DOD EchoFX FX96

The DOD EchoFX FX96 is an analog delay pedal with the added feature of 'tape quality' which allows you to add it a little dirt to your sound, much like old 70's tape units would do as the tape cartridge wore out. It does a great job of capturing early delay sounds ranging from 50's rockabilly to 70's space-out music.

My pedal is an older design one that I bought in 1998. The unit uses the infamous MN3005 bucket brigade chip just like the more popular and much more hyped Boss and Ibanez/Maxon analog delay pedals. This chip, which isn't manufactured anymore, yields a nice, warm, tone for short delay periods (under 300ms).

The knobs are quite simple and are, going from left to right, "Dry/Tape", "Echo/Delay", "Slap/Regen", and "Tape Quality". I usually keep the dry/tape setting about where it is in the picture, around 10 o'clock. The delay I set anywhere from a short slapback as shown above up to about 12 o'clock. I rarely have it any higher. The slap is usually set for a single echo as seen in the picture. The tape quality I vary depending on how much distortion I'm using. The sound can get muddy quickly if this setting isn't right and requires a bit of tweaking to get the best results.

I've used it mainly in the effects loop of my Peavey Bandit or as the last pedal in the chain before going into the amp. It's gotten along well with all my amps but I have heard of problems with the effects loops on some amps. It works really well in this line up: VeryTone, Sansamp GT-2, EchoFX. I still use this combo fairly often.

It will suck tone somewhat when switched off, however, I usually just leave it on all the time because I like the sound so much.

The pedal has held up well over the years. The only problem I've had with it has been when the little bolts on the jacks get loose a little tap can cause a truly horrid squealing sound. I usually check them before playing.

I bought a wall wart AC adaptor to use with the unit. It can eat a 9V in less than an hour of playing time and sound awful as the power level drops.