The Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay is a delay pedal from Ernie Ball's Expression Series, built for both guitar and bass. Ernie Ball describes its range of repeats as covering "for everything from slap-back to extended repeats" and letting players "create anything from subtle textures to ambient soundscapes"12. It was announced alongside the Expression Overdrive, and Ernie Ball began taking pre-orders for both pedals, with the Ambient Delay finished in a rose gold aluminum casing and shipping with a power supply23. The Ambient Delay was planned for Q2 2016 availability at $199.99 SRP/MAP3.
What it does
The Ambient Delay provides 50 milliseconds to 1 second of delay time layered with reverb, which Ernie Ball describes as covering "for everything from slap-back to extended repeats"2. Guitar World characterized the pedal as "a hybrid of digital delay layered with plate reverb, for everything from slap-back to extended repeats"12. The short end of the range gives quick slap-back echo; the long end, with the reverb mixed in, is where the ambient part of the name comes in. The foot-sweepable effect level control is meant "to create anything from subtle textures to ambient soundscapes"2.
Controls and the treadle
The control set is small and split between knobs and the foot pedal2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay time | Sets the delay length, 50 ms to 1 s24 |
| Feedback | Sets the number of repeats2 |
| Reverb level | Sets how much plate reverb is layered in2 |
| Effect level (treadle) | Foot-sweepable control over the effect amount2 |
The treadle mechanism is the same hardware Ernie Ball brought to its volume pedals in 2016: a newly engineered, ultra-durable PVC-coated Kevlar cord and spring linkage, which replaced the traditional Vectran string used in the VP and VPJR series25. For a player, that is the part that gets worked the hardest, since the whole point of the pedal is moving the effect level with your foot mid-phrase.
Where it came from
Ernie Ball announced the Expression Overdrive and Ambient Delay as the first products in its Expression Series, and began taking pre-orders for both pedals1. The Expression Ambient Delay was planned for availability in Q2 2016 at $199.99 SRP/MAP3. The two pedals were finished in polished gold and rose gold aluminum casings, with the Ambient Delay in rose gold, and both shipped with a power supply2. Both pedals were played and discussed by guitarist Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves, New Regime) in the launch video1.
Players and demos
Ernie Ball put the pedal in the hands of several players for launch videos. Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves and New Regime played and discussed the Expression Series pedals in the launch video1, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd later demoed and discussed the Ambient Delay in a clip of his own1. Dhani Harrison and Pete Thorn also demoed the Expression Series pedals for Guitar World6.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Premier Guitar
Sweetwater
Questions
What delay times does the Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay cover?
The delay time runs from 50 milliseconds up to 1 second. Ernie Ball positions that range as covering everything from short slap-back echo to extended repeats, with the reverb layered on top of the repeats.
Does the Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay include reverb?
Yes. It is a hybrid pedal that layers digital delay with plate reverb, so the repeats sit in a reverb wash rather than standing alone. A reverb level control sets how much of the plate reverb is mixed in.
What is the foot-sweepable control on the Ambient Delay?
It is an effect level control built into the pedal's treadle, so you can raise or lower the amount of the effect with your foot while playing. Ernie Ball describes it as allowing on-the-fly, dynamic foot control for anything from subtle textures to ambient soundscapes.
Can the Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay be used with bass?
Yes. Ernie Ball introduced the Expression Overdrive and Ambient Delay as hybrid pedals for both guitar and bass, so the Ambient Delay is specified for either instrument.
What is the list price of the Ernie Ball Expression Ambient Delay?
At its announcement at the Winter NAMM Show in January 2016, the Expression Ambient Delay carried a $199.99 SRP/MAP price, with availability planned for Q2 2016. It shipped with a power supply included.
Sources (6)
- Ernie Ball Launches Expression Overdrive and Ambient Delay Pedals, Guitar World, 2016-09-13
- Ernie Ball Launches New Overdrive & Ambient Delay, Premier Guitar, 2016-08-08
- NAMM 2016: Ernie Ball debut Overdrive and Ambient Delay Expression effects pedals, Guitar.com, 2016-01-28
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd Demos Ernie Ball's Expression Series Ambient Delay, Guitar World, 2017-02-06
- Ernie Ball Introduces Overdrive and Ambient Delay Expression, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-06-27
- Watch Dhani Harrison and Pete Thorn Demo Ernie Ball's New Expression Series Pedals, Guitar World, 2016-11-22
