What should I replace my DE-7 with?

[ancientbones]

My Ibanez DE-7 is starting to fall apart, so I'm trying to find something a little more durable to use. The knobs are getting more and more loose and start to crackle and pop at the slightest touch. It's really annoying.

I'm thinking of finding an old DD-3 maybe. I know it's very different from the DE-7's echo mode, but I don't really need anything fancy plus I like the weird metallic sounds you can get with a short delay time. I think that's my favorite thing. Not sure if that sort of sound will ring out as much as with the DE-7, but it seems close to what I'm looking for.

Any other cheap options (under $100) out there that you guys would suggest?

[hbombgraphics]

from my perspective you should just buy more DE-7s

DD-3 may get you close but the DE-7 is a really friggen good pedal
very hard to replace

[ancientbones]

from my perspective you should just buy more DE-7s

DD-3 may get you close but the DE-7 is a really friggen good pedal
very hard to replace

I just hate how shoddy they can be. I haven't even been very hard with this one and it's always popping and crackling and making noises I don't want.

Does anyone rehouse these? lol

[DADGBD]

Agreed with hbomb. in fact... I need to find myself another!
I know JHS has rehoused at least one - but they're asking about $160 or so (last time I checked). To avoid that (and them) I sent mine to another builder to have it rehoused annnnnnnnnd... I never got it back.
Apparently, it's a hell of a job with the three PCBs?

[hbombgraphics]

the rehouse on these is tough
I have replaced the foot-switches before with a soft touch switch which helps with the durability a little

it's not the most rugged pedal but it sounds so good
I feel like I got similar feels from playing the Akai Headrush
not the same sound but the same echo type vibe from it

they are huge tho

[JamesSGBrown]

I'm in the same boat. Our other guitarist has a Red Witch Violetta and it sounds amazing. The modulation is also real nice, not chorusey- more spacey. I'll probably grab one!

[ancientbones]

I don't really need something fancy. I'm curious if there are any other delays that oscillate like the DE7 does where it doesn't get super overwhelming over your normal playing.

The DD-3 seems simple enough to fit what I want. Plus I could see the knobs better than on the DE7. The DE7 knobs are probably my biggest gripe about the damn thing.

[TheTransient]

Some time ago, I bought a sorta beat up second hand DE7 for pretty cheap, and it had a high pitch whine to it and didn't sound amazing. Sold it on. Not long afterwards, I noticed my local music store had a brand new one that had been sitting in the display case for a LONG time (this was well after it had been discontinued). Ended up paying only like $20 more than i paid for the used on. The new one sounds fantastic and is as quiet as a mouse. If Ibanez would re-engineer that pedal with tap tempo and a nicer enclosure, I would be all over that thing. ALL. OVER. IT.

This doesn't help the OP at all, just felt like sharing. Still pretty chuffed about that find haha



In terms of being more useful, I don't think there are many pedals that will get that sort of echo mode "tape-smear/drone", at least not in the same way the DE7 does it. An El Capistan will get pretty close to that, but that's a whole lot more expensive, and you wont really get the straight digital sound from that if you want that too.

Boss pedals IMO will not get that echo mode sound, aside from maybe the RE-20, but Ive never tried one of those so I am not certain. I've never tried a DD-3, so who knows, but I am just going be my experiences with the DD-7 and the DD-20. I'd say I prefer the DE7 digital mode too for what its worth.

In terms of that budget looking at new stuff (I don't really know what your used market is like), maybe look at the Mooer Reecho? I doubt it would be as nice as the DE7, but it has a digital, analog and tape mode and its cheap. Might cover your needs well enough? Otherwise, maybe a TC Flashback Mini? Not a route I would really go personally (I had a HOF mini and always felt it was bit cold and clinical), but it has a lot of flexibility and it will do what it says on the package.

[ancientbones]

Some time ago, I bought a sorta beat up second hand DE7 for pretty cheap, and it had a high pitch whine to it and didn't sound amazing. Sold it on. Not long afterwards, I noticed my local music store had a brand new one that had been sitting in the display case for a LONG time (this was well after it had been discontinued). Ended up paying only like $20 more than i paid for the used on. The new one sounds fantastic and is as quiet as a mouse. If Ibanez would re-engineer that pedal with tap tempo and a nicer enclosure, I would be all over that thing. ALL. OVER. IT.

This doesn't help the OP at all, just felt like sharing. Still pretty chuffed about that find haha



In terms of being more useful, I don't think there are many pedals that will get that sort of echo mode "tape-smear/drone", at least not in the same way the DE7 does it. An El Capistan will get pretty close to that, but that's a whole lot more expensive, and you wont really get the straight digital sound from that if you want that too.

Boss pedals IMO will not get that echo mode sound, aside from maybe the RE-20, but Ive never tried one of those so I am not certain. I've never tried a DD-3, so who knows, but I am just going be my experiences with the DD-7 and the DD-20. I'd say I prefer the DE7 digital mode too for what its worth.

In terms of that budget looking at new stuff (I don't really know what your used market is like), maybe look at the Mooer Reecho? I doubt it would be as nice as the DE7, but it has a digital, analog and tape mode and its cheap. Might cover your needs well enough? Otherwise, maybe a TC Flashback Mini? Not a route I would really go personally (I had a HOF mini and always felt it was bit cold and clinical), but it has a lot of flexibility and it will do what it says on the package.

Never been a big fan of TC electronic's stuff. Had a HOF for a while and it was alright. The Mooer stuff is interesting but I really hate mini pedals. The used market ain't great and it looks like DE7s are harder to come by than they were a couple years ago.

I just want a nice resonant delay that isn't troublesome

[ancientbones]

Damn. Maybe I really should just hunt down another one or try and clean this one out more.

I wish I could get this thing rehoused but I doubt anyone will do it. I wouldn't even care if it ended up in a bigger enclosure as long as the switch and pots were more sturdy. JHS offers it but fuck JHS and fuck $150 to rehouse a pedal.

[kbit]

Has anyone ever compared the DE7 to the Akai Headrush?
I haven't but that might be an alternative

[goroth]

DD-3 is awesome but the repeats are much clearer. The closest imo is the Caroline Kilobyte, at least in terms of getting the repeats to sit similarly. But it sounds like a pt-2399 delay, which the de7 doesn't.

[ancientbones]

Has anyone ever compared the DE7 to the Akai Headrush?
I haven't but that might be an alternative

Apparently it doesn't oscillate. At least that's what I've read.

[K2000]

You should be able to find another DE-7 pretty easily. Especially if you're willing to spend up to $100 (seems like $50 is the going rate, although maybe it's been creeping higher lately). If the DE-7 nails your toanz criteria, there's no reason to look any further. You won't find anything cheaper, either.

[TheTransient]

Yeah ultimately id say track down another DE7. Accept no substitutes.

Or go analog