What it does
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes the layout plainly: "there are two digital effects placed in series (a delay/chorus and a reverb)". The two sides can be combined in different ways: "thanks to a 3-way toggle - can feed each other in any order or be set up to play one at a time"1. In practice that means you can run reverb into the delay/chorus, the delay/chorus into the reverb, or use either side on its own.
The delay/chorus side offers five modes: Echo, Chorus, Tri-Chorus, Chorus into Delay, and Delay into Chorus1. MusicRadar's Rob Laing describes the right-hand rotary dial as selecting "Classic chorus mode and Tri-Chorus (a triple chorus effect), along with serial versions" of chorus and delay, plus a standard Echo delay mode2.
The controls on the A and B sides
The two halves of the pedal have separate control sets, so each effect can be dialed in independently241.
Effect A, the chorus/echo side:
- Level, Rate/Time, Depth/Feedback and a Mode rotary knob2
- Rate and Depth double as Time and Feedback when an echo delay mode is selected2
- The five modes listed above: Echo, Chorus, Tri-Chorus, Chorus into Delay, Delay into Chorus1
Effect B, the reverb side:
- A Reverb, Mod, Filter mode mini toggle switch, with a Tone, Rate and Range mini rotary control for each2
- Mix and Decay knobs2
- Three reverb algorithms: Reverb, described by MusicRadar as "a bright plate type", plus Modulation and Filter2
- An on/off footswitch with LED indicator14
The whole pedal is switched by a single On/Off footswitch with an LED indicator1.
Power and practicalities
The Sugar & Spice runs on a 9 V DC power supply unit, which is not included in the delivery; Harley Benton lists a suitable supply separately1. Power consumption is 200 mA1, which is high enough that a low-output supply or a shared daisy-chain output may not run it, so it is worth matching it to a supply that can deliver that current on its own output.
The pedal draws 200 mA at 9 V DC and ships without a power supply, so budget for a dedicated supply output when planning a board1.
Physically it is a compact unit: 120 x 95 x 37 mm and 0.32 kg1. Sockets are input, output and power2. Support and sales run through Thomann2.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Rob Laing reviewed the pedal in August 2022 and came away with a practical verdict: "This is a useful and usable combination of digital reverb, delay and chorus for electric and acoustic guitarists that co[uld] save space and money on a pedalboard"2. He also notes that while Harley Benton voices the chorus and delay especially for electro-acoustic use, they are useful for electric players too2.
De Gregorio, writing on Delicious Audio, suggests the pedal "might get the interest of creative guitarists, thanks to its flexibility and wide sonic palette"1.
Where it came from
Videos
EytschPi42
Riffs & Rig
Questions
Is the Harley Benton Sugar & Spice true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page for the Sugar & Spice lists a true bypass design, so when the pedal is off your guitar's signal passes through without the effects circuitry loading it. The pedal has a single On/Off footswitch with an LED indicator.
Does the Sugar & Spice come with a power supply?
No. The pedal is powered by a 9 V DC power supply unit, and Delicious Audio notes that a suitable supply is not included in the delivery. Harley Benton lists a matching power supply under its own item number, sold separately.
How much current does the Sugar & Spice draw?
Power consumption is 200 mA, according to Delicious Audio's product page. That is worth checking against your power supply or pedalboard brick, because some small supplies cannot deliver that much current on one output.
Is the Sugar & Spice analog or digital?
Digital. Delicious Audio describes the pedal as two digital effects placed in series, a delay/chorus and a reverb, and lists it as Reverb & Echo / Chorus Digital.
Can the delay and chorus run in series on the Sugar & Spice?
Yes. The delay/chorus side offers Echo, Chorus, Tri-Chorus, Chorus into Delay and Delay into Chorus modes, so the two effects can be ordered either way. A 3-way toggle also lets the two sides of the pedal feed each other in any order or play one at a time.
Is the Sugar & Spice made for acoustic guitar?
Harley Benton says the chorus and delay on the right-hand side have been especially voiced for electro-acoustic guitars, and the reverb is also described as specially voiced for acoustic guitar. MusicRadar's Rob Laing notes it is useful for electric players too.
Sources (4)
- Harley Benton Sugar & Spice Delay/Chorus+Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-11-14
- Harley Benton Sugar & Spice reverb and echo / chorus pedal review, MusicRadar, 2022-08-14
- Harley Benton Double Pedal Series: Two effects in one compact pedal, gearnews.com, 2022-07-08
- Harley Benton launches new Double Pedal series dual guitar effects, MusicRadar, 2022-07-08
