EVH and BOSS join forces to bring you the SDE-3000EVH Dual Digital Delay, an authentic recreation of the stereo delays at the heart of Eddie Van Halen’s massive three-cabinet live stage guitar sound. Based on the vintage Roland SDE-3000 rackmount delay, this powerhouse processor puts two fully featured SDE-3000s in one floor-based pedal, coupled with extensive connectivity to build a wet/dry/wet rig just like Eddie’s. You also get eight presets curated by EVH with the exact settings from his actual delay units, allowing you to experience the master’s expansive spatial delay tone in your own setup.
Eddie Van Halen is one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time, and his effortless musicality, spirited performances, and otherworldly techniques will continue to inspire players for generations to come. Eddie’s amazing tone is equally legendary, and he continually refined his amplifier and effect choices throughout his career to achieve the very best sound possible. The Roland SDE-3000 delays were perfect for his unique wet/dry/wet live rig approach, providing rich, high-quality tone and special delay parameters that allowed him to perfectly tweak the sound to his exacting preferences. After years of using the SDE-3000s, the ever-ambitious and competitive Eddie tried to see if he could improve his sound with a rival product. But he never found another delay that worked better, and his two SDE-3000s remained core components of his stage rig throughout his long career.
"We went through a process for about two weeks of comparing many delay products. And in the end, Ed concluded that the SDE-3000s were the best." – Matt Bruck, EVH Managing Director
In contrast with the clear, precise tones of other digital delays in the 1980s, the SDE-3000 stood out from the crowd with its beautiful warm sound and inviting musicality. This was the result of clever and complex internal digital processing coupled with nonlinear behaviours from the supporting analog circuitry. These behaviours included variable frequency response in the preamp based on input gain, magnetic saturation in the anti-alias filter, and evolving modulation produced by the components of the time. BOSS deeply analysed these many factors in creating the SDE-3000EVH, bringing the complete character of this time-honoured classic alive for the modern era.
The SDE-3000EVH includes nearly every parameter from the SDE-3000, accessed via a retro interface derived from the vintage hardware. Two selectable delay ranges offer different frequency characteristics like the original, and the distinctive modulation circuit has been recreated as well. Along with depth and rate controls, it’s possible to independently switch the phase of the initial delay and the delay feedback loop, which influences the way the modulation reacts. Many enhanced features are also available, including 100 user memories, carryover, and more.
The SDE-3000EVH provides two discrete delays with independent parameters and mono or stereo modulation on each. Run the delays in parallel and pan them for ever-evolving stereo colours. Or chain them in series to create complex rhythms and reverb-like depth. And along with the EVH wet/dry/wet configuration, the flexible I/O supports a variety of mono and stereo setups. There’s an external loop as well, allowing you to insert external pedals or interface with an amplifier’s effects loop via the four-cable method, complete with selectable impedance for optimum tone.
With its pedal-based design and expanded control options, the SDE-3000EVH offers much greater versatility than its rackmount inspiration. Three onboard footswitches provide instant control of memory selection, tap tempo, delay hold, momentary effect engagement, and more. Two control jacks allow you to connect up to four footswitches, two expression pedals, or a GA-FC/GA-FC EX for external operation, and TRS MIDI I/O is also included. There’s a large selection of assignable targets to choose from, delivering deep real-time control that reaches far beyond the capabilities of the original SDE-3000.