Buying guide
By PedalBro · Updated October 13, 2026 · We do not test pedals, here is how we rank them
An analog delay is for guitarists who like repeats that sit behind the dry note and soften as they fade. The things worth weighing are how long the delay can run, whether you need extras like tap tempo or stereo, and how much board space and power the pedal takes.
Buy the MXR Carbon Copy. It does the basic job well with three knobs, runs on a battery or a standard supply, and both Premier Guitar and Bonedo gave it 4.5 out of 5. Reviewers point to its tough housing and careful build, and players say it keeps working year after year. You give up some delay length and a little background hiss, but very little else.
If money is tight, the TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay is among the cheapest pedals here and earned the same Bonedo rating. If you want more to work with, the Walrus Audio ARP-87 costs much more but brings tap tempo, stereo and several delay voices in a single box.
Top pick · Best for players who want a dependable, simple analog delay
The MXR Carbon Copy is a three-knob analog delay with strong reviews and a reputation among players for reliability. But we note it hisses a little and tops out at a shorter delay time than some rivals.
Budget pick · A good choice if you want warm analog repeats for as little money as possible
The TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay is one of the cheapest pedals here, and Bonedo's reviewer liked its warm sound, solid build and modulation. But we wish its internal trim adjustment did not require taking the case apart.
Splurge pick · The step up if you want tap tempo, stereo and several delay voices
The Walrus Audio ARP-87 earned the best reviews of our picks and adds tap tempo, stereo and multiple delay voices. But we think its high price and larger size are more than many players need.
Who this is for
This guide is for players who want a dedicated analog-style delay, with dark, rounded echoes, for a standard pedalboard. If you run a stereo rig or set delay times to a song's tempo live, the Walrus Audio ARP-87 is the only pick here that handles both. If you want chorus and vibrato built into the same pedal, look at the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man among the other options.
Delay time range
The MXR Carbon Copy is rated to 600 ms, which covers slapback through moderate echoes. The JHS Pedals 3 Series Delay and the Boss DM-2w Delay (Waza Craft) both go to 800 ms if you want longer trails.
Tap tempo and stereo
Of the three picks, only the Walrus Audio ARP-87 has tap tempo and stereo connections. The MXR Carbon Copy and the TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay are simpler mono-style boxes, and their spec sheets list neither feature.
Current draw
Most of these pedals sip power from a standard 9V center-negative supply. The exception is the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man, which needs 150 mA, so check that your power supply can deliver it.
Pedalboard footprint
The Ibanez Analog Delay Mini is the smallest option at 49.8 x 92.7 mm. The Ibanez Echo Shifter is far bigger at 119.4 x 160 mm, which can be hard to fit on a crowded board.
How we picked
We looked at every pedal that fits this guide and is on sale new today, then ranked them by what reviewers and buyers say, how many sources say it, and what it costs. The full method is here.
What we do not do
We do not test pedals. Everything here comes from published reviews, retailer ratings and player discussion, so you can follow it back to its sources.
PedalBro is an index of guitar pedals, not a testing lab. For this guide we gathered the published reviews, retailer star ratings and player discussion we hold for every pedal that fits, turned them into a single PedalBro score, and ranked the pedals on that score, how many sources stand behind it and price. A person reads every guide before it is published. 65 pedals fit this guide and 32 of them had a score we could rank.
Best for players who want a dependable, simple analog delay
PedalBro score 82/100 · 3 sources, high confidence
Reviewers rate it highly and agree on why. Premier Guitar and Bonedo each scored it 4.5 out of 5, and Bonedo's reviewer singled out the sound, the sturdy housing and the quality of construction. Players add that it holds up over time.
It sits in the middle of this list on price, between the TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay and the Walrus Audio ARP-87. For that money you get stronger review backing than the budget pick, without paying for the ARP-87's tap tempo and stereo.
It is easy to live with. You set it with three knobs: one for how long the echo waits, one for how loud it is and one for how many times it repeats. It draws only 25 mA from a 9V supply, takes a battery and has internal DIP switches for extra adjustment.
Bonedo's reviewer heard a slight amount of noise. That is unlikely to matter at most volumes, but it may bother players who want a silent delay.
The stated maximum is 600 ms, shorter than the 800 ms of the JHS Pedals 3 Series Delay or the Boss DM-2w. It also lacks the tap tempo and stereo of the Walrus Audio ARP-87.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you need tap tempo, stereo or several delay voices, since the Walrus Audio ARP-87 covers all three.
