Electro Harmonix Memory Boy

First the good news.

If you want ehx memory man 'style' analog delay at a bargain price then this is a pretty good pedal. Maximum delay is reported as 550ms (that is probably about right) and it sounds pretty dark but if you are looking at this then you already know that don't you? If you are looking for long delay times and super clear repeats then, as others have said look elsewhere, but if you want the 'lofi' analog decay within the half second parameter then, for the price, this is a pretty good bet. The delays sound warm, the controls are straightforward (as long as you are careful with the feedback control as the pedal as an eagerness to self-oscillate), it comes with a power supply and that's all you need to know...

BUT the not so good news.

The modulation controls are pretty crazy and whilst you can get a nice modulated delay sound with the depth control a fraction off zero and the switches on triangle wave and chorus, anything more and you are in head swimming territory. The faster speed and the square wave modulations continue further into this 'experimental' territory. I haven't tried it with an expression pedal to control the modulation but I suspect that anyone but the most psychedelically inclined sonic experimenters will end up leaving the modulation well alone or on a very minimal setting.
I have managed to get a useable, though quite intense, chorus and a vibrato effect by playing with the controls but it's not exactly easy to dial in and I like, most I suspect, have perfectly good pedals to do these jobs for me.

I bought this as an analog delay pedal and, whilst the issues with the usability of the modulation controls are a negative, they don't stop this pedal being a success as a delay. Though it is a compromised success and if you are looking for a cheap, straightforward analog delay, without too much weird modulation, then you may want to consider the 'memory toy' for a little less money. Although when you factor in the fact this doesn't come with a power supply there really isn't much in it and you can always leave the modulation off!

First and foremost, the Memory Boy is a cheap pedal and for the price we can't be too picky. I made the mistake of thinking I'd get fantastic value for my money - well, I got good value but hardly fantastic. Having used it for a bit, I've decided to move on and buy something bigger and better.

The bits worth noting:

- Sound: weird. It might be just me but there is something metallic about it. Brighter than a "typical" analog delay but not as warm, either.

- Expression pedal control - this was the selling point for me. However, tweaking the parameters in real time (by means of an expression pedal or just by rolling the knobs) creates some weird, unpredictable noises that failed to charm me. A matter of personal taste, I guess - others may fall in love with them. Bear in mind I love all sorts of noise, especially guitar noises; also bear in mind I wanted a delay effect with an expression pedal so I could add "take off" noises to one or two songs - you know, when you fiddle with the delay time while the feedback is on. Well, the Memory Boy does something... else.

- Vibrato - that's actually surprisingly good. I don't suppose it is anything like a really good Rotovibe unit, although I haven't tried one. Sadly, I had no intention of buying a vibrato. All I wanted was a delay that would allow me to tweak some parameters with my foot (see previous point).

All said, I can't really recommend it. However, it might be just the thing for people who:
- want a simple delay effect with its own signature sound (a bit unorthodox, to say the least) and a few extra bits.
- want a cheap but really decent vibrato unit
- love awkward noises
- like the typical EHX metal housing that shouts at you: "I'll still be around when the grandchildren of your great-grandchildren are one foot in the grave."

In simple words? sound is so good but also so weird. This is not a typical kind of delay sound as you probably gonna expect. Especially modulations sound different and they're giving you awkward noises. It's a matter of your preferences and personal taste but I really like it just because everything in this pedal seems to be different. If I could describe the delay tone I would say it's very warm and deep. Just couple of words about built quality? It's very solid and durable. Looks cool as well. The only one thing I need to admit that the screws of the backplate were so tight that I couldn't open it and see how it looks inside.
All in all If you want a more classic and predictible delay sound you may want to look for sth else while it can create that sound it is quite hard to describe. Neverthless it's a piece of more bizzare and unique piece of my pedalboard now and despite the fact that it wasn't love from the first sigh I still have this pedal in my set and I really enjoy it.

What can i say about this unit it's one crazy piece of equipment when you first get to play with it. It's almost scary with the noises that it can make but after a while you can see why it's such a good pedal. It stands up rather well against it's big brother in terms of sounds and overall quality even though it's so much cheaper it lacks nothing significant that the more expensive originals posses.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this version if you really want a Memory Man but cannot afford 300 euro or so. It is in my eyes the best alternative you can get.

If you want a plain delay sound though you may want to look elsewhere while it can create that sound it is quite hard to get since the pedal has such a distinct set of knobs they really flavour the tone a lot.

About Electro Harmonix Memory Boy.
A medium size analog delay which i personally bought almost only for el. guitar use. Saying "almost" means that it's use is beyond only using it for a guitar.
A classic warm analog sound with 3 extra features which work absolutely perfect: a chorus modulation, a vibrato modulation and last but not least an expression pedal input which can handle the modulations or the delay in a very gentle and professional way. Of course depending on the expression pedal you use and its quality; i used a Hotone Soul Press which was more than enough.
About the delay of the pedal: an effect which will come in handy to any musician who thinks out of the box and is patient enough to explore the pedal to its full capacity. The sound, as i mentioned, is the classic analog warm sound which holds a character of its own and of the notes you play. The oscillation is just more than enough from a pedal of this range (regarding the size and cost).
The sound of the chorus and the vibrato is brilliant and turn your every sound into a very spacious and unique one.
The absence of tap tempo switch might be disturbing for some people who want a fast switch between delay speeds but if you are clever enough the expression pedal can do the job. Also have to mention that you save quite enough space on the pedalboard with the absence of tap tempo feature.
Regarding the hardware: the knobs are easy to spot on even from a standing position (excluding the modulation switch which you will have to have set before playing).
The main switch, and in my opinion the only foul of the pedal, but not very sure if it's a "lucky one" or it is the same on every pedal, is a little stiff when pressing. But again it is my taste which requires a little more soft press (some people find it normal).
Since it is the only "flaw" i have spoted i am not gonna deprive a "star of quality" and will close with that:
a very versatile delay pedal which is the money for value one and will keep every delay addict satisfied!

As usual with Electro Harmonix this is a small rugged pedal. Built to last. I believe you can jump on it and it would still work.

This does everything expected from an analog delay. It's easy to set, and after messing mildly with it you can get great sounds with no effort. The analog is warm and on some settings feels like a deeper reverb filling the sound with warmth. On the other hand you can also do some extreme delay stuff, bearing in mind that the repetition interval is limited.

I think for any person (like myself) who wants to just mess at home but also have something for gigs this is a great choice and not much to go wrong with.

I originally bought the Memory Boy just to add some depth to my electric guitar in live situations.

As all Electro Harmonix-Pedal, the case is rock-solid, heavy duty construction. The jack sockets are screwed shut, no wobbling of the jack plugs.

First of all, just a little bit of slap back delay gave the guitar a HUGE depth boost, instant big sound. I never turn it off anymore. Even just an almost inaudible setting adds so much warmth and depth!

But the fun really starts when you dial in the modulation. You can choose between triangle and square mod wave, and then between three rates via three-way switch. be sure to read the manual to know all the possible settings. Sounds from outer space ensue! With gentle mod settings I even got some super warm wobbly tape delay effects that I used on vocals and keys.

The Memory Boy is not a delay for super exact ms-delays or custom delay patterns, but instead invites you to experiment, and is very rewarding.