All user reviews of 4/5 for the Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

I ordered it from my local music store, Limelight Music. I needed another delay pedal that could do more. I payed $110 for it.

It hurts my ears. They should give you a huge warning about turning the feedback level all the way up and messing with the knobs. It was amazing though. There are always certain things about analog and certain things about digital, and as a recomendation, check this pedal out. If you're up for exerimentation then buy it. It has ample delay time and it's very quiet.

It hurts my ears, it's a love/hate kind of thing.

It's very sturdy, I've never had a Boss pedal fall apart on me, you can stomp the living crap out of them and they don't budge.

If you're looking for a good average priced digital delay then i suggest you check it out.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Compact delay pedal with superb BOSS sound quality
Provides 3 delay time modes and a Delay Time control for quick adjustment of exact delay time between 12.5ms - 800ms
Hold function repeats delay sound indefinitely for interesting effects
BOSS 5-year warranty

This is the legendary boss dd-3,the newer revision of this has some new features but the sound, function and size are the same. It's a great delay for those who are just getting into the idea of owning and using a digital delay pedal who don't really know what they're looking for yet but want something simple to use, that sounds good and can open doors into the whole delay world for you.

UTILIZATION

This is as simple as a digital delay can possibly get. And yes digital delays are usually a bit more complex with knobs and functions than analog delays as there are a lot more parameters that one can control.

But again just like with most pedals you can start with everything up at noon and adjust from there. the E. Level knob is like a mix knob allowing how much of your signal is going to be 'wet' with delay. The Feedback knob controls how long the delay will sustain for before it cuts out of the signal. And the delay time controls how soon or how late the repeats will come in or out.

The mode knob is what's been changed as far as I can remember with the older 90s versions but it's stupid simple. You adjust the length of repeats that the pedal can operate with I think it goes up to 800ms on these. And the HOLD function is for that oscillation effect, if you're in this mode, all you do is press and hold the footswitch and the delay effect will repeat into a neverending cycle and create a cool space-like effect, "oscillation".


SOUND QUALITY

The sound of course is digital. This means that the repeats itself are very clear and precise with quite a bit of presence. Technically, the repeats should be just as clear and precise as the original sound source, that's the point of digital delays. Also digital delays tend to usually allow longer repeat times than analog delays.

So there's not much to judge here about the sound as delay pedals are really just meant to repeat your original sound source. I will say this however, placement of the pedal changes how the delay sound, for example if you put this in the FX loop and use amp distortion, your delays will be clear and not muddy vs if you put this out in front while using amp distortion. Experiment and see what you prefer the sound of, there is no right or wrong.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, best basic digital delay. Legendarily known for being so and definitely worth looking into for those who are just getting started with delay. For those who've played with delay pedals for years and years they'll know what to to with this for sure and have probably moved on to other bigger pieces of gear with more knobs etc. But this has always been a great simple effect to experiment with new guitar sounds and get your creative juices flowing.

The DD-3 is an effect of providing a time limit numrique mode "hold" on which I shall return later.
with respect to connectivity, it has a mono input and two outputs (the main output can be used alone or mixed with the output line)

UTILIZATION

Use mode delay is relatively simple, we have a potentiomtre dry / wet, a level of feedback, the delay time is about two potentiomtre RULES, the one used to choose the 'scale and refine the other.
the hold function is somewhat more complicated to use, it allows to complete a small sample, one with the hard RULES potentiomtre time delay, then you must press the p dale APRS jou have the sound that you want rpter (you must hold to keep the pies that the sound is jou loop). this mode is trs INTERESTED unfortunately difficult to use.
the manual is more succinct that, despite the simplicity of the pedals, he could be more dvelopp.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is enjoyable and the time limit trs mimics quite well the behavior of an analog delay.
I use it mainly with my guitar, but I use it occasionally with other instruments (synths, filters, etc.).

OVERALL OPINION

I am happy with the pedals trs, especially since I bought it I found a price more reasonable than that normally announced (I got it new 75 euros). between a tap tempo would welcome t for ease of use but we can not have everything ... the pedals to me quite indispensable, even if a DD5 might suit me better (the prices are so Boss levs I m'accomode trs much of this model).

