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Description

Introducing the iconic Boss DD-5 Digital Delay, a favorite among countless musicians from its launch in 1995 to its discontinuation in 2003. Known for its versatile functionality, this pedal offers more than just a delay effect. With its 11 distinct delay modes and infinite fine-tuning adjustability, it turns your guitar into a powerhouse of sound. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this pedal delivers superior sound quality, rivaling even the most expensive rack-mount units, making it a must-have in your music gear collection.

Key Features:

  • 11 distinct delay modes for versatile sound production
  • Infinite fine-tuning adjustability for personalized sound
  • Superior sound quality comparable to high-end rack-mount units
  • Multi-mode stereo digital delay for enhanced audio experience
  • Durable and compact, ideal for both studio and on-stage use

Product specs

Brand Boss
Model DD-5 Digital Delay (Pink or Dark Gray Label)
Finish White
Year 1995 - 2003
Made In Taiwan
Categories Delay Pedals

FAQs

What is the maximum delay time available on the Boss DD-5 Digital Delay?

The Boss DD-5 Digital Delay offers a maximum delay time of 2000 milliseconds, providing a wide range of delay effects suitable for various musical styles.

Can the Boss DD-5 Digital Delay be used in a stereo setup?

Yes, the Boss DD-5 is designed to be used in both mono and stereo setups, offering versatile connectivity for different performance and recording environments.

Does the Boss DD-5 Digital Delay have tap tempo functionality?

The Boss DD-5 features tap tempo, allowing you to easily set the delay time by tapping a footswitch to match the tempo of your music.

How does the Boss DD-5 differ from the Boss DD-3?

The Boss DD-5 offers more delay modes and a longer maximum delay time of 2000ms compared to the DD-3, which provides a simpler interface with fewer delay options.

Is the Boss DD-5 Digital Delay suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Boss DD-5 is well-suited for live performances, featuring durable construction, tap tempo, and stereo outputs, making it a reliable choice for gigging musicians.

Pepe Music

Pepe Music

BOSS DD-5 Digital Delay Demo

Video thumbnail for BOSS DD-5 Digital Delay Demo by Pepe Music

BOSS DD-5 Digital Delay Demo

Pepe Music

Pepe Music

Video thumbnail for Boss DD-5 Digital Delay | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

Boss DD-5 Digital Delay | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for Boss DD-5 Digital Delay by Pedal of the Day

Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Pedal of the Day

Pedal of the Day

Video thumbnail for How I Use It: Boss DD-5 (Delay) by J Cruz Project | Guitar Content Creator

How I Use It: Boss DD-5 (Delay)

J Cruz Project | Guitar Content Creator

J Cruz Project | Guitar Content Creator

Video thumbnail for Boss DD-5 vs DD-6 Digital Delay by shnobel

Boss DD-5 vs DD-6 Digital Delay

shnobel

shnobel

Video thumbnail for Boss DD-5 Digital Delay Pedal Demo Video by Berger

Boss DD-5 Digital Delay Pedal Demo Video

Berger

Berger

Video thumbnail for Tone Up Your Sound with Boss DD 5 Digital Delay Guitar Pedal by Julian Doe

Tone Up Your Sound with Boss DD 5 Digital Delay Guitar Pedal

Julian Doe

Julian Doe

Reviews

PROS

  • Percussive repeats provide rhythmic precision

  • Tap tempo feature allows for easy rhythm matching

  • Reverse delay setting adds unique sound textures

  • Modes offer tonal variation in repeats, especially bright for solos

  • Recognized for its dependability and reliability

  • Crisp, clear digital delay without being strident

  • User-friendly interface simplifies operation

  • Compatible with external tempo control pedals

  • Affordable and offers great value for its features

  • Retro appeal in its design and sound quality

CONS

  • Reverse delay feature mixes current note, lacks wet-only sound option

  • Limited by its maximum 2000ms decay time

  • Some modes used less frequently, reducing versatility

  • Brighter repeats may not suit all musical styles

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Boss DD-5 Digital Delay.

User experience

  • The DD-5 is praised as an excellent introductory delay pedal due to its intuitive design with simple knobs instead of complex menus.

    Source
  • It's noted that owning both the DD-5 and DD-8 is beneficial, as each offers unique tones and features that complement each other.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Some users prefer the DD-5 over newer models like the DD-7, citing the tap tempo functionality with a footswitch as a key advantage.

