Shoegaze sound is best known for its layered echoes that bring depth and space to music. A delay pedal helps guitarists craft the dreamy textures associated with this genre. Here are the five best shoegaze delay pedals you should have on your pedalboard.
Strymon Timeline
The Strymon Timeline delivers 12 distinct delay machines. It can save up to 200 presets for live use and studio work.ย The three-foot switches mean easy live performance control with tap tempo and preset switching.ย
The pedal's most impressive feature is its sound manipulation capability. The dTape and dBucket modes recreate vintage delay characteristics. An expression pedal input provides real-time sound shaping. You also get MIDI connectivity for further technical control. The 30-second stereo looper is a godsend for live performers.ย
All of these features are packaged in an intuitive design. The robust construction means it can be used in studios or live performances without worrying about damaging it.ย
Pros
-
Large options of delay types
-
200 memory slots onboard for presets
-
Vintage gear emulations
Cons
-
High power requirement of 300mA
-
Premium pricing
Boss DD-8 Digital Delay
The Boss DD-8 offers 11 delay modes to musicians. You can experiment with the clear sound of digital delay or the warm echoes of tape delay. Add a new aspect to your sound with specialty modes like shimmer and reverse.ย
The DD-8 has a Warp feature to create ambient backgrounds or GLT mode for rhythmic textures of the shoegaze sound. Its stereo input and three outputs help you create a wide soundscape. The hold function allows you to add up to forty seconds of recording. It helps you add layers to your music without extra equipment.ย ย
You can extend the control by adding optional footswitches to this pedal. It has a smart I/O function that supports a wide range of stereo and mono connections.ย
Pros
-
Versatile delay modes
-
High-quality delays
-
Intuitive design
-
Compact design fits most setups
-
Stereo I/O
-
Carryover switch
-
It can run on batteries
Cons
-
Cannot use delay when looping
-
Short inbuilt battery life
Electro-Harmonix Canyon
The Electro-Harmonix Canyon is an affordable delay pedal loaded with features. It has eleven delay types for a wide range of sonic profiles. Here are some of the options you get in this delay pedal.
-
Shimmer
-
Sample and hold
-
Octave delays
The Canyon has a 62-second looper function that you can use to record backing tracks. It even comes with an undo/redo and start-stop function. The pedal includes an external tap tempo switch with a sub-division switch for precise control. Each delay type features secondary functions accessed by holding the tap/divide switch. It gives you the possibility of deeper sound manipulation.
You can use pitch-shifted modes like octave delay to repeat pitches incrementally by an octave. There are no other compact delays in this price range with that feature. The audio quality remains consistent across modes, from traditional tape-style echoes to more experimental sound design.
The Canyon stores custom settings for most delay types in the pedal. You can access it by pressing the tap/divide switch for a second. It makes it possible for the knobs to handle type-specific parameters easily.ย
Pros
-
Packed with features
-
Great price
-
Diverse delay types
-
Pitch-shifted options
-
Looper functionality
-
High audio quality
-
Stores secondary settings
Cons
-
Tap tempo can be confusing
-
Requires careful manual reading
-
Complex secondary functions
Walrus ARP-87
The Walrus Audio ARP-87 brings four distinct delay algorithms in an unconventional package.ย
-
Digital
-
Analog
-
Slapback
-
Lo-fi.ย
The ARP-87 is instantly recognizable with its unique design that eliminates the traditional three-knob delay in favor of a tap tempo switch with subdivision control. The intuitive six-knob interface helps you craft the surreal echo pattern of shoegaze sound. You will love this delay if you are the one who loves to play around with the tap-tempo control.ย
It produces cool lo-fi textures that create haunting ghost-like echoes with gentle modulation. Sound quality remains consistently clear across different modes. Tone control like Dampen helps remove the extra brightness from digital delay or add a spark to the analog voice.ย
The pedal works well with various guitar pickups, from Telecasters to Jazzmasters. Its responsive soft relay switches allow quick mode changes during performances.ย
Pros
-
Simple and Intuitive controls
-
Solid fundamental tones
-
Interesting lo-fi textures
-
Responsive soft relay switches
-
Solid construction
-
Eye-catching design
Cons
-
No dedicated repeat rate knob
-
Bypass and tap tempo switches are very close together
-
Default time setting resets when switching voices
-
Analog voice could be more spicy
Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run V2
The Earthquaker is a digital delay that you would think is a complete analog unit. It is a delay and reverb unit that helps you push sonic boundaries. The pedal is the first to be built on EQD's high-powered DSP platform. It provides guitarists with flexibility like multiple expression parameters.
The pedal features eight knobs to control the sound output. The top four knobs control the delay parameters. The Time knob lets you set up to 2 seconds of time control. Use the Repeat knob to repeat your signal from zero to a near-infinite amount. Set warm/lo-fi sound or crisp/hi-fi delay trails with the Tone button. The bottom four controls are listed below.
-
Decay
-
Mix
-
EXP
-
Activate
The pedal adds a lovely depth to the reverb, creating an otherworldly sound. The tone control gives this digital pedal a lovely feel of analog delay.
Pros
-
Delay and reverb in one unit
-
Stereo inputs and outputs for a wide soundstage
-
User-friendly interface
-
The tone control is super useful
Cons
-
High mA draw
-
No support for Midi
-
Lacks presets
-
Not as feature-rich as newer options
How to Choose the Right Pedal for Shoegaze
Before you decide on a pedal, consider your playing style, budget, and features that matter most to you. Choose a delay pedal that integrates with your existing setup. Here are some pointers for you to make the best choice.
Delayย
Choose an analog or digital delay pedal that suits your needs. Some musicians love analog sounds, and some swear by the crisp sound digital delays produce.
Modulation Features
Modulators help create the full sound that is the hallmark of the shoegaze genre. Look for a chorus or flanger that doubles and mixes the signal. You can also go for a multi-fx unit with plenty of tone options.
Ease of Use
A pedal with intuitive control can save you a lot of hassle while performing live. Check if your choice has good space between controls to prevent accidental pressing.
The lush sound of shoegaze music begs you to experiment with different pedal layouts and signal chain order. You need to break some mold to create the expansive sound of this genre. Add atmospheric sound to your mix with the help of our Shoegaze Vocal Preset. You can use it with your favorite DAWs to instantly give your track a new shape.