Analog circuits are more commonly utilized in delay pedals and ambient effects than any other category or pedal type. Perhaps because delay pedals used to literally run off a tape deck, guitar players and manufacturers have tried to maintain that natural feel by using analog systems called bucket brigade circuits.
These physical circuits aren't exactly tape decks, but create delay by moving an analog signal along a series of capacitors.
This invokes the imagery of a line of people passing along buckets of water.
Here's an image that illustrates this in the context of electrons:
Illustrates a transfer of charge in a bucket brigade circuit. Image via Wikimedia Commons
But that's enough of the science lesson.
This list highlight as many analog delay pedals as possible, both from current retail and the used markets. We've put together a list of the major ones, covering most analog delay pedals on the market, including a few that have gone out of circulation but remain popular used options.
But with a lot of these pages, we have an engaged community that helps us by recommending gear that fits the given criteria.
So in this instance:
If you know of an analog delay pedal that deserves inclusion in this list, drop it in the comments section and we'll add it below to the user-submitted list, with a shoutout.
Master List of Analog Delay Pedals
You can use the comparison buttons in this list to look at pricing and basic details for each pedal. We also have additional pricing info below the table for those that want to explore different buying options and vendors.
Note that we support ourselves by partnering with awesome places like Sweetwater and Reverb. If you buy through these links, we might earn a commission but costs you nothing extra. If you're feeling generous and you want to buy some gear, we appreciate the help and the win-win.
Delay | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
 | MXR Carbon Copy M169 | n/a | |
 | Boss DM-2w Waza Craft | n/a | |
 | MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe | n/a | |
 | Way Huge Aqua Puss Analog Delay | n/a | |
 | J. Rockett Audio Designs Clockwork Echo Pedal | n/a | |
 | EHX Deluxe Memory Man | n/a | |
 | T-Rex Replicator | n/a | |
 | Supro Analog Delay | n/a | |
 | EHX Deluxe Memory Boy | n/a | |
 | Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail | n/a | |
 | TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay | n/a | |
 | DOD Rubberneck Analog Delay | n/a | |
 | Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay | n/a | |
 | Chase Bliss Audio Thermae | n/a | |
 | TC Electronic Echobrain | n/a |
Reader Submitted Inclusions
None submitted yet. Be the first!
The older version of the Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail, an analog delay with tremendous tone quality, but less control than the higher-end digital delay pedals.
Pricing Table from Multiple Vendors
In this section I've added live price tracking tables for each pedal that pulls in pricing from multiple vendors. I've added some recommendations and additional information below this section for those with more questions. You can always ask questions in the comments section as well.
MXR Carbon Copy (regular and Deluxe versions)
There are three versions of the Carbon Copy: The mini, the regular, and the Deluxe versions. All three of them employ an analog circuit, and tend to be middle of the road in terms of pricing.
Boss DM-2w Waza Craft
The Waza Craft series is an analog line of pedals by Boss which has brought back several favorites from past decades, including the DM-2 delay and CE-2 chorus. The only issue we have with it is that it's more expensive than the Carbon Copy and does not have a tap tempo.
Way Huge Aqua Puss
Way Huge is a subsidiary of Dunlop, with a pedal line in the same vein as the MXR series. The Aqua Puss tends to move with the Carbon Copy's market value.
J. Rockett Audio Designs Clockwork
This company is a smaller, almost boutique outfit, with higher price tags and somewhat more complex pedals. The Clockwork is a great pedal, but the cost will be prohibitive for many.
EHX Deluxe Memory Man
The classic Memory Man has a ton of vintage and classic appeal, and is still available from multiple vendors. Though it's closest relative, the Memory Boy, is far more functional and practical.
T-Rex Replicator
Like the Clockwork, the T-Rex Replicator hails from a boutique brand that is much smaller in scope than mainline manufacturers like Boss and MXR. That alone would make it more expensive, but the Replicator actually has a physical tape deck, just like the original delay pedals when they were first built. It's one of the most expensive analog delay pedals on the market.
Supro Analog Delay
The Supro Analog Delay is a little over-priced in our opinion, retailing ahead of the Boss DM-2w and MXR Carbon copy. But again, it's a much smaller brand which tends to run up the price.
EHX Memory Boy Analog Delay
As we mentioned, the Memory Boy is like the Memory Man but with a lot more functionality. To date, it's one of our favorite combinations of tone and flexibility in a delay pedal - well worth the asking price from EHX.
Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail
Like the Supro, the Vapor Trail is a garden-variety analog delay, without a tempo and just basic controls. Though it's cheaper than the Supro which - as we could have predicted - falls inline with the larger size and scope of its manufacturer.
TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay
TC Electronic churns out a lot of quality pedals at an extremely low price tag. You don't get a ton of control, but the tone quality of TC Electronic's effects is always solid, and you're going to pay rock-bottom prices, especially for an analog pedal.
TC Electronic Echobrain
The Echobrain, another TC Electronic offering, was actually cheaper than the above Bucket Brigade delay. We assume the pricing of both moves in tandem.
Variations of the Same Pedal
As we mentioned with MXR and EHX, you will sometimes see variations of the same pedal, usually in terms of the control they offer and the physical size of the pedal itself. Note that we did not include all variations of each analog delay, but instead the most popular version to represent the given series.
