Guitar Gear Forum

For the first time in my life I've not been zeroed in on a piece of gear I want to buy myself for Christmas. I've procrastinated on making a decision for so long because I'm so satisfied with my gear. There have been such great delay options available all at the same price point. SDE3, SDE3000D, Keeley Halo...all such great pedals.

I finally decided on the Halo because I love the way it sounds. Then I went to order it and noticed the sale ended yesterday and they are back up to $299 again everywhere. WTF Who ends a sale 2 weeks before Christmas? I was trying to use a couple of gift cards that have been sitting around forever.

Sure I could pay the difference and get it anyway but this throws me back into the SDE3 vs SDE3000D decision again. If the SDE3000D were smaller it would be an easy decision but it's midi capabilities make it possible to overlook the size. I need to order one tomorrow.

Get the SDE-3000D.

After a month with the SDE-3000D and a few gigs, this has become my favorite delay pedal. And I can't imagine being without presets. I've learned how to create some awesome modulation tones, a few different delays for leads... it's a really powerful unit. I could use this as my only effects unit.

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:23 am After a month with the SDE-3000D and a few gigs, this has become my favorite delay pedal. And I can't imagine being without presets. I've learned how to create some awesome modulation tones, a few different delays for leads... it's a really powerful unit. I could use this as my only effects unit.

It definitely has a lot to offer. Can it do the darker echo and modulated tape type delays too?

Riffraff wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 5:48 am

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:23 am After a month with the SDE-3000D and a few gigs, this has become my favorite delay pedal. And I can't imagine being without presets. I've learned how to create some awesome modulation tones, a few different delays for leads... it's a really powerful unit. I could use this as my only effects unit.

It definitely has a lot to offer. Can it do the darker echo and modulated tape type delays too?

Not really. This is an unapologetic 80s-rack type of delay. You can get some darker tones using the filters but it's still very pristine and hi-fi. I don't think anyone would mistake it for a tape delay.
But for what it does, it's really good. Possibly the best.

The DD-500 has some good analog emulations and it's more versatile overall, but it doesn't do SDE like the SDE-3000.

After this Friday, I am off for the rest of the year. Looking forward to diving deeper into the SDE-3000D. Creating some more presets will save some tap dancing for sure.

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:23 am After a month with the SDE-3000D and a few gigs, this has become my favorite delay pedal. And I can't imagine being without presets. I've learned how to create some awesome modulation tones, a few different delays for leads... it's a really powerful unit. I could use this as my only effects unit.

Mind taking some pics of your modulation settings, please?

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 6:03 am Not really. This is an unapologetic 80s-rack type of delay. You can get some darker tones using the filters but it's still very pristine and hi-fi. I don't think anyone would mistake it for a tape delay.
But for what it does, it's really good. Possibly the best.

The DD-500 has some good analog emulations and it's more versatile overall, but it doesn't do SDE like the SDE-3000.

Isn't the RE-202 their tape delay based pedal?

If the 299 deal had been available up here I probably would've gone the route of the 3000D, but I'm very happy with the SDE-3. It has definitely got me picking up the guitar more often.

Between that, the Eventide Micropitch and the Snakeskin Charvel, I'm living like its 1986

The TC Electronic 2290P could another possibility.

I watched Pete Thorn's demo of it this morning and was blown away. It doesn't seem to be a dual delay but the delayed signal and dry signal pan. Once you have that going and you add it's modulation, chorus, tremolo and it has an effects loop that allows you to add external effects within the delay repeats. Super cool sounding delay unit.