Best delay in front of an amp

MattG

I've just put down a deposit on a new amp and was wondering what are the best delay pedals to put in front of an amp as this one has no FX loop?

I like analogue slap back type delays like the caroline and subdecay units, not that i own either

EdGrip

Check out Catalinbread's delays - three different flavours. I've got the Belle Epoch, which is their take on the Echoplex-tape-echo-in-a-box. Sounds great in front of an amp, throw distortion pedals and boosters at it, it just gets better.

MattG

cheers, i've always heard good things about those so i'll give them a look

noisepolluter

If you're feeling lavish, pedalboard space isn't an issue and you don't mind it having its own power supply, the Deluxe Memory Man sounds incredible for slapback, and is also excellent for swampy sounding Pink Floyd type stuff, especially once you start mixing in the chorus/vibrato. 

Max delay time is 0.6 seconds - to be honest, I've very rarely found this to be a problem, but that's perhaps a reflection on the type of stuff I like to play   

Considerably cheaper and smaller, the MXR Carbon Copy also impressed me. 

EdGrip

The Belle Epoch, needless to say, is in its element doing 50s slapback.

monquixote

I recently purchased an Aqua Puss. 

That's really good at slapback type stuff. 

hugbot

Carbon copy

MattG

i've always wanted to try an aqua puss but have never got round to it same with the carbon copy...

the store i'm getting my amp from stock all of these so i shall give them all a try when i pick it up and make my final payment

JCA2550

Carbon Copy!

But also note that you can't go wrong with any of the TC Flashback pedals.

exocet

Catalinbread Montavillian and Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay are both good choices.

monquixote

MattG said:

i've always wanted to try an aqua puss but have never got round to it same with the carbon copy...

the store i'm getting my amp from stock all of these so i shall give them all a try when i pick it up and make my final payment

The Carbon Copy and Aqua Puss were both designed by George Tripps so they probably aren't radically different.

The Aqua Puss is brighter and has a shorter Delay time. The Carbon Copy also has Modulation. 

meltedbuzzbox

alter ego or DL4 for me. 

The alter ego is a great pedal and wont consume a pedal board either. 

I think they are £90 or so new as well. 

JackGriffiths

I've used a Carbon Copy in front of a moderately dirty amp for a long time and it never gives me any problems. The sometimes over-bearing warmth of the repeats means you don't get any harsh distorted qualities that you might typically get from a driven amp. I love the sound of the Carbon Copy, the only thing that domes reasonably close is the Timeline but even that doesn't nail it. Jack

thisisguitar

I love the sound of my El Capistan, even more fun if you use two amps :-)

nickb_boy

I have the Caroline Kilobyte and it gives so many options, plus the havoc can be good for experimenting! I'd also consider checking out the Fairfield Circuitry Maude and the Infanem Small Echo Array if you can find one over here in the UK. Enjoy

ICBM

Boss DD-2/3 - still the best combination of digital clarity and analogue warmth there is.

richardhomer

Carbon Copy for me.

Cheap, readily available and had decent delay times.

Repeats sound quite 'dirty' even into a clean amp - a little on the 'gritty' side of 'warm' - but a cool sounding pedal.

If you want something purer but not 'clinical', the analogue model on the Boss DD7 is very musical sounding.

MattG

the carbon copy definitely sounds more my sort of thing to the digital delay!

i didnt know that about the aqua puss and carbon copy very interesting

the caroline and belle epoch both look like good contenders though, i wish i had the money for the strymon but alas tis not to be

thisisguitar

@richardhomer: funny you should mention the DD-7, I just picked up one that looks brand new for just £70 quid this afternoon :-)

MattG

update, i have bought blind and gone for the aqua puss....

thank you @monquixote

AxeWieldingBastard

Great shout!