A good choice if you want warm analog repeats for as little money as possible
PedalBro score 74/100 · 2 sources, medium confidence
Bonedo gave it 4.5 out of 5, the same score that outlet gave the MXR Carbon Copy. The reviewer praised the warm analog character, the flawless construction and the flexible modulation, and called out how little it costs.
It is the value pick of the three. It costs less than the Carbon Copy and much less than the Walrus Audio ARP-87, while still running on a standard 9V supply or a battery.
It fits easily on a board at 61 x 100.3 mm and weighs 300 g. That makes it a sensible first analog delay or a low-cost addition to a setup that is already full.
Bonedo's reviewer found that reaching the internal trim pot means dismantling the enclosure. That is a nuisance if you like to tweak inside the pedal.
Less published review coverage stands behind it than behind the Carbon Copy. Its spec sheet also lists nothing beyond the delay itself, so there is no tap tempo or stereo as on the ARP-87.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you can stretch your budget and want the stronger reviewer backing of the MXR Carbon Copy.
The step up if you want tap tempo, stereo and several delay voices
PedalBro score 85/100 · 2 sources, medium confidence
It has the strongest reviews of the three picks. Bonedo gave it 5 out of 5 and Guitar.com 4.5 out of 5, and Guitar.com's reviewer praised it for handling everything from understated echoes to huge ones. Players often mention how much ground it covers.
It gives you far more control than the MXR Carbon Copy or the TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay. You can choose among four delay voices, including an analog one and a lo-fi one, and set the time by tapping, with note subdivisions available. Bonedo's reviewer also liked the extra control from the X knob and the added jobs the two footswitches can do.
It is the only pick that suits a stereo rig, and repeats can carry on after you switch it off. Despite all this, it still runs on a 9V supply or a battery.
It is among the most expensive pedals on this list. At 60 mA it also draws more current than the other two picks.
At 69.1 x 125.7 mm, it takes up more room than either the Carbon Copy or the TC Electronic pedal.
Who should skip it: Skip it if all you want is straightforward analog echo, since the MXR Carbon Copy does that for less.
These did not make the top three, but some of them are the right choice for the right player.
If you want the smallest board footprint: the Ibanez Analog Delay Mini is tiny, draws only 23 mA, and Premier Guitar gave it 5 out of 5, calling it tough and inexpensive. Only one published review stands behind it, and it costs about as much as the MXR Carbon Copy, which has broader reviewer support.
If you want long repeats on a small budget: the JHS Pedals 3 Series Delay runs from 80ms to 800ms and has a toggle that switches between a darker analog voice and a cleaner one. No published review is cited for it, so the TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay is the safer cheap choice.
The Boss DM-2w Delay (Waza Craft) has a Custom mode that reaches 800ms, plus an expression input, and Premier Guitar gave it 4.5 out of 5. It uses buffered bypass rather than true bypass, and only one review is cited, compared with two for the MXR Carbon Copy.
The Ibanez Echo Shifter adds tap tempo, switchable modulation and an oscillation control, and it earned 4.5 out of 5 from Premier Guitar and 4 from Bonedo. Bonedo's reviewer noted some hiss in analog mode and a stiff fader, and at 119.4 x 160 mm it is bulky.
If you want chorus and vibrato built in: the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man covers both, and Guitar Player's reviewer praised its rich, quiet sound. Reviewers found the six knobs cramped, it needs 150 mA, and it is among the priciest pedals here.
The JHS Pedals 3 Series Delay and the Boss DM-2w Delay (Waza Craft) both reach 800 ms. The MXR Carbon Copy stops at 600 ms, and the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man at 550 ms.
Among the picks, the Walrus Audio ARP-87 is the one with stereo connections, and it also has tap tempo. The MXR Carbon Copy and the TC Electronic Bucket Brigade Analog Delay do not list stereo in their specs.
All of them use a 9V center-negative supply. Most draw well under 100 mA, such as the MXR Carbon Copy at 25 mA, but the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man needs 150 mA, so check your supply before buying that one.
Bonedo's reviewer heard slight noise from the MXR Carbon Copy and some background hiss from the Ibanez Echo Shifter in analog mode. Guitar Player's reviewer described the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man as very quiet.
We looked at analog bucket-brigade delays that are sold new and have at least one published review or retailer rating. We then weighed their review scores, how many sources back those scores and where each pedal sits on price, and chose a best overall, a budget pick and a step up. PedalBro does not test pedals itself.
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