Delay Pedals

The humble delay pedal is one of the most renowned and easy-to-recognise guitar effects out there. And as it turns out, it’s one of the easiest to explain! Simply put, delay pedals are echo units that repeat the notes that you feed through them. Most examples allow you to dictate the speed and amount of repeats, as well as the level of the echoes.

A delay pedal is just one of those stompboxes that a guitarist should never be without — it’s an essential. You can use one to form the percussive backbone of a riff, to add ethereal ambience to a delicate clean part, or to thicken up a solo. Heck, a delay pedal can even take you straight back to the ‘50s with vintage slapback sounds too!

There are tonnes of guitar delay pedals on the market, so you’ll never be stuck for options. From the warm-sounding analogue units made by the likes of Electro-Harmonix and MXR, to the crystal-clear, ultra-versatile digital workstations from Strymon, Eventide and Meris — there are plenty of contenders available at all price-points.

Want to learn more? Then check out our Ultimate Guide to Delay Pedals — filled to the brim with brilliant buying advice!