Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy

The anticipation was killing me: I'd just purchased a used Deluxe Memory Boy (referred to henceforth as the DMM) by Electro-Harmonix (referred to henceforth as EHX). However, the store had to hold it until local law said it had not been reported as missing to the police. I got a great deal on the pedal, and couldn't wait to see what an analog echo unit with a tap tempo feature would do for me.

It turned out to be worthwhile. The DMM's brushed-steel casing was bigger than most compact single effect pedals, but smaller than most digital modeling units or even other analog delays. I'm always impressed when a pedal's construction is sturdy enough to use for defense in a home invasion scenario, but light enough that a toddler with a good arm could chuck it across a room.

I wasn't concerned about the lack of a battery port as I always run my pedals daisy-chained to a power supply anyway, but realize that this could be an issue for some players who prefer the independence conferred by a 9-volt rectangle. Still, I powered up the pedal and dove right in, and was immediately impressed by the DMM's rich, lush sounds. As an experienced user of echo pedals, it didn't take me long at all to figure out what was going on with EHX's latest entry into the market. Soon, I was conjuring everything from U2-esque triplet-accented arpeggios to blurry, My Bloody Valentine-ish swathes of color trailing strummed chords.

As always, when reviewing a pedal, I like to evaluate and consider it in every context in which it will be used. To that end, I'd like to start by discussing how the EHX Deluxe Memory Boy performs when playing without accompaniment.

The DMM's analog sound is big, big big: it adds so much girth to a guitar signal that, if used properly, sounding like 2 or even 3 guitarists is possible. The multitude of features basically begs the user to dig in and explore, and the variety of patterns and textures available lend themselves well to the creation of new guitar parts or even of full songs/instrumental pieces. Run in stereo, the DMM is even more formidable.

In a studio situation, the DMM is an ideal peformer. Its relatively low noise threshold (uncommon in the world of analog delay units) makes it a breeze to record. And because the user can control so much of what the effected signal sounds like, it's possible to get a setup going where there's minimal difference when switching the DMM on and off--always a huge relief for studio engineers.

When performing with a band, which is where my own Deluxe Memory Boy has gotten the most mileage, the pedal is highly valuable... Read More

The Memory Boy has every type of delay one could want or need. It's easy to use and learn to use, features tap tempo, and has great analog sound. Coming from someone still learning all the ins and outs of pedalboards and different delays and tones, this pedal is easy to use and perfect for anyone looking for a professional sounding, simple delay pedal. The knobs, when twisted, do all sorts of crazy things that range from applicable in music to downright comical. Either way, this pedal is great, highly recommended.

Much like the Deluxe Memory Man with Tap Tempo, the Deluxe Memory Boy impresses! What draws the most attention are the five divisions of notes. Delay always on time!

its a cracking pedal and is suprisingly versatile for just being an analogue delay. the tap tempo is also really useful and lets you do some groovy stuff if you want

cool and clean analog delay with a big list of settings and dark sounds

You have to play loud (live) to discover how deep it is! Full analogic, warm, spacey. Hard to work with, giving a great ambiance into a concert hall.