YALED Delay (demo/review)

[CoolGuitarGear]

YALED DELAY is a true bypass pedal by Korean creator Pedal Mob. It’s a simple delay with Time, Repeats and Mix. But as simple as this delay is, it is quite exceptional for $65. And so, what makes it exceptional? There are two main factors: 1) It is an analog delay, which makes the effect warm; and 2) It is amazingly clear with digital delay characteristics. In fact, I pitted the YALED DELAY against the Universal Audio Del-Verb and found the YALED DELAY superior in sound quality. This is not a cheaper Chinese-made delay, and those are fine for some players, but the audio-grade components in each individual part-hand-built YALED DELAY takes this effect to a different level. It also has no negative influence on the original tone, which I demonstrate in the demo by comparing the guitar tone with the pedal on versus off (and Mix turned all the way down). I notice slight changes in tone with other delay pedals that cost far more, and even hundreds of dollars.



Now, YALED DELAY is far simpler than many other delays, in that it doesn’t offer modulation or types of delay. But if you need a basic delay effect for rhythm that ranges from a quick slap-back to something more spacious and open for lead, then this is the ticket. Nonetheless, it has another feature that allows you to power it via 9VDC or 12VDC (100mA current draw), the latter of which offers more headroom and clarity. I really like it on 12VDC because as you turn up the mix, the result is more noticeable: The delay repeats sound bolder and to the point of being as loud as the original signal once the mix pushes past 12-noon and particularly up full. And therein lies another feature, with its internal design including a slight 2-3dB boost. This is fantastic as some delays can muddy the waters slightly (a slightly lower and duller sound).

The Time element goes up to 600ms, which may not be enough for some ambient players who like that distinct separation in time between the original tone and the delay response, but this delay suits my needs in general; if I need something broader, then I’ll utilize a different delay pedal. The same is true if I need modulation of some type, which I rarely use, preferring something clean, clear and bold. The Repeats range from barely noticeable (even somewhat less than a slap-back, which is good for doubling the signal for a thicker response) all the way to infinite repeats. One thing that may dissuade a buyer is that when you turn off YALED DELAY, the repeats are cut off immediately, due to it being true-bypass and not buffered bypass. I don’t recall needing the trails to continue after I shut off the pedal, so that does not affect my compositions nor playing.

My final verdict? Well, YALED DELAY now has become my main delay pedal. And I should add, as demonstrated in the video, that it blends very well with other delay pedals due to its exceptional clarity. And for those who like mini-pedals, to fit better on small to large cluttered boards, that’s a plus (size & weight: 3.7x1.9x1.9(inch)/93x47x47(mm), 0.33lbs/150g). YALED DELAY currently is available through www.eBay.com
https://www.pedalmob.com/pedals