The Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man is an Electro-Harmonix delay pedal, currently around $175.51. Close alternatives include the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM and the Boss DM-2 Delay. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Marshall Super Bass.
Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man is a bucket-brigade analog delay, first released in the late 1970s, known for warm, musical repeats that blend into the dry signal rather than sitting distinctly apart from it the way a digital delay does. Its built-in chorus and vibrato modulation can be blended into the delay trail, adding a washy, reverb-like character reminiscent of tape echo, especially at shorter delay times. Compared to a clean digital delay, its repeats are hazier and more glued together, an effect that becomes even more pronounced when overdrive or fuzz sits upstream in the chain. It became closely associated with The Edge's early U2 sound, and remains a benchmark for warm, organic analog delay with built-in modulation.
What stands out
“dilengkapi fitur modulasi chorus atau vibrato yang membuat efek ini layak buat pegangan musisi yang suka main psycadelic (Coba eksplor knob2nya sampai level maximum)”
— from the community notes
“Lush, warm analog delay with modulated repeats and built-in chorus/vibrato; dark, organic bucket-brigade echo with a thick, swimming character”
— from the reviews
“• The delay is legendary, the chorus \u0026 vibrato is just magnificent — The Deluxe Memory Man is known for its very tasteful bbd-delay - an analog circuit in all its blurred and washed out glory, but where it also really shines is in crea…”
— from the community notes
“It became closely associated with The Edge's early U2 sound, and remains a benchmark for warm, organic analog delay with built-in modulation”
— from the listing
“Its built-in chorus and vibrato modulation can be blended into the delay trail, adding a washy, reverb-like character reminiscent of tape echo, especially at shorter delay times”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“Compared to a clean digital delay, its repeats are hazier and more glued together, an effect that becomes even more pronounced when overdrive or fuzz sits upstream in the chain”
— from the listing
“Pedal perfeito, misturando phaser e chorus também com meu Small Stone e Micro Chorus a opção do vibrato dá um som ambiente exótico e lindo”
— from the community notes
- chorus
- analog delay
- vibrato
- delay
- lush
- modulation
- dark
- organic
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man is commonly used in
- Ambient
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rockabilly
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Lo Fi
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Shoegaze
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
39% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
The AC30's bright, chiming sparkle suits the Memory Man's lush analog echo, both leaning into that classic British shimmer.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
36% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Run Marshall Super Bass after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe
Fender
13% matchRun the Memory Man after the Tweed Deluxe's own breakup for lush, modulated echoes rather than a dry slap.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Marshall JCM800 2203's crunchy voice out front: Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man goes in Marshall JCM800 2203's effects loop so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar
amplifier
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man in Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar's effects loop, clear of Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp
Laney
11% matchRun the Memory Man's warm echoes in the RB3's loop so the amp's own DI-ready preamp stays clean for recording.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Laney LX35R
Laney
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Run Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man in Laney LX35R's effects loop, clear of Laney LX35R's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Bad Cat Black Cat
Bad Cat
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
The Memory Man's lush analog echo belongs in the Black Cat's loop, clear of the amp's own glassy clean gain.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 44 amps that pair with the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man →
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
40% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Push the Screamer's mid-hump into the Memory Man's own analog echo circuit and the repeats pick up a warmer, slightly driven edge.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Klon Centaur
Klon
36% matchWhat Klon Centaur brings here leans toward mid-forward — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
31% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The Lillian's subtle analog phasing follows the Memory Man's lush echo for a gentle layer of added motion.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
28% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter after Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
pedal
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Layer the CE-1's lush stereo chorus after the Memory Man's own analog modulation for a thicker, richer wash rather than doubling the same wobble.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Beetronics Swarm
Beetronics
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Memory Man's lush analog echo gives the Swarm's psychedelic fuzz textures somewhere to trail off into.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Beetronics Nectar
Beetronics
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Memory Man's lush analog echo trails the Nectar's boutique drive into a warm wash of repeats.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Memory Man's lush analog echo trails smoothly behind the RAT's gritty distortion, its warmth softening the pedal's edge.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 99 pedals that pair with the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man →
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
70% similarity“Dia tidak se-dark memory boy dan clarity delaynya juga asik”
Behringer VD400 Vintage Analog Delay
Behringer
63% similarityShared character: 1960s, delay, analog delay
J. Rockett Immortal Echo
J Rockett
57% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, modulation
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
95% similaritysimilar tone character
JHS 3 Series Delay
JHS Pedals
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Keeley Magnetic Echo
Keeley
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage
Electro-Harmonix
66% similarityShared character: 1960s, delay, analog delay
JHS Pedals JHS Mod Shop Deluxe Memory Boy
JHS Pedals
62% similarityShared character: delay, analog delay, dark
T-Rex Replicator D'luxe
T Rex
60% similarityShared character: delay, warm, overdrive
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
59% similarityShared character: delay, analog delay, dark
Keeley Dark Side V2
Keeley
58% similarityShared character: dark, vibrato, chorus
Keeley Halo
Keeley
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM
Electro-Harmonix
70% similarity“it captures the classic big box Deluxe Memory Man tone in a pedalboard friendly size”
Boss DM-2 Delay
Boss
65% similarityShared character: analog delay, classic, delay
Tru-Fi The Aqua Echo 600 Analog
Tru Fi
63% similarityShared character: analog delay, delay, modulation
Dunlop Way Huge WHE702 Echo Puss Analog
Dunlop
63% similarityShared character: analog delay, chorus, delay
Dunlop Echoplex Delay EP103
Dunlop
61% similarityShared character: delay, analog delay, dark
Keeley Caverns V2
Keeley
60% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, tank
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man?+
The closest matches in character are the Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM, the Boss DM-2 Delay, the Tru-Fi The Aqua Echo 600 Analog. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay, Behringer VD400 Vintage Analog Delay, J. Rockett Immortal Echo. Boutique upgrades: Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage, JHS Pedals JHS Mod Shop Deluxe Memory Boy, T-Rex Replicator D'luxe.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Marshall Super Bass, 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe — The AC30's bright, chiming sparkle suits the Memory Man's lush analog echo, both leaning into that classic British shimmer..
How much does the Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man cost?+
Around $175.51 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).
Compare
- vs Electro-Harmonix Nano Memory Toy
- vs Walrus Audio Bellwether Stereo Analog Delay
- vs Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay