GEAR REVIEW
MXR JOSHUA AMBIENT ECHO | Doug Doppler
KEY FEATURES
• Single or Dual Delays
• Modulation
• Tap Tempo
• Mono or Stereo Output
• High Pass Control
• Trails On / Off Button
If you ’ re looking for an outstanding delay that ’ s packed with a ton of great features and doesn ’ t require a degree in rocket science to operate , you gotta check out the MXR Joshua Ambient Echo . Joshua has become my ‘ go-to ’ delay for electric and acoustic guitar regardless of style or venue . That said , the massive range of functionality packed into a single stomp form factor that only requires 300mA of power is perfect for discerning worship guitar players .
PRIMARY CONTROLS The six knobs make it easy to dial in your desired delay , regeneration , and modulation levels as well as the desired subdivision for Echo 1 . Out of the box , holding down the footswitch for one second enables tap tempo mode . Depressing the Echo 2 button on the face of the pedal engages a second delay which defaults to a ¼ note subdivision . The Echo 2 button illuminates blue when this feature is engaged for easy visual feedback . The Voice controls enables you to adjust the mix of a -1, + 1 , or + 2 octave blend to the effected signal . The Trails button enables you to easily select Trails mode and illuminates red when active .
EXTENDED FUNCTIONALITY Using a TRS cable on the Out jack engages stereo functionality which is simply stunning when using the dual delay mode . In Stereo mode , depressing and holding the Echo 2 button and turning the Voice control enables to separate a dry and blended mix , or separate the dual delays to each side of the stereo field .
Depressing the Trails button and turning the Voice knob allows controls the High Pass Filter , enabling you to shape the delay tone from brilliant to ambient . In combination with the Modulation , this feature makes this delay a perfect candidate for your next echo pedal ! By default , the Modulation knob does a great job of controlling both Depth and Rate , but they can also be manipulated independently via Trails button and the Modulation knob .
A small switch on the side of the pedal toggles the functionality of the CTR ( Control ) jack from Expression to Tap Tempo . Expression mode enables you to control a single feature like mix , or morph between settings . Tap Tempo mode allows you to use an external Tap Tempo footswitch . If by chance you use the RJM PBC 6 / X you can use that device to tap tempo for you on a preset-by-preset basis .
THE EXPERIENCE With the High Pass filter bypassed , the
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