Boutique Delay Pedals

A delay repeats what you play after a set time, from a short slapback to long, washed-out trails. Boutique delays range from simple analog circuits with three knobs to stereo workstations with presets and MIDI, so the right pick depends as much on how you use your board as on the sound.

Analog (bucket-brigade) delays give warm, darker repeats with shorter maximum times. Tape-style delays model the wobble and saturation of an old tape echo. Digital delays give clean repeats, long times and features like tap tempo, presets and modulation, and many now model analog and tape voices as well.

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In the directory

70 pedals from 16 builders

Listed prices

$79–$999

Median $259, across 66 with a public maker price

Most common features

  • Tap Tempo 44%
  • Expression 41%
  • Presets 40%
  • Stereo 39%
  • Midi 37%
  • Trails 29%

Most models listed: Strymon (11), Walrus Audio (9), Catalinbread (8), JHS Pedals (7), Keeley Electronics (6).

70 products

70 of 70 items

LVX Meris

$599

digital · midi · expression · presets · stereo · looper · looping · granular · pitch-shift

Polymoon Meris

$299

digital · midi · expression · presets · stereo · tap-tempo · phaser · flanger · pitch-shift · eq

What to compare

  • Delay voice: analog, tape-style, digital, or a pedal that switches between them.
  • Control: tap tempo, presets, expression input and MIDI matter if you play to a click or switch songs often.
  • Stereo: worth having if you run two amps or go direct into a stereo rig.
  • Trails: whether repeats keep ringing out after you switch the pedal off.
  • Power draw: digital delays often need more current than a basic pedal power supply provides.

Common questions

Analog or digital delay: which should I get?

Analog delays sound warmer and sit behind your playing, but usually top out at shorter delay times. Digital delays are cleaner, go longer and add features like presets. Many players start with one flexible digital delay and add an analog or tape-style pedal later for character.

Where does a delay go in my signal chain?

Usually after drive and modulation and before reverb. Putting a delay before your drive pedals makes the repeats distort too, which some players like for a messier sound.

Do I need tap tempo?

If you play with a band or a click and want the repeats in time with the song, yes. If you mostly use slapback or ambient washes where exact timing doesn't matter, you can skip it.