I'm not going to try and explain what an expression pedal does. My assumption is that if you're here, you already know how to use one and why it's so useful with your delay pedal (tap tempo, speed, rate adjustment, etc). I'm also not going to review a bunch of guitar pedals or expression pedals. This is simply a list of delay pedals that have an expression pedal port, like this one:
A Line 6 DL4 delay pedal with an expression pedal input jack.
Not every delay pedal has this. Many of the larger ones do and even some of the smaller, roughly 5 x 2.8" Boss-sized pedals like the DD-7. But since we can't search by expression pedal jack, this list is a simple curation of all the delays that are compatible with an expression input pedal. I literally just looked them all up and found as many as I could. Which brings me to what I might have missed.
Larger Delay Pedals with Expression
The large format delay pedals almost always come with some kind of expression option. Many of these delay pedals also support a MIDI connection, which would be preferable to a simple expression pedal. On the negative side they're more expensive and bulkier on your pedalboard. We'll define large as anything bigger than the typical small Boss or Strymon pedal designs. The Line 6 DL4 and Strymon TimeLine are good example of large delay pedals.
Large-form Delay Pedals with Expression
- Supro Analog Delay
- MXR M292 Carbon Copy Delay
- Keeley Dark Side Workstation
- Boss DD-500
- Source Audio Nemesis Delay
- Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
- Line 6 DL4 MKII
- TC Electronic Alter Ego X4 Vintage Delay
- TC Electronic Flashback Delay (MASH pedal / expression function)
- Eventide TimeFactor Twin Delay
- Way Huge Supa-Puss Analog Delay
- Providence Chrono Delay
- EHX Deluxe Memory Boy
- Boss DD-200 Giga Delay
- Empress Effects EchoSystem Dual Engine Delay (control port)
- Empress Superdelay
- Eventide PitchFactor Harmonizer Pitch and Delay
- EarthQuaker Devices Disaster Transport SR Dual Delay
- JHS Pedals Panther Cub Delay
- TC Electronic Flashback X4
- Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe Delay
- Boss RE-2 Space Echo
- Strymon TimeLine Delay
- Pigtronix Echolution 2 Filter Pro Multi-Tap Delay
- Pigtronix Echolution 2 Ultra Pro
- Alexander Pedals Oblivion Vintage Delay
- Walrus Audio ARP-87 Multi-Function Delay
- Seymour Duncan Andromeda Dynamic Digital Delay
- Carl Martin Delayla XL
- Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia Delay
- Jam Pedals Delay Llama Supreme
- Positive Grid Bias Delay Twin
- Ernie Ball Ambient Delay
- EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run V2 Delay
Smaller Delay Pedals with Expression
The Boss DD-7 and DD-8 both support an expression pedal connection.
Predictably it's harder to find the expression option in smaller delay pedals, though some do provide it. The most notable option is the Boss DD-7, but if you dig a little deeper, into some other popular manufacturers and boutique brands, there are more options that will conserve pedalboard space.
Be careful not to assume that a third or fourth jack is automatically slated for an expression pedal. A lot of smaller delay pedals have stereo i/o jacks or a direct out. You just have to read the fine print, usually displayed on the pedal as tempo, EXP, CTL (for control) or something like that.
The Boss DD-7 has a fifth expression (tempo/EXP) jack on the left side. The NUX Time Core has four total jacks, but are for mono and stereo connections without any expression pedal option.
Stereo and direct out connections are both more likely than the EXP jack, so make sure to check the label and read the fine print on the pedal. Also note that in smaller delay boxes, an expression pedal will often be limited to controlling just tempo or tap timing. I could only find a handful of these.
Smaller Delay Pedals with Expression
Anything to add?
Clearly, it's easier to find delay pedals with expression capability in the larger form design. If that functionality is a priority for you, I'd advise going with one of those bigger delay pedals. What we've listed here is representative of most of what's available.
Yet, there are likely boutique, discontinued or even mainline offerings we could have missed.
If you know of an example, we could use some help. Drop us a line in the comments section with the manufacturer and model name of the delay pedal, along with a link to a sales page. We'll investigate and include it in this list assuming it fits the criteria.
More Delay Pedal Content
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Pedals & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Pedals & Comparisons
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The EHX Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai Delay doesn’t have an expression pedal input, nor does the TC Electronic Flashback (though the V2 does have the mash button).
Thanks, Pauly. My mistake on the Hazarai.
On the Flashback, that MASH button gives it limited expression functionality, so I made a note of that just so it’s clearer.
Thanks for the help here. Much appreciated.
The DD20 doesn’t have an expression input- only control. You can mod a dd20 to make it work with an expression though
Weird. I had the picture up but didn’t have it in the list. Goofball move. Thanks for pointing it out.
Thanks for the list. Earthquaker’s Afterneath V3 has one.
Moog makes a large delay (104) and a smaller delay (minifooger) pedal with expression control. Supro also makes a smaller delay with expression control.
Thanks Larry. I couldn’t find either of the Moog pedals anywhere, but I did add the Supro analog delay.