The Strymon TimeLine is a Strymon delay pedal, currently around $414.86. Close alternatives include the Electro-Harmonix Canyon and the Matthews Effects The Surgeon Delay V2. It pairs well with the PRS HX 50 Head and the Traynor SB110.
Strymon TimeLine
Strymon · pedal
The Strymon Timeline is a flagship, comprehensive digital delay workstation offering twelve unique delay machines, from warm analog and tape echo emulations to crisp studio-quality digital, slapback, lo-fi, reverse, and creative effects. Its sound quality is widely considered exceptional, going from saturated, fluctuating tape and warm fuzzy analog repeats to shimmery, sparkling crystalline ice delays, all with just the right balance of clarity and warmth, and even at extreme settings the dry tone and note definition shine through. It includes deep parameter control, presets, looping, and full stereo, making it perhaps the most capable delay on the market. Favored by experimental, ambient, rock, and post-rock players for its reverse and lo-fi soundscapes, it covers everything from precise rhythmic delays to evolving ambient textures, though its depth and price come with a learning curve and an interface some find complex.
What stands out
“It includes deep parameter control, presets, looping, and full stereo, making it perhaps the most capable delay on the market”
— from the listing
“A flagship digital delay whose twelve delay machines deliver exceptional sound quality across warm analog and tape emulations, pristine studio digital, slapback, lo-fi, reverse, and creative effects, with the dry tone and note definition pr…”
— from the reviews
“The Strymon Timeline is a flagship, comprehensive digital delay workstation offering twelve unique delay machines, from warm analog and tape echo emulations to crisp studio-quality digital, slapback, lo-fi, reverse, and creative effects”
— from the listing
“Its sound quality is widely considered exceptional, going from saturated, fluctuating tape and warm fuzzy analog repeats to shimmery, sparkling crystalline ice delays, all with just the right balance of clarity and warmth, and even at extre…”
— from the listing
“Poor looper for its price, reputation and potential”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“Limitations include a complex, sometimes distracting interface that some find pulls focus from playing, a steep learning curve to access its depth, and a high price and feature load that exceed the needs of players wanting a simple delay”
— from the reviews
“or were extremely unreliable to the point where they would break down easily”
— from the community notes
- delay
- digital delay
- digital
- studio
- warmth
- clarity
- stereo
- looper
Good for
- Live
- Silent Stage
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Strymon TimeLine is commonly used in
- Post-Rock
- Rock
- Experimental
- Ambient
- Lo Fi
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Strymon TimeLine
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
28% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Where this leans warm, PRS HX 50 Head answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Traynor SB110
Traynor
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Traynor SB110's bright balances out the warm tone
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head
Marshall
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.
Keep Strymon TimeLine in Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head's effects loop, clear of Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head
Diaz
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.
Put Strymon TimeLine in Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's effects loop, clear of Díaz CD-100 Amp Head's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
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.
Strymon TimeLine's pristine voice goes in PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head's effects loop — it's not there to compete with PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head's own high gain character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Studio 20H
Blackstar
10% 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 Strymon TimeLine in Blackstar HT Studio 20H's effects loop, clear of Blackstar HT Studio 20H's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Blackstar 1RH MKII
Blackstar
9% 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 Strymon TimeLine in Blackstar 1RH MKII's effects loop, clear of Blackstar 1RH MKII's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII
Blackstar
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Strymon TimeLine's pristine voice goes in Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII's own dynamic character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the Strymon TimeLine
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
35% 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)
TimeLine's clear, studio-grade delay isn't stacking gain with the Tube Screamer — it's adding digital repeats after the pedal's own boost.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Klon Centaur
Klon
31% matchBoost with the Klon before the TimeLine so its digital repeats carry a warmer, more saturated tone.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
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.
Layer the Lillian's modern, bright phase sweep after the TimeLine's own warm, studio-grade digital delay for texture on the repeats.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
21% 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 Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter after Strymon TimeLine in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Strymon TimeLine
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Airis Effects 51-Filthy
Airis Effects
13% 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 Strymon TimeLine after Airis Effects 51-Filthy in the signal chain, clear of Airis Effects 51-Filthy's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion
Cusack Music
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 Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion's bright voice out front: Strymon TimeLine goes after Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion
Boss
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.
Strymon TimeLine's pristine voice goes after Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion's own bright character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electronic Audio Experiments Limelight
Electronic Audio Experiments
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 Strymon TimeLine after Electronic Audio Experiments Limelight in the signal chain, clear of Electronic Audio Experiments Limelight's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cheaper alternatives
Benson Amps Delay
Benson Amps
64% similarityShared character: digital, delay, ambient
TC Electronic Flashback 2
TC Electronic
64% similarityShared character: looper, analog, digital
Boss SDE-3000D
Boss
64% similarityShared character: delay, stereo, digital
Universal Audio Starlight Echo Station
Universal Audio
63% similarityShared character: delay, analog, stereo
Boss DD-8 Digital Delay
Boss
63% similarityShared character: looper, analog, stereo
Boss DD-500 Digital Delay
Boss
62% similarityShared character: looper, analog, digital
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Electro-Harmonix Canyon
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: delay, looper, analog
Matthews Effects The Surgeon Delay V2
Matthews Effects
63% similarityShared character: deep control, analog, digital
Strymon Dig 2FS Delay
Strymon
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Acoustic Strymon DIG V2 Dual Digital Delay
Acoustic
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Strymon TimeLine (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Strymon TimeLine?+
The closest matches in character are the Electro-Harmonix Canyon, the Matthews Effects The Surgeon Delay V2, the Strymon Dig 2FS Delay. Budget picks: Benson Amps Delay, TC Electronic Flashback 2, Boss SDE-3000D. Boutique upgrades: Meris LVX, Meris LVX Modular Delay System.
What pairs well with the Strymon TimeLine?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS HX 50 Head, Traynor SB110, Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head — Where this leans warm, PRS HX 50 Head answers back bright.
How much does the Strymon TimeLine cost?+
Around $414.86 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).