Best Guitar Delay Pedals To Bring Your Sound To Life

Want to add dimension to your riffs or some nice slapback to your licks? A delay pedal might be just what you are looking for. Whether you’re aiming to create lush, atmospheric soundscapes or tight, rhythmic repeats, the right delay pedal can transform your playing.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up five of the best guitar delay pedals. We’ll break down their top features, advantages, and disadvantages, to help you decide which one is your best match. Take your pick.

1 Best Overall

Line 6 DL4 MkII

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2 Runner-up

Boss DD-8

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3 Top Pick

Strymon Timeline

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4 Top Pick

MXR M169

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5 Lowest Price

TC Electronic The Prophet

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1. Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay Modeler Pedal

A ubiquitous classic from the early 2000s, the Line 6 DL4 MkII delay pedal boasts a major update. Replacing the old green chunk is a leaner, sleeker, and more powerful design, doubling its predecessor’s delay algorithms and reverb options. While still encased in the familiar green Line 6 DL4 is known for, the MkII offers a whole new set of creative possibilities.

The knobs and foot switches, including the “Tweak and Tweez” dials, are found as they were in its classic iteration, except for one vital addition: “alt/legacy.” This fun little button allows you to switch between two collections of delay types. That means you’re getting 15 new sounds on top of the classic DL4 delay voices—plus the looper and 15 fresh reverb algorithms!

2. Boss DD-8 Digital Delay Pedal

Continuing the success of the ‘80s masterpiece, the DD-3, Boss’s new DD-8 is a reliable workhorse of a pedal. Encased in Boss’s standard metal body and solid plastic tipped with vibrant hues, this delay pedal is a solid beauty overall. The real surprise, however, lies in its versatility, providing a buffet of sound options you can certainly appreciate while playing.

The DD-8 is a total beast, combining all the effects found in the DD-7 and topping it with a host of 11 new delay modes. There’s a “Warp” mode for innovative, dynamic, and ambient sound textures and a “GLT” mode for creating rhythms and glitchy effects. It’s notably beginner-friendly, with a smart I/O functionality ensuring seamless setup for all applications.

3. Strymon TimeLine Multidimensional Delay Pedal

If you’re familiar with Strymon, you’re likely used to having your socks knocked off with their pedal lineup’s quality. Well, the Strymon Timeline is another masterpiece from the South California-based manufacturer. Equipped with 12 unique, customizable delay machines and a massive saving capacity of 200 presets, this delay pedal has everything you’ll ever need.

The Timeline is an all-encompassing pedal emphasizing functionality in its layout. It has a total of three footswitches and seven asymmetrical knobs, which allows you to modify delay signals, including their grit, filter, modulation, rate, and depth. Despite its seemingly busy appearance, the Timeline is an easy-to-learn pedal you can jump into to make trillions of cool sounds.

Do you need a pedalboard for your new delay pedal? Check out our top picks for the best pedalboards of 2024.

4. MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay Pedal

If you prefer 100% pure analog sound, the MXR M169 Carbon Copy might be for you. While the market is plagued with digital reproductions, the MXR answers the demand for genuine echo repeats. It’s a dusting off of the classic technology, only better, without the few inherent issues of the ‘80s iteration of analog units.

This unit can produce between 20 to 600 milliseconds of delay time, all while retaining outstanding tones without your guitar sounding brittle or clanky. The adjustable modulation allows you to replicate the tape warble in older units, which is a great addition. Sound-wise, the three-knob, all-analog delay does not betray its siblings’ reputation.

5. TC Electronic The Prophet Digital Delay Pedal

From punchy modern delays to enchanting post-rock tones, TC Electronic’s The Prophet delay pedal is well worth your consideration. This pedal is award-winning and a versatile companion to your rig. It’s a game-changer for this price point, with up to 1300 milliseconds of delay time, intuitive controls, and sleek panel design. No wonder it made our best guitar delay pedals list!

The unassuming stompbox offers a simplistic approach with a three-knob configuration for time, mix, and repeats. Conveniently, a toggle switch that lets you set delay subdivisions between 1/8, 1/16, and 3/8. This feature allows you to recreate familiar delay sounds. But the most impressive feature of The Prophet is its True Bypass, ensuring faithful signal reproduction for your original tones.

Make your delay sound even cooler by adding a chorus pedal to your rig. Check out our top 5 picks for the best guitar chorus pedals of 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Product Recap

Ultimately, choosing the best guitar delay pedal depends on your musical needs. But if you want the best, Line 6’s DL4 MkII is the way to go for its massive library of delays and reverbs. The DD-8 is another no-brainer alternative with 12 delay machines and solid mode configurations. For those with a limited budget, TC Electronic’s The Prophet is a superb pedal for your rig, offering excellent bang for your buck.

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