Line 6 DL4 vs Strymon Timeline Delay

Line 6, DL4, vs, Strymon, Timeline, Delay, Fender, Stratocaster, Vox, AC30, Analogman, Overdrive

[steve]

There's a reason why the Line 6 DL4 looks used....because it's so good.

[sethalewis]

From what I've seen and heard, Strymon makes great products. My only problem with the Timeline is that it's a fad in the worship/ambient music world. Rewind 5 years ago and every worship guitarist had a DL-4 on their board. Fast forward to today and every single worship guitarist and his brother has a Timeline.

I'm not trying to put anyone down, I just think people get a little too caught up in who has the latest gear and what "sounds more lush".

Use what sounds good to you and sounds good with your rig. Countless professionals sure think the DL-4 sounds great, because it's on just about every board from San Diego to Nashville. The Timeline is also showing up on a lot of boards!

Maybe you like the way that the Boss DD-3 compliments your amp or guitar - use it! Don't just use a pedal cuz it's popular, use it because it speaks to you!

(Sorry for the novel)

[walterwebb]

Don't read the comments, they will not help you make a decision if that's what you're hoping to achieve.

[TyGerhardt]

I have both...your video pretty much represents both units accurately. The DL-4 really seems to color your sound quite a bit, which, depending on whether or not you like said coloration, may not be a bad thing. I like to have a little more control over how much coloration I add and I feel the Strymon gives me more of that control. My biggest complaint about the DL-4 is that when you add distortion or fuzz it just turns to mush and it sounds to me like your demo underscored that point. The Strymon just handles the dirt a lot better and for clean sounds I can tweak the degree of coloration to pretty much whatever extreme I want. The DL-4 is still a decent pedal after all these years (in terms of sound, that is...not so much in terms of reliability. I literally went through 3 of them over the course of a year and a half when they first came out).

Anyway, great job on the videos...your comparison vids are extremely helpful.

[listentosilverfish]

I bought a Timeline to replace my DL4 and ended up wanting to keep the DL4 as the Timeline just can't replicate the magic of the DL4.

[preciseaudioblog]

I bought the DL4 last year... it’s just amazing... has a lot of warmth

[NateBriggs]

Nice demo shnobel. I have owned both units. Many great sounds can be found in both the DL4 and Timeline, as your demo clearly displays. I enjoyed the DL4 for looping but found it quite frustrating when used as a delay effects unit. The Timeline is in a class of it's own in functionality, versatility, creative sounds and ease of use and tactile simplicity and gets as complex as the user delves further. Unfortunately viewers can discern nothing more than great sounds. Physical experience playing with the different units is still the best way to decide what will work for you. 

[viloriajd]

I´ve been searching all the time my own sound. That´s why I never use the same rig that is popular at the moment, usually I search different options that works great for me... If everybody uses Timeline, I use DD-500 - Carbon Copy - Memory Man (other option to create a diffent sound from every guitarist wich sound exactly the same one from each other)

[AndreaFilippoLongo]

DL4. I can hear more character. It is warmer.

[technodream]

Timeline for me. Arguing about this stuff is totally pointless! Its all about whatever sounds good to you, whatever suits your style and what your budget is. Better or worse is subjective.

[thebreakfastmenu]

Honestly can't hear much of a difference. if he didn't say which was which, I'd not have known. The differences are way too subtle to justify the price difference. of course the dl4 is well known for needing new switches but they're pretty damn similar sounding.

[davidbell]

I would put the DL4 up against any delay today. That pedal was a workhorse.

[nigeldaddyo]

something to consider-  all the details, character, and nuances in the repeats etc will be lost in the midst of a full band mix on stage.  no one in the audience would hear the difference between the two.  maybe if you're playing solo ambient guitar stuff you could argue why you'd choose one over the other.  just my two cents.  both sound great and get the job done.

[ihsmael]

I have been using the line 6 for the last 10 years, it is my favorite

[JS]

Strymon sounds way cleaner and the guitar tone shines through way more pure. You get what you pay for...I'm using a line6 and have been for years but damn the Strymon sounds amazing! I'm getting one, screw it.

[glassmaps]

I have eventide timefactor, timeline and strymon they are all very sterile and cold to me. Always came back to the DL4, something very unique about it.

[octabw]

as always, i'm very happy with your pedals review! very useful :))

[ZoHx]

great review! thank you man!
I now buy a used Line 6 DL4 but if the price wouldn't matter I'd prefer Strymon.

[elijahyoung]

Currently have a broken DL4, and I just ordered a TimeLine tonight... I hope that helps those still deciding between the two...

[shawnglass]

Doesn’t the DL-4 digitize the dry signal and the Timeline keeps it analog? Probably the reason the DL-4 sounds are colored on every setting.