NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Everyone needs a stompbox.
Post Reply
User avatar
marqueemoon
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 7343
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:37 pm
Location: Seattle

NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by marqueemoon » Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:22 pm

So, I'm one of two guitar players in my small office. The other, Dean is in his late 60's and will be retiring in a few weeks. He and I worked together in the previous incarnation of the company. He's a big garage/estate sale junkie and collector type. He mentioned he had a few pedals he picked up he was never going to use and I didn't think much of it. Earlier this week he showed up at work with this and said "Here, take it." :w00t: Unreal. I absolutely love swampy, weird analog delays from this era and this is as clean an Arion pedal as I have ever seen in person. Other than a little dust it's pristine.

Band practice was canceled tonight, but I went down to the space to finally give it a proper go. It's really something. It's pretty dark and murky, but in a very usable way. It's very forgiving of little flubs, and I found myself just leaving everything maxed (it doesn't go into runaway) most of the time. I didn't really like it for slapback. There were some weird overtones that crept in with shorter delay times.

I haven't tried the stereo out yet, so I'm not sure if things pan/ping pong, or if it's a wet/dry thing like my Maxon. Either would be cool, and that would be great fun for direct recording.

Image

User avatar
cestlamort
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5175
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:01 am
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Re: NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by cestlamort » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:14 am

Cool. I’ve liked the arion pedals I’ve tried (and used the tuner for years). I’d guess that the stereo is wet/dry.
I wonder, in the age of super protected, ten ton pedalboards, whether the super light Arion construction might actually be a nice feature.

Also: SAD-1 is my favorite name for a pedal ever.

User avatar
marqueemoon
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 7343
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:37 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by marqueemoon » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:44 am

cestlamort wrote:
Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:14 am
Also: SAD-1 is my favorite name for a pedal ever.
Same here. It’s very fitting too.

User avatar
i love sharin foo
Mods
Mods
Posts: 5649
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:26 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Contact:

Re: NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by i love sharin foo » Thu Sep 26, 2019 4:39 pm

That is one analog delay that I have not owned or used. I have always heard very good things about them, though. Lofi is definitely where it's at for an analog unit as far as I am concerned. If I wanted more clarity, I'd go digital. This has me wanting to find one for myself :ph34r:

Do you know how much time it has? I'd be inclined to guess about 250-280ms.
The whispers cut like hard rain, Like sugar in a hurricane

User avatar
marqueemoon
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 7343
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:37 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Sep 26, 2019 9:09 pm

i love sharin foo wrote:
Thu Sep 26, 2019 4:39 pm
That is one analog delay that I have not owned or used. I have always heard very good things about them, though. Lofi is definitely where it's at for an analog unit as far as I am concerned. If I wanted more clarity, I'd go digital. This has me wanting to find one for myself :ph34r:

Do you know how much time it has? I'd be inclined to guess about 250-280ms.
This says 300ms.

https://tonegems.com/arion-stereo-analog-delay-sad-1/

User avatar
somanytoys
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 3325
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:59 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by somanytoys » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:49 am

Wow. That thing looks like it came out of a time capsule.

Or a time portal, you Time Bandit.

Hope you find some really cool uses for it.
-David

It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.

User avatar
budda12ax7
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 6795
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:04 pm
Location: Mean Streets of OC

Re: NPD Arion SAD-1 stereo analog delay

Post by budda12ax7 » Thu Oct 10, 2019 7:38 pm

I still have an Arion tremolo pedal...with true no bypass sound suck and volume drop. I have had it for 25 years.

Post Reply