The Hello Sailor Effects SeaWolf PT2399 Delay is a hand-wired delay pedal built around the PT2399 delay chip, and a refined take on Mad Professor's Deep Blue Delay circuit. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, reviewing the pedal in March 2025, describes its sound as "truly a lush delay - leaning somewhat towards dampened and softened - slightly spongy in some ways", aimed at beautiful decaying repeats1.
Sound and the PT2399 chip
The PT2399 is a so-called digital delay chip that directly includes an ADC, DAC, RAM and clock on the chip itself, according to Anasounds' technical analysis of the part2. GuitarPCB's documentation for the chip notes that it provides smooth delay effects with a maximum delay time of approximately 600 milliseconds, and that subtle artifacts at the maximum setting can vary with each chip's tolerance3. In practice, PT2399 delays have a reputation of their own: Guitar Pedal X writes that "PT2399 delays can be so lush and magical - as exemplified by the Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay, and the recent Black Mountain Roto Echo delay for Jack White"4.
On the SeaWolf specifically, Karlsson's verdict centers on the decay: "The nature of the decay is exceptional here - and I like riding the repeats as high as 3 o'clock - just on the cusp of infinite oscillation decay"1. That puts the pedal's usable range right at the edge of self-oscillation, where repeats sustain almost indefinitely without running away.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume / Boost | Output level, with boost available1 |
| Delay Time | Delay time from 25ms to 425ms1 |
| Repeats | Number and decay of the repeats1 |
| Mix | Blend of dry and delayed signal1 |
Versions and enclosures
The SeaWolf has been released in a series of editions, and the enclosure you choose changes both the size and the price1:
| Edition | Enclosure | Price (March 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Delay | Large dual-delay format | Not listed1 |
| Single, Medium Vertical | Medium enclosure | £240 GBP1 |
| Single, Medium Horizontal | Medium enclosure | £240 GBP1 |
| Single, Compact | Compact enclosure, fish-skin fabric | £250 GBP1 |
The Compact version carries a £10 premium over the Medium editions, which Karlsson attributes to how fiddly it is to make1. He also cautions that "there are unlikely to be too many more of the Compact varieties as they are so tricky to make - fitting all those vintage components" into the smaller box1.
Guitar Pedal X notes there are no demos of the Single Editions; only the original Dual Edition has been demoed, so players researching the sound will need to go by the Dual edition's demos1. The Dual edition has its own page here.
Who makes it
Hello Sailor Effects is a small builder, and the SeaWolf is the work of Joe, whom Karlsson credits with having "managed to further refine and improve" the Deep Blue design1. Karlsson counts the Compact fish-skin-fabric SeaWolf as his eighth Hello Sailor Effects pedal, which gives some sense of the builder's output across a range of editions1.
Questions
What chip does the Hello Sailor SeaWolf use?
The SeaWolf uses the PT2399 delay chip. Anasounds' technical analysis describes the PT2399 as a so-called digital delay chip that directly includes an ADC, DAC, RAM and clock on board. GuitarPCB notes the chip provides smooth delay effects with a maximum delay time of approximately 600 milliseconds, though individual chips vary in tolerance and can show subtle artifacts at the maximum setting.
Is the SeaWolf based on the Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X's review describes the SeaWolf as a hand-wired, lush take on Mad Professor's Deep Blue Delay, and says that Joe of Hello Sailor Effects has further refined and improved the Deep Blue design. Guitar Pedal X also cites the Deep Blue Delay as an example of how lush and magical PT2399 delays can be.
What is the difference between the SeaWolf Dual and Single editions?
The SeaWolf was first released in large Dual Delay formats, and later as Single Delay Editions in Medium and Compact enclosures. The Dual edition carries two delay circuits in one enclosure, while the Single editions house one delay in a smaller box. Guitar Pedal X notes there are no demos of the Single Editions, so players looking for a demo will only find the original Dual Edition.
What enclosure sizes does the SeaWolf come in?
The SeaWolf has appeared in large Dual Delay formats and in Single Delay Editions in Medium and Compact enclosures. The Compact version is covered in fish-skin fabric. Guitar Pedal X reports the Compact varieties are unlikely to be made in quantity because they are so tricky to make, fitting all the vintage components into the smaller box.
Is the SeaWolf hand-wired?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X's review describes the SeaWolf as hand-wired, using vintage and NOS (new old stock) components, wired in what the reviewer calls an exquisite fashion. The hand-wired construction is part of why the Compact editions are difficult to build in quantity.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-03-11
- The analog delay, or rather... the analog-voiced delay, Anasounds, 2020-05-14
- NostalgiTone-Space-Modulator, GuitarPCB, 2024-09
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-09-11
