The Fishman AFX Acoustic Delay is a delay stompbox made by Fishman specifically for acoustic guitar. It carries two separate delay engines on one board: a Classic side modeled on old tape echo units and a Modern side built around a clean 32-bit digital delay. Each side holds its own set of delay presets, so a player can keep a warm vintage echo and a crisp digital echo ready at the same time1.
The controls
The pedal's main controls are a Mode selector and three knobs. The Mode selector sets the subdivision of the delay and, with it, the character of the echoes: as Pedal of the Day's reviewer put it, "The Mode controls the subdivisions of delay length and, depending where you set it, the delays will be vastly different"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mode selector | Sets the delay subdivision, choosing among four time sections across the two sides1 |
| Delay Time | Sets how long the delay echo actually is after a note or chord is played1 |
| Repeats | Sets the number of echoes, from one to infinity1 |
| Level | Blends the wet delay signal in or out of the mix1 |
The four Mode sections, each available on both the Classic and Modern sides, are1:
- Short: eighth notes, up to 300 ms1
- Medium: dotted eighth notes, up to 1500 ms1
- Long: quarter notes, up to 2900 ms1
- Pong: a ping-pong effect used for Stereo Output setups1
On top of the delay controls there is a Boost switch, which the reviewer described as available "if needed"1. An external Tap Tempo input jack on the pedal lets a player control delay time from an external switch rather than the pedal's own footswitch1.
Classic and Modern sides
The two sides are the pedal's defining feature. The Classic side is, in the reviewer's words, "a throwback delay, conjuring up tones from old, warm, classic tape echo delays," while the Modern side is "a clean and crisp 32-bit digital delay"1. Because each side carries its own presets, the Mode selector's four time sections exist twice over, once per side, giving eight delay configurations in total across the pedal.
Stereo, bypass and power
The pedal has 1/4 inch stereo inputs and outputs, and the Pong preset produces a ping-pong delay in which echoes travel between the two outputs of a stereo setup1. Bypass is not true bypass: the signal path is all-analog and buffered, with the footswitch controlling it1. Power comes from a 9-volt battery or an adaptor1.
The bypass path is buffered, not true bypass. Players who keep true bypass strictly on their boards should account for the buffer in their signal chain.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's reviewer, writing in July 2015, summed the pedal up this way1:
"Overall, the AFX Delay has great sounds and great options, especially being able to run your acoustic rig in stereo."
The same review highlighted the pedal's stereo capability as one of its standout options for acoustic players1.
For players comparing acoustic delay options, related pages include the LR Baggs Align Series Delay and the wider delay pedal and acoustic pedal categories.
Videos
gearwire
Pedal of the Day
Guitar Notes & Notions
Questions
Does the Fishman AFX Acoustic Delay have tap tempo?
It has an external Tap Tempo input jack rather than a tap tempo switch on the pedal itself. You connect an external tap tempo switch to that jack and control the delay time from your footboard, which keeps the pedal's own footswitch free for bypass and preset changes.
Can the AFX Acoustic Delay run in stereo?
Yes. The pedal has 1/4 inch stereo inputs and outputs, and it includes a Pong preset that produces a ping-pong delay, where echoes alternate between the two outputs. Pedal of the Day's reviewer highlighted the stereo capability as one of the pedal's strongest options for an acoustic rig.
What is the difference between the Classic and Modern sides?
The Classic side is a throwback delay that aims for the tones of old, warm tape echo units. The Modern side is a clean and crisp 32-bit digital delay. Each side carries its own set of delay presets, so you can keep a vintage-flavored echo and a pristine digital echo available at once.
Is the bypass true bypass?
No. The pedal uses an all-analog, buffered bypass path with footswitch control. The conversion and processing are digital, with 24-bit A/D/A and 32-bit processing, but the bypass path itself is analog.
How long can the delay time be?
It depends on the preset. The Short preset covers eighth notes up to 300 ms, the Medium preset covers dotted eighth notes up to 1500 ms, and the Long preset covers quarter notes up to 2900 ms. A fourth preset, Pong, handles ping-pong delay for stereo setups.
Sources (1)
- Fishman AFX Acoustic Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2015-07-19
