I remember trying and liking old tape pedals like WEM and Roland Space Echo's back in the '70s but I couldn't afford those back in the day. I've tried a number of delay effects since renewing my interest in guitar around 2002 and I like the effect I haven't been able to get sound that is useful in a band context until I purchased the Keeley Halo (Andy Timmons Dual Echo).
Previously tried and drop pedals include:
- Berhringer V-Amp: digital multi-effects and amp modeller. A good approximation of guitars effects and amp simulations but no high quality sounds;
- Boss DD-20: well regarded and reliable but complicated and I didn't like or use the sounds that much. Maybe I didn't know how to drive it;
- Electro-Harmonix Grand Canyon: The EH Memory Man is very well regarded. This pedal had a Memory Man sound plus many other delay/reverb effects. More is better right? Um, no. Complicated and difficult to change settings out of the fly. I didn't like it;
- Keeley Halo: I really like the Chase Bliss pedal but they are probably not usable for live work. I started reading reviews and based on previous good experience with my Keeley compressor I checked out the Halo (Dual Echo) vs. the ECCOS (Delay / Looper). Reviews seems to favour the Halo more, so that was my choice. I don't know whether it's the pre-config settings or if this is just a better pedal but I finally I have a delay pedal works for me.
Keeley Notes
The collaboration of Andy Timmons, “Master Guitar Player & Delay Wizard”, and Robert Keeley, Godfather of boutique stompbox effects, have collaborated to produce a tool allowing players to master their musical craft.
Andy Timmons’ mysterious sounding “Halo” effect is a modulated dual echo sound that has long been kept a secret by the tone wizard himself. Andy spent decades combining and crafting the sounds you can now get from the HALO.
Notes from the HALO dance rhythmically, almost creating a reverb diffusion. Those notes are held together with tape-style effects like modulation, saturation and compression. The results are stunning. The pedal comes loaded with his signature delay tone and you can program your own sounds and save them as presets. Easily bounce between Side A and B on the fly, essentially giving you two delay pedals in one. In addition to Andy’s signature “Halo” sound, there are numerous other rhythmic delays including: quarter note, dotted 8th, stereo rack mount analog delay, and a vintage multi-head tape echo. Stunning stereo and pristine sound quality are further enhanced with controls for saturation, tone, and shelving filters that give you the ultimate delay pedal.
Tone Factory
Use the Saturate control to add tape compression texture to your tone. The Tone and High Pass Filter controls your overall delay shape and mix. The Rhythm Mode selector delivers 5 delay types, including Andy’s unique “Halo” sound. Set the Time and Feedback controls low, and you can open up a world of ambient chorus and flanger effects. Run the HALO in stereo for incredible true-stereo imaging. Save your favorite combination of settings as a preset and the HALO becomes an incredibly compact multi-effect workstation.
The Sound of Two Delays
Use the HALO as two delay pedals that work in tandem, letting you switch between your main delay (side A) and an alternative (side B). With up to 1500 ms of available delay, set sides A and B for different delay times, then simply foot switch between the two. Our Smart Stomp System allows you to press and hold either stomp switch to engage tap tempo mode. Press and hold the alternate stomp switch for infinite repeat/hold. Each Preset bank gives you 2 delays settings for a total of 8 user-storable effects! Use the Rhythm control to select between different echoes like HALO, Analog, Tape, Quarter and Dotted Eighth.
HALO Dual Echo Features:
- Andy Timmons signature “Halo” sound saved as a preset!
- The HALO functions as 2 delay pedals with up to 1500ms of available delay time – save different sounds to A and B – then switch between the two!
- 5 delay rhythms including stereo rack BBD and multi-head tape delay.
- 8 factory presets loaded with new delay and modulation sounds.
- Status light indicates when you’ve adjusted a knob from home settings.
- Soft stomp switches for tap tempo, infinite hold, preset save/recall, and more.
- Remote switching and programmable expression pedal control.
- DREAM multi-core DSP for stunning sound quality.
- True-Bypass or Trails.
- Made in the USA.
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