The Bygones V3 is a stereo, "nostalgic" multi-effect pedal with presets that, as Delicious Audio put it, "adds all sorts of degrading effects to your tone"1. Where most delay pedals aim to repeat your signal cleanly, the Bygones is built around the opposite idea: it makes a healthy signal sound old, worn and imperfect, with tape-style pitch wobble, vinyl noise and filter shaping, plus a delay whose feedback can run away into self-oscillation.
It is a small-builder product. 3Degrees Audio is the pedal company of Mark Seel, and the Bygones is the builder's first release and only product to date1.
The four effects and their knobs
The pedal runs four effects in series, controlled by three knobs. Each knob has two functions, and the second function is accessed by holding down the footswitch1. That keeps the face of the pedal small while doubling the number of parameters you can reach.
| Effect | What it does | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | High Cut and Low Cut filters that trim the top and bottom of your signal | Resonance knob highlights the frequency just before the Low Cut filter, in a synth-like way |
| Pitch | Jitter and Warp, two different pitch modulations; Scrape simulates a tape or record brushing against something, like a very fast flutter | Speed of each modulation is set with the alt function of each knob |
| Noise | Vinyl-style artifacts: Pop, Hiss and Stutter | Stutter is basically similar to the skipping of a record |
| Delay | A delay with straightforward time and blend controls | Blend and Delay (time) knobs; Regen controls feedback, which can get into self-oscillation territory |
The Tone section is the simplest of the four: a pair of filters that narrow your signal's bandwidth, the way an old recording or a cheap playback system does, with the Resonance knob adding emphasis right at the cutoff point1.
The Pitch section is where the tape-and-record character lives. Jitter and Warp are two flavors of pitch modulation, and Scrape is described as simulating the sound of a tape or record brushing against something, like a very fast flutter1. If you have heard wow and flutter on a worn cassette, that is the territory.
The Noise section deliberately adds the faults most pedals try to remove: pops, hiss, and a stutter effect that chops the signal like a skipping record1.
The Delay is the most conventional block. It has a straightforward Blend and Delay (time) knob, while the Regen knob controls the feedback, which can get into self-oscillation territory1. Self-oscillation is the point at which the repeats feed themselves and keep going without input, a behavior players associate with vintage analog delays; here you can dial it in deliberately as part of the degraded character.
Second knob functions
Because each knob carries two functions, the control count on the panel understates what the pedal can do. Hold the footswitch and each knob addresses its second parameter, then release to return to the primary one1. The Pitch section uses this for the speed of Jitter and Warp; the same mechanism applies across the other effects.
Versions and availability
The Bygones reached V3 quickly. Delicious Audio noted in February 2022 that new versions were coming out fast, with the pedal already at V3 in about half a year1. The V3 is the version with the stereo I/O, presets and MIDI compatibility described here.
This is a one-builder operation, and as of February 2022 there was a 3 to 4 month waiting list for a Bygones V31. If you are planning a board around one, the wait is part of the deal.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio covered the pedal when the V3 arrived and was positive about its creative range1:
"This looks like a super fun, creative pedal, it's also Midi compatible."1
That is the published verdict on record for the pedal: a fun, creative tool rather than a workhorse utility, with MIDI support as a practical plus for players who want to integrate it into a larger rig1.
Videos
Duskmos
Lionel Cathelin
Tri Pedal Reviews
Questions
Does the 3Degrees Audio Bygones V3 have MIDI?
Yes. The Bygones V3 is MIDI compatible, which matters for a pedal with presets, since it lets you switch sounds and recall settings from a MIDI controller rather than bending down to the unit itself.
How do the second knob functions work on the Bygones V3?
Each of the three knobs has two functions. The second function is accessed by holding down the footswitch, so one knob can control two different parameters, such as a pitch modulation's speed, without adding extra controls to the face of the pedal.
Can the Bygones V3 delay self-oscillate?
Yes. The Regen knob controls the delay's feedback, and pushing it can get into self-oscillation territory, where the repeats build on themselves into their own sound, as on classic analog delays.
Is the Bygones V3 stereo?
Yes. The Bygones V3 is a stereo multi-effect, so it takes and returns a stereo signal, which suits players running two amps or a stereo wet/dry setup.
How long is the wait for a Bygones V3?
As of February 2022 there was a 3 to 4 month waiting list for the Bygones V3. It is a small-builder pedal, made by one person, so units are not always in stock.
What does the Noise effect do on the Bygones V3?
The Noise effect adds vinyl-style artifacts: Pop, Hiss and Stutter. Stutter is basically similar to the skipping of a record, chopping the signal the way a scratched LP repeats a fragment.
Sources (1)
- 3Degrees Audio Bygones V3 Stereo Nostalgia, Delicious Audio, 2022-02-02