Boss RE-20 Space Echo Pedal Reviews

4.6/5.0 based on 7 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Carson McClain

This is a great tool for the reggae, dub, dance hall, hip-hop or electronic producer. The RE-20 emulates the original RE-201 space echo which was one of the most popular echoes throughout the history of electronic music. Add this to a drum machine, an analog or digital synth, and of course, a Strat to get that classic sound your music has been lacking. Use your ears to dial in the perfect sound, just like you did with the original. Check out the reviews, you will not be disappointed.

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Customer Reviews

from
July 2, 2012

My Favorite Pedal

This is my all time favorite pedal. Intuitive. Sounds great. Built tough. Really gets the creative juices flowing on just about any instrument.

paul mcintyre
from nova scotia canada
September 13, 2010Music Background:
hobbyist

buy one today !

twiddle those knobs and get lost in space, " and some " you don't get better quality than this.......period.

K P
from MN USA
December 28, 2007Music Background:
Pro Musician

HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Keyboard player review)

I can't believe I lived without it!!! I'm manic, been up all night playing. This pedal will INSPIRE you. Just LET it happen. I'm not easy to impress either!

Lets forget the Tape Delay for a moment: I use a Nord Electro and just the Electro's organ with RE-20's Spring reverb will give you shivers... IT'S. SO. REAL. (Through my KP-200s AMP) I can get an exact organ sound from Medeski to Manzarek! The reverb itself is worth the 250 asking price.

Now for the primary function: TAPE. I've used tape, I still can't believe this thing sounds exactly like tape, responds exactly like tape, down to the tiniest sonic details. It's like they shrunk down the RE-201 and put it in the RE-20. I mean, really. Honestly, to say this is the "best thing I've ever owned" is a GROSS understatement. I. AM. IN. LOVE.

Thank you, Roland Engineers. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!! PS Thanks for the Edirol FA-66 too! Love you guys!!!

from Brooklyn
April 3, 2012Music Background:
pro musician / engineer

you already know

If youre contemplating getting this, don't hesitate. Its sturdy, intuitive and sounds amazing. I use this for bass mostly and it does right by my tone. Treat it right by using the correct boss adapter and get the expression pedal if you really wanna get trippy mane.

Johnie Bissette
from Merry Hill, NC
February 24, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician.

A really great pedal; the Boss RE-20.

This effect is awesome. I play a lot of country rock and the sound just captures you. With this pedal all I have to do is turn on the amp and have total control from the pedal...You cannot really appreciate the sound uintil you've heard it. I reccommend this pedal to anyone who is into delay and echo.

Dan Workman
from Houston, Tx
August 19, 2011Music Background:
guitarist, engineer, producer

You'll Never Have to Demagnitize This, or Change the Felt Tape Tensioner-Thingy

I have owned three of the 'real' RE-201's and an SRE-555 (the rack mount version of the 201 with a chorus effect built in as well).

When I first saw this pedal, my heart sank because I knew it could never live up to my expectations.

However, the thing sounded pretty darn good! The reverb is actually a bit better than the original (which always sounded 'tanky' to me), and the tone controls seemed more robust than the original as well. The Modes sound just like I remember them, and the delay characteristics sound close enough to fool all but the most exacting gear head.

Turning up the repeat rate yields the classic 'runaway tape feedback' that is clocked to sound just like the original tape artifact. It's a bonus that the tap pedal allows you to get that effect by simply holding it down for a moment. Watch out when you release it, as the volume of the effect 'blooms'--gets louder--as the effect dies away. This is like the original, but a bit more over modulated for my taste.

The only other thing that I don't like is the 'tape motion light' on the pedal. I assume it is to give a visual cue to the 'speed' of the delay, but I found it annoying.

This is one of the finest delay pedals I've owned. If you like the MoogerFooger, or Line 6 Delay, you will find a lot of different sounds with the RE-20, but with similar quality of sound and build.

Mr AJ's School House Blues aj belletto
from palm coast florida
January 11, 2008Music Background:
50 years playing --25 as a teacher of guitar--presently heading up the School House Blues Band--music with messages for students of all ages. I consider myself a true guru of obscure blues

boss re20 space echo

I guess I'm the only one who bought this for voice and not my guitar. As a blues player I'm a purist using nothing but a touch of reverb on my Fender Blues Deluxe overdriving it for lead.
I had been searching for a just a touch of delay and reverb to use with my vocals.(Fender Passport 250) MOst PA's come with a reverb(fair sounding) but no echo. Well this thing works perfectly as I use it via the effects loop and can even dial a little delay on my guitar channel BUT my voice --WOW!! --the re 20 makes me sound like Michael Buble instead of Willie Nelson.
I realize I'm only using about 10% of what this is capable of but it filled the bill. The reverb needs to be backed down a bit for voice --thanks Paul Allen for your guidance