The Black Tiger Delay is a delay pedal from Greer Amps, announced in August 2015 as the company's first delay after years of requests from players1. It is a hybrid design: an analog signal path feeding a digital delay repeater circuit, voiced to recall the sound of two vintage tape delays with a bit of vintage oil can delay mixed in1. Guitar Interactive Magazine described the repeats as having the warmth of vintage studio equipment with a slight grain, and the front end as touch sensitive, structured so the nuances of your playing come through1.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed up the experience in plain terms:
"The Black Tiger Delay Device is a relatively simple delay, but has great tone, like all Greer pedals, and provides the perfect amount of tone-enhancement to make your rig really stand out."
Controls and the Trails switch
The control set is deliberately small: Feedback, Time and Mix, the standard three-knob layout most delay players already know23.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Feedback | Adjusts the number of repeats32 |
| Time | Sets the delay time3 |
| Mix | Balances the delayed signal against your dry signal3 |
The extra feature is the Trails switch, a throw switch that lets the repeats continue after the effect has been bypassed, so a phrase's echoes ring out naturally instead of cutting off when you stomp3. Pedal of the Day described it as allowing the delay to trail off longer while not allowing any input signal when engaged2.
The dot and self-oscillation
The Feedback knob carries a white dot on the faceplate, and it is there for a reason. Set Feedback at or above the dot and the pedal goes into self-oscillation mode, where repeats build on themselves rather than fading1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that pushing Feedback past the dot gets you "into some wicked self-oscillation territory quickly"2. One thing to know: Guitar Interactive reported that the pedal will self-oscillate even in bypass mode, with the repeats getting louder1, so backing the Feedback knob off before you switch the effect out is the safe habit.
How it sounds
The voicing is the pedal's main selling point. Pedal of the Day described it as "conjuring up vintage tape and oil can delay sounds with ease"2. Oil can delays, an older electromechanical cousin of tape echoes, have a looser, grainier repeat character, and Greer aimed the Black Tiger at that territory combined with tape echo warmth1. The analog front end is credited with the touch sensitivity, letting picking dynamics and nuance through into the repeats1.
Build, ordering and warranty
The Black Tiger was built to order, with pedals shipping within 1 to 2 weeks of order and payment1. Delicious Audio noted the rock-solid construction that comes with that built-to-order approach3, and Guitar Interactive reported the pedal is built with top quality components1. Greer Amps backs it with a lifetime warranty to the original owner13.
The Black Tiger runs on a 9-Volt battery or a standard negative-center 2.1mm power supply1, the same arrangement as most modern pedals, so it fits a typical pedalboard power supply without an adapter.
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Questions
Is the Greer Amps Black Tiger Delay true bypass?
Yes. The Black Tiger has a true bypass footswitch, so with the effect off your signal passes through without the pedal's circuitry in the way. It also has a separate Trails switch that lets repeats continue after the effect is bypassed.
Is the Black Tiger Delay analog or digital?
It is a hybrid. The Black Tiger uses an analog signal path with a digital delay repeater circuit, so your dry signal stays analog while the repeats are generated digitally. Greer Amps voiced it toward vintage tape and oil can delay sounds.
What does the dot on the Black Tiger faceplate mean?
The dot marks the point on the Feedback control where the pedal goes into self-oscillation. Set Feedback at or above the dot and the repeats build on themselves instead of fading away. The pedal can self-oscillate even in bypass mode, with repeats getting louder.
How long does it take Greer Amps to ship a Black Tiger?
The Black Tiger was built to order, with pedals shipping within 1 to 2 weeks of your order and payment. That was the arrangement when the pedal was announced in August 2015.
What warranty does the Black Tiger Delay have?
Greer Amps covers the Black Tiger with a lifetime warranty to the original owner. The company describes the pedal as built with top quality components and rock-solid construction.
Does the Greer Amps Black Tiger self-oscillate?
Yes. Turning the Feedback control up to or past the white dot on the faceplate puts the pedal into self-oscillation, where repeats build into runaway feedback. Pedal of the Day's reviewer noted it gets there quickly past the dot.
Sources (3)
- Greer Amps Introduces the Black Tiger Delay, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2015-08-21
- Greer Amps Black Tiger Delay Device, Pedal of the Day, 2015-10-12
- New Pedals: Greer Amps Black Tiger Delay Device, Delicious Audio, 2015-10-19