The Boss DD-3 is shown as his accrostiches a digital delay, having an input (mono) and two outputs.
We find an entry for the 9v AC power, and as usual at Boss, the case of housing for a 9V battery inside the pedal, easily accessible through an extremely simple but ingenious system of screws.

UTILIZATION

The Boss DD-3 fish a little in terms of ease of use.
We find a button to adjust the intensity of the effect, another to adjust the feedback, and 2 to set the time (there is a little more complicated to know what is each of the two knobs).
But the real difficulty is the last knob, the "HOLD" does not serve as one might think to prevent any untoward engagement of the pedal but to create short samples.
The manual is really too amber against all these subtleties.

SOUND QUALITY

However for basic use as a delay / echo the DD-3 proved tasty, and enhances the game by giving it a depth delicious choice (because "I think I'm Gary Moore playing in the Andes") or a its dry, percussive (when the delay is very short).
I use it on Gibson SG and Fender Telecaster Std Std US, primarily in the studio on a Marshall Stack, and I am very satisfied at this level.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for over a month, enough I admit occasionally (when I play Metallica or Gary Moore).
I have not had the opportunity to test other models before buying.
I was advised many times the Boss Giga Delay pedal is a double cost almost € 100 more. I thought it was overkill for the use I have.
I think I do it again if the same choice over again, although I find the price a little high (a board turn to the market OCCAZ).

- Digital Delay
- Controls for level, feedback, delay time, and mode
- Direct out
- Buffered bypass
- Powered by 9V battery or Boss style adapter
- Boss build and durability
- Easy battery access
- 800ms of delay time
- Hold function


UTILIZATION

My biggest gripe with this pedal is the delay modes. I see no reason why there need to be three different parameters for delay time, as opposed to one knob that runs from 12.5ms to 800.
There is no tap tempo on this pedal, so if that is what you’re after, you’ll need to look at one of the later models like the dd6 or 7.
The direct out, easy battery access are nice features. I didn’t find a whole lot of use for the hold function, you’d be better off looking at something like the EHX freeze. To clarify, this is NOT a looping function.


SOUND QUALITY

Classic digital delay. You won’t get any analog warmth or imperfections here, so if that’s what you’re after, keep looking. The repeats are exact digital replications of what goes in to it, and fade out as such. Some call it sterile, it really depends what kind of delay you are looking for.
The tone is definitely in demand, to the extent that Boss reissued this pedal alongside the current DD7 model. As digital delays go, this is an excellent representation of the industries early offerings.


OVERALL OPINION

A classic pedal that captures the essence of digital delay. This is pretty much the bare basics, just enough features to get you by, with a few added frills. My biggest complaint is the lack of tap tempo, something that you end up using quite a bit with something as stable as digital delay. I don’t find myself missing it when using analog or tape for some added character. But especially when using delay rhythmically, you tend to need it.
But that said, it really is a great little delay pedal, at an affordable price.

This is pretty much the standard when it comes to the industry used digital delay pedal. There isn't a short list of players who have used this pedal. Everyone and their grandmother have used this pedal at one time or another. This is a great pedal and can be found out many recordings since its inception in 1986.

There are three version updates to this pedal through the years. Each usually was a chip update or removal. The chips don't sound all that different I think is was matter of cost changes with chips through the years.

UTILIZATION

Specifications

Controls: E.Level, F.Back, D.Time, 4-way Mode switch
Connectors: Input, Output, Direct Out, AC Adaptor
Current Draw: 55 mA (DC 9V, D.Time control at center)
Weight: 450 g (0.99 lb.)
A/D Conversion: 12-bit logarithmic compression
D/A Conversion: 12-bit logarithmic compression
Input Impedance: 1Mohm (FET Input)
Residual Noise Level: -95dBm (IHF-A)
Recommended Load Impedance: 10kOhm or greater
Delay Time: 12.5 to 800ms
Recommended AC Adaptor: PSA Series


SOUND QUALITY

This is still one of the best delays in history. The tone of it is fantastic and colorful. One of the riffs that I always hear with this pedal is the Welcome to the Jungle by guns N Roses. I am almost positive that Slash used this pedal on that opening riff that is now infamous.

This pedal works great in just about any application. If you want to add a nice cutting delay to your distortion tone like Slash then here it is. If you want something that is clean and beautiful like a nice U@ riff then this is a great pedal for that.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these pedal come in at around $139, which is a great price for this pedal. This is a great delay and will last a long time touring or gigging. Boss pedals have a great build to them that make them great night after night of playing. Even large amounts of abuse will not keep these pedals.

