Analog Delay. You love it, we love, almost anyone who listens to any music made in the last 3+ decades loves it (or they damn well should). Today’s featured pedal is one of the most recognizable and oft-used of these warm and modulated gems, due in part to its pronounced bright green solid enclosure. The M-118 Analog Delay from MXR is steeped in delay history, and with all the sounds you could want oozing out of every crack and crevice of this thing, there’s a reason why it’s considered one of the best.

Delay, Mix and Regen (Feedback) make up the super-basic control layout, so it’s an easy pedal to sit down with and dial in a great-sounding delay in literally seconds, if you’re that good. If you’re not, it’s a blast to use as an experimental portal to the past, recreating delay and echoes of years past, many of which are found on the classic albums you’re been listening to for years. Harkening back almost to the same style of tones found in the old Roland Space Echo units, the M-118 Delay sounds excellent placed anywhere in your signal chain, and with stereo outs, that can lead to endless sonic possibilities.

The repeats this green monster gives off will make your heart smile instantly, as it will to your guitar, amp and anyone within earshot. There’s a special quality about an old school analog delay that can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint, but to those of us who love the sound, no explanation is ever necessary. This particular version (we believe) is the second of 3 models that MXR produced, as it has the 2 outs but no LED to indicate when the effect is bypassed. Discontinued a long time ago, these things fetch a decent price on the Web when you can find them, but if you’re looking to take the leap and get an authentic, badass analog delay, this is one of the best you’re going to find.

GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES, CONTEST INFO, SEE OUR LATEST DEMO VIDEOS AND MORE: