5 Best Delay Pedals (bought and tested)

Over the decades I've played electric guitar, I've probably used delay pedals more than any other type of effect. I've always loved the way delay sounds and how it can be used either as a rhythm or lead guitar effect. Delay is a type of ambient effect, which means it creates its sound by manipulating time. In that respect, delay, reverb, and echo pedals are all in the same effects category.

I've covered the best reverb pedals separately, and have also done a roundup of the best guitar pedals overall. But on this page, we're sticking to delay and echo pedals specifically. For those wanting to cut straight to my recommendations, here are my five favorite delay pedals, based on actual use and testing.

Best Delay Pedals (our top 5 picks)

1. Strymon TimeLine (best digital delay)

The Strymon Timeline Multi-dimensional delay pedal has 12 different delay modes and 200 onboard presets. It's a digital delay with a tap tempo control and a ton of parameters to tweak. Some selectable delay types include Duck, swell, Lo-Fi, dBucket, digital, and more. It's a great studio or recording delay, allowing you to craft essentially any type of ambient sound you can imagine. The presets and tap tempo give it some performance appeal as well, though I can't imagine using more than 10 presets. Maybe I'm just a minimalist. 

In terms of pure functionality and tone quality, it's hard to top what Strymon has done with the digital models in the TimeLine, without any analog components. If you're after flexibility and customization options, I'd recommend the TimeLine above everything else on this list. If you're after something simpler or perhaps an analog delay pedal, keep looking.

Strymon Timeline Price Table (updated live)

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2. Strymon Volante (best digital echo)

The Volante is a unique alternative to the TimeLine, offering an analog-style echo pedal that runs digital algorithms through an analog preamp. You also get reverb and a looper with playback control, all of which compliments the digital echo effects nicely. Delay and reverb are always a nice combination if you're wanting to generate some more "spacey" ethereal sounds.

The Volante is designed to model more of an analog sound with tape, studio, and drum echo types, along with a spacing control that allows you to set the timing of the echo pattern.

The looping and reverb are both a significant part of the appeal, which means we wouldn't consider this a pure delay pedal. But if those features are more attractive to you than the flexibility of the TimeLine, the Volante could be a better fit for your rig.

Strymon Volante Price Table (updated live)

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3. MXR Carbon Copy (best analog)

If you want a completely analog delay, the MXR Carbon Copy would be my top recommendation. It's built with bucket brigade circuitry and without any digital components. While this reduces the pedal's flexibility, it improves the tone and overall sound quality of the effect. Guitar players that prefer a vintage, true analog tone will appreciate how the Carbon Copy sounds right out of the box and likely won't want to spend much time adjusting the sound.

Control is limited to the following:

• Mix
• Regen
• Delay

You'll also have to go without a tap tempo, which could be tricky depending on how you use your delay pedal. Rhythmic use of a delay is much harder without the tap tempo added. Though if you're more of a lead guitar player and you use your delay as a layering effect instead of a rhythmic pattern creator, the Carbon Copy can still be a really good fit.

If you want more presets, tempo control, modes, and parameters, you'd probably be better off with one of the Strymon pedals.

However, if you're after a simple, high-quality tone that you don't have to mess with, the Carbon Copy is my favorite recommendation.

MXR Carbon Copy Price Table (updated live)

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4. Original Line 6 DL4 and MK2 (best value)

I've owned the original DL4 now for over six years and no matter what delay pedal I've tried (and I've tried a lot), I always come back to the DL4 as one of my absolute favorites. The MK2 picks up right where the original DL4 left off and expands perfectly.

You get more presets (three in the original and six onboard in the MK2 with 128 via MIDI) and the tap tempo of nicer pedals, along with 30 delay modes (15 in the MK2 with 15 ported from the Helix models ports). This added flexibility reminds me of the TimeLine setup, but it's also just far simpler to use, striking a nice balance between the TimeLine and Carbon Copy.

I just need a few really good delay sounds that work and can be called up at the press of a button. That's what the DL4 MK2 does for me.

Yes, it's entirely digital, which isn't what some might prefer. But I've always been happy with the tone quality I get, despite the lack of bucket brigade circuits. With the wide range of algorithms, you can find both warm and digital-sounding delay effects, with just about everything in between. For a better price than both the TimeLine and Volante, it's an old stand-by that I'll continue to use.

Read the full review: Line 6 DL4 and MK2

Line 6 DL4 MK2 Price Table (updated live)

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5. Boss DM-2w Waza Craft (best vintage delay)

The Boss DM-2w is a part of the Waza Craft pedal series by Boss, which is a redux of several older pedal that Boss used to make. With a completely analog circuit, the DM-2w is a reissue of the original Boss DM-2 which was an entirely analog delay pedal.  Currently, the DM-2w is one of the only Boss delay pedals to run a bucket brigade circuit, giving it an appeal similar to the MXR Carbon Copy.

It's small, simple, and warm, with a vintage analog tone that you don't get with the larger, more complex digital delay pedals. We'd recommend it for those who don't mind going without the tap tempo and without the presets, who value tone quality and simplicity over flexibility.

Boss DM-2w Waza Craft Price Table (updated live)

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Conclusion and your questions

These are the best delay pedals that I would personally recommend, based on actual use and intensive research. I've used them, held them in my hands, and played them through my own guitar rig. I hope that's helpful and reassuring to you, though I should also mention that it doesn't negate other delay pedals that aren't mentioned on this page.

When I write these posts, I try to focus on less products in favor of highlighting pedals that I've actually used and have more experience with. So feel free to drop thoughts about other delay pedals in the comments section.

You can also leave your questions there about the delay pedals I've listed, and I'll help out as much as possible.

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