Are there hybrid analog delay pedals with digital components?
Analog delay pedals tend to have better tone, but with fewer controls. Though some manufacturers have included digital signal processors to help control the tone of the bucket brigade circuit. The technology to accomplish this is more expensive, though pedals like the EHX Memory Boy and the MXR Carbon Copy have this type of functionality.
You'll also see pedals listed as "analog-style" with digital algorithms and controls. This is like the Strymon Volante, which is technically a digital pedal made to sound analog.
We'd argue this language is a little bit deceptive, but just read descriptions and specs carefully.
Usually, to find true analog circuits with digital controls, you need to search through the more obscure boutique pedal brands and builders.
How to Choose and Compare Analog Delay Pedals
Analog delay pedals have two basic measurable features:
- Tone quality
- Control/functionality
When choosing, you need to look at tone quality from a preference perspective. Simply put - which one(s) sound good to you?
To assess control and functionality you should focus on what you need the pedal to do. Do you need a tap tempo? Are multiple models important to you? What about EQ? Maybe you want a feedback or more control over the echoes. A dry/wet mix control should also be considered.
The EHX Memory Boy gives you a nice mix of high-quality analog tone with the flexibility - including a tap tempo control - of a digital delay pedal.
To compare these features, we've included the compare buttons in the above table, which you can use to look at basic features and even listen to sound samples. It's a simple, easy-to-follow table that allow you to quickly browse through the features that matter most.
Other than an analog circuit, which features matter most?
While we've touched on this above, we would say that the single most important feature is the tap tempo. This lets you set the tempo of the delay with your foot by tapping in the pattern.
Second place would go to the wet/dry mix control (usually a knob just like the EQ controls).
We'd recommend - in most cases - making sure you have both of these components.
Do analog delay pedals use a different type of power supply?
No - they'll use the same type of power supply as any other pedal, usually one of the following:
- 9V
- 12V
- 18V
Note that mA rating can change depending on the pedal, but that isn't unique to analog pedals. Just check the specs sheet for specific power supply requirements. Usually a 9V connection - preferably to an isolated power source - will do the trick.
How to Use an Analog Delay
An analog delay works like any other guitar pedal.
The signal from your guitar goes into the pedal's input, then from the pedal's output you go either to additional pedals or directly to the amp. From there, you engage the pedal and experiment with different sounds.
How exactly you use it will depend on your musical tastes, playing style, and the other gear you have at your disposal.
Read more: Guitar Pedal Setup Guide
Best for a Clean Signal
Most delay pedals are used primarily to add layering to a clean signal - to make it more interesting. In that regard, any of the listed pedals will be a good fit, especially considering the tone quality you get from the analog circuit.
Though again, there's the consideration of flexibility.
We'd go back to our two favorites - the Carbon Copy (preferably the Deluxe version) and Memory Boy.
Best for Slapback
A slapback delay is really short, with just a few echoes, almost creating a fluttering effect. You'll hear it a lot in country music and old school blues styles. For this implementation of the delay effect, a tap tempo is far less important. You can just set the speed really high and dial in two or three echoes, and you're good to go.
For that, we'd recommend something like the Supro or Vapor Trail.
Even the cheaper TC Electronic options are good fits for this style.
Best for Dotted Eighth Note Delay
For the dotted eighth note delay, you'll need to dial that in with a time division selector. From this list, the MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe and the EHX Memory Boy are - once again - your two best options.
Read more: Delay pedals with dotted eighth note setting
From this list, which one gives me the best value?
Analog delay pedals are usually more expensive, but that's relative to the quality you're getting in return. For the best value - lowest possible cost with best possible result - the Boss DM-2w and the Carbon Copy Deluxe are likely your best options.
Advantages of an Analog Delay Pedal
As we've mentioned it's usually tone, and - to a lesser extent - nostalgic appeal that attracts people to analog delay pedals.
Disadvantages of an Analog Delay Pedal
One of the emerging disadvantages of analog delay pedals is the quality of technology in digital circuits. Particularly in the past couple of decades, digital algorithms have made significant strides and have competed with the tone quality in analog delays.
Add that analog delay pedals tend to have less functionality, and you can make a very strong argument for going digital.
Companies like Strymon and Line 6 are leading the way on the digital front.
Are analog delay pedals always more expensive than digital options?
No.
As we just mentioned, the Strymon pedals and the Line 6 Helix series are incredibly expensive. Analog delay pedals are more expensive in particular contexts and comparisons, but it doesn't always work out that way.
Conclusion
Hopefully we've covered all of the information about analog delay pedals you could need to make an informed decision.
If we missed something or you have additional questions, let us know in the comments section. Also remember that we're big fans of user-submitted additions to posts like this, so if you know of an analog delay that we missed, mention that in the comments and we'll add it to the user-submitted section.
Both mainline, boutique, and discontinued delay pedals are fair game.
We'll see you there.
Related Articles
Written by Bobby on Pedals and Roundups
Written by Bobby on Pedals and Reviews
Comment Policy: You're down to leave a comment? That's awesome. Keep in mind that comments are moderated and rel="nofollow" is in use. Please avoid any spammy keywords or a domain as your name, otherwise your comment will be deleted. Let's stay on topic, keep questions relevant and have a meaningful conversation. All the best.