MXR Carbon Copy vs Strymon Brigadier vs Strymon ElCapistan

Greg

So I have been looking for a carbon copy for a while for a decent slap-back tone. I love the sound of it, it's incredibly warm and you can get an oscillation out of it, but it has no tap tempo and has a rather shiney price tag.

So I saw some Strymon Pedals on gumtree here: http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-ViewAd?AdId=377660072&MessageId=MSG.VIEW_AD.REPLY_TO_AD_SENT&mpname=LocClass-R2S&mpuid=2320795

Price pretty decently. Cheaper than the MXR at any rate.

I've been watching reviews and I've run into the fact that the ElCapistan Tape Delay is also pretty nice, but obviously that one isn't for sale on the gumtree page.

The Brigadier can also be used with an expression pedal, which is a pretty neat thing.

Any recommendations or any experience with these pedals?

Mr-M

I've had a Carbon Copy and I own a Brigadier. I had both on my board, but ended up buying the favourite switch for the Brig and selling the CC for financial reasons at the time, otherwise I would still have both.

At R1300, don't even debate the point. Just buy the Brigadier. It is a fantastic analog-style delay. I have my Brig set to emulate my favourite setting on the Carbon Copy and let me tell you, it is extremely close in sound if you want it to be. Not quite 100%, maybe 95% of the way there, but so close that when you A/B them it's almost impossible to tell the difference. The huge plus with the Brig is that you can also get Deluxe Memory Man tones with some extremely lush modulation and all sorts of longer delays that aren't possible with traditional analog delays. A bonus is that holding down the tap switch activates the self-oscillation, which is handy. I would strongly suggest you get the favourite switch (or make one if you're better at soldering than me) as there are enough great sounds in there that you will want to be able to switch between two presets. The only thing in favour of the Carbon Copy is that it is far simpler to use on the fly and of course you get a local warranty and local backup on it. But my Brig has been going strong through regular use for exactly 1 year and 11 months with no issues, so I have no reason to think you would have any either.

Greg

Mr T wrote: I've had a Carbon Copy and I own a Brigadier. I had both on my board, but ended up buying the favourite switch for the Brig and selling the CC for financial reasons at the time, otherwise I would still have both.

At R1300, don't even debate the point. Just buy the Brigadier. It is a fantastic analog-style delay. I have my Brig set to emulate my favourite setting on the Carbon Copy and let me tell you, it is extremely close in sound if you want it to be. Not quite 100%, maybe 95% of the way there, but so close that when you A/B them it's almost impossible to tell the difference. The huge plus with the Brig is that you can also get Deluxe Memory Man tones with some extremely lush modulation and all sorts of longer delays that aren't possible with traditional analog delays. A bonus is that holding down the tap switch activates the self-oscillation, which is handy. I would strongly suggest you get the favourite switch (or make one if you're better at soldering than me) as there are enough great sounds in there that you will want to be able to switch between two presets. The only thing in favour of the Carbon Copy is that it is far simpler to use on the fly and of course you get a local warranty and local backup on it. But my Brig has been going strong through regular use for exactly 1 year and 11 months with no issues, so I have no reason to think you would have any either.

Excellent! I'm waiting for a the owner of a CC to get back to CT and I'll offer him 1500 for it, if he doesn't accept, I'll get the brigadier. I'd be mainly using it for slap-back stuff, nothing to epic and while I might have a use for the modulated sounds at some point, right now I have no use for it.

The brigadier at that price is great and if this CC falls through, it's the Strymon all the way! I'm impatiently waiting for the Flint to be released, they'd look nice together on the pedalboard!

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to email the owner of the CC now and if he can't do R1500 then I'll get the brigadier now.

Danny-B

Greg, don't even bother with asking about the CC, get the brig! My Timeline just arrived, and the dBucket tones are unbelievable. I've owned the CC before, as well as many other delays. The strymon delays are just on a superior sonic level. The way the repeats can be set to degrade, the modulation ahhhhhhhhhh :'( it brings tears of delaying joy to mine eyes...

The brig! Do it! You will not be disappointed, and it will have better resale value.

Greg

Danny B wrote: Greg, don't even bother with asking about the CC, get the brig! My Timeline just arrived, and the dBucket tones are unbelievable. I've owned the CC before, as well as many other delays. The strymon delays are just on a superior sonic level. The way the repeats can be set to degrade, the modulation ahhhhhhhhhh :'( it brings tears of delaying joy to mine eyes...

The brig! Do it! You will not be disappointed, and it will have better resale value.

DONE!

*EDIT*

Just been playing with it now, I'll use it tonight at my gig, I'll be playing in two bands tonight (both very different styles) so it's a good time to put it through it's paces! I think for the Rockabilly stuff it's going to be on pretty much the whole gig, for the "balkan" stuff, I'll just use it for solos.

Greg

Here it is on my amp at the gig.

As predicted my amp was moving too much for me to put the spring tank on so I just had the Brigadier on a rockabilly slap setting and had it on for both shows. It was perfect! (At least from on the stage)

I'm very happy! The bucket loss lets me get a warm vintage sound and the tiniest bit of modulation just adds a little flavour. It has way more functionality than the CC and for live shows, I can't even tell the difference so I doubt anyone in the crowd would be able to discern what type of delay I'm using just from listening.

Mr-M

Congrats Greg! Now you just need to get yourself a Favorite Switch. ?