Korg SDD-3000 users

Can anybody share their opinion on how much I could expect to pay for an SDD-3000 delay? Any details that would make one more valuable than another (serial no. Date of manufacture. Original accessories etc...). Any info would be greatly appreciated.

For that unit you're - in my somewhat educated opinion - looking at about $1,000 firm for just about any unit. The fact these delays are so closely associated with David Evans and Daniel Lanois is what keeps the prices high - and the fact they sound absolutely amazing.

For that unit you're - in my somewhat educated opinion - looking at about $1,000 firm for just about any unit. The fact these delays are so closely associated with David Evans and Daniel Lanois is what keeps the prices high - and the fact they sound absolutely amazing.

Yep. You are paying through the nose for celebrity association. The SDD3000 also has an analog preamp which is pretty simple, and in fact somebody is making a booteek pedal of just the SDD3000 analog preamp. If you get that pedal you could probably come very close to getting that sound with any decent digital delay. In fact, the pedal's circuit is so simple you could probably home brew it if you have some electronics skills. Schematics are available online. This preamp is the key to the SDD3000 sound.

SDD3000s cost a fortune as a result of the U2 connection. Get the pedal and a used Quadraverb in good shape on fleabay and be happy. It will cost way less than an SDD3000.

Thanks for the info and quick replys. I've also heard that these Delays are too deep for a standard rack. I might be better served looking into the preamp pedal.

Cheers

Yes they are deep. If you have a shallow rack it may be a problem. If you have a standard deep rack, no problem. Shoot, I have an ancient ADA 128i delay in my rack and it's quite deep yet there is plenty of room to spare.

If you want "that sound" and don't want to drop one-large, then yeah, look into that preamp pedal and then get a decent wideband digital delay. Man there are good older rack delays all over ebay. The old Alesis Quadraverbs are a great deal.

I found this thread looking around for SDD3000 info. I sold mine ten years ago for well over $600, so I'm not surprised they're going for a grand now. I still regret selling it on some level (and not just for the extra $400+ I could've made!). I could care less about the celebrity connection, especially since I could care less about U2 just generally... but the 3000 did sound really good, especially direct into a vintage amp.

One thing you'll be missing with the preamp + any-old-delay combo is the modulation flexibility of the 3000. This is what I miss the most about this unit. If you're trying to get "the Edge tone," it won't matter, but its square-wave and random-waveform LFO options are quite unique among not just rack delays but just about *any* delay units. Those modulation options, in conjunction with the 1.4 seconds of delay on tap can generate some *really* wild and inspiring sounds.

Even in units where I've found one or the other of these options available via the LFO, I can't coax anywhere near the sonic insanity out of it that I could get with the 3000's modulation. In fact, the only way I've come close is to cobble things together in software-- coding Csound orchestras, chaining VSTs, etc. It's really amazing that none of the modern multieffects have thought to include this kind of modulation facility.

I'm gonna have to hunt down that preamp schematic now!

Steve Vai used one too - I'm sure there are more cats that buy it for his association than everyone else combined. He has many fan boys!

I have one for sale. PM me if interested.