    Source
  • Users suggest the DD-8 is not a downgrade in quality from the DD-5, highlighting added features like shimmer and mod settings as valuable enhancements.

    Source
  • The DD-3's degradation of repeats due to its analog circuit component offers a distinct sound compared to the purely digital delays of later models.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The DD-5 is recognized as a staple in the setups of notable guitarists like Omar Rodriguez Lopez, appealing to fans of bands like At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta.

    Source
  • Combining the DD-5 and DD-8 can achieve dual delay effects, with one set to eights and the other to dotted eights, enhancing creative possibilities.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • A user reported finding a DD-5 on Reverb for $80, indicating its accessible price point in the used market.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The DD-8 includes a warm mode that emulates older, slightly lo-fi digital delays like the DD-5, offering a nostalgic sound option.

    Source
  • The DD-5 is noted for having a more robust body in its sound compared to the DD-6, adding to its tonal appeal for those preferring richer digital delay tones.

    Source
  • The DD-3's hybrid digital chip and analog circuit design allows for a characteristically analog-like degradation of repeats, distinguishing it from other purely digital delay pedals.

    Source
  • Higher-numbered models in the DD series offer additional delay types like analog and tape, as well as features like looper and reverb effects, expanding their functionality beyond traditional digital delay.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Boss DD-5 Digital Delay review on pedal-of-the-day.com

pedal-of-the-day.com

The Boss DD-5 Digital Delay is a robust and versatile pedal known for its extensive delay options, offering delay times from 1ms to 2000ms. It features a fun Reverse mode for creative soundscaping and a practical E/D mode for separating dry and wet signals. While the Hold function is less intuitive compared to dedicated loopers, the pedal stands out with its durability, making it a reliable companion for live performances. Overall, the DD-5 is a straightforward delay pedal with a mix of classic and unique features that cater to both experimental and traditional users.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 10 Reviews and 58 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
dmitryr

Really bright one

This is my first digital delay. Before I owned only analog delays. But I wish to have more brighter repeats also. So DD-5 does it - bright and clear repeats! I would say that 1-4 modes has pretty true repeats, may be a bit brighter than dry signal. But modes 8 - 11 sounds really brighter to my ears, which is cool for experiments. I like this cool thing about I believe all digital delays - to use mode 1 or 2 with minimum of delay time and half or less feedback - it make distored/overdrived signal juicier and clean signal becomes specific in a good way. I checked information in internet that his one is brighter then DD-7 which is more affordable in my country. So that is my choice for today!

From Gear Setup
jonathan_luck

Tried, true, trusted!

If you look up "dependable delay pedal" in the dictionary, chances are this pedal will be it. An all around gem!!

Roles:
cloudtapes

Improvements on the DD-3

I love my DD-3. This one adds a few more options to that, along with a tap tempo switch in. My only real gripe with this pedal is that the reverse feature, which is a great idea, mixes the current note with the reverse option. I would've like to have just the wet reverse sound, but it's a minor gripe for what is otherwise a good pedal.

marc0os

Is Good, but just good for me, is not perfect yet.

I have a dd5 with a mod, but my mod is not the tap tempo mod.

But is a nice delay.

From Gear Setup
nickgrooves

This pedal has gotten me gigs, and gets used nearly every time I play my pedalboard. Five stars.

What more can I say? Classic digital delay. Crisp, clear, and more features then you'll ever need. Nearly every guitarist uses delay these days, but the most noteworthy is probably "the Edge" from U2. I've played plenty of gigs where I needed that sound, and was able to deliver thanks to my DD-5 and a tap tempo switch (with an analog delay in series).

From Gear Setup
cwirus88

The most digital delay ever!

True classic, probably the most digital delay of all Boss delays. Very clear, bright, and really stands out during solos, it reminisces me a typical 80s lead tone!

crockett

JHS Modded DD-5

JHS modded for analog. This Digital Delay is one of the most user friendly pedals I own. The clarity and response is fantastic.

P

great pedal

I had this one on my pedalboard too. I mainly used it for a slapback, but would occasionally use other settings.

samuel_zechariah_goh

Reverse for days

The holy grail of reverse delays (to me) This stacked with my other wet effects make shimmering pads so much lusher.

fleetwoodpc

Great delay

Upgraded from a Danelectro Delay, was definitely worth the money

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Thom Yorke uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Thom Yorke

Singer, Guitarist

Radiohead

...
Verified via Thekingofgear

"Thom used this delay during the 2006 pre-In Rainbows tour. He used it with a Boss FV-5U for tap tempo. Thom may have been experimenting with using delay on the early versions of In Rainbows tracks, but none of that experimentation seems to have made it onto the record."

