Delay Pedal Decisions
I’m expecting another tax check, which means I have Gear Acquisition Syndrom (GAS), and I’m looking for a delay pedal. I love the way it fattens up my guitar sound, and those great little U2 and EdisonGlass kinds of fills and backgrounds are calling to me. I’ve been playing through Phil’s Ibanez digital delay, which is nice, but wanting true bypass and some different tonal opportunities.
I dread kneeling down and twiddling knobs during services, though, so I am interested in those which are most foot-controllable. An extra expression pedal control would rock, but if we have tap tempo and a preset or two I think it would be good enough. I’ve not got a great memory and a demanding ear, so less time controlling is nice. Being able to tweak is nice (and they all have that) but usability is better.
I’m not about to go plunk down three or four hundred dollars, and those priced under a hundred really will get my attention. I’m not a professional recording artist or even a professional live artist. I’m not even trying. I’m just a church guitarist, so a lot of money makes no sense at all. I want to do a good job, but a doubling the sound quality of the cheapest of the pedals listed here would be lost on the sound system and congregation. I’m just a sideman, and don’t cut through the mix that much. It’s a different kind of playing.
Analog delays have a great sound, but a short delay. Digital delays have longer delay times and more flexibility but can be a little colder and more “electronic” sounding. Overall, I think that the digital suit my needs better. My favorite sounds include longer delay times with analog-modeled modulation (”chorus”).
I’m not too worried about the stereo v. mono capabilities. It would be cool for the pedal to support stero, but I’m using a single low-wattage amplifier and that’s all wasted on me. It would be a bit of future-proofing, but let’s be honest: the recording industry isn’t looking for me, and I’m not likely to be up on a big stage with a touring band. Overkill is overkill.
Enough of all that, here are some forerunners:
- Nova Repeater is about $150.00, and has some killer features. Check out the video demo. Tapping in the tempo with the guitar is a cute trick.
- Digitech Hardwire DL-8: about $150.00. Nice, reasonably priced, excellent controls, hard bypass. I’m thinking this would be an excellent choice for the money. I’ve had my eye on it for a while, and would love to own one. It would probably win the “ease of use” with such features as calculating the dotted eighth from the quarter not tap. Tap tempo is such a desirable feature. It also has the modulated delay I like best. This is the low-price cadillac of the group.
- Line6 ToneCore Echo Park: looks excellent for about $150.00. Would love to try one. The smaller, less expensive cousin of the DL4. The DL4 is considered the standard-setter for digital delays. Big differences are size and price.
- BBE Two-timer is a twin analog delay pedal costing about $125.00 and looks fun. Two buttons for switching between long/short delays, hard-wire bypass. Looks like it would be easier to work with foot while playing through changes (if you have the repeat time set ahead).
- Danelectro DJ17 PB&J: very inexpensive at around $60.00, has two buttons for switching between long and short delay. The buttons are a little small, and reportedly a little hard to work.
- Modtone MT-AD Analog Delay: about $100.00. Analog sound, Metal chassis, and has true bypass. Not incredibly long delay, sadly, but that’s analog for you.
- Guyatone MD3 Micro Digital Delay costs around $120 solid, tiny, clean delay, true bypass, capable of long delays (as most digital pedals are).
Of these, I think the favorite is the TC Nova Repeater. Second place is a tie with the the Line6 and the Digitech, and third choice is the Guyatone. It’s amazing what you get for the money these days.
I think that july may have to be echo pedal month.
