FX96 ECHO FX DELAY
The FX96 was DOD’s last analog line
of defense against the digital delay
intruders that followed. The unit
featured the same MN3005 chip as
all the classic analog delays of yore,
and because it was the last revision
of the DOD analog delay, it contained
a feature that wasn’t found on any
previous iteration—the low-pass filter.
DOD called this control “Tape Quality”
and it shaves more high end from the
repeats the more it is cranked. This
gives the feeling of a real tape delay
whose color is in various states of
chroma. As expected, turning the
knob fully clockwise creates quite a
shadowy wash of delay that is barely
usable but very cool. Another upgrade
from the FX90 is the delay time—
the original unit maxed out at 300
milliseconds, whereas the FX96 boasts
a much higher 800. This pedal is also
a bit historic: DOD dared to tow the
analog line while others went digital;
the FX96 was the only contemporary
analog delay of its time, and it proved
that analog wasn’t dead.
I hope you enjoyed my guidance
into the unexplored world of dusty,
forgotten gems of the pedal world.
Much like anything else, you get out
what you put in, and some time spent
hunting for these inexpensive beauties
can pay dividends in creativity. Who
knows—you just might find your new
favorite box for very little scratch!
“THE UNIT FEATURED THE
SAME MN3005 CHIP AS ALL
THE CLASSIC ANALOG DELAYS
OF YORE, AND BECAUSE IT WAS
THE LAST REVISION OF THE DOD
ANALOG DELAY, IT CONTAINED A
FEATURE THAT WASN’T FOUND ON
ANY PREVIOUS ITERATION—
THE LOW-PASS FILTER.”
ToneReport.com
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