Inspired by the Maestro Echoplex EP-3 model, perhaps the most famous tape delay ever, the Belle Epoch features everything we love about the EP-3 in a small, maintenance free pedal format.

A “tape echo” pedal is much more than just a standard digital delay with some “filtering” on the repeats. There are a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle traits of the Echoplex that needed to be implemented in order to be authentic. The preamp, the self-oscillation character, the ability to control the “record level” of the signal hitting “tape”, the wow and flutter, the way the repeats decay, the way the circuit interfaces with the amp and other pedals – all these things are important to get right.

The original unit was used as a musical instrument unto itself and this is what Catalinbread captured with the Belle Epoch.

"The Catalinbread Belle Epoch is the closest thing to a real EP-3 that I've ever played."

- Eric Johnson

• Power: 9-18V DC power supply (sold serparately)
• Power Usage: 60mA
• Features: Internal gain pot, internal bypass type switch
• Max Delay Time: ~700ms
• True Bypass: Yes (switchable to trails mode)