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Belle Epoch +, our first compact delay with full tap tempo capabilities and a slew of other upgrades to our flagship tape echo simulator. Much R&D was implemented to make the Belle Epoch + the best version of itself that it could be. Tapping in a beat couldn’t be easier; simply hold the footswitch to enter tap mode and hold it again to enter tap bypass mode.
Apart from the tap tempo circuit, the Belle Epoch + just gives you more, more headroom, a redesigned Mix control, improved buffered bypass, a touch of noise gating and better impedance specs for rig integration. The preamp has been tweaked to provide a higher dynamic range with the same feel and response of the original Echoplex pre, giving you a more hi-fi sparkling tone that you’ve come to expect from the classic circuit.
Catalinbread also expanded the feature set by offering three modes that correspond to wear on the virtual tape, from a pristine “fresh off the line” Echoplex to a dusty unit that’s been sitting in an attic for 40 years. Step into (and onto) the next generation of our classic echo unit!
CONTROLS
SUSTAIN:
This controls the amount of signal fed back into the delay line, resulting in more or fewer repeats. Turn it down for a killer slapback delay or up for an expansive barrage of repeats. May self-oscillate at extreme settings.
MIX:
Goes from 100% dry (whatever you feed into the Belle Epoch +) to 100% wet (only the delayed signal will be heard). The original Belle Epoch had this control active even when in buffered bypass; that is no longer the case.
TAPE FX:
The “wow and flutter” found in tape echoes is what separates them from a “normal” delay; this control increases the amount of “tape warble” found in the repeats.
REC LEVEL:
This control governs how hard the preamp hits the delay line and affects the first repeat, giving you a measurable initial “attack” from which the repeats then decay. This control includes a tape saturation circuit that emulates the crunch found on the EP-3 when you dig in. Higher levels give a thick, gainier initial burst of signal, while lower levels sit a little lower in the mix for organic echoing that enhances leads and solos.
ECHO DELAY:
Governs the delay time, giving up to ~900ms of rich tape-like delay. Turning this knob while in Tap mode will return the delay time to the knob position.
Running dry into the Belle Epoch + will require some careful adjustment to get the most from the pedal. Try rolling up the Sustain and Rec Level controls until the Belle Epoch + reacts how you want.
The Belle Epoch + accepts a centre-negative power supply capable of supplying 9VDC with at least 200mA of current (over 200mA is fine). Anything beyond these specs (centre-positive, AC, etc) will cause the Belle Epoch + to not function properly (best case) or brick (worst case). Improper powering voids your warranty and your excitement. Please do not do this! Double-check your supply!
