Strymon Favorite Switch DIY

I love my El Capistan from Strymon. It is a great tape delay, with a lot of features to adjust the sound exactly how you want it. Great ambient sounds, rhythmic delay or something subtler for solos...

2026 Update: This guide has been fully revised! Everything has been updated to ensure you have access to the best current resources for your build.

What was missing was just a way to save settings and have presets like on many delays (TC Electronic Flashback, Line6 DL4, Timeline...)

I looked into the Strymon Favorite Switch, but it was a bit expensive for me, and unfortunately impossible to find used... As I read that the Favorite Switch was super easy to build, I searched a bit on the Internet, and it REALLY is extremely simple!

 Warning! This favorite switch only works with the v1 version of the Strymon El Capistan range. I have not tested it with the v2 version that came out in 2022 that uses a different digital system.

Here is a simple schematic for it:

Schematic. Most simple and useful scheme in the world!

How to build it?

Here is what you need:

• 1x DPDT footswitch (perfect because it can be quite small and easy to find)
• 1x LED (the color you like!)
• 1x 1 to 10k resistor (depending on the color of the LED, the more blue it is, the bigger value you need)
• 1x Stereo jack input (Here, I really like the Neutrik NMJ6HC-S because it is very reliable)
• 1x 1590LB (Ideally Hammond but others can be OK)
• Some wire (I recommend solid core wire like in my guitar pedal wiring guide)

You do not need any battery or DC power jack because the DC current is directly provided by the Strymon pedal with the tip of the stereo jack.

Of course, you also need the classic material used for making guitar pedals (a driller, soldering iron...)

1. First step: let's drill the box!

You can use a drilling template if you want to be 100% safe.

  Download this drilling template (Source: Prentiss Effects) and print it at 100% scale.

Or you can do it like me and go by feeling... Here is mine:

2. Second step: put your stuff in that box!

Just screw everything inside the box through the holes you have made. Be quite firm, especially on the footswitch and jack input, because you really want something solid!

3. Third step: solder your stuff in that box

Just follow the previous schematic to solder every cable. For the LED, I really recommend bending the legs to better attach the resistor to it, like I recommend in my guide to build your first guitar pedal.

The most annoying part of this build is drilling the box — you have to be a bit precise so that all the components properly fit in. Apart from that, it is really simple and totally worth it.

Here it is when finished, ready to be used!

How does it sound?

The setting is properly memorized, which is useful when you want to use two types of delay during the same song, for instance. You just need a small stereo jack cable (not so easy to find).

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