EarthQuaker Devices has waded into the multi-mode compact delay market with the Silos – but the ‘Multi-Generational Time Reflection Device’ aims to do things a little differently to its competitors.
It started with a quest from EQD founder and gear hoarder Jamie Stillman to combine his favorite delays into one box. EQD describes it as “an ambitious foray into uncharted territory in finding a way to assemble them all together as one uncomplicated unit”.
Stillman settled on three delay types, based on prized effects from his collection: digital, analog (inspired by the KMD analog delay), and tape (based on a vintage Echoplex).
That’s right: no reverse, no modulation, no weird phaser setting you’ll never, ever use. With three controls to tweak your delay – Mix, Time and Repeats – the Silos looks to be the antidote to today’s era of feature-stuffed delay pedals.
EQD has pushed practicality to the fore to get maximum functionality out of the Silos. Each of the three modes delivers up to a second of delay time, and can be tweaked via the onboard tap tempo footswitch and user-assignable expression control, while there are six onboard presets, which you can access on the fly.
The Silos also features buffered bypass with tails, as well as EQD’s Flexi-Switch technology: hit the switch to turn the pedal on as usual; hold it for a momentary mode that turns off when you take your foot off.
With a $149 price tag, this is a bold play from EarthQuaker that puts it square in the ballpark of industry standards such as the Boss DD-3T and Dunlop Echoplex, which only feature one core sound and no presets.
There are, however, other multi-mode delays for a little extra outlay – although most are sans presets – so it will be interesting to see how guitarists get on with the Silos.
For more info, head to EarthQuaker Devices.
