Was it the III? I guess it couldn't be, since it hasn't been out that long.
those specific units?
Have you compared a 2290 pedal to an Axe III?
I haven't, nor compared an AF3 to the EVH pedal, which is why I'm curious as to how they stack up.
I don't know how to dial in really awesome-sounding delays on the Axe III (I've yet to watch Leon's video that Dave mentioned), but Cooper Carter has done so in John Petrucci's rig, and as particular as he is about tone, knowing that he switched from using a 2290 (rack, of course, not the pedal), and the H3000, and whatever PCM he used to use, to using the Axe III to cover all of what those units did, I think is saying the III is certainly capable of fantastic delays.
Actually, I know it is. I saw him on his recent live tour, and I was in the 2nd row, about 25' from his amps, pointing straight at me. Those cascading delays, washing over his solos, were the most glorious-sounding I'd ever heard!! Gave me goose bumps!
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they're the exact ones in presets I'm using today, since FAS issued an updated JP preset in late 2023.
But I also know that there could be certain algos in those new pedals, that you'd really have to know how to deep-dive into some of the back-page parameters, to be able to cop.
I would think the tones are possible; But it could be a matter of, Can you figure out how to make them happen?