Bang for the buck delay

bassman1185 · #1 06-23-2008, 02:43 PM

I have been casually looking for a delay pedal for a couple of weeks now, and I was wondering what the general TB consensus is on the best value for my delay dollar.

I'm not terribly worried about the whole "Analog vs. digital" debate, although in general I prefer the sound of analog. Tap tempo isn't a make or break feature, but it would be nice. I don't need tons of delay time, but I don't want to shortchange myself. Of course, pedal board real estate is always hard to come by, so nothing too big, and reliability is important (So that seems to rule out the Line 6 Echo Park).

What say you?

So far, the Digitech Digidelay is high on my list.

Big Hungry · #2 06-23-2008, 02:51 PM

Check out the new Boss DD7! It has the ability to use an external tap tempo like the DD5 did and also has some new kind of delay modulation.

at 159.99 its a bit pricey but worth it IMO

bassman1185 · #3 06-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hungry

Check out the new Boss DD7! It has the ability to use an external tap tempo like the DD5 did and also has some new kind of delay modulation.

at 159.99 its a bit pricey but worth it IMO

Yeah, the DD7 is pretty cool. It's something that I might get if money were much less of an issue for me than it is, and if I were putting together a "fun" board to make weird noises.

Right now, I'm just looking for something to add a little ambience to certain parts of certain songs, nothing too dramatic.

Big Hungry · #4 06-23-2008, 03:05 PM

I picked up a used DD3 at a pawn shop for 35 bucks once. if you just want it for ambience then it should do the trick.

bassman1185 · #5 06-23-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hungry

I picked up a used DD3 at a pawn shop for 35 bucks once. if you just want it for ambience then it should do the trick.

Yeah, the DD3s pop up on Ebay pretty often, but I'm a little worried that they only offer 800ms of delay. The soundclips I've heard don't do the trick for me, either.

andvari7 · #6 06-23-2008, 03:29 PM

Try the MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay. No, I'm not an MXR salesman - I can't even FIND one, let alone afford it - but it's the pedal that made me like delay. I think Guitar Center of Madison has me on a waiting list.

thesteve · #7 06-23-2008, 03:32 PM

I know in the guitar world, the general consensus on the "bang for your buck" delays are the Danelectro Dan Echo and the Ibanez DE-7.

bassman1185 · #8 06-23-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

I know in the guitar world, the general consensus on the "bang for your buck" delays are the Danelectro Dan Echo and the Ibanez DE-7.

Those were a couple of pedals I was looking at. Does anyone know how much delay time the Dan Echo gives you?

RickenBoogie · #9 06-23-2008, 05:47 PM

Bang for the buck, to me, means Electro Harmonix Stereo Memoryman with Hazrai. 6 different modes, lottsa delay options, reverse, modulation. tap tempo, 30 sec worth of looping, it's all in there. I also like the Carbon Copy, but for $50 more the SMMH has it all.

iualum · #10 06-23-2008, 06:09 PM

...the DigiDelay & SMMH are both nice choices...but don't fail to consider the Echo Park...of course a DD-20 is hard to overlook as well...& if you're really talking bang-for-the-buck, you're going used, right?...

mattq · #11 06-23-2008, 06:32 PM

check out the ehx #1 echo. it's digital, but you get up to two seconds of delay time. the only reason i just sold mine was that it couldn't do the self oscillation stuff, but that doesn't seem to be a make or break thing for you

kevteop · #12 06-23-2008, 07:35 PM

Hmm. Well I was about to say the Line 6 Echo Park until I read the last line of that big paragraph.

I haven't had any reliability issues with mine, I've had it for a few months but I've been taking it to gigs regularly for that time. For me it's got the best features for the money as a stage delay, but if you're not to concerned about stuff like tap tempo or tape effects then you'd probably be better of with something else.

The tap tempo is the best implementation I've seen on a compact pedal though, and the tape emulation is surprisingly nice.

One thing that always bothered me about it was the bypass switch - it felt like it was going to break every time I stepped on it - but it never actually did. Maybe it's fine, I'm not an engineer.

bass-shy · #13 06-23-2008, 07:58 PM

IMO, nothing can touch the Ibanez DE-7 for value. It has a terrific analog simulation, good self-oscillation and it's built solid. It's not the "best" at anything in particular, but it is certainly good at everything. Good luck.

baalroo · #14 06-23-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Bang for the buck, to me, means Electro Harmonix Stereo Memoryman with Hazrai. 6 different modes, lottsa delay options, reverse, modulation. tap tempo, 30 sec worth of looping, it's all in there. I also like the Carbon Copy, but for $50 more the SMMH has it all.

qft

rcubed · #15 06-23-2008, 08:49 PM

I have a MXR Carbon Copy which I love but it probably wouldn't be the best bang for the buck. Probably the best sounding delay for the buck though. The Electro Harmonix Stereo Memoryman with Hazrai or Boss DD-20 would probably be your best choices.

EADG mx · #16 06-23-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

Of course, pedal board real estate is always hard to come by, so nothing too big, and reliability is important (So that seems to rule out the Line 6 Echo Park).

Don't know what you're talking about, it's smaller in width than most Boss pedals and built strong. I've also never heard any complaints about reliability.

whoatherechunk · #17 06-23-2008, 10:26 PM

If you can find a Digidelay used I'd definitely buy it. I think that pedal is definitely the best bang for the buck. The Carbon Copy is awesome as well but has little features at all. The EHX SMMH seems to be well loved around TB too.

Define your price range and maybe the options might diminish a bit.

McThumpin · #18 06-23-2008, 10:31 PM

+1 for the mxr carbon copy - best analog delay for the buck.

dancehallclasher · #19 06-24-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

If you can find a Digidelay used I'd definitely buy it. I think that pedal is definitely the best bang for the buck. The Carbon Copy is awesome as well but has little features at all. The EHX SMMH seems to be well loved around TB too.

agreed... speaking of which I'm probably selling my Digidelay and upgrading to a DD-7 so let me know if you're interested!

GeoffByrne · #20 06-24-2008, 03:34 AM

Over here in the UK the Marshall Echohead (around $100) is a relatively inexpensive and effective pedal - 7 modes.

How are they priced in the USA?