The JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay is a JHS Pedals delay pedal, currently around $99. Close alternatives include the MXR Analog Delay and the Keeley Magnetic Echo. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head.
JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay
JHS Pedals · pedal
The JHS 3 Series Tape Delay is an affordable analog-voiced delay pedal that recreates the warm, vintage character of classic tape echo machines. It offers short slapback for rockabilly and country rhythm, rhythmic dotted-eighth repeats for U2-style atmospherics, and long cascading repeats for ambient soundscapes. The repeats are dark and organic, gently degrading like real tape, which keeps the delay sitting behind the guitar rather than cluttering the mix. Part of JHS's stripped-down 3 Series line with one knob per function, it is favored by gigging players who want authentic tape warmth without boutique cost or menu diving. It pairs naturally with both clean and crunch amp tones and feels musical across blues, indie, country, and ambient styles.
What stands out
“It offers short slapback for rockabilly and country rhythm, rhythmic dotted-eighth repeats for U2-style atmospherics, and long cascading repeats for ambient soundscapes”
— from the listing
“Players broadly describe it as warm and tape-like with dark, organically degrading repeats that”
— from the community notes
“Repeats are warm and softly degrading, capturing the inspiring imperfection of real tape echo while staying out of the way of the dry note”
— from the reviews
“Its standout strength is delivering convincing vintage tape warmth with fast, simple dial-in at a budget price”
— from the community notes
“The repeats are dark and organic, gently degrading like real tape, which keeps the delay sitting behind the guitar”
— from the listing
- slapback
- ambient
- dark
- tape echo
- warmth
- delay
- indie
- vintage
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
28% 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)
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head
Vox
26% 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)
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head's bright balances out the dark tone
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Vox AC30 Rose Morris 80s
amplifier
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Vox AC30 Rose Morris 80s leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head
Diaz
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head
Vox
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Where this leans dark, Vox AC30CH Custom 30W Head answers back bright
1964 Vox AC30
Vox
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Where this leans dark, 1964 Vox AC30 answers back glassy
Ceriatone Dizzy 30
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run Ceriatone Dizzy 30 after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Bad Cat *PRE Order* Hot Cat Head
Bad Cat
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Bad Cat *PRE Order* Hot Cat Head's bright balances out the dark tone
Pedals that stack with the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay
Catalinbread VariOboost
Catalinbread
24% 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 Catalinbread VariOboost after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
23% 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)
Where this leans dark, Catalinbread Galileo answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
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.
Keep JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay's slapback voice out front: Walrus Audio Lillian goes after JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay in the signal chain so its bright voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
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.
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter's lush voice goes after JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay's own slapback character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Artec SE-OE3
Artec
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Artec SE-OE3 leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Ashdown Pro-FX Two-Band Boost
Ashdown
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Ashdown Pro-FX Two-Band Boost's bright balances out the dark tone
Boss GEB-7 Bass Graphic EQ
Roland
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Boss GEB-7 Bass Graphic EQ's bright balances out the dark tone
Tech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Mop Top Liverpool
Tech 21
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Tech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Mop Top Liverpool's bright balances out the dark tone
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
64% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, dark
Keeley Eccos Tape Flanged Delay
Keeley
61% similarityShared character: unique soundscapes, delay, dark
Boss RE-2 Space Echo
Boss
59% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, warm
Strymon EC-1
Strymon
58% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, warm
Carl Martin DeLayla XL
Carl Martin
58% similarityShared character: delay, warm, vintage charm
Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM
Electro-Harmonix
57% similarityShared character: repeats, dark, delay
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
67% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, dark
Keeley Magnetic Echo
Keeley
64% similarityShared character: delay, dark, ambient
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
62% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, dark
Walrus Audio Fundamental Delay
Walrus Audio
58% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, simple
Electro-Harmonix Pico ReRun
Electro-Harmonix
58% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, warm
Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo
Benson Amps
56% similarityShared character: dark, repeats, delay
See all alternatives to the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR Analog Delay, the Keeley Magnetic Echo, the Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini. Budget picks: Lovepedal Echo Baby, TC Electronic Echobrain Analog Delay Effetto Delay A. Boutique upgrades: Strymon El Capistan, Keeley Eccos Tape Flanged Delay, Boss RE-2 Space Echo.
What pairs well with the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head, Vox AC30 Rose Morris 80s — Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp leans bright right where the dark tone needs it.
How much does the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay cost?+
Around $99 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).
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