Best delay pedals: From tape to analog to digital

Delay pedals are one of the most creative types of guitar pedals. You can use them to create subtle taps, widen your guitar sound, get experimental, or add the finishing touches on a searing solo.

There are a lot of different kinds of delay pedals. From warm, decaying analog repeats to pristinely clean digital delays and everything in between. We chose some of our favorites across a range of categories.

Let’s get to it…to it…to it!

Best delay pedal overall: BOSS DD-8

BOSS has a long history of making stellar pedals of all kinds. Some have been hit or miss over the years, but they have always nailed digital delays. The DD-8 is the newest in the DD line and packs in everything someone could want in a standard size guitar pedal.

Included are 11 modes that cover digital delays, vintage echoes, tape and analog delay to more unique types of delay like shimmer, reverse, and modulated delay.

There’s even a looper function with up to 40 seconds of recording time. You can perform overdubs and even use it in a three pedal operation setup by using external footswitches.

Total delay time for most of the settings can get up to 10 seconds with the tap tempo input. You can defeat the tails if you want to cut them off, which makes it even more versatile when stacking with other effects. 

It works in true stereo with three selectable output modes that include independent, panning, and wide stereo. The I/O jacks are “smart” and support different connection setups like mono, stereo, wet/dry and wet only.

Delays with this many features usually come in enclosures two or three times the size, so it’s pedalboard friendly.

Best digital delay pedal: Source Audio SA260 Nemesis

Source Audio are true trailblazers in digital guitar effects. They have a few delay pedals, and the Nemesis is one of the most versatile digital delays you’ll find. It has 26 different delay settings that range from classic tape and analog delays to advanced patches like rhythm, pitch-shifting, reverse, and more.

Once you dial in your sounds you can save them to the 128 preset slots, with four on instant recall. There is onboard tap tempo, full MIDI control, and deeper editing through the Neuro mobile app.

The analog delay engine has the resonant peaks and high and low frequency decay of bucket brigade delays, and the digital delay engine has all of the pristine, hi-def repeats you would expect.

Expression Control lets you assign to any combination of knobs to program the depth and direction of the delays, and it’s compatible with any Source Audio or third party expression pedal.

A rich control set, wide range of delay settings, and robust customization options make this one of the best digital delay pedals available.

Best analog delay pedal: MXR M169 Carbon Copy

There aren’t nearly as many analog delay pedals as there are digital these days, but the ones that are easy to find are all great. We went with the Carbon Copy because it’s a workhorse analog delay that doesn’t disappoint. 

Its circuit is totally analog, built around bucket brigade technology. There is a total of 600ms of delay time and a three knob control set that includes a mix knob for blending in dry signal. Through a switch you can add modulation to give the sound some movement.

MXR’s M169 is a no-frills, to-the-point analog delay that sounds exactly like you expect. The Carbon Copy also comes in a mini version, the M299, and an expanded version, the M292 Deluxe. The Deluxe has an onboard tap tempo switch, a Bright button to add some top end (analog delays can be dark), and another button to divide the taps.

Best classic delay pedal: Dunlop EP103 Echoplex

The Echoplex is one of the most important delay effects in music history. It was introduced in 1959 and was the first standalone tape delay effects. The original was a large unit that used magnetic analog tape to achieve its sound. 

It didn’t take long for guitar players like Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen to figure out it had an awesome preamp section that added a very pleasing sound to their overall guitar tone.In the EP103 Dunlop recreated the sound in a small format stompbox that provides the same preamp and delay sounds without the cumbersome size and upkeep of the original unit. 

All of the warmth and modulation is on deck in the hi-fidelity analog and digital audio pathways. Delay time varies between 40ms and 750ms, and can even get up to four seconds of delay time by using the tap input. 

A unique Age control varies the delay tone from clean to dark, dirty, and gritty. It has single input and output jacks, but can operate in stereo if you use TRS cables. And by pairing the EP103 with the EP101 preamp you get the full Echoplex experience without having to haul around boxes of analog tape.

Best delay pedal workstation: Strymon TimeLine

Twelve delay settings are at your feet with Strymon’s TimeLine. They range from crisp, clean digital delays to warm analog repeats, to effect delays like Swell, Tremolo, Dual, and pitch-shifted Shimmer. 

There is also a 30 second looper with layering, which is a great tool for expanding your live sound, practicing, or songwriting. Players can save up to 200 presets, and there’s full integration for using it with MIDI gear.

With this many delays you need a control set to match. Eight parameter knobs cover the timing and modulation settings, filtering, and Grit for introducing saturation. As far as I/O, there are stereo ins and outs, an expression pedal input, and MIDI in and out.

It takes a while to get things set up, but it’s well worth it. There are a lot of delay workstations to choose from, and with advanced DSP like this the TimeLine is the best.

FAQ

What are the different types of delay pedals?

Delay pedals generally fall into two main categories: analog and digital. Analog delays use bucket-brigade device (BBD) chips to produce a warm, darker tone that degrades slightly with each repeat. 

Digital delays are known for their pristine, accurate repeats and versatile features like tap tempo, subdivision control, and multiple delay modes. 

Do I need tap tempo on my delay pedal?

Tap tempo is essential if you’re playing in a band or syncing delay time to a song’s tempo. It allows you to match the repeats exactly to the beat, especially when delay is being used rhythmically. 

A lot of modern delay pedals include tap tempo and allow subdivision settings for dotted eighths, triplets, or quarter-note repeats. Analog delays typically don’t have onboard tap tempo, but some newer hybrid models include it.

Should I put my delay pedal in the effects loop?

It’s generally considered best practice to put a delay in the effects loop, which inserts it between the preamp and power amp sections of the amplifier circuit. But plenty of players run it in front of their amp for a different sound. Experiment with both routings to find the best for your guitar pedal chain order.