Top 10 Unique Delay Pedals 2023
Our favorite picks for your next delay pedal!
Reverb & Delay are two of the most common and used effects for every type of sound. Hundreds or even thousands of pedals can deliver those types of effects with some being straightforward and simple while others are way more creative and unique. A Delay pedal has a very simple concept, but a few pedals are taking it to the next level in terms of creativity and uniqueness. So here is the list of our Top-10 unique delay pedals for adventurous and experimental musicians!
10. Dreadbox - Raindrops
While Raindrops looks like a very plain pedal, it’s way more than it looks. It’s a stereo delay with your standard controls and three modes. It has a pitch-shifting delay, a reverb, and modulation options that you can explore for days and find great sounds. A very fun pedal overall!
9. Walrus Audio - Fable
Fable is a granular delay pedal from Walrus Audio. It has 5 programs with slightly different variations mainly regarding the pitch, direction, and timing of the grains. This is a very “ambient” pedal as it creates a lush bed of sounds underneath your original signal. Walrus is known for its high-quality pedals and Fable is one of their best, especially if you’re into long ethereal sounds.
8. Chase Bliss Audio - Habit
Chase Bliss also makes the Thermae which is also a delay & pitch shifter and probably one the best analog delay pedals ever made. But on this list, we decided to add Habit which may be labeled as a delay but it’s definitely a lot more than just a delay. The Habit works as a delay, meaning it receives any incoming signal and then plays it back but in a way no one has ever done before. It has a buffer that’s recording and then you can play back any section of the recorder material while adding effects on top. It’s a looper/ delay pedal that is made to bring inspiration to the studio and generate new musical ideas in a one-of-a-kind way!
7. JAM Pedals - Delay Llama Xtreme
The Delay Llama Xtreme is a fully analog delay pedal that sounds warm and full of texture. It is one of the most popular analog delays because JAM pedals just nailed a great analog tone and with the Xtreme version, they added a few modes that can shape the delay sounds and have amazing results. The first two modes are Vibrato, which adds a controllable vibrato effect, and Tape-Age which adds pitch fluctuations that you would get by using a tape delay. The next two are more experimental. Random mode changes in the pitch of the delay and can lead to many happy accidents and Pitch-Shift mode (which is our favorite) has five patterns with fixed pitch intervals and feels like every note creates a rhythmic and melodic sequence.
6. Fairfield Circuitry - Meet Maude
Fairfield Circuitry is the king of LoFi pedals and Meet Maude is the perfect example of a dark, lofi, and crunchy delay. It’s dirty & noisy and adds so much character, it’s hard not to notice it. It’s an analog delay that also feels like a true tape echo in the best way possible and that’s why we love it!
5. Vogon Electronics - Polyphrase
Polyphrase is a stereo delay inspired by the old Lexicon Prime Time. It’s one of the most beautiful-looking pedals you’ve ever seen but it’s not only looks. It has two separate controls for the left and right channels that can create amazing & rhythmic multi-tap delays, it has modulation, and can also have infinite feedback making a looper.
4. Red Panda - Particle 2
The Particle by Red Panda is a legendary pedal. It’s one of the very first granular delays that carved the way for the usage of granular synthesis on delays. It’s a very easy-to-use pedal with a lot of modes that can create all sorts of weird and quirky sounds like nothing else. Plus, it has one of the best reverse delays you’ll ever hear!
3. Montreal Assembly - Count to 5
This pedal was one of the pioneers of experimental and weird pedals. It’s a delay and pitch-shifter that can playback the delayed sounds in numerous ways and in reverse and it can be used for a lot of different sounds. It’s glitchy and rhythmical and it certainly will make any signal sound beautiful and interesting.
2. Hologram Electronics - Microcosm
Labeling the Microcosm as a delay might not give it justice but the core of it is based on a delay. A delay that can do dozens of effects and can be used for all sorts of scenarios. The Microcosm is a pedal so well designed, it makes it one of the simplest pedals to use. It has a ton of presets carefully curated that all sound amazing and have a huge impact on any incoming sound.
1. Meris - LVX
Meris is a boutique pedal builder that makes incredible devices. Their most ambitious project is definitely the LVX pedal. It’s the most advanced and deep delay pedal ever made and can be used to design any type of delay effect you’d want. It has a huge (for a pedal) screen where it visualizes the effects you choose and while it’s feature-packed it’s fairly easy to program. If you are looking for just one pedal to cover almost everything, the LVX is one of the best contenders.
Did we miss any of your favorite weird delays? Let us know in the comments below!
