The Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy is an analog delay pedal with built-in chorus and vibrato, released by Electro-Harmonix in 20091. It uses the Deluxe Memory Man as a base, expanding on that circuit with additional modulation features and an expression pedal option, all in a smaller enclosure than the classic big-box unit1. Delicious Audio describes it as "a mid-size, 'lighter' version of the classic (and huge) Memory Man, with up to 550ms of delay time and selectable Chorus or Vibrato modulation with triangle or square waveforms"2.
Electro-Harmonix's own tagline for the pedal is "Amazing analog delay plus chorus and vibrato!"1. It sits in the middle of a family of Memory Man derivatives: MusicRadar notes that the Deluxe Memory Boy "has the largest spec of the series, followed by the Memory Boy and Memory Toy pedals"3.
What it does: a smaller Memory Man
The Memory Boy delivers all-analog delay with feedback, plus modulation applied to the delayed signal1. Where the original Deluxe Memory Man is a large-format unit that EHX has reissued a number of times, the Memory Boy is one of the compact versions the company added to the line-up alongside the Memory Toy5. Guitar.com's reviewer notes that with the smaller Memory Boy and Memory Toy variants, the maximum delay time was raised relative to earlier versions of the full-size DMM circuit6.
The modulation side is what separates it from a plain analog delay. You can choose chorus or vibrato, and pick whether the modulation waveform is triangle or square, which changes the character of the warble applied to the repeats12.
The controls
The Memory Boy's front panel is built around four knobs and two toggle switches, plus a footswitch and jacks on the sides1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DELAY knob | Controls the delay time1 |
| FEEDBACK knob | Controls the amount of signal circulated from the output of the delay block back to its input, setting how many repeats you hear1 |
| BLEND knob | Wet/dry control, varying the mix between direct and delayed signals1 |
| DEPTH knob | Sets the amount of modulation applied to the delayed signal1 |
| TRIANGLE / SQUARE toggle | Sets the shape of the analog modulation waveform1 |
| CHORUS, VIBRATO & EXP. PEDAL toggle | A three-position, dual-function switch: it sets the rate of modulation and chooses which parameter an expression pedal controls1 |
The EXP. PEDAL jack lets you control the delay time or the modulation rate with an optional expression pedal or a control voltage, which opens up real-time sweeps and tempo effects without bending down to turn a knob1.
Power: 9.6V, 200mA
The Memory Boy ships with a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter included, and it also runs on an optional 9V battery, which is not included1. Its current draw is 60mA1.
The included adapter is 9.6VDC, not the 9V battery option the Memory Boy also accepts. If you power it from a shared supply instead of the included adapter, check that the voltage matches what the pedal expects.
The Deluxe Memory Boy
Released in 2010, the Deluxe Memory Boy is the larger-spec sibling in the same family73. Premier Guitar's announcement called it "the newest delay from the Memory Man family" and quoted EHX's claim that "The Deluxe Memory Boy is the most flexible analog delay ever designed," highlighting its expression pedal control8. Where the Memory Boy is straight analog, EHX lists the Deluxe's circuit as "Analog, Analog w/ Digital Control," reflecting its digital control layer over an analog delay path7.
The Deluxe adds several features the Memory Boy does not have:
- Tap tempo, with the delay knob setting times from 34ms to 700ms7
- A GAIN knob that sets the input gain7
- An EXP. MODE button that cycles through five expression modes: RATE, DEPTH, FEEDBACK, DELAY and OFF7
- A built-in effects loop7
- A BYPASS footswitch that toggles between effect mode and true bypass mode, with a red STATUS LED that lights in effect mode and turns off in bypass7
It draws more current than the Memory Boy, at 100mA, and carries a higher list price of $194.10 USD (as listed on EHX's site, October 2026)7. Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed up its place in the line-up: "I know, I know, the Memory MAN is the one you're supposed to get, being a classic and all," before making the case for the Deluxe Memory Boy as a practical alternative9.
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Questions
Does the Memory Boy take a 9V battery?
Yes. The Memory Boy runs on an optional 9V battery, which is not included with the pedal. It also ships with a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter, so you can use either supply depending on your board setup.
Is the Memory Boy true bypass?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix lists the Memory Boy as true bypass, so with the effect switched off your signal passes through without the pedal's circuitry in the path. The Deluxe Memory Boy uses the same true bypass switching.
What is the max delay time on the Memory Boy?
Delicious Audio's buying guide lists up to 550ms of delay time for the Memory Boy. That is shorter than the Deluxe Memory Boy, whose delay knob sets times from 34ms up to 700ms.
What is the difference between the Memory Boy and the Deluxe Memory Man?
The Memory Boy uses the Deluxe Memory Man as a base but is a mid-size, lighter version of the big-box pedal, adding selectable chorus or vibrato modulation with triangle or square waveforms. The Deluxe Memory Man is the classic larger unit that EHX has reissued several times, with the Memory Boy and Memory Toy added as compact versions.
Sources (9)
- Memory Boy, Electro-Harmonix (www.ehx.com)
- 2023 UPDATE: The Best Analog Delay Pedals (Mono & Stereo), Delicious Audio, 2024-01-04
- Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy review, MusicRadar, 2010-07-06
- Deluxe Memory Man, Electro-Harmonix (ehx.com)
- The FX files: Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, MusicRadar, 2018-09-27
- Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe Memory Man review: big-box vintage delay tones in a pedalboard-friendly package, Guitar.com, 2021-12-24
- Deluxe Memory Boy, Electro-Harmonix (ehx.com)
- New Electro-Harmonix Ring Thing & Deluxe Memory Boy, Premier Guitar, 2010-01-16
- Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2015-06-09
