Electro-Harmonix Shrinks Down its Deluxe Memory Man Modulated Analog Delay to Nano Proportions

Electro-Harmonic is another brand which seems to be somewhat on a roll at the moment and this is another great innovation - in reducing the Large format Deluxe Memory Man Delay down to Compact Nano size - while retaining the same number of controls.

The Memory Man series of delays have a very unique tone to them - which makes them so sought after - and while there are a few clones out there, very few get close enough to the glorious tones of the originals. For many still it’s a case of having absolutely the right BBD chips onboard - which used to be Japanese-made Reticon SAD1024 and Panasonic MN3007 varieties, and then latterly MN3005’s. Current versions contain Chinese-made Xvive MN300X chips - most typically Xvive MN3005 - which get pretty close - but for some are missing some of that original mojo magic.

For most though only EHX has the special sauce secret formula for this style of analog delay - which is so beloved by leading musicians and bands - including Radiohead and U2. J Rockett has made a decent job of it with its Clockwork Echo, and both Xvive and Pigtronix have done cool 5-Control Mini pedal versions - which will get many close enough. It’s nice to have an authentic compact pedal candidate direct from the experts though - I think there will be plenty of takers here.

Controls - Blend (Dry>Wet Mix), Feedback (Repeats/Oscillation), Delay Time (30ms - 550ms), Level (Input Gain), Rate (Modulation : Chorus at 9 o’c, Vibrato at 2 o’c), Depth (Modulation).

Controls are pretty much identical to the original - in slightly different order, and the one initially labelled CHRS/VIBR now bears the legend Rate (Modulation).

Original DMM Controls - Blend, Level, Feedback, *CHRS/VIBR, Depth, Delay.

I typically like my delays to be stereo and with presets attached - and while this is not as clever as Kevin Suhr’s recent Discovery Delay - it’s still really clever in its own way. The new more compact variety is priced at $203 vs the larger DMM at $239 - so some savings there.

I think if you’re wanting to dip your toes into the Memory Man Delay mystique - this is an incredible introduction to that. Perhaps not quite close enough for the purists - they tend to like those clunky big boxes anyway. For most of us though - a really decent compact slice of delay history.

I am certainly intrigued - while this would not necessarily be a priority for me - certain very easy to slot in! Who know - I might just get one opportunistically.

Anyone tempted here?