Boss Are Exciting Delay Aficionados With These Awesome New Pedals!

Always at the forefront of musical effect innovation, Boss is releasing some super interesting products that cast an eye to the past while firmly grounded in the present. These cutting-edge releases promise to captivate musicians with their unique blend of nostalgia and modernity.

If echo and delay based effects are your cup of tea, Boss has recently thrilled the market with three ‘solution in a box’ pedals: the DM-101 Delay Machine, the RE-202 Space Echo, and the SDE-3000D Dual Digital Delay. We will take a deep dive into their unique features, explore their ideal users, and discover the magic they bring to your musical creations

Boss DM-101 Delay Machine

So, let’s start off with the Delay Machine DM-101. This retro-looking effects pedal has been causing quite a stir in the world of delay aficionados, but why? Well, that’s because this is the first new compact delay pedal from boss since the DM-3 that features a fully analogue circuitry! With the exception of the DM-2W, the Waza Craft variant released in 2014, Boss had not introduced a new analogue compact delay since 1988 when they discontinued the DM-3 in favour of emerging digital delay technology. Now, in a bold return to their analogue roots, Boss presents their latest offering, marking the re-entry into the realm of analogue compact delays.

But what does all of this analogue talk actually mean for me as a musician?! The short answer – it sounds great. There are eight BBD (bucket-brigade device) microchips powering this thing, which offer rich, warm and saturated delay. There is a plethora of different modes which you can easily dial in an interesting, musical delay that is bound to inspire. On top of this, you can have modulation on every different mode, allowing for some totally cookie sounds.

Other tweak friendly specifications include four different onboard presets, 1200 milliseconds of delay time, tap tempo, full stereo output for 6 modes and MIDI expression control. If you’re looking for an all-in-one delay pedal that’s going to tick every conceivable box, look no further than the DM-101.

Boss RE-202 Space Echo

Although the Delay Machine is the first analogue compact delay pedal Boss has produced in a number of years, the Space Echo RE-202 is perhaps the most iconic. The RE-201, a tape delay unit Boss released in 1974, has a legacy that no other effects unit can proudly claim. Artists like Pink Floyd, Bob Marley and Radiohead all used the RE-201 to produce some fantastic music manipulating the tape machine to create organic swells to pitch shifting oscillation.

However, as with all tape machines, the RE-201 requires maintenance that is out of most people’s capabilities. Enter the RE-202. After 15 years since the company last revisited the Space Echo range, we have finally been treated to the RE-202 a triple switch compact pedal. This compact unit offers a classic multi-head tape echo with extended delay time, featuring an original three-head configuration alongside an additional tape head, enabling 12 unique echo combinations. It boasts an independent stereo reverb section with a variety of reverberation types, such as spring reverb, hall, plate, room, and ambience, allowing for creative sonic exploration.

If you’re after a more pedal friendly sized unit then Boss have you covered. The RE-2 is the stompbox version and although it isn’t as feature heavy as the RE-202 it does give you plenty of the Space Echo’s mojo.

Boss SDE-3000D Dual Digital Delay

If the modern tone shaping possibilities that digital delay pedals can offer is more attuned to your style then the SDE-3000D Dual Digital Delay is more likely to be up your street.

The SDE-3000D is based on the Roland SDE-3000, a rack mounted digital delay unit released in 1983 which quickly became a favourite of touring musicians and studio boffins alike. You won’t believe the level of versatility they’ve packed into this bad boy. It’s got fully independent delays, flexible internal routing, and a boatload of I/O options that’ll rock any mono or stereo setup you throw at it.

You’ve got three super handy footswitches right at your feet for instant control. Tap tempo, memory selection, delay hold – you name it, they’ve got it covered. It’s like having your dream control centre at your disposal. You can totally expand your creativity by connecting up to four footswitches or two expression pedals with the two control jacks. And if you’re feeling fancy, you can even hook up the GA-FC/GA-FC EX for some external operation magic.

All those Van Halen fans out there should check out the SDE-3000DEVH, which was made in collaboration with EVH to replicate his humongous three cabinet large guitar sound.

FAQs

Q: Are Boss pedals good quality?

A: Absolutely! We have heard Boss pedals being referred to as ‘little tanks’ and we agree with that completely. Their incredibly robust metal enclosures can survive even the most rigorous gigging and the pedal style footswitch can withstand the hardest of stomps from any set of platformed Dr. Martens (take our word for it). Don’t just take our word for it, Boss are so confident in their pedals’ durability that they give you a five year warranty against any manufacturers defect!

Q: Do Boss pedals need a power supply?

A: There are 2 different ways you can power a Boss pedal, either by a 9V power supply or with a 9V battery. The pedals’ footswitch houses a battery compartment which is opened by unscrewing the lever from the base. However, be warned, these pedals are quite power hungry, so if you’re planning on gigging with one, we’d recommend a 9V power supply. If you are powering a single pedal then something like this Stagg PSU-9V1AR-UK will do the job and is a good budget option. Alternatively, you can go for the Boss official PSA230ES, which Boss recommend.

Q: What company make Boss pedals?

A: Boss are a division of parent company Roland and have existed since 1973. Boss compact stompboxes were first introduced with release of the DS-1 back in ’78 but before this, there was an era known as ‘BC’ (Before Compact) which lasted between ’76 and ’77. This is when the company were initially dipping their toes in the effects world and were making larger scale products like the GE-10 Graphic Equalizer and the DB-5 Boss Driver. These effects were housed in bigger units, much like the recently released DM-101 Delay Machine and the RE-202 Space Echo.