This is a digital delay stomp box from boss, it has 1/4" input and outputs, can be powered with a standard 9V adaptor or using an internal 9V battery. It has four controls which are: Effect level, Feedback, Delay time and a four way Mode selector.

The four modes are Short, Medium, Long and Hold.

The Short has delay times between 12.5ms and 50ms, the Medium goes between 50ms and 200ms and the Long mode has delays of 200ms to 800ms.

The hold function will infinitely repeat the section of sound that is being played while the foot pedal is pressed down. When the pedal is released it will continue to repeat this section until the foot pedal is tapped again to stop the effect.

UTILIZATION

This pedal is fairly simple to set up and operate, the only thing I have difficulty using effectively is the hold function but I'm sure with some practice I'd be able to get it done better.

There are lots of useable settings in this delay unit from a slapback sound to long spacey delays.

SOUND QUALITY

I have used this pedal extensively with my friends Fender Highway one Telecaster and Marshall JCM900 amplifier. This pedal has crystal clear digital repeats which don't begin to become darker or distorted as they go on like analog delays do. To lots of people this will be an excellent feature on for a delay pedal, I personally really don't like it, I much prefer analog sounding delay units to ones like this.

I found this pedal sounded a lot nicer and fitted in with the other effects pedals I was using when put into the effects loop of the marshall.

OVERALL OPINION

The thing I like most about this pedal is the hold feature, despite the fact I find it tricky to use, as I haven't seen it on any other delay unit i've tried except the DD6 and it's quite an interesting effect.

The thing I dislike most about this pedal is the clean repeats, which sound quite sterile to me and the buffered bypass.

Overall I think this is a good pedal if you like the digital delay sound.

The Boss DD-3 is pretty much the absolute standard of delay pedals. It features multiple modes of delay from 12.5ms to 800ms, so it can act as both a reverb and a delay. There are knobs for the level, feedback and delay time to control the overall setting you choose.

UTILIZATION

These pedals are very rugged. Boss is known for building tough pedals, and this is no exception. The Boss DD-3 is one of the better delay pedals that Boss makes. Some of them, like the DD-6, sound a bit more digital, but this one isn't too bad. It lacks the ability to be run in stereo, but I find that actually helps preserve the tone a bit more. The manual is well written, and it's a cinch to setup in any rig. I recommend running this in the loop as it doesn't sound quite as nice in front. Things like the Echoplex and other vintage/tape delays work better for that.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound of the DD-3 is quite nice out of the box. It does have a little hint of digital flavor with the repeats, but that's an easy fix with a simple capacitor across the lugs of the feedback pot. The various delay times allow it to even be used as a slight reverb. It won't be a very rich one, but it can work in a pinch. One of the real cool tricks that Paul Gilbert helped show everyone is that you can play a phrase, turn it on real quick and it'll loop that phrase. You can hear this being done on his "Get Out of My Yard" album on the very first song.

OVERALL OPINION

If you're contemplating on getting a basic delay pedal, I highly recommend looking into this. It's a nice pedal that won't break the bank, it'll take nearly any abuse you throw at it, and it's also easy to modify. The lack of stereo is a bit disappointing, but it helps make up for it in overall tone.

It's a simple pedal comprising a volume effect, a feedback, setting a time limit and a function selector (short delay + delailong hold function)
2 outputs (if one wants to play in stereo with one side with one side effect and without)

UTILIZATION

Pedal intuitive and extremely simple

SOUND QUALITY

I use this for guitar.
I find it sounds very beautiful in my use.

It's a digital effect so there is no loss of treble, this may seem a bit too clinical and clean.
I use the upstream channel amp even crunch the repetitions are so dirty and warmed by the amp.

I do not use the short time since I do not like the record but it may be due to my musical culture.

The hold function may seem gadget but it can add a little something on the compound.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm happy with my choice, it is sufficient for my use and it does not the food nor the dynamic sound.
Very good bypass, very neutral buffer for those who prefer a true bypass.

I think most comprehensive jeprendrais a period later (tap tempo, programmable) if my music demands.
Or a period in addition to analog