So i found one loacally for a decent price, how are they? I checked a few vids on youtoob. One from member MacSteven.

Youtooby linky How bloody awsome does that sound?..

Sounded like some swweeet slapback, anyone using one?

We're a few using this pedal here. I think that it's quieter than Dm-2 and has a litle more repetition time, so I think it's BEST than the Dm-2. Search on the forum because Tavo has written rightly a lot about it.

Just bought one a couple of weeks ago. I've used it on two jobs and like it fine. If Scotty Moore thinks it's good for slap back...Scotty's Gear

Rockabillybob, the Scotty link shows a DD-3, not a DM-3. Not that I would ever question Scotty's (or your) tastes. I got the feeling he knows what he's doing...

I have a DM-3, but never tried a DM-2, so I can't really comment on how they compare. Tavo's bound to be along any time to comment on this. I can say it's a great pedal for slapback, but if you want longer delay times, it comes up short. I kept my Dano Reel Echo around for those times where I want longer delay, but for my slapback needs, the DM-3 is awesome.

built4speed, you are so right. I'm not fully awake apparently. I was commenting on a DD-3, not DM-3. So sorry for my confusion.

I've never tried the DM-2 but I've had that DM-3 on my pedal board since the day I got it. Tavo has said, the "Dm-3 received a slightly cleaner sounding chip w/ a scad longer delay. Slap backs are more defined / less smeared " vs the DM-2 pedal

I have both.

The DM3 has a longer delay. Just a tad. I prefer the "slapback" of DM2, it does a good job. One thing I don't like about the DM3 is that there's a high pitch ringing (like a tinnitus) when you max out the delay time. For some reason, the DM2 doesn't have it.

If you're doing Setzer's Sleepwalk, both delays will fall short.

That's why I'm gigging with a Dan Echo.

Jetbunny, the ringing you hear on the DM-3 might be a sign someone has attempted to mod your DM-3 in the past (assuming you're not the original owner). I know Tavo has described the test for a modded DM-3 is to turn the repeats all the way down and the delay time all the way up and listen to the repeated note. Hearing that ringing on the repeat note under those conditions means someone has messed with the internal trimpots, usually in an attempt to squeeze some extra delay time out of the pedal, which comes at the cost of sound quality on the repeat notes. I speak from experience because my DM-3 had sufferred the same fate before it entered my hands.

Ringing: sometimes the chips get loose, and you just have to push them back in with your finger. Pedals get knocked around, inertia... I've cured two DM-2s of ringing that way.

Jetbunny, the ringing you hear on the DM-3 might be a sign someone has attempted to mod your DM-3 in the past (assuming you're not the original owner). I know Tavo has described the test for a modded DM-3 is to turn the repeats all the way down and the delay time all the way up and listen to the repeated note. Hearing that ringing on the repeat note under those conditions means someone has messed with the internal trimpots, usually in an attempt to squeeze some extra delay time out of the pedal, which comes at the cost of sound quality on the repeat notes. I speak from experience because my DM-3 had sufferred the same fate before it entered my hands.

I see. I'm the nth owner. I'll try again with the trim pots.

FYI, some people dig it, the ringing thing, it's so good Way Huge applied it to the Aqua Puss. Can you believe that?

I like the DM-3 and use one in my setup. I also use and RV-3 which has some really cool spacious echo options. Had a DM-2 for a while and it was fine too.

Ive emailed the guy selling it, i want it

Its in mint condition, not a single ding!

I have a Strymon Brigadier for longer Delay

ooh somebody said DM-3!! I buy them like candy Jayce, there is no better analog slap back "echo" than this for a gretsch and that can be hammered in front by drive, boosts and eqs. The compander limiting design is one of its great assets as it allows the BBD chips to do their thing with maximum headroom. The DM-2 for some reason is much more smeared and its slap back less distinct. I dont want to use the word clear because both the DM-2 and the DM-3 add a warmth and tapelike "brown-ness" the the slapback.

From all I gather on the differences between the DM-2 and the DM-3 as far as Boss was concerned.. they just ran out of the chips they'd been putting in the DM-2 so the replacements brought about the DM-3 and those chips produced a slightly, SLIGHTLY longer delay time (which when used for rockabilly doesnt matter cuz the delay time is never dimed) and a slightly more defined slap back (which when used with a GRETSCH for rockabilly DOES matter amazingly). Again the DM-2 is a great echo but for some reason gets all the attention from the rock world and the prices are just stupid. Which I'm fine with because then they dont pay attention to the better sounding, for my Gretsch guitars version, the DM-3.

Both pedals ran on the older *ACA 12v power supply and using a 9v PSA power supply straight in doesnt sound as good and robs the DM-3 potential for headroom and maximum clarity of slapback signal. ..but a 5 minute solder jumper takes care of that, actually gives your guitar signal a slight boost in comparison. The only other problem I've run into with this OLD boxes, is that some of the larger E-caps in them have dried out and/or the wrong use of a 9v adaptor has jacked up the JRC4558 opamp.

• • ACA Adapter

The ACA is an unregulated 9V or 12V adapter. For a long time both the ACA and the regulated PSA adapter was available but in the later part of the 90s the ACA adapter was discontinued as all Boss pedals then was designed to run with the PSA adapter.

