Bucket Brigade Delays - General discussion

[fishtx]

OK guys, I searched but didn't really find what I was looking for...so if this topic has been covered, let me know...

Are all the new "Bucket Brigade" delay pedals that have hit the market the past year or so relative the same? I mean I know there are limits on delay time, etc. that keep them similar from that respect...but price differences between manufactures and huge. I have a few questions, and would really like to generate some discussion on this topic:

1. Is this just all hype?

2. Are some manufactures charging high prices just "because they can"?

3. Has anyone done a a "bake off" of BBD delays and compaired them head to head against each other?

4. Dollar for Dollar, what is the best best BBD delay available IN YOUR OPINION??

I have listed a few with price below that I know of, to stimulate discussion. Please name others that I have missed if they are relavent: Note these prices were pulled from effects dealer websites and may very slightly, and I have only listed pedals that mention they use BBD chips in their adds:

- MXR Carbon Copy - $149.99
- BBE Two Timer - $149.99
- Diamond Memory Lane 2 - $569.00
- Ibanez AD-9 (I think) - $149.00 (Keeley modded for TB - $199.00)
- Malekko 600 (dark/bright) - $255.00
- Maxon AD-999 - $339.00
- Maxon AD-999PRO - $399.00
- Retro-Sonic Analog Delay - $299.95
- Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (I think) - $313.50
- Jacques Prisoner Delay - $199.00
- Maxon AD9PRO - $337.50
- HBE Mimic Mock 2 - $229.99


There...that's a few to start with. Please feel free to mention others and I will add them to the list.



Thanks guys,

Gerry

[jetofuj]

My Ekko 600 arrived today. It is a very expensive pedal indeed and I could get Carbon Copy for half of its price, but I really wanted to have an expression pedal out to play with those crazy oscillations (it also has second, wet output). Plus, I own B:Assmaster and it is extremely well made. There is hype connected with Malekko pedals, but I think that it is 100% justifiable

TheBigO said about analog octavers and filters today that they "really require you to mind your technique and almost "play" them rather than just "use" them". I've got quite similar impression concerning analog delays. They have some limitations, but they do sound sweet as noting else.

[Swimming Bird]

I love my Deluxe Memory Man. The vibrato with delay just sounds too good -- I feel it really is the best tape sim analogue delay out there. There are a lot of sounds in this box and it's definitely more for tweaking than some of the other BBDs.

I completely agree with jetofuji and theBigO about limitations, but limitations are really a key part of creativity with gear.

That said, one thing to be wary about a DMM is that it has pretty low headroom. If you don't put a boost after it, you'll lose volume unless you don't mind an overdriven delay sound.

[excane]

Another to add to your list is the HBE Mimic 2.

I myself have never tried it (I'm not a big delay guy) but others around here own one.

[fishtx]

I thought about the Mimic but wasn't sure if it used BBD or not...Thanks!

[excane]

Originally Posted by fishtx

I thought about the Mimic but wasn't sure if it used BBD or not...Thanks!

Don't quote me on this, but I believe only the Mimic 2 uses BBD, not the Mimic 1.

[Luther Blissett]

there's also the BYOC analog delay for 149 $. i'm looking for an analog delay as well, and I'm very curious about the outcome of this thread

[benagainnn]

free bump because I'm asking myself the same questions

[whoatherechunk]

i never new the memory lane cost so damn much. sweeeeet jesus.

[fishtx]

Mimic Mock 2 added to the list...

[warwick.hoy]

I wiki'd the bucket brigade concept. A quick but neat little read for a non-electrical engineer type like myself.

I hoped to find out if there was a converse other than digital delay?

[SnakeAnthony]

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

i never new the memory lane cost so damn much. sweeeeet jesus.

$200 cheaper and I'd pay it new, and I would potentially fork up the cash for a used one now. It is the second best delay I've ever played.

[fishtx]

what would the first best be?

[sonic assassin]

im an analog delay fan. ive got an old DOD delay. cost me next to nothing. i see them on ebay all the time.

[jetofuj]

From Diamond Pedals homepage:
"the Memory Lane 2 is unfortunately nearing the end of it's lifespan. The supply of NOS Panasonic MN3005 chips we use is becoming very limited and very expensive. Luckily, we've managed to stockpile a modest supply which will allow us to continue building Memory Lane 2 for a short time but when they're gone... they're gone!"

Isn't Malekko using the same chips?

Nothing lasts forever.

[SpankyPants]

For sound, functionality, quality, and (comparatively) reasonable pricing, Malekko all the way.

Could it be cheaper? Imo yes, probably so. But if I had the cash for an analog delay, that'd be the one.

[Grimoire]

Moog MF-104Z?

[markjazzbassist]

i'll throw in my opinion here.

Best - Diamond Memory Lane 2 - i owned the 1, but if you are looking for the most versatile, option loaded, modulation, tap tempo, still analog lush delay, then this is it. amazing tone (which they upgraded on the 2) and feature set, build quality is AMAZING, and great customer service. expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Runner-Up - Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Deluxe - i just got a vintage 80's one of these things. it's a great unit. with the chorus it does modulation (not so much chorus, but mod) and the delay is lush and warm and analog. doesn't have the feature set of a memory lane and tweakability, but it's still a nice delay. go used and you can get one for around $200

[SFjonstarr]

I'm just waiting for someone to start making them out of discrete surface mount components instead of those junky IC chips. Maybe once the supply dwindles and the chips become too expensive to be practical for builders to use in production.

[whoatherechunk]

why do chips go out of production? can't some company just make more?