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El Capistan vs Supa Puss

Musicman1901

Musicman1901

Jun 1, 2012
2,190
2,183
Rochester, NY
#1
Hey guys I am recently looking at upgrading to a higher end delay. These are the 2 that I am looking at and I would love to hear from people who have tried either of them or better yet, both of them. I would love to hear all opinions and personal experience on the matter. Thanks so much everybody!

Mike
 
#2
Not sure the type of music you are going toward, but I only have experience with the 2 strymon delays: El Capistan vs Brigadier.
For the music I play (70s and modern funk) I felt the brigadier has more flexiblity in terms of tone. The El Capistan does the tape delay very well, and more... but I felt a bit narrowing as far as delay is concerned.
One the other hand the Brigadier is really emulating an early analog delay while giving me a bit more options.
No experience with the Supa.

Adding this link, check the question "What is the difference between El Capistan and Brigadier".
http://www.strymon.net/support/elcapistan/
 
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#4
I'm playing rock music that occasionally calls for delay. Kind of a QOTSA/Tool/Pelican type band. I'm currently using a TC Flashback and I don't like 2 things, no tap tempo and the fact that it cant ocsillate. Sometimes I want those freak out delay noises and it bums me out the Flashback wont feedback into that range.
 
#5
I have the El Cap - love it. i got it because it sounds good on bass, but it is also very versatile for general noise making.

a guitarist in one of my bands has the Supa Puss and also an MXR Carbon Copy. after a bit of time with both he says he pretty much goes to the Carbon Copy exclusively.

...make of that what you will!
 
#6
I had the Super Puss and sold it for an El Capistan. They are pretty different tonally, but it's hard to explain unless you've tried some analog delays. The Supa Puss has pretty punchy, up-front repeats, while I feel the Capistan excels at more "ambient" washy repeats. The modulation on the Supa Puss is much more versatile, and the oscillations can get MUCH crazier (actually a little too uncontrollable on the older version I had, though they have made a newer version that is supposedly more controlled). I really dig both pedals, but ultimately I wanted more of an ambient-voiced delay and found the Capistan to do that better for my tastes. If you really want the repeats to stand out in a mix though, I think the Supa Puss might be one of the best I've tried!
 
#7
knumbskull said:
I have the El Cap - love it. i got it because it sounds good on bass, but it is also very versatile for general noise making.

a guitarist in one of my bands has the Supa Puss and also an MXR Carbon Copy. after a bit of time with both he says he pretty much goes to the Carbon Copy exclusively.

...make of that what you will!
Click to expand...
The only thing I have against that pedal is I want tap tempo. It's crucial
 
#8
sunbeast said:
I had the Super Puss and sold it for an El Capistan. They are pretty different tonally, but it's hard to explain unless you've tried some analog delays. The Supa Puss has pretty punchy, up-front repeats, while I feel the Capistan excels at more "ambient" washy repeats. The modulation on the Supa Puss is much more versatile, and the oscillations can get MUCH crazier (actually a little too uncontrollable on the older version I had, though they have made a newer version that is supposedly more controlled). I really dig both pedals, but ultimately I wanted more of an ambient-voiced delay and found the Capistan to do that better for my tastes. If you really want the repeats to stand out in a mix though, I think the Supa Puss might be one of the best I've tried!
Click to expand...
HMMM just as I was leaning towards the Capistan... haha. I kinda like the idea of the louder repeats in the mix. I play in a hard rock band so I do want the delays to punch through the mix opposed to a more psychedelic subtle effect. Maybe the supa puss would be better. You said the oscillations can get out of control. Did they tame it down a lot on the newer models? I like the aspect of being able to get the wild sounds. That is something I can't do on the flashback and it bums me out. Thanks for all the info guys!
 
#12
I need to borrow my buddies El Cap and do a shoot between it and my Supa. For whatever it's worth, I love my Supa. Love it so much I had two for a while. It can def cut in a mix well and the chase mode is so awesome if you like getting experimental/electronic vibe.
 
#13
I have the Supa and I think it is kind of meh. Not my favorite delay by a longshot and I should sell it.

I GAS hard for an el Cap- but right now my favorite delay is the moog MF-delay - but alas no tap tempo for you.
 
#14
Musicman1901 said:
HMMM just as I was leaning towards the Capistan... haha. I kinda like the idea of the louder repeats in the mix. I play in a hard rock band so I do want the delays to punch through the mix opposed to a more psychedelic subtle effect. Maybe the supa puss would be better. You said the oscillations can get out of control. Did they tame it down a lot on the newer models? I like the aspect of being able to get the wild sounds. That is something I can't do on the flashback and it bums me out. Thanks for all the info guys!
Click to expand...

I haven't tried the newer ones, but many folks with older versions complained that the gain of the repeats was too high and would cause feedback oscillation too early on the on the knob. Another complaint was that you couldn't get a 50/50 mix on the mix control without losing volume on the dry signal vs when the pedal was disengaged. I found the feedback thing to be an issue with some instruments (and the change between normal and oscillation was very quick on the turn), but didn't find the mix to be an issue for me. Anyway the newer version was supposed to have remedied both of these issue I believe...

I really liked mine, but feel too many times it is gauged in comparison with the EHX Memory Man- I feel they are voiced and act differently enough to not be judged by the same merits personally. The EHX was specifically designed back in the day to emulate a tape delay, and as such has a certain ambient voice and character (the "ducking repeats") that has gained a strong following of its own, where the Supa Puss has a more modern punchy sorta vibe going on.

I am curious to try a Brigadier now! I love my Capistan, but it'd be cool to try a different voiced delay. Also really want to try a Moog MF delay, though the lack of tap tempo has scared me off. One of these days some smart mad pedal scientist will mod one with tap tempo!
 
#15
Yeah man I have had to turn away a bunch of cool delays because of the lack of Tap Tempo. That's crucial for me at this point. Yeah everybody seems to compare it to the EHX Memory Man. Judging from the videos they actually seem to be quite different. I am planning on ordering a new supa puss if I go that route so hopefully these mix/oscillation issues have been corrected. It would be a huge bummer to buy a 250 dollar delay and have such large issues with it. I think I may be better off comparing the Supa Puss to the Brigadier having heard everybodys responses. Sounds like it might be more up my alley than the El Capistan.
 

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