The Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 is a Dunlop delay pedal. Close alternatives include the JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay and the Beetronics BeeBeeDee Analog Delay. It pairs well with the Hiwatt DR103H and the Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet.
Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103
Dunlop · pedal
The Dunlop EP103 Echoplex Delay recreates the tape-echo character of the vintage Echoplex EP-3, producing rich, lively repeats on chords and punchy, full-bodied single notes rather than the flatter, thinner echoes of typical digital delay emulations. It stays clear and well-defined even in front of a distorted amp, and its Age control is the key to its character, darkening the tone, adding tape-style saturation, and introducing a distinctive pitch warble and modulation similar to chorus as it's turned up, mimicking a well-worn tape unit's organic drift and fade. The result is a darker, more natural-sounding echo than typical analog delay units, with a fully analog dry path that keeps the underlying tone uncolored.
What stands out
“All digital delays gets this kind of ugly static in the repeats when I play heavy handed with a lot of dirt in front of them”
— from the community notes
“The Dunlop EP103 Echoplex Delay recreates the tape-echo character of the vintage Echoplex EP-3, producing rich, lively repeats on chords and punchy, full-bodied single notes , thinner echoes of typical digital delay e…”
— from the listing
“s organic drift and fade”
— from the listing
“The result is a darker, more natural-sounding echo than typical analog delay units, with a fully analog dry path that keeps the underlying tone uncolored”
— from the listing
“The trails are dirty enough to sound great • Love this pedal”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“thinner echoes of typical digital delay emulations”
— from the listing
- delay
- tape echo
- organic
- echo
- dynamic
- natural
- saturation
- analog delay
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Genres the Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 is commonly used in
- Ambient
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Lo Fi
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rockabilly
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Experimental
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Shoegaze
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
27% matchHiwatt DR103H's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet
Laney
27% matchWhat Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet brings here leans toward tight — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
PRS DGT 15
PRS
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in PRS DGT 15's effects loop, clear of PRS DGT 15's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
VHT D-50
Vht
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
VHT D-50 goes in front of Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the chain
Gallien-Krueger MB108
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB108 goes in front of Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the chain
Bogner Uberschall 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head
Bogner
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Bogner Uberschall 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head in front of Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103
Gallien-Krueger MB150S-112 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB150S-112 Bass Combo goes in front of Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the chain
Gallien-Krueger MB210MK2
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB210MK2 goes in front of Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the chain
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
26% matchWhat Z.Vex Super Hard On brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition
Walrus Audio
24% matchWalrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition leans toward clean boost, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR M83
MXR
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103's analog warmth voice out front: MXR M83 goes after Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion
Ibanez
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 after Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread Perseus
Catalinbread
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 after Catalinbread Perseus in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Perseus's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Mooer Blade
Mooer
5% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 after Mooer Blade in the signal chain, clear of Mooer Blade's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
NuX Masamune Booster & Kompressor
Nux
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
NuX Masamune Booster & Kompressor goes in front of Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 in the chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay
JHS Pedals
63% similarityShared character: repeats, analog delay, digital
Beetronics BeeBeeDee Analog Delay
Beetronics
62% similarityShared character: repeats, analog delay, dark
Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Electro-Harmonix
61% similarityShared character: delay, analog delay, dark
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
61% similarityShared character: dark, repeats, analog delay
T-Rex Reptile Delay
T Rex
61% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, modulation
Electro-Harmonix Pico ReRun
Electro-Harmonix
60% similarityShared character: delay, vintage charm
Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia
Crazy Tube Circuits
60% similarityShared character: repeats, delay, modulation
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
60% similarityShared character: dark, repeats, delay
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
59% similarityShared character: modulation, delay, repeats
Keeley Magnetic Echo
Keeley
59% similarityShared character: dark, delay, modulation
Tru-Fi The Aqua Echo 600 Analog
Tru Fi
59% similarityShared character: analog delay, delay, repeats
Fender Hammertone Delay
Fender
59% similarityShared character: repeats, digital, delay
See all alternatives to the Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103?+
The closest matches in character are the JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay, the Beetronics BeeBeeDee Analog Delay, the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man.
What pairs well with the Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Hiwatt DR103H, Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet, PRS DGT 15 — Hiwatt DR103H's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying.