The Daredevil Bootleg Dirty Delay is a lo-fi delay pedal from Chicago-based boutique builder Johnny Wator, who builds under the name Daredevil Pedals. Released on January 11, 2019, it is a digital delay built on the Princeton 2399 IC, a chip choice Daredevil uses to get the analog feel of old-school bucket-brigade delays, with tones designed to sound similar to vintage tape machines12.
What sets it apart from most delays is the Dirt section of the circuit, which adds gain to the repeats so they get progressively grittier, in the spirit of a worn tape echo. The original red V1 includes a tap tempo input for remote control; the later Bootleg Dirty Delay V2 keeps the same circuit but drops the tap tempo input and sells for less134. The original is now sold out on Daredevil's discontinued page1.
The controls
The Bootleg Dirty Delay keeps its control set simple. The V2's four knobs are labeled Blend, Reps, Time and Dirt4, and the original launch described the same Blend function, varying the effect level against the clean signal2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Blend | Varies the effect level with the clean signal2 |
| Reps | Sets delay feedback, the number of repeats6 |
| Time | Sets the delay time; on the V2, around 40ms minimum to roughly 400ms maximum3 |
| Dirt | Adds gain to the repeats through the Dirt section of the circuit1 |
The V2's delay time range of 40ms to 400ms6 puts this pedal in slapback and short rhythmic repeat territory rather than long ambient delay. Gearnews described the pedal as essentially a digital delay circuit with a drive control, made to add drive tones to lo-fi analog tape-style delay, and said it sounds "nice and lo-fi/grungy"4.
Tap tempo on the original V1
The original red Bootleg includes a tap tempo input for remote setting using a momentary switch1. MusicRadar noted the V1's tap capabilities when covering the V2's release6, and the maker's V2 page confirms the original has the external input and digital tap capabilities3.
How the tap tempo behaves, from the maker's page:
- Only 2 taps within range are required to set the delay interval1
- The interval is averaged over the last 5 active in-range taps1
- Tapping intervals from 38ms to 1.12 seconds register as a tap1
- Saved tap values reset after 1.12 seconds of inactivity; any interval longer than that is ignored and resets the saved values1
- The maximum range of quarter note taps is 560ms, or about 108bpm1
One quirk worth knowing: if the tap interval is larger than 560ms (below about 108bpm), the interval automatically halves in value, for example to eighth notes1. So tapping slow tempos gives you faster subdivisions rather than longer delay times.
The V2 has no tap tempo at all. Gearnews reported that the updated version "takes away the previous tap tempo input, but is now more affordable"4, and MusicRadar likewise noted the removal of the external tap tempo input6. Players who want tap tempo in this family of lo-fi delays could also look at the Swindle Effects Magic City Delay V2, which has on-board tap tempo7.
Bypass and trails
Both versions are true bypass and hand wired1346. Because it is true bypass, hitting the bypass switch cuts the delay effect off entirely, just like the old analog pedals, so repeats stop dead rather than trailing out. To enable trails to continue while the signal is bypassed, Daredevil suggests placing a tuner in front of the Bootleg so you can mute your input while the repeats decay3.
Power
The original runs on only an external 9V power source1, with a 2.1mm center pin power supply and negative ground, drawing about 25 mA1. There is no battery option, so it needs a spot on a pedalboard power supply. The V2 is the same: it runs only on an external 9V DC power source3.
No battery on either version. Plan for a 9V DC output with a 2.1mm center pin, negative ground plug, the same standard arrangement as most pedals.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the original in August 2021 and summarized it as:
"Characterful analog delay cleverly designed to enhance the distortion inherent in classic tape echoes. Well built and simple to use"5
Premier Guitar review, August 18, 20215
The review listed the street price at $1995, matching the maker's own list price1. At the V2's launch in November 2021, MusicRadar reported the updated pedal available at $1896, making the tape echo-inspired delay a little cheaper than the original.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Daredevil Pedals
Daredevil Pedals
Questions
Is the Daredevil Bootleg Dirty Delay true bypass?
Yes. Both the original Bootleg Dirty Delay and the V2 are true bypass and hand wired. Stepping on the bypass switch cuts the delay effect off, just like old analog pedals, so repeats do not trail out. To mute your signal while letting trails continue, Daredevil suggests placing a tuner in front of the pedal.
Does the Bootleg Dirty Delay take a battery?
No. Both the original and the V2 run only on an external 9V DC power source. The original uses a 2.1mm center pin power supply with negative ground, so a standard pedalboard supply works, but there is no battery option.
What chip does the Bootleg Dirty Delay use?
It is a digital delay built on the Princeton 2399 IC. Daredevil Pedals uses that chip to get the analog feel of old-school bucket-brigade delays, and the circuit was designed to give classic tones similar to vintage tape machines.
Does the Bootleg Dirty Delay V2 have tap tempo?
No. The V2 (also called Volume 2) removes the external tap tempo input that the original red V1 has. The original version includes a tap tempo input for remote setting with a momentary switch.
What is the delay range of the Bootleg Dirty Delay Vol 2?
The V2's delay time runs from around 40ms at the minimum Time setting to roughly 400ms at the maximum. That is a short-to-medium range suited to slapback and tighter rhythmic repeats rather than long ambient delays.
Sources (7)
- BOOTLEG DIRTY DELAY, Daredevil Pedals
- Daredevil Releases the Bootleg Dirty Delay, Premier Guitar, 2019-01-10
- BOOTLEG DIRTY DELAY V2, Daredevil Pedals
- Daredevil Pedals Bootleg Dirty Delay V2: A dirty repeater, gearnews.com, 2021-11-30
- Daredevil Bootleg Dirty Delay Review, Premier Guitar, 2019-05-15
- Daredevil rolls out streamlined Bootleg Dirty Delay Volume 2, offering gain control for adding texture to your repeats, MusicRadar, 2021-11-30
- Magic City Delay, Swindle Effects, 2026
