Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe EP-3 Tape Echo Emulation Effects Pedal Black and Silver

The Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe effects pedal features authentic tape echo sounds, inspired by the Maestro Echoplex EP-3. Distilling down the best of the EP-3 in a small, maintenance-free pedal format, the Belle Epoch Deluxe includes meticulous recreations of the preamp, self-oscillation character, ability to control the “record level” of the signal hitting “tape,” wow and flutter, the way the repeats decay, the way the circuit interfaces with the amp and other pedals, and more.

The Belle Epoch Deluxe features the exact circuitry of the EP-3, from the 22-volt power rail to the JFET preamp, to the mixer stage, high-gain silicon transistor-based record and playback amplifiers, and feedback loop. The only differences are the record and playback heads, with a 24-bit high-fidelity digital delay line taking the place of the tape. It also has all-discrete, through-hole construction with orange drop 225P capacitors, carbon composition resistors, germanium diodes and other premium parts. The original EP-3 was used as a musical instrument unto itself, and that same versatility and potential is captured in the Belle Epoch Deluxe.