Boss has announced the SDE-3000D and SDE-3000EVH Dual Digital Delay pedals, two advanced effect processors based on the Roland SDE-3000 rackmount digital delay from the 1980s.
The SDE-3000D provides two authentic reproductions of the SDE-3000 in a modern floor-based pedal with independent delay parameters, versatile signal routing, and many other enhanced features. Developed in collaboration with EVH, the SDE-3000EVH model goes further, providing curated presets and expanded I/O to recreate the dual SDE-3000 set-up at the heart of Eddie Van Halen’s three-cabinet live stage guitar sound.
Released in 1983, the Roland SDE-3000 became integral to music in the 1980s and 1990s and remains a source of inspiration. Its inviting musicality was the result of complex internal digital processing coupled with nonlinear behaviours from supporting analogue circuitry. Adjustable delay phase, unique modulation response and other elements also contributed to the effect’s distinctive sound. Boss engineers analysed these in creating the SDE-3000D, bringing the complete character of this classic into the modern era.
While the SDE-3000 was mono, the SDE-3000D provides two discrete delays with series or parallel operation, independent settings and mono or stereo modulation on each. Nearly every parameter from the original is available, accessed via a retro interface derived from the vintage hardware. And with enhanced features such as 100 user memories, flexible I/O, Midi and a wealth of onboard and external control options, the SDE-3000D offers much greater versatility than its rackmount inspiration.
Eddie Van Halen’s live wet/dry/wet stage guitar sound used a dry path from a single amplifier in a centre cabinet, and left and right cabinets amplified with wet-only delay effects for a wide soundstage. The Roland SDE-3000 delays were perfect for his needs and remained core components of his stage rig throughout his long career.
A few years ago, EVH and Boss began discussing the idea of bringing this approach with the vintage SDE-3000s to everyone. ‘Ed always really enjoyed seeing what people did with certain things he created,’ says Matt Bruck, EVH Managing Director. ‘We thought it would be cool to enshrine his unique delay approach and let others find their own inspiration with it.’
Van Halen used two SDE-3000 units with unique settings to achieve his live sound. With the dual delays, multiple outputs, and versatile routing modes in the SDE-3000EVH, it’s possible for any player to recreate this set-up with their own amps. Eight EVH presets include four presets designed for a wet/dry/wet set-up plus four presets adapted for a standard stereo amplifier set-up. ‘The EVH presets are exactly like the presets in Eddie’s rack,’ Bruck says. ‘There’s no difference in mix levels, input levels, or delay times, it’s one-to-one.’
Along with EVH presets and expanded I/O, the SDE-3000EVH includes all the core features of the SDE-3000D.
The Boss SDE-3000D and SDE-3000EVH are available now for US$499 and US$599 respectively.
More: www.boss.info
