Volante vs El Cap

[Whizzinby]

While @JiveTurkey has been lusting for the El Cap V2, Ive been watching Volante demos and reading the manual. (like a nerd)

For those that have had both how do they compare? The only consistent feedback I see is the Volante is apparently voiced a little brighter? With only $50 separating them, the Volante seems like an El Cap on steroids. El Cap seems a little more straightforward to dial in, but holy secondary knob controls Batman. (Every friggin knob has a secondary function)

 

[BROCKSTAR]

I never tried or had the El Cap V2, but I do have the volante and from reading on both, the volante just does more.

Also https://www.guitarchalk.com/strymon-volante-vs-el-capistan/

 

[JiveTurkey]

Started off on the Dig but the El Cap grabbed my ears a lot quicker. I am sure it's all great

 

[Whizzinby]

Started off on the Dig but the El Cap grabbed my ears a lot quicker. I am sure it's all great

If it helps ease your GAS the Dig is the best digital delay pedal ever made.

Seriously

 

[laxu]

There's a lot of comparison videos available of the El Cap V1 and Volante on YouTube. They can sound similar, but of course the Volante can do a whole lot more. This can be a plus or minus depending on what you prefer - compact and straightforward or larger and more versatile.

Buying a used Volante is a pretty easy way to give it a go as you can just sell it for what you paid if you find it's not for you.

 

[la szum]

Is form factor a consideration? El Cap is a little tidier.

Have had the El Cap a few times as well as the Volante. Like someone else said,
either will get the job done and sound great. Volante can get a bit Piing-ish/metallic in
that Echorec/Magnetic drum playback way that those things do--some guys love that
and others may not be bowled over by it. Both include a bit of a faux reverb so that is
a wash.

I also think both tend to sound better with lesser gain amounts and clean to medium gain
tones, since both are on the vintage-voiced spectrum of delays. Ambience here we come!

 

[Whizzinby]

There's a lot of comparison videos available of the El Cap V1 and Volante on YouTube. They can sound similar, but of course the Volante can do a whole lot more. This can be a plus or minus depending on what you prefer - compact and straightforward or larger and more versatile.

Buying a used Volante is a pretty easy way to give it a go as you can just sell it for what you paid if you find it's not for you.

There are a few of you savages I actually trust more than the average YT comparison vids.

“Hey guys, just so we get an accurate comparison, I’m only going to run seven external reverb pedals in this comparison, dual cabs, and apply a healthy dose of post production”

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

While @JiveTurkey has been lusting for the El Cap V2, Ive been watching Volante demos and reading the manual. (like a nerd)

For those that have had both how do they compare? The only consistent feedback I see is the Volante is apparently voiced a little brighter? With only $50 separating them, the Volante seems like an El Cap on steroids. El Cap seems a little more straightforward to dial in, but holy secondary knob controls Batman. (Every friggin knob has a secondary function)

Have never had an el cap. I have a Volunteer and (1) never thought for once that it was anything but dead simple to dial in. There are a few more options, but not so many that you'll get lost or distracted by exploring options. (2) also never thought of it as bright. I'm not a big fan of secondary functions on Strymon pedals...holding a button, twisting a knob, while holding my pick and guitar and not banging a headstock into something...it's just annoying.

 

[BROCKSTAR]

Yeah I don't think Volante is bright either.

 

[Orvillain]

I did a Volante video that failed to go viral, so then I hung myself and came back as the beautiful specimen before you.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Started off on the Dig but the El Cap grabbed my ears a lot quicker. I am sure it's all great

I have both, because they’re different. Colors.

I mean, they sound different too. But colors.

 

[jellodog]

Never underestimate the awesome colours.

 

[Whizzinby]

I did a Volante video that failed to go viral, so then I hung myself and came back as the beautiful specimen before you.

Great video dude. You still have it? (Use it?)

 

[Orvillain]

Great video dude. You still have it? (Use it?)

Nah, sold it last year tbh. But it's a great pedal, and I've NOTHING bad to say about it.

TBH the only Strymon pedal I ever tried that left me a bit 'meh' was the NightSky. On paper it's the perfect pedal for me, but the reality was, I'd rather get those sounds using different pedals all strung together.

 

[Whizzinby]

I have both, because they’re different. Colors.

I mean, they sound different too. But colors.

Who doesn’t love a good sassy pink pedal? There is only so much matte black gear a man can own.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Hear’s my take. The El Cap, DIG and Volante are my all-time favorite delays. I have a few close seconds but they are the desert island trio.

