Strymon Timeline VS El Capistan (ComparisoN)
Our pick: The Strymon Timeline
With more control and flexibility (a lot more presets), the TimeLine is easily worth the upgrade for guitar players who plan to use a lot of ambient delay tones. El Capistan is simply more limited, and still fairly expensive. We recommend making the jump to the Timeline.
On this page we're comparing two of Strymon's most popular delay pedals, the TimeLine and the El Capistan. Both are digital delay pedals with multiple modes and tap tempo control.
Read more: Delay pedals with tap tempo
But what are the differences between the two pedals? What situations are they both ideal for?
We'll compare these two pedals using our side-by-side comparison tool below, then look at some of the details of each pedal individually. This will help you decide which one is a better fit in your particular situation.
Use the compare+ buttons below to see more details about each delay pedal:
Strymon TimeLine VS El Capistan Comparison Tool
Gear | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | n/a | |
 | El Capistan | n/a |
Just as we see in the BigSky VS BlueSky comparison, the larger TimeLine focuses on providing editable presets and is more of a delay banking computer. The El Capistan is a simpler delay, setup like a more typical stompbox with a single bypass switch and tap tempo.
Strymon TimeLine Delay
The Strymon TimeLine provides a preset banking system and MIDI control. Flickr Commons image via Satoshi Tomiyama
The TimeLine differs most from the El Capistan in terms of two features:
- Presets/banking system
- MIDI control
In the TimeLine you also get more delay modes with 12 algorithms, allowing you to tweak and save over 200 presets. All the controls and modes can be banked and saved, then called up either from the TimeLine itself or from an external MIDI controller.
Read more: Delay pedals with MIDI
This increased functionality and control are what set the TimeLine apart from the El Capistan, which is a far simpler and less computerized stompbox.
Strymon El Capistan
The El Capistan utilizes a more basic stompbox setup.
The El Capistan is a digital tape delay modeler with three modes and several methods of tweaking. While the sound quality is comparable to the TimeLine, the El Capistan omits any kind of banking or preset system in favor of a single bypass switch and tap tempo button.
While this makes it less ideal for folks that want the added control, the El Capistan is better suited for simple setups where you only want to use one or two settings.
If you don't care about the massive number of presets, modes, or MIDI control in the TimeLine, you can save some money and gain some simplicity in the El Capistan.
You still get plenty of knob-based control, multiple tape head settings, and multiple modes to work with.
Comparison Summary
Yet, at $300 the El Capistan doesn't provide much of a discount, compared to the $450 required to haul in the TimeLine. For people that use a lot of delay, the TimeLine is simply one of the best and most comprehensive delay pedals on the market.
We have a hard time recommending the El Capistan unless you're really not going to use the presets or control features.
If you're even remotely interested in that aspect of your delay setup, spend the extra $150 and go with the TimeLine.
Given the opportunity to try both pedals, we'd suspect that the upgrade to the TimeLine is worth it in most scenarios.
If you aren't sure and you still have questions about either (or both) pedals, feel free to drop those in the comments section below and we'll help out as much as possible.
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