tc electronic Flashback 2 X4 Delay

I had the earlier version of this pedal (to replace the line6 DL4) but one day it just died on me (i tried to flip the switches inside and somehow the unit just didn't power up anymore...) so i decided to get a new and IMPROVED one...
The sounds were familiar and with the amount of knobs this has there's no real problems setting this thing up BUT!!
The unit arrived with one of the bushings missing from one of the output jacks, this doesn't really effect the operations but is an annoyance to have something like this in a brand new device you payed list price for so...
I connected TC (you have to log into some bullshit community and jump thru hoops to get to them in the first place so allready that sucks...) and they basically said "oh well, shit happens, contact thomann if they send you a new device"
all i wanted is an apology or something and a new bushing in the mail... so that didn't impress me that much.
Now the device has started making a weird noise when it powers up after that it works, for the time being, let's see how it goes...

I like the simplicity, the sounds and the whole concept of toneprints etc but all these setbacks are a big BIG disappointment.
If this one dies on me i'll probably change to a different manufacturer, probably would have been better of saving money for a strymon in the first place... sad really.

The features on this pedal are great. The delay engines switch over very easy and the 6 banks with the presets are actually nice. I tried out the TonePrint stuff and it actually works.

The looper is quite useful, but it would have been really cool if you could use the delay engines and switch between them whilst having the looper active and recording.

The pedal really shines when used in stereo setups, which I mostly aim for. It does fab with the ambient stuff and does this well with 2 Amps. I really like the subs you can dial in and it makes dialing in the treasured dotted eighths really easy.

I like the chunkiness of it and looks really nice with the mix of other pedals I have. The dials are easy to use and the input/outputs at the back are very easy to use and setup.

Only thing annoying is that the power adapter that came with it, does not support our 3 point plugs. It is a standard 2 prong plug that came with the pedal.

So in all, I am pleased with this purchase.

The depth TC Electronic has gone to create the whole TonePrint concept and then apply it to each one of their pedals still seems incredible to me, and has worked great for me personally.

Regarding the Flashback 2 X4 specifically, I find all the basic algorithms usable, and when it comes to the range of delay sounds that can be achieved through TonePrints, the possibilities are literally endless. You don't really need to dig that deep and get lost in seas you cannot swim though, since that there are so many great TonePrints already created by a lot of artists and players, that you probably won't even have to open the TonePrint editor not even once. If you want to finetune a few of those and bring it closer to your needs though, or if you are experienced at programming sound effects and you want to create a totally personal pedal from the get-go, the TP editor will open an interesting new world for you. For the rest of us lazy guitarists out there, what's already available is more than enough, since that the five self-explanatory controls of the front panel make it the simplest mega-delay to operate.

As for the differences between the 1st and 2nd version of the Flashback X4, the newer version has 6 storable presets instead of 3, 6 TonePrint slots instead of 4, a dedicated Subdivisions control, the Bypass and Kill-Dry switches easily accessible on the front side of the pedal (and not inside), and of course the MASH function, which is basically a way to apply expression functionality to each one of the 6 presets (another clever and useful innovation). All of them very welcome features.

The whole Flashback X4 experience is like having thousands of delay pedals at your disposal and use only the few that you need, and in the simplest way possible. So, to sum it up, this unit checks all the boxes in what makes a great and forward thinking delay unit, and is by far the most important pedal of my whole board.

P.S.: My favorite TonePrints are the Andy Martin Echoplex 2 and the Pat Cuchanan Crazy Tape Delay. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed. ;)