The Danelectro Wasabi Forward-Reverse Delay is a delay pedal that does both forward and reverse delay in one box. Released in 2000, it essentially combines the circuits of two earlier Danelectro pedals: the Dan-Echo, a straight delay, and the Back Talk, a reverse delay that Danelectro had introduced in 1999.1
"This pedal basically combines the circuits from the Danelectro Dan Echo and Back Talk Reverse Delay."
On his video history of the Wasabi series, Josh Scott of JHS Pedals put it the same way: "it's basically a Dan Echo, which is my favorite straight delay, and the Backtalk, which is my all-time favorite reverse" delay.2
What it offers
For a pedal from 2000, the feature set was unusual. A JHS Pedals writer noted that "it came loaded with amazing sounds and features that nothing else on the market had including tap tempo, stereo outs, hi" cut and a pickup selector.1 Tap tempo, in particular, was still rare on delays at the time, and Josh Scott demonstrates tapping in the delay time on the pedal in his video.2
The enclosure is part of the character too: "This is a big, heavy enclosure that shares its aesthetic with vintage cars. It even has taillights on it," according to JHS Pedals.1
The controls
The pedal's knobs are straightforward delay fare, with a high cut control for shaping the repeats2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Blends the delayed signal with your dry sound2 |
| Speed | Sets the delay time2 |
| Repeat | Sets the number of repeats2 |
| High cut | Rolls off high frequencies on the repeats2 |
Alongside the knobs there is a button that switches the pedal to reverse. Because it is a button rather than a footswitch, Josh Scott suggests a modification: "This button goes to reverse. I think there's someone out there who can wield a soldering iron like a warrior of time and" convert it to a footswitch.2
What reviewers said
Josh Scott named it his favorite of the Wasabi line, which also included pedals like the Wasabi AS-12:
"This is my favorite of the Wasabi line. It's one that I had on a board for years and would put back on a board"esitation, and he called it still really unique.2
On the tap tempo specifically, his verdict was that "This deserves to be hoisted upon the shelves of pedal history as a frontrunner in delaying delay with tempo."2
The Wasabi Forward-Reverse Delay is a pedal from 2000 and is not part of Danelectro's current lineup.1
If you are after a similar effect today, the Back Talk Reverse Delay covers the reverse side, and other forward delays in the Danelectro range include the Reel Echo Tape Delay and the PB&J Delay. For the wider picture, see the delay pedals type page.
Videos
JHS EXTRA
projectnoel
Fattypatty2x4
Questions
Does the Danelectro Wasabi have tap tempo?
Yes. The Wasabi Forward-Reverse Delay has tap tempo, which Josh Scott of JHS Pedals demonstrates by tapping in the delay time. When it was released in 2000, tap tempo was among features that, in the view of a JHS Pedals writer, nothing else on the market had, alongside stereo outputs, high cut and a pickup selector.
Does the Wasabi have stereo outputs?
Yes. Stereo outputs were one of the headline features of the Wasabi Forward-Reverse Delay when it came out in 2000, listed by JHS Pedals alongside tap tempo, high cut and a pickup selector as features the pedal carried that other pedals of the time did not.
What is the difference between the Wasabi and the Back Talk?
The Back Talk Reverse Delay is a reverse delay that Danelectro introduced in 1999. The Wasabi Forward-Reverse Delay, released in 2000, essentially combines the circuits of the Dan-Echo, a straight delay, and the Back Talk in one pedal, so it does both forward and reverse delay and adds tap tempo and stereo outputs.
Can the reverse button be turned into a footswitch?
The reverse function is on a button rather than a footswitch. Josh Scott of JHS Pedals suggests it could be converted to a footswitch by soldering, saying there is someone out there who can wield a soldering iron well enough to do it.
Sources (2)
- 3 GUITAR PEDALS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAMOUS, JHS Pedals, 2000
- Danelectro Wasabi, JHS Pedals (YouTube), 2023-06-27
