Strymon meticulously modeled every nuance of multiple tape delays to create the El Capistan. The result is an incredible sounding delay that is capable of everything from fairly clean controlled delay to full on spacecraft oscillation and everything in between. Crisp slap, or a warm subtly modulated echo, El Cap has you covered, but the main event here is a lush, creamy texture unlike any other unit in this price range, and with this amount of flexibility.

You get very intuitive control over an interesting and inspiring set of parameters on the El Cap. Control beyond the norm, such as age and wear which have a profound and gorgeous affect on the sound of real tape machines. Much of the mojo comes from these idiosyncrasies. Adjusting the age of the tape has a similar effect to tone as a filter but with a deliciousness that you just have to hear for yourself. Wear is adjustable through a pair of settings called "Wow and Flutter," and "crinkle." Here's where my explanation will fall short, but here goes: "Wow and flutter" is mechanical wear/imperfection who's effect is something like modulation and "Crinkle" is tape wear such as splices/folds/stretching and the effect is something like distorting. Both of which, again, are similar to modulation and distortion, but with a mojo totally unique to tape, and not as predictable as the plain effects by themselves.

If that's not already fat and juicy enough, there is also reverb on this thing! Not to mention that the inherent sonic quality of the feedback of tape delay, especially when pushed, is an amazingly beautiful thing. All that amounts to extremely dense and rich sonic vibe that Strymon absolutely nailed in the El Cap. Bottomline, The El Capistan is amazing and is hands down my favorite guitar pedal, and probably my favorite effect period. Not only does it sound great, it is unlike any other unit in this price range, and with this amount of flexibility, or reliability for that matter because lets face it, that real thing might sound even more glorious, but you can't dial it in. It only sounds the way it does because it is slowly failing and will take much effort to restore.