I also have a few Strymon Reverbs. I like using the Flint as a way to add outboard reverbs to reverbless heads and combo… with optional tremolo as a rarely needed but nice bonus. As such, I ordered a Flint V2 hoping it sounded better while offering the adjustable pre-delay which I like using. Bottom line? It did not sound better and the pre-delay was simply short or long rather than completely adjustable. I sent it back and rethought my strategy. I realized maybe V2’s weren’t the answer but other products might augment the original V1 Strymon stuff. That’s when I decided to but the cheaper and more flexible IK Multimedia X-Pedals. Now that they have settled down on price they offer a lot in comparison. They are more like the Timeline, Big Sky and Möbius V2’s at less than 60% of the cost. With free plugins. I’m not saying any other choice is wrong but having both approaches eliminated my GAS for other units… especially Strymon V2 stuff. It all sounds fantastic to me and I have a ton of solutions in my wheelhouse.

P.S. The Volante needs more love. Great unit.

 

[Whizzinby]

Hear’s my take. The El Cap, DIG and Volante are my all-time favorite delays. I have a few close seconds but they are the dessert island trio.

I also have a few Strymon Reverbs. I like using the Flint as a way to add outboard reverbs to reverbless heads and combo… with optional tremolo as a rarely needed but nice bonus. As such, I ordered a Flint V2 hoping it sounded better while offering the adjustable pre-delay which I like using. Bottom line? It did not sound better and the pre-delay was simply short or long rather than completely adjustable. I sent it back and rethought my strategy. I realized maybe V2’s weren’t the answer but other products might augment the original V1 Strymon stuff. That’s when I decided to but the cheaper and more flexible IK Multimedia X-Pedals. Now that they have settled down on price they offer a lot in comparison. They are more like the Timeline, Big Sky and Möbius V2’s at less than 60% of the cost. With free plugins. I’m not saying any other choice is wrong but having both approaches eliminated my GAS for other units… especially Strymon V2 stuff. It all sounds fantastic to me and I have a ton of solutions in my wheelhouse.

P.S. The Volante needs more love. Great unit.

Yeah the V2’s have moved used V1’s into a tasty price bracket. I felt slightly underwhelmed with the V2’s additions, relative to their corresponding price hikes, generally speaking.

Have never given the X-pedals much thought.

Definitely GAS’ing for the Volante.

 

[jellodog]

Definitely GAS’ing for the Volante.

Honestly, I'd be pretty surprised if you didn't enjoy it. I know people say that sort of thing all the time about all sorts of gear on gear forums, but the Volante is such a great piece of gear and very inspiring to use. Maybe even best in class (?).

 

[JiveTurkey]

Hear’s my take. The El Cap, DIG and Volante are my all-time favorite delays. I have a few close seconds but they are the desert island trio.

I also have a few Strymon Reverbs. I like using the Flint as a way to add outboard reverbs to reverbless heads and combo… with optional tremolo as a rarely needed but nice bonus. As such, I ordered a Flint V2 hoping it sounded better while offering the adjustable pre-delay which I like using. Bottom line? It did not sound better and the pre-delay was simply short or long rather than completely adjustable. I sent it back and rethought my strategy. I realized maybe V2’s weren’t the answer but other products might augment the original V1 Strymon stuff. That’s when I decided to but the cheaper and more flexible IK Multimedia X-Pedals. Now that they have settled down on price they offer a lot in comparison. They are more like the Timeline, Big Sky and Möbius V2’s at less than 60% of the cost. With free plugins. I’m not saying any other choice is wrong but having both approaches eliminated my GAS for other units… especially Strymon V2 stuff. It all sounds fantastic to me and I have a ton of solutions in my wheelhouse.

P.S. The Volante needs more love. Great unit.

The X Series is super enticing.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Honestly, I'd be pretty surprised if you didn't enjoy it. I know people say that sort of thing all the time about all sorts of gear on gear forums, but the Volante is such a great piece of gear and very inspiring to use. Maybe even best in class (?).

Volante is the one unit that I don’t think the current X-Time pedal can touch.

Studio reel-to-reel mode is so sweet. Tunable to need too. Maybe if Strymon made an “El Reelistan“ or whatever dedicated to that, people would get it. I sometimes think it is just too powerful and flexible for folks to get a grip on. It’s more like a rack unit in some ways. Love, love mine!