnoxious.

Also the El Cap is a tape type delay but it does just fine where you would use digital imo.

 

[chumbucket]

So where's the Timeline fit in the picture? Thought it was now the Shizzle Forizzle?

If someone wants IBM's Deep Blue to surf the net I guess the Timeline would be good for a splash of delay

If I was drinking milk, it would have came out my nose while I was reading that line.

 

[Little B]

Ive thought about this before also...Since the timeline isnt in this for a choice,I'd go w/ the flashback..Ive used both of these bout a month ago extensively in a studio .The TC costs less,has tons of options,plus that toneprint download is the bomb!.TC hit one outta the park w/ that!..TC has always been a forerunner when it comes to killer delays..Now if the choices were Timefactor,Timeline,Nova delay,Flashback,El capistan,Line 6,EH, etc..I bet the timeline & timefactor,and Nova would be some of the hot ones.

 

[dass101]

I switched from the Flashback to El Cap, for me it was more important to have one fantastic algorithm vs a few pretty good ones, also the tap tempo was a huge factor for me. I always used the EP3 mode on the Flashback, so I never really had any use for the other modes (event though the reverse was nice and I could see myself using it). The tape algorithm on the El Cap is on a completely different level than the Flashback, when I had it I thought it was gorgeous, but really, there is no competition here. You won't go back to any other "tape" delay once you've tried El Capistan.

 

[Digital Jams]

Ive thought about this before also...Since the timeline isnt in this for a choice,I'd go w/ the flashback..Ive used both of these bout a month ago extensively in a studio .The TC costs less,has tons of options,plus that toneprint download is the bomb!.TC hit one outta the park w/ that!..TC has always been a forerunner when it comes to killer delays..Now if the choices were Timefactor,Timeline,Nova delay,Flashback,El capistan,Line 6,EH, etc..I bet the timeline & timefactor,and Nova would be some of the hot ones.

This is why people have to try stuff because we hear things differently, I think the Nova and Timefactor are sterile and without any warmth.