The Fender Hammertone Space Delay is a tape-style delay pedal from Fender, released in 2022 as one of nine pedals in the company's affordable Hammertone series1. It is built to deliver what Fender calls the classic tape echo sound, with three distinct repeat patterns and up to 950ms of delay time1. Rather than the clean, even repeats of a straight digital delay, it aims at the warble and character of vintage tape machines, and MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley noted that "tape warble is on the menu with the Space Delay"2.
It belongs to a recognizable family. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio placed it among the Roland Space Echo clone pedals that appeared in unusual numbers in 2022, calling it "the most affordable and streamlined of them all"1.
Controls and the three repeat patterns
The top panel carries level, feedback and time controls, plus the feature that gives the pedal its name: a three-way Pattern toggle. Guitar Player's Dave Hunter described it as offering "three delay patterns that replicate the repeats from different combinations of tape heads"6. Delicious Audio puts it the same way: the toggle rearranges the configuration of the virtual tape heads, creating different delay patterns1.
On That Pedal Show, Dan and Mick broke the three positions down in practice7:
- One position gives a single, straightforward repeat; in the video's words, "we just get a straight corner delay"7
- The other two positions are both multi-head settings, combinations of the four Space Echo heads7
- Of those, one sounds "tripletty, possibly a dotted eighth and a quarter"7
Guitar.com's Samuel Roberts credited the toggle with lifting the pedal's usability: "The 'pattern' toggle lifts its usability into boutique territory, allowing the user to swap between a single repeat and" multiple-head patterns8.
Modulation
The modulation is controlled by an on-off toggle on the top panel, with trim pots inside the pedal for rate and depth6. On That Pedal Show, Dan and Mick described it as "a standard depth and speed modulation that's adjustable in the back with two mini screws in the way that you can on" a Carbon Copy, referring to the MXR Carbon Copy, which uses the same internal-trimmer approach7. If you want to change the modulation character, that means taking the back plate off rather than turning a knob mid-set.
Power, bypass and practicalities
The pedal runs on a 9V DC 100mA power supply, which is sold separately5. It uses true bypass switching with Analog Dry-Through, so the dry signal stays in the analog domain whether the effect is on or off1. Input and output jacks are top-mounted, which Delicious Audio notes allows more pedals to fit on the same board and increases routing options1. The enclosure is rugged aluminum with metal hardware, described as delivering road-worthy reliability1.
No power supply is included in the box. The pedal draws 100mA at 9V DC, so a supply with enough current headroom is needed5.
What reviewers said
The verdicts across the press were broadly consistent: a lot of tape character for little money, with a couple of handling quirks61.
- Dave Hunter, Guitar Player: "FOR: A lot of tape-emulated character and handy features in an easy and affordable package"6. He also noted it "can take some fine tuning to balance pattern switch and feedback settings"6.
- Paolo De Gregorio, Delicious Audio: "At $99, this is a solid deal for guitarists interested in a taste of delays with a vintage and spacey flavor."1
- Dan and Mick, That Pedal Show: on the repeats, "that stays nice and even all the way down," not as bright as a straight digital delay7. Mick added that it "deserves to be pretty popular because it's so easy to use," giving a flavor of multi-head delay with fewer things to worry about7.
A summary of the That Pedal Show review: Dan and Mick run through the three Pattern positions, demonstrate the multi-head combinations and the internal modulation trimmers, and find the repeats even and unharsh compared with a straight digital delay, concluding that the pedal's ease of use makes it a strong entry into multi-head tape-style delay7.
Where it sits in Fender's delay line
The Space Delay is part of a wider Fender delay range. Players comparing it within the brand may also look at the Fender Mirror Image Delay, the Fender Reflecting Pool, the Fender Delay and the Fender Space Delay, or browse the broader delay pedals category. Premier Guitar reviewed it as part of "the company's recent Hammertone series"4.
Videos
Brett Kingman
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Ryan Lutton
News
Questions
Is the Fender Hammertone Space Delay analog or digital?
It is a digital pedal that emulates an analog tape echo. Guitar World lists its type as digital (analog emulation), and the pedal is designed to reproduce the character of classic multi-head tape echo units rather than the clean repeats of a straight digital delay. Your dry signal passes through analog circuitry even when the effect is engaged, thanks to the Analog Dry-Through design.
How long is the delay time on the Hammertone Space Delay?
The maximum delay time is 950ms, a little under one second. That range covers short slapback-style repeats through to longer, spacey echoes, and the three-way Pattern toggle changes how those repeats are arranged by rearranging the configuration of the virtual tape heads inside the emulation.
Is the Hammertone Space Delay true bypass?
Yes. Fender specifies true bypass switching with Analog Dry-Through, so when the pedal is off your guitar signal passes straight through, and when it is on the dry portion of the signal stays in the analog domain. That helps the unaffected part of your tone stay intact on a pedalboard.
Does the Hammertone Space Delay come with a power supply?
No. It runs on a 9V DC 100mA power supply, which is sold separately, so you will need to budget for one if you do not already have a suitable supply on your board. A supply with enough current headroom for the pedal's 100mA draw is required.
Can you adjust the modulation on the Hammertone Space Delay?
Yes, but not from the top panel. There is an on-off toggle for the modulation on the outside, while the rate and depth are set by two trim pots inside the pedal. On That Pedal Show, Dan and Mick described it as standard depth and speed modulation, adjustable in the back with two mini screws, in the same way as on a MXR Carbon Copy.
Sources (8)
- Fender Hammertone Space Delay, Delicious Audio, 2023-04-18
- Fender's affordable Hammertone guitar effects pedal range is now available to buy, MusicRadar, 2022-05-24
- Best budget delay pedals: echo and slapback for not much greenback, Guitar World, 2024-03-27
- Fender Hammertone Space Delay Guitar Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2022-09-27
- Best delay pedals 2026: from slapback to space age, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2023-07-26
- Fender Hammertone Effects Pedals Review, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2022-09-28
- New Pedal Day Victory V1, EQD Special Cranker, Fender Space Delay, Empress Comp MkII, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2022-11-01
- The Big Review: Fender Hammertone Pedals, Guitar.com, 2022-07-21