See how Stevie Ray Vaughan uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Guitarist, Singer

The Vaughan Brothers

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo you can see Stevie use boss delay probably the dd5 or the dd3 (discarded this, because the dd3 didn’t have two outputs).

See how Noel Gallagher uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Noel Gallagher

Guitarist, Singer

Oasis

...
Verified via Photo

Noel Gallagher using a Boss DD 5 at Knebworth 1996. Noel's pedalboard shown in the Oasis Knebworth 1996 Documentary at 35:07 at the end of Supersonic. https://www.paramountplus.com/movies/oasis-knebworth-1996/FsgkdtzMwFAVQ54M_V9MRjEVXcGa2i0b/

See how Adam Jones uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Adam Jones

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Tool

...
Verified via Gibson

Jones is also a glutten for effects. On the intro to “Reflection” and “The Grudge,” both from Lateralus, he employs a vintage Moog Taurus bass pedal system. But aside from the Heil Talk Box on 10,000 Days, run through a Roland JC-120 and juiced up by a dynamic compressor, Jones’ choices of effects is less esoteric. His wah-wah pedal is a dependable Cry Baby, and his stable of other sound generators includes Boss DD3 and DD5 digital delays, a BF-2 flanger, a Line 6 Delay modeler (which also samples on the fly), a Strobostomp tuner, a tremolo pedal, chorus, and an array of distortion boxes. During experimental phases, Jones has taken the stage with multiple pedal boards at his feet. The irony of this rundown is that Jones has gone on record saying he doesn’t like to use pedals.

See how Ed O'Brien uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Ed O'Brien

Singer, Guitarist

Radiohead

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video at ‘48:48’ while he’s demoing a riff from Paranoid Android he says:

“It’s not going to sound the same as I don’t have my DD-5”

See how Jonny Buckland uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Jonny Buckland

Guitarist

Coldplay

...
Verified via Photo

In a 2002 magazine interview, Jonny Buckland discusses using the Boss DD-5 Digital Delay pedal.

See how Daron Malakian uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Daron Malakian

Singer, Guitarist

System of a Down

...
Verified via Photo

Daron's main delay pedal since 2011. Used for solos and bridge parts. Delay time set to 800 ms, some repeats, nothing special. Was replaced for the Latin America tour 2015 with a Strymon DIG Dual Digital Delay by his tech Scott.

See how Marty Friedman uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Marty Friedman

Guitarist

Megadeth

...
Verified via Martyfriedman

Marty lists this delay pedal on the gear section of his website.

See how Omar Rodríguez-López uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Omar Rodríguez-López

Guitarist, Bassist

At the Drive-In

...
Verified via YouTube

"And then, for me, another cornerstone is the Digital Delay, the DD-5, had that since I can remember, since it came out... the most common setting for me is the effect all the way up, if you can imagine that, the 3 setting, and then I have the feedback at about 2 o'clock, and the delay time at about 10 o'clock... I could use that for almost anything, so I really love that... I started writing with a delay pedal a lot, just for the simple reason that 'Oh, it sounds like way more notes than I'm actually playing, I sound pretty good right now.'" – Omar Rodríguez-López on the Boss DD-5 Digital Delay Pedal, 1:33

See how Beck uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Beck

Singer, Guitarist

Loser

...
Verified via Photo

In the photo, Beck's Boss DD-5 Digital Delay pedal is visible. Although both the DD-3 and DD-5 models have two inputs, the DD-5 is identifiable by its stereo output, which is shown here.

See how George Lynch uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

George Lynch

Guitarist

Dokken

...
Verified via YouTube

George Lynch’s Boss DD-5 Delay Pedal is shown at 3:10 in this video interview with Jerry Ganaden, Lynch’s guitar tech.

See how Daniel Kessler uses Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

Daniel Kessler

Guitarist

Interpol

...
Verified via Photo

In this screenshot from an article, Daniel Kessler can be seen talking about how the signal of his guitars is weak, and he needs to dress the sound up with effects: "But I’m also very lazy with effects. I use a couple of overdrives, a Boss DD-5 and an Eventide Space pedal, which is a new thing that I like. It's better than any analogue." (original source here, article dated March 31, 2015)

Used With

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Community setups

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