Line 6 DL-4 or TC Flashback??

[gshep92]

I'm torn in which delay to get, thoughts guys?

[baxterhuxtable]

I've owned both. Currently have the flashback.

I only sold the dl4 when I was strapped for cash. Its a great pedal. Tap tempo, savable presets, and the expression pedal are all awesome things. The looper is great too, w more features than the tc. The drawback to this one is that they are not the most durable pedals. In the year and a half I owned mine, I replaced the tap tempo switch twice. But, I now know there are people out there who can mod them w better switches, and to increase the number of presets. I would def do that stuff if I ever got another one.

The flashback is awesome too. All the models sound good, and the tone print thing is cool. The looper is ok, no where near as useful as the dl4, but does exactly what it should. The strum tempo thing works well, but live I rarely use it. One feature I really like on it is that the repeats on most of the models don't "run away" when they self oscillate. In other words they don't get crazy loud. So you can end up with some very cool textures. Of course, it also doesn't do the analog delay sweep we all love, the dl4 does. But its small, feels durable to me, no issues in a year.

It boils down to what you really need. If you want to fiddle w your delay a lot (tap tempo, vastly different sounds on the fly, and the possibility of wacky stuff w an exp pedal) and don't mind the big foot print, go dl4. If you just need a small but versital delay that you set and forget (but has many settings) I would say the flashback.

If you go dl4, I would get the mods. But of course at that point you maybe into a higher cost bracket of pedals. So it may be worth checking out the empress, strymon, and eventide delays....

[smoss469]

Would love TC to release a "Sweep Echo" Toneprint. Love the effect on Alkaline Trio's "Burn", wish the FB could do it.

[11 Gauge]

As much as I like the DL-4 and it is a bit of an industry standard, I just get regular complaints to durability issues like have already been mentioned in this thread.

The other big issue - dirty power. Unless you have your own conditioning on gigs, I hear regular reports of the DL-4 basically going haywire, de-programming itself, arbitrarily changing settings, etc. Maybe lots of folks I know simply need to invest in better power conditioning, but the complaints are fairly regular.

I'm assuming the TC uses an actual DC power input instead of the Line 6's AC source, which allows for all sorts of crud to "ride along." DC just doesn't do that. It's not to say that you can't end up with glitches (since DC still has to be rectified from AC), but it typically isn't as bad.

[TinyGomery]

I've never had trouble with the DL4's dirty power, but the crappy switches are a real issue. Also, the DL4 is huge. But I still like my DL4 okay. I have noticed recently that I really only use two settings of the analog delay model, so I'm thinking about getting a good analog delay and twiddling the knobs now and then. I very rarely use tap tempo.

[cellrebral]

TC Flashback is awesome, durable, and the android iPhone app that can send toneprints through your guitar pickup to the unit is innovative and extremely useful. Get the Flashback and don't look back. I also have a Seymour Duncan Deja VU, that I hightly recommend, but only because GC was blowing them out at $60.00. Any higher price and I wouldn't recommend. It uses bucket brigade analog technology that can be blended with digital for some very unique delay capabilities. It also has a wet insert capability which is virtually an effects loop for the repeat trails. You can effect the repeats with a wah, distortion, Flanger, volume pedal, the choices are endless. Drawbacks are the large footprint and the large retail price. But like I said at $60.00 it is worth every penny

[MASONish]

+1 on the flashback! It does it all & does it well!!

[gtrguru]

Originally Posted by MASONish

+1 on the flashback! It does it all & does it well!!

+ 1 but, the strum tempo is awkward.

[baxterhuxtable]

Thought I'd add to this. As I said earlier I have the flashback, it's awesome. But lately I have been missing the tap tempo and extra controls the dl4 had. I was checking out the nova delay from tc electronic, too many controls etc. That led me to the Nova Repeater they make. Has many similar models to the Flashback, but with more control over modulation and tone and tap tempo.... If you don't particularly care about the toneprint (its cool, but I pretty much find myself using the tape, 2290, or analog models for everything) you should check this one out. Its only a little more $ than the flashback, and does a lot more!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV4bke7EimY

[smoss469]

The FB has "strum tempo", so the option is still there for tap, sort of.

[baxterhuxtable]

Yeah, I think I use it once a set live haha. It works but its not the same as good old tap!

[notyalcer]

Tap tempo is great to have, but I needed a small pedal for my board. Got the FB and the strum tempo works better than I ever expected. Use it live very naturally, a good compromise for the smaller size. The analog model sounds excelleIt and sits perfectly in the mix. First delay that I want to leave on all the time.