The MXR Analog Delay is an MXR delay pedal. Close alternatives include the JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay and the Carl Martin Echotone. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Boss Acoustic Singer Pro.
MXR Analog Delay
MXR · pedal
The MXR M169 Analog Delay produces warm, musical bucket-brigade repeats with a natural, gradually degrading decay that feels organic rather than mechanically precise, sitting behind the dry signal instead of standing sharply apart from it the way digital delay does. Its straightforward controls keep it simple to dial in for anything from short slapback to longer, ambient trails, and the analog circuit stays musical even as repeats fade rather than turning harsh or brittle. It suits players wanting authentic, warm analog delay character without the complexity of a multi-mode digital delay.
What stands out
“sitting behind the dry signal”
— from the listing
“[Pros] ✓ 100% analog BBD circuit delivers warm vintage repeat character digital delays cannot replicate — highs roll off naturally with each repeat so dry signal always cuts through ✓ Mod switch adds a swirling chorus-like warble to the del…”
— from the reviews
“• [Sound] Warm, dark bucket-brigade repeats that progressively lose highs, making each echo sit behind the dry signal • [Use] Go-to for classic rock slapback, ambient leads, and always-on modulation shimmer across blues, …”
— from the community notes
“built-in mod switch adds tape-machine-style chorus warble to repeats only”
— from the community notes
- dry
- warm
- ambient
- slapback
- noise
- chorus
- delay
- modulation
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Genres the MXR Analog Delay is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Shoegaze
- Metal
- Country
- Blues
- Ambient
Amps that pair well with the MXR Analog Delay
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
32% 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)
MXR Analog Delay's warm character and Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp's bright voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss Acoustic Singer Pro
Boss
30% 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)
Boss Acoustic Singer Pro's own high headroom character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
PRS Archon
PRS
20% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put MXR Analog Delay in PRS Archon's effects loop, clear of PRS Archon's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EVH 5150 III
Evh
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.
Put MXR Analog Delay in EVH 5150 III's effects loop, clear of EVH 5150 III's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Bad Cat Hot Cat
Bad Cat
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. (high gain → slapback)
Keep Bad Cat Hot Cat's bright voice out front: MXR Analog Delay goes in Bad Cat Hot Cat's effects loop so its warm voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Randall RG100ES
Randall
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.
Keep MXR Analog Delay in Randall RG100ES's effects loop, clear of Randall RG100ES's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Soldano X88
Soldano
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. (high gain → slapback)
Keep Soldano X88's high gain voice out front: MXR Analog Delay goes in Soldano X88's effects loop so its warm voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Peavey 6505 II
Peavey
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. (high gain → slapback)
Keep Peavey 6505 II's high gain voice out front: MXR Analog Delay goes in Peavey 6505 II's effects loop so its warm voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the MXR Analog Delay
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
31% 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)
Analog Delay's dry, warm slapback isn't a gain stage — it trails the Tube Screamer's own blues boost with echo instead of more drive.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
RHC Rat Turbo Rat Distortion
Rhc Audio
30% 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)
RHC Rat Turbo Rat Distortion leans toward aggressive, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
25% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put the Lillian's subtle analog phase ahead of the Analog Delay so the sweep rides the repeats instead of chasing them.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
23% 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 MXR Analog Delay's warm voice out front: Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter goes after MXR Analog Delay in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Distortion
Blackstar
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. (high gain → slapback)
MXR Analog Delay's warm voice goes after Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Distortion's own high gain character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Revv G3 (Purple Channel Distortion)
Revv
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. (high gain → slapback)
Keep Revv G3 (Purple Channel Distortion)'s full voice out front: MXR Analog Delay goes after Revv G3 (Purple Channel Distortion) in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
JHS Angry Charlie
JHS Pedals
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. (high gain → slapback)
MXR Analog Delay's warm voice goes after JHS Angry Charlie in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with JHS Angry Charlie's own crunchy character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Demon FX Gladiator
Demon Fx
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. (high gain → slapback)
Keep MXR Analog Delay after Demon FX Gladiator in the signal chain, clear of Demon FX Gladiator's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay
JHS Pedals
69% similarityShared character: repeats, analog delay, true bypass
Carl Martin Echotone
Carl Martin
67% similarityShared character: delay, signal, true bypass
JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay
JHS Pedals
67% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, dark
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
67% similarityShared character: repeats, analog delay, signal
Electro-Harmonix Nano Memory Toy
Electro-Harmonix
67% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, analog delay
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
67% similarityShared character: delay, repeats, analog delay
J. Rockett Clockwork Echo
J Rockett
65% similarityShared character: repeats, dry signal, dark
Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: repeats, analog delay, dark
Chase Bliss Thermae
Chase Bliss Audio
64% similarityShared character: noise, analog delay, dark
Keeley Magnetic Echo
Keeley
64% similarityShared character: dry signal, dark, delay
T-Rex Reptile Delay
T Rex
63% similarityShared character: true bypass, noise, delay
Benson Amps Tap Tempo
Benson Amps
63% similarityShared character: repeats, noise, chorus
See all alternatives to the MXR Analog Delay (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR Analog Delay?+
The closest matches in character are the JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay, the Carl Martin Echotone, the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay.
What pairs well with the MXR Analog Delay?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Boss Acoustic Singer Pro, PRS Archon — MXR Analog Delay's warm character and Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp's bright voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other.