A faithful re-creation of the stereo delays at the heart of Eddie Van Halen's massive 3-cabinet guitar rig, the BOSS SDE-3000EVH Dual Digital Delay packs a refrigerator-sized rack of processing into a convenient, floor-based stompbox, complete with eye-grabbing EVH aesthetics. Based on the venerable Roland SDE-3000 rackmount digital delay, the SDE-3000EVH pedal brandishes two discrete delay lines, enabling it to mimic the functionality of two vintage rackmount SDE-3000s, with enough routing flexibility to build an EVH-worthy wet/dry/wet rig. Not only does the SDE-3000EVH replicate the classic, surprisingly warm sound of its predecessor, but its retro display and panel controls are also based on the original unit. You get adjustable delay times up to 3,000ms, along with modulation inspired by the original unit, phase switches, and low- and high-cut filters. You also get an assignable onboard footswitch, external footswitch jacks for extended operation, and MIDI I/O on space-saving mini TRS jacks. Best of all, the SDE-3000EVH includes eight presets with the exact settings from EVH's former live rig. If you've ever wanted to add Edward Van Halen's expansive spatial delay tone to your own setup, the BOSS SDE-3000EVH makes it easy.

Boss SDE-3000D Dual Digital Delay Pedal at a Glance:

• Special edition dual delay pedal jointly developed by EVH and BOSS
• Based on the legendary Roland SDE-3000 rackmount digital delay from the 1980s
• Eight EVH presets with the exact settings from the two SDE-3000 delays in Eddie Van Halen’s live rig (the EVH presets are locked internally but allow for output level adjustments)
• Versatile connectivity for creating an EVH wet/dry/wet rig and integrating with various mono and stereo setups
• Classic appearance with the signature EVH logo and stripes
• Warm vintage digital delay sound with extended features for modern rigs
• Distinctive retro display and panel controls based on the original SDE-3000
• Includes two full-featured delays, each with independent parameters, mono/stereo modulation, and panning
• Widely adjustable delay time with two range settings: 0–1500 ms and 0–3000 ms
• Characterful modulation inspired by the original circuit design
• Phase switches for the primary delay and delay feedback loop
• Adjustable low-cut and high-cut filters for shaping delay feedback sounds
• Send/return functionality for patching in an effect pedal or using the four-cable method
• Selectable impedance on the effect return for optimizing tone with different amplifiers
• Selectable series or parallel operation for the two delays
• Save and recall sounds with 92 user memories
• Adjustable noise suppressor
• Assignable onboard footswitch control for tap tempo, hold, and more
• Jacks for extended operation with up to four footswitches, two expression pedals, or the GA-FC/GA-FC EX foot controller
• MIDI I/O on space-saving mini TRS jacks
• Includes three ground-lift cables for eliminating hum with multi-amplifier setups

Faithful sound with modern enhancements

Introduced in 1983, the Roland SDE-3000 is one of the most revered rackmount delay units from the early years of digital audio. Although the SDE-3000 was used in recording studios, its most popular application was in '80s-era guitar racks, where its ultra-wide dynamic range, adjustable delay phase, rich modulation, and multiple seconds of clear-yet-warm delay tone made it the go-to digital delay processor. The secret to the SDE-3000's musical, inviting sound was a result of the perfect marriage between complex digital processing and the nonlinear behavior of analog circuitry. For the SDE-3000EVH pedal, BOSS analyzed the original unit meticulously, faithfully replicating its finicky gain-dependent frequency response, distinctive anti-aliasing filter saturation, and evolving component modulation to ensure the most period-accurate sound possible. The SDE-3000EVH mirrors nearly all of its predecessor's parameters, which you access via a retro display and panel controls based on the original. Like the rackmount unit, the SDE-3000EVH pedal's two selectable delay ranges offer different frequency characteristics. The particular tonal color of the original unit's external feedback loop circuit has been replicated as well; although, you can turn the coloration off if you're aiming for a more modern sound. You can also process the SDE-3000EVH's feedback loop with an internal EQ. To top it off, this pedal includes 100 storable and recallable presets — including eight culled from the SDE-3000s in EVH's live rig — with carryover when switching presets.

Authentic-sounding modulation circuit

OOne of the most distinctive parts of the original SDE-3000's sound was its modulation circuit. The BOSS SDE-3000EVH pedal comes loaded with a spot-on re-creation of this lauded circuit, in all its character-laden glory. You get the expected depth and rate controls, plus you can independently switch the phase of the initial delay and the delay feedback loop, which influences the way the modulation reacts. BOSS also faithfully reproduced the vintage unit's analog LFO behavior. What's more, the SDE-3000EVH gives you an added sine wave option, along with the original's triangle wave. BOSS even built more control into the SDE-3000EVH to give you more control over its delay phase settings for a level of sonic flexibility its predecessor simply can't match. The guitarists here at Music Experience are blown away by the SDE-3000EVH. This pedal not only replicates the sound and performance of its fabled namesake, but it also eclipses its forerunner in almost every way.

Designed for modern, large-scale guitar rigs

The original SDE-3000 operated in mono. Thus, when Edward Van Halen incorporated the SDE-3000 into his wet/dry/wet guitar rig, he needed to use two separate units, along with a line mixer and lots of signal-routing voodoo, to make it work. The BOSS SDE-3000EVH pedal does away with all that, giving you two discrete delays in one compact stompbox. Each delay includes independent parameters, along with mono or stereo modulation. You can run the delays in either series or parallel, and you can pan them however you see fit. And, thanks to the SDE-3000EVH's flexible I/O, you can route the delays in a variety of mono and stereo setups. The SDE-3000EVH also includes send/return functionality, enabling you to insert external pedals or interface with an amplifier's effects loop via the 4-cable method, complete with selectable impedance for optimum tone. You get two control jacks for connecting up to four footswitches, two expression pedals, or a GA-FC/GA-FC EX for external operation. TRS MIDI I/O is also on tap for easy integration into a large-scale touring rig. There's a massive cache of assignable targets to choose from, supplying you with deep real-time control that far exceeds the capabilities of the original SDE-3000.

What BOSS Says...

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 and the SDE-3000

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

EVH and BOSS Unite to Create the SDE-3000EVH

EVH carries on Eddie’s legacy, sharing his visionary ideas for guitar gear with musicians around the world. A few years ago, EVH and BOSS began discussing the idea of bringing the legend’s distinctive approach with the vintage SDE-3000s to everyone. EVH and BOSS worked closely in the development of the SDE-3000EVH to ensure it delivers Eddie’s personal delay tone with complete authenticity. We prepared many test units for the EVH team, which were meticulously compared with the guitarist’s settings and sounds at his famous 5150 recording studio. After a long process of testing and feedback, we’re proud to bring you the finished product, filled with exact sonic replicas of his presets and emblazoned with the signature EVH stripes.

“Ed always really enjoyed seeing what people did with certain things that he created. We thought it would be cool to enshrine his unique delay approach and let others find their own inspiration with it.” — Matt Bruck

Reproducing the Eddie Van Halen Delay Setup

The original SDE-3000 was a mono delay, and Eddie used two units with unique settings on each to achieve his sound. The SDE-3000EVH combines two SDE-3000s in one pedal, along with an EVH preset bank that allows you to load all the settings for the dual delays with a touch.

Wet/Dry/Wet Configuration Made Easy

Eddie pioneered his three-cabinet wet/dry/wet setup in the early 1990s, using a dry path from a single amplifier in the center cab and left and right cabs amplified with wet-only delay effects for a wide, multi-dimensional soundstage. With the multiple outputs and versatile routing modes in the SDE-3000EVH, it’s possible to recreate this setup with your own amps.

“When Ed became aware of wet/dry/wet and implemented it into his rig, he had achieved the greatest amount of dimension, the greatest amount of depth and impression that his live rig had ever put forth.” — Matt Bruck

One-Touch EVH Presets

The SDE-3000EVH features eight EVH presets accessed via a dedicated panel switch. The first four presets are designed for a wet/dry/wet setup, and they represent the actual presets Eddie used in his live rig. The next four presets provide the same sounds, adapted for a standard stereo amplifier setup.

“The EVH presets are exactly like the presets in Eddie’s rack. There’s no difference in mix levels, input levels, or delay times—it’s one-to-one.” — Matt Bruck

Vintage Delay Reborn

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 behaviors from the supporting analog circuitry. These behaviors 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 analyzed these many factors in creating the SDE-3000EVH, bringing the complete character of this time-honored classic alive for the modern era

Authentic Details, Modern Enhancements

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 92 user memories, carryover, and more.

Two SDE-3000s in One Pedal

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 colors. 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.

Modern Compact Power

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.