Strymon EC-1

Strymon EC-1 Single-Head dTape Echo – Vintage Tape Echo in a Compact Pedal

The Strymon EC-1 brings the warm, organic sound of classic tape echo to your pedalboard, delivering lush repeats, natural saturation, and the unpredictable magic of vintage hardware—all with modern reliability and control.

Vintage Tone, Modern Power

Powered by Strymon’s advanced dTape technology, the EC-1 faithfully recreates the nuances of magnetic tape. Every element is modeled in detail—tape bias, age, and mechanical quirks like wow, flutter, and capstan slippage—so your delay sounds alive, authentic, and inspiring.

Inspired by a Classic

The EC-1 is based on a rare Echoplex EP-2 modified by legendary tech Cesar Diaz, blending the warmth of the EP-2 with the clarity of the EP-3. This unique combination gives the EC-1 its own signature voice—warm, clear, and endlessly musical.

Features at a Glance

• Selectable Preamp Modes: Choose between a warm Diaz-style voicing, the brighter EP-3 style, or bypass the preamp entirely. Both modes offer up to +6dB of boost.

• Tape Saturation Control: Switch between clean, lightly driven, or richly saturated repeats.

• Tape Age & Mechanics Controls: Adjust the character of your tape from crisp and fresh to dark and worn, plus add wow, flutter, or crinkle for extra realism.

• Repeats Knob: Dial in everything from subtle slapback to infinite echo textures.

• Stereo I/O: Run in mono or full stereo with TRS connections.

• Tap Tempo & MIDI: Stay perfectly in sync with tap tempo or access up to 300 presets via MIDI.

• Expression Pedal Ready: Control parameters in real time or add extra switching options.

• Bypass Options: True bypass for pure signal or buffered bypass to maintain tone in long cable runs.

• USB Connectivity: Keep your pedal future-proof with firmware updates.

Built for the Stage and Studio

Housed in a rugged steel enclosure with premium components, the EC-1 is designed to handle years of heavy use while maintaining pristine sound quality. Whether you’re chasing subtle vintage slapback, dreamy ambient washes, or chaotic tape meltdown, the EC-1 delivers it all in one pedalboard-friendly package.