Best delay pedal available today?
Today I dropped the following question at Twitter – “Best delay pedal available today?”. I really like to hear what others have to say about pedals. One cannot play every pedal, and play it to the point of really knowing them all really well. We’re left to everyone’s individual expert opinion of what works and especially what works for them.
That question is a pretty tough, in the sense that different delays offer different features, options, capabilities or tones. We talking analog or digital? We talking tap tempo or modeling? We talking about epic long sample rate or super sweet slap-back? A pedal that does it all or pedal that does one thing very well? Many factors make it ‘best’ for every individual or need depending on the song or the style of guitar play.
But with that said, it was interesting to see the pedals mentioned. Some I expected, some I was surprised to see mentioned.. or not mentioned. I thought I’d post the list of delays that were brought up and discuss each of them in more detail as the days go on. But I wanted to post the initial list here to see if we can further the discussion via the comments below.
- Boss RE-20 Space Echo
- Line 6 delay modeler
- Eventide TimeFactor Dual Delay
- Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Deluxe
- MXR Carbon Copy
- Empress SuperDelay
- Diamond Memory Lane
- Pigtronix Echolution
If you think a pedal is missing, let’s hear what you have to say below. Let me know what you think!
UPDATE
If you arrived at this post to find the “best delay pedal” available today? You might also be interested in the recent post: “Top 10 Best selling Delay Pedals” post as well!
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October 26th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I think the Skreddy Echo deserves consideration…you can check it out here:
http://www.skreddypedals.com/skreddy_pedals_echo.htm
Great modulation and lush delay in a smaller footprint than the Memory Man.
October 26th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I love my TC Nova Delay.
I also don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad thing about the Eventide Timefactor.
October 26th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
@Trey Blis – Thanks for posting that. Never heard of Skreddy before.
@steve – Nova’s are sweet. I agree on the Timefactor. Recently had a guest post on the Eventide Timefactor.
October 26th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Check out the Digitech HardWire DL-8 Delay/Looper. I’ve been using it for the last few months, and it is fantastic.
A range of different delay type effects, all of which sound great, and a very ueful loop function.
I have a review for it on my site.
.-= Stephen´s last blog ..Peterson iStrobosoft strobe tuner iPhone app – review =-.
October 26th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I was also surprised the T-Rex Replica Delay Pedal wasn’t mentioned.
@Stephen – Hey.. I like your blog!
October 26th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I gotta be honest… i love the crap outta my Boss DD-7. Beautiful. Although i rarely use anything but the modulation delay, mostly because its great for the ‘dotted eighth’ delay and is very “Edge-y” get it? hahaha sorry, couldn’t resist…
October 26th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I have an original space echo echo echo echo echo. Sod the pedals.
.-= Ash´s last blog ..Jonathan Creek on the BNP =-.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
The Eventide TimeFactor is an AMAZING digital. I use the MXR Carbon Copy, too, for Analog, but haven’t compared it to much.
.-= Gregg´s last blog ..Friday Photos – The Climatron, in Total =-.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
The mad professor deep blue delay is all worth it
October 27th, 2009 at 5:51 am
@Gregg I have the Eventide TimeFactor too and I fully agree that this is the best digital delay I’ve seen yet. Not only the sound is amazing, it’s also very userfriendly.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:41 am
I love my Line 6 Echo Park which I guess is the Delay Modeler lite. I specifically use it for the tape echo effects which are excellent!
October 27th, 2009 at 9:45 am
You beat me to the punch. I love my T-Rex Reptile pedal. Long delay times, great swooshy modulation you can adjust on the fly. Super cool.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Marshall Echohead is amazing. Analogue, tape, reverse, digital and so on and with the addition of a tap-tempo pedal it is very versatile and sounds great.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Check out my review of the DL-4 vs Boss DD-20.
http://worshipking14.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/line-6-dl4-vs-boss-dd-20/
I keep going back and forth on the DL-4. I dont like it but EVERYONE who is playing professionally has it on their pedal board. Beats me.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
My favs are the Skreddy Echo and Empress Superdelay
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 am
I’ll throw a plug in here for the Blackbox Quicksilver (now built by OohLaLa Manufacturing: http://www.oohlalamanufacturing.com/quicksilver.html ).
Not only does it have that amazing feedback loop — which allows you to insert and cumulatively layer any other effect(s) onto just the echoes — but it’s one of the best sounding digital delays I’ve run across.
In and of itself, the modulation and variable HP/LP filters allow you to convincingly emulate analog or tape delays and it sounds just beautiful. Now start placing effects chains within the feedback loop and you can very quickly get into uncharted territory.
And were we also discussing “out-of-production” models (although you can still find them used or NOS pretty easily, which I guess does make them “available today”), I’d likewise give high marks to the Yamaha UD-Stomp and its successor the MagicStomp UB-99. Both of these can produce some of the most beautiful modulated echo washes ever.
.-= Dustbunnies´s last blog ..dust_bunnies: The Hammond Novachord: polyphonic synth from 1934(!). A brief history & samples from Hollow Sun. http://is.gd/4XArB =-.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:35 am
without a doubt doubt the Eventide Timefactor takes the cake!
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:29 am
I currently use a Boss DD-20 for longer digital delay, reverse mode and the odd bit of looping. Super versatile pedal. It is a powerful machine.
I use an MXR carbon copy for the warmer slap-backs and freaky noise stuff. EHX Deluxe Memoryman is also one of my favs, but in terms of pedal board space and value, you can’t go wrong with an MXR Carbon Copy.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I’m currently using a Diamond Memory Lane 2 which I love. I’m also 1 year in on the 2 year waiting list for the Echoczar. The Echoczar might be the ultimate analog delay pedal available.
March 16th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Eventide Time Factor all the way!
July 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Malekko 616 and Retrosonic for analog (that ive heard) TC Nova Repeater is cool (own it)..a bit more basic than the Nova..but was voices round the net that the Nova freezes up due to preset dramas..
No presets no digital freeze i figured
July 30th, 2010 at 10:51 am
My favorite simple delay (no tap, no midi, no presets) is the Ibanez De-7. It has the best analog sim and the self osc is amazing. The digital side isnt too shabby either. Couple it with a little modulation and you’re set. And they sell for cheap just try to find a newer model without the shotty switch!
January 21st, 2011 at 8:13 pm
I’m suprised there is no mention of the Maxon ad-900 or the vintage Ibanez ad-9.
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Screw the memory man deluxe, it’s got no tap. I’m using the Stereo version with Hazarai. Now that pedal’s the goods!
October 19th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
What about the TC Electronics Flashback delay with toneprints?