Boss DD-5 Digital Delay (JHS Analog Tone Mod)

Here’s another installment of the Digital Delay stompbox series from Boss: the DD-5. This is a great delay in it’s stock version, but I got my hands on one that has been modded by our friends over at JHS Pedals to add in a bit of analog flavoring. Let’s check it out!

Let’s go through the basic functions of the DD-5, then we’ll get to the mod. Lots of modes here, starting with 4 delay modes. These range in overall delay time from 1ms to 2000ms (2 full seconds!), which is a pretty nice range, and useable for most of us. Sure, there are other delays with longer times, but 2 seconds is a pretty long time, and can be just the right amount in many, many situations, especially in a live setting. Mode 5 is the Hold function, which I am not particularly fond of on this pedal. It’s a little tricky to figure out, and doesn’t have a huge range, either. Not my favorite feature here, but that’s about my only complaint. The ability to do Reverse is fun, for sure, which is another reason I dig the DD-5. Hours of wacked-out noises can come from the reverse setting, as many of you know, and it’s no different here. The E/D mode outputs your Dry signal from one channel and the Wet signal from the other, making for more sonic fun to explore. The last dial features 4 different tap tempo selections (quarter, dotted eighth, eighth and quarter note triplet) for use with an external tap tempo switch (like the FS-5U).

Now, when you flip the installed toggle switch provided by the JHS mod, your delay is transformed from a stock, bright and sharp digital delay into a warm, fuzzy, soft & familiar analog delay sound. This contrast makes this pedal twice as interesting, especially being able to switch between the modes on the fly (again, great in the live setting). Or, you can just find the tone you like and stick with it, never having to touch the dials again! A simple modification to your pedal, but one that is well worth it, and will only add to your enjoyment of this delay. These little Boss delays are among some of my favorites, as they each possess their own unique flavors and tones, and with this mod from JHS, the DD-5 absolutely rocks.