When a power supply is unregulated, it means that the voltage level will drop as the load is increased. The ACA adapter may give out a full 12 volt when it is powering one or two pedals but if it is hooked up to a long row of pedals the voltage will drop. The ACA adapter is capable of supplying as much current as 250mA but problems keeping the voltage up may occur before the load reaches that level.

The early compact pedals was designed to run on either a 9V DC battery or 12V DC adapter. Because of this the ACA adapter was a 12V adapter. The voltage was reduced to 9V internally by using a 470 Ohm resistor and 1S2473 diode between the minus input on the power jack and ground. The resistor diode pair was later removed and at the same time the ACA adpater was redesigned to output 9V instead.

Powering ACA pedals with a PSA power supply Powering the older pedals designed for 12V DC input with either a newer ACA or PSA adapter will not work very well. The voltage drop over the resistor and diode will prevent the pedal from getting enough power and its LED will usually only glow faintly. The solution is to use a daisy chain and plug in another pedal designed for the newer ACA or PSA adapter. The lead between the two pedals will short the resistor diode pair and the pedal will receive full power.*

I got my DM3 used (in part following T's rec.). Great deal, but had some ring and some distortion of the wet sound. Once I got someone who knew what he was doing to adjust the internal trim pots for me, it was perfect. Love the pedal. Just sounds amazing. Both for slapback and slightly longer and more extended repeats. Does everything I need at this point.

Tavo In the GAD article it is mentioned that the Dyno Brain into a Stymon Capistan was the way to go. Are you changing our minds or is that article just old news??? It made sense obout the preamp of the 301, now...

Tavo In the GAD article it is mentioned that the Dyno Brain into a Stymon Capistan was the way to go. Are you changing our minds or is that article just old news??? It made sense obout the preamp of the 301, now...

I love my el capistan and the space echo settings are freakn delishusss Brian Setzer Orchestra, but that doesnt mean I dont want my little pink wonders to leave my side. let me explain in picture.

Finally i have sold my DM2 for 250 euros, i have never try a DM3 so i can´t compare, but now i have a Diamond Lane II and it is the best of all for sure same chips but two delays in one plus tap tempo up to 500 ms, enough for set delay 1 in slap back mode and delay 2 to play Sleepwalk a la Setzer, really lush sound impressive this Diamonds

The Diamond was a cool pedal (its being discontinued do to lack of NOS BBD chips like EH cant make the DMM big box anymore) but its still focused on the DM-2 not the DM-3. As are most of the clones. The diamond is much more versatile than a DM-2 as it is digitally controlled (delay is analog 100%) but ... youre not going to be able to comp Brian Setzer Orchestra era sleepwalk because it does not have the "wow and flutter" tape echo feature that an RE-301 does by default because it is a tape echo. El Capistan nails it.

The Strymon El Capistan is a pure tape echo emulator w/ analog dry signal path so it does chase the space echo dragon.

BUT.. we're not talking tape echoes here (or at least I dont think Jayce wanted to since he was asking about the DM-2 compared to the DM-3), we're talking about a vintage bucket brigade analog delay pedal with no longer available chips that so far nobody has reproduced.

Jayce was indeed asking if the DM3 was a good pedal. It sure sounds like it

i want a El Capistan but everytime ones comes up for sale here in Australia it gets snapped up quicked smart.

I settled and got a Strymon Brigadier, still analog and still awsome. But it does nice longer delays. The DM3 will be a second delay set for the Slapbackyness im after.

Im going for the DM3

My DM3 has a bad switch. What do I do about that?

it most likely is not bad. open up the cover and soak it with high pressure DeOxit. that takes care of 90% of bad Boss and Ibanez switches. Sometimes I do have to disassemble these to clean them more thorough. I've only had to completely replace the switching mechanism on two pedals in a few hundred repairs (in the last 20yrs)

This one is supposed to be factory mint condition.

Just waiting on an email back!

Okee Doke.

The Diamond is NOTHING like a DM-2 IMO! (well, it echoes...) It is much more like an 80s analog rack type unit, like a Yamaha E 1005. It has modulation...

Totally killer pedal. It has a more "crisp" signal, closer to an Echoplex EP-3 (still the best, in my book!).

Having said that, I play through a DM-2 almost daily, it just hangs out by the home amps...

El Capstain can´t be compared to a Diamond, sound of the Diamond is by far lot more convincing when you are looking for tap echo emulation, Hi Tavo, i can do a sample duel of each pedal where and when you want, i post Diamond recorded samples and you post El Capstain Samples and let people tell what is they favorites sounds has riz said it is a two unities crisp DM2 in one box, with lot more features than a DM2 or DM3, as you said digitally controlled for tape tempo features and modulations extra features, but the chips are the most famous of the analogue echo pedals era history and the echoes rendering sound is total analogue, closer to an Echoplex EP-3 but like if it was new (without background noise ), i know a guy which have in stock some unties of the diamond, it is not me the Diamond is the Rolls Royce of the Echo Pedals, and of course it isn´t a 301, it is much better because the easier maintenance, the lack of background noise the weight and the sound, i own a Fulltone TTE real tube tape echo and the Diamond beats the Fulltone, and NO IT DOESN`T sound like Setzer Sleepwalk at all i was referring to the facility to have delay time set to short slap back in delay 1 mode and get the delay 2 mode set to a larger repeat time like Sleepwalk a la Setzer needs, but really El Capstan sound like a 301?? I like the relation quality / price of the Strymon but this pedal is not in the same league than a DM2 and far away from a Diamond