Diamond Pedals Memory Lane Analog Delay

The Diamond Pedals Memory Lane Analog Delay is an analog delay pedal from Canadian builder Diamond Pedals, built around two NOS MN3005 bucket brigade chips running at 15V¹. What set it apart at the time was tap tempo: the Memory Lane is credited as the first analog delay pedal to offer it²³. On top of the repeats themselves, it introduces a warble reminiscent of an old tape echo into the delayed signal, which reviewers described as "incredible-sounding"¹.

The original Memory Lane is out of production¹. It was built around 2 NOS MN3005 chips running at 15V¹.

What it does and how it sounds

The Memory Lane is a warm, classic analog delay. Its modulation section adds a pitch wobble to the repeats that Pedal of the Day's Mike B compared to an old tape echo, "introducing an incredible-sounding warble, reminiscent of an old tape echo, into the delayed effect"¹. That character is what analog delay players chase: repeats that darken and soften as they decay, with movement that keeps long delay lines from sounding static.

The enclosure is fairly large, but the big knobs are positioned away from the footswitches, so the controls stay easy to reach and to figure out¹.

Controls

The expression input is the feature players remember: hook up an expression pedal and you can swell the feedback with your foot, pushing the repeats toward self-oscillation and back, all while playing¹.

The two outputs, Mix/Direct and Delay Only, let you run different amp setups and combinations, sending the dry signal one way and the delayed signal another¹.

The first analog delay with tap tempo

Tap tempo on an analog delay was the Memory Lane's claim to history. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio writes that the original "went down in history as the first (analog) delay with tap tempo"⁵, and the JHS Pedals delay history calls the Memory Lane 2 "probably the first-ever analog with tap tempo"³. On That Pedal Show, the presenters likewise described the Memory Lane as "the very first ever analog delay of tap tempo," noting it was discontinued because parts became unobtainable⁶.

That parts problem is the practical reason the line evolved: NOS MN3005 chips are finite, and true BBD designs eventually gave way to hybrid and digital approaches.

Versions: Memory Lane 2, Jr., Deluxe and beyond

The Memory Lane Jr. is the digital version of the analog original, with similar features, twice the delay time, and the ability to run off a 9-volt battery⁸. Its DLY knob spans 16ms to 1200ms, which Mike B called "a pretty good range for any delay pedal, and plenty for most players"⁴. The Jr. also appeared on more pedalboards throughout the world than the original¹.

The Diamond Pedals Memory Lane Modulated Delay (STM32 edition) is very much still a BBD-style delay, but now loaded with an STM32 Arm processor, which the maker credits with extended delay range, lower noise and more headroom¹³. It offers up to 2400 ms of delay time with lush, modulated repeats, and its Tap [Mode] control selects four delay modes: ML jr, Vintage, Galloping 2-Head and Ambient 3-Head¹¹. Its controls are Mix, Feedback, Delay (up to 2400ms), Modulation and Tap [Mode]¹¹.

After the relaunch, the 2023 Compact Memory Lane Modulated Delay was described by Guitar Pedal X as a "cool modernisation and miniaturisation of the legendary Memory Lane Tap Tempo Modulated Delay," using the same type of hybrid analog/digital circuit as the original Jr., with a PIC controller, industrial DAC and ADC, THAT corp. companders and an analog dry mix¹⁰. In October 2025, Diamond unveiled the Memory Lane Modulated Delay STM32 edition, a BBD-style delay built on an STM32 ARM processor with up to 2400ms of delay, four modes (ML jr, Vintage, Galloping 2-Head and Ambient 3-Head), lower noise and more headroom¹¹. Gearnews describes the redesigned pedal as using dBBD technology based around the STM32 ARM Cortex processor, with a dedicated Tap Tempo footswitch and an on/off footswitch¹².

What reviewers said

Reviewers were consistently positive across the line. On the original, Mike B wrote that "the original Memory Lane is as good-sounding and user-friendly as you're going to find for pedals in this price range, and a lot that cost more"¹. Of the Jr., he noted the 16 to 1200ms range is "a pretty good range for any delay pedal, and plenty for most players"⁴.

Of the Deluxe, Pedal of the Day wrote that "the functionality is fantastic, the delays are warm and rich and the fact that they crammed all of this into such a perfectly-sized enclosure" made it a winner overall⁷. Delicious Audio added the Memory Lane DLX to its list of Best Tape-Style Delay Pedals⁵.

On the modern editions, Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson reported that the compact reissues "have been very well received, using analog signal path with digital controls to great effect," and that with the STM32 edition, "an already great modulated vintage sounding delay is now significantly better"¹¹¹⁴.

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