Boss RE-20 vs. Roland Space Echo 201

Has anyone tried the new Boss RE-20? The ad copy says its "just like" the Roland Space Echo 201...

I never owned a real RE-201 or even the holy grail of them all: RE-301. But one thing I can assure you, the RE-20 is the dirtiest, wobbliest, noisiest echo I ever had. It behaves like an inconsistent tape echo does: worn out tape looping endlessly.

Best money I spent.

I finally got to try an RE-20 the other day and I was impress by it. I would however want to choose to interpret the ad where it says "just like" to mean more like the RE-201 than any other digital echo. I don't think it's sound is a perfect copy of that tape echo sound but it is very close. I would be hard pressed to pick out which was which in a blind test but an actual tape echo adds something to the sound you cannot get from any emulated digital unit.

So I guess my final advice would be that if you want something very close to a tape echo without the hassle of up-keep and something that is much easier to take to a gig the Boss RE-20 is the best solution on the market. IMO opinion anyway. Not to mention you'd be hard pressed to find an RE-201 for $250.

I have an old RE 201 and now i´m playing the Boss RE-20 because i don´t have to check and repair it.
in my humble opinion the sound of the new RE-20 is very useable. You can get tons of delay settings from that....very useable.
the most delays can only repeat in one way. more repeats or less (one) repeat(s).
The RE-20 can give you triple delays for example.
The real deal is the input volume knob. It boosts the signal into the (tube)-amp. So can get a saturated tube sound without using an overdrive pedal.
It nails nearly all styles of sounds. It depends of your taste.
You can get Scotty Moore type sound, various Brian Setzer style echo sounds,Cliff Gallup, Danny Gatton....and many more .

Greets, Tommi

Hello gentlemen,

Just got the Boss re-20 'cause my old analogue pedal has finally given up the ghost. How do you guys like your settings? 1 tape head 2 3?

I generally go with the settings posted from the photos of Brian's RE-201 (or 301) rig, tweaking them depending on amp., venue, etc. (here they are):

Roland Chorus Echo (same as Space Echo just with Chorus)
- direct sig. - ON
- input #3 (input #1 for stereo applications)
- volume - 4 to 4.5
- level -35dB
- chorus off
- intensity (not used)
- echo - ON
- mode 1 (3 for Sleepwalk)
- volume - 3 to 3.5
- repeat rate - 2
- intensity - 2
- switch on ECHO (not single delay)
- reverb - 0 (not used)
- bass tone - 5
- treble tone - 5
- output level -25dB

Is the tap function built in?

Thanks Davy, and yes the tap is a seperate pedal built into the unit.

zimmtv wrote:

Has anyone tried the new Boss RE-20? The ad copy says its "just like" the Roland Space Echo 201...

hi i got the new boss RE-20, and i tried the roland space echo of my friend..... i think there are not great difference of sound, i think i spent very well my money.. boss re.20 it's a GREAT effect imho.

I'm also new to the RE-20. Can someone explain it's uses and perhaps give some examples of songs that you distinctly hear it? How does it compare to the other Boss delays (DD-3 & DD 6)? Thanks!!!