The JHS Pedals Flight Delay is a compact delay pedal that puts three delay types in one box: an analog-style mode, a reverse mode and a digital mode. JHS says it "was made with one goal in mind: to be everything you need in a delay and nothing you don't"1. It launched in October 2024 at $249, in White and Blue finishes2, and JHS founder Josh Scott designed its three modes around his own favorite delays2.
Despite the Analog mode's name, the Flight Delay is a digital pedal throughout. Delicious Audio notes that the Analog mode "is voiced after Bucket Brigade-style circuits (this is a digital pedal), recreating their typical warmth and degradation at higher settings"3. It is a mono device, with one input and one output.
Analog, reverse and digital delay in one pedal
The Mode toggle selects between the three delay voices, each modeled on a specific classic1:
| Mode | What it does | Inspired by |
|---|---|---|
| Analog | Filtered analog-style BBD delay, with the warmth and degradation of classic echo pedals | EHX Memory Man, Boss DM-21 |
| Reverse | Plays the delay signal backwards | Danelectro Back Talk, Line 6 DL4 Reverse mode1 |
| Digital | Crisp, clean digital-style repeats | Boss DD-5, Ibanez DE71 |
The three reference points come from Josh Scott himself: the modes are inspired by "my all-time favorite delays - EHX Memory Man, Boss DD-5, and Line 6 DL4 'Reverse Mode'"4. Guitar World reported the pedal as a distillation of those three, quoting JHS founder Josh Scott2. JHS notes the pedal is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Ibanez, Boss, Danelectro, Electro-Harmonix or Line 61.
Delicious Audio describes the character of each voice: the Reverse mode "delivers what's expected of it: reversed repeats" and is "a nod to ambient and shoegaze guitarists," while Digital mode "recreates the crisp and pristine repeats of the rack units of the '80s, also revered by shoegaze fans"3. Gearnews describes the Digital mode as "a crisp, modern digital delay"5.
One behavior worth knowing: when you switch between modes, the delay time resets to whatever the Time knob is set to, so a tapped tempo does not carry over1.
Controls and modulation
The control layout is clearly organized, with delay elements mostly on the left and modulation on the right6. The four knobs and three toggles break down like this7:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Sets the level of the repeats3 |
| Repeats | Feedback, how many repeats3 |
| EQ | Tones the repeats: left is darker and warmer, right is brighter and crisper1 |
| Time | Delay length from 50ms to 1 second1 |
| Mode toggle | Analog, Reverse or Digital1 |
| Subdivision toggle | Quarter, eighth or dotted eighth in relation to tapped tempo1 |
| Modulation toggle | Chorus, vibrato or off1 |
The modulation is a designed part of the circuit: JHS says the Flight Delay "features a meticulously designed modulation path that affects the delayed signal"1. The modulation toggle sets the style to chorus, vibrato or off1, and Guitar World describes these as onboard chorus and vibrato effects that can be engaged or turned off entirely with the third toggle2. Delicious Audio notes the EQ knob lets you darken the wet signal for a more vintage, warm character3.
Tap tempo, expression and connections
The right footswitch is a tap tempo switch: tap two or more presses to lock in your delay time1. The subdivision toggle then sets the repeat interval to quarter note, eighth note or dotted eighth note relative to that tempo1. The left footswitch is the bypass switch, turning the effect on and off1.
The TAP/EXP jack on the top of the pedal, between the input and the DC jack, serves two purposes depending on the cable you plug in1:
- External tap: a mono TS cable connected to a switch or clocking device1
- Expression control: a stereo TRS cable to an expression pedal with polarity set to "Tip"; heel down gives the fastest delay time, toe down the slowest1
The pedal also has an optional trails bypass mode, which lets the repeats trail off when you bypass it. To toggle it, hold both footswitches for two seconds while the pedal is on; the left bypass LED blinks and the setting is retained1. MusicRadar describes the same hold-both-switches behavior8.
The Flight Delay requires 9V DC center negative power and consumes 85mA. JHS warns: do not use more than 9V DC, or you will void your warranty1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson reviewed the Flight Delay at launch and again in his roundup of the best new time-based effects of 2024. His verdict:
"This is a really simple and elegant delay - which covers a fair amount of ground in a fairly streamlined fashion. It's decently priced too at $249 / £1956."
Reviewers found the Flight Delay a good entry point into delay. One reviewer's verdict: "Great for players looking for a startup delay though - as it gives you all the flavour you need, in a really neat format"7.
His one reservation was the mono format: he called it "obviously a Mono device - which is not really compatible with my own rig"6, repeating the point in his year-end roundup, where he wrote that it "sounds great, but is only a mono device"7. He still rated it "great for players looking for a startup delay though - as it gives you all the flavour you need, in a really neat format overall"7.
Pedal of the Day highlighted the optional trails mode and the Exp/Tap jack for controlling delay time9. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry sums it up as "a beautifully simple stompbox that combines the most essential delay types with the features that matter," aimed at players tired of menu diving and endless scrolling4.
JHS's own demo video walks through the modes, including the digital setting:
"I have the Flight Delay in digital mode. This is going to give me really clear precise repeats10."
JHS Pedals, demo video10
Where it sits among JHS delays
Among JHS delays, the Flight Delay stands out for combining three delay voices in one pedal: Analog, Reverse, and Digital1411. Its Analog mode is voiced after Bucket Brigade-style circuits, its Reverse mode delivers reversed repeats aimed at ambient and shoegaze players, and its Digital mode recreates the crisp repeats of '80s rack units3. The Time knob's three subdivision options and the EQ knob for darkening the wet sound round out the control set3, and holding down both footswitches toggles a trails bypass mode1.
Videos
Harp Lady
Sweetwater Soundcheck
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the JHS Flight Delay stereo?
No. The Flight Delay is a mono device with a single 1/4 inch input and a single 1/4 inch output. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer noted it is only a mono device, which he found not really compatible with his own stereo rig.
Does the JHS Flight Delay have trails?
Yes, as an option. A trails bypass mode lets the repeats trail off when the pedal is bypassed. To turn it on or off, hold both footswitches for two seconds while the pedal is on; the left bypass LED blinks and the setting is retained.
What is the maximum delay time on the Flight Delay?
The Time control sets the delay length from 50ms to 1 second. With tap tempo you can also lock in a tempo with two or more presses, and the subdivision toggle sets the repeat interval to quarter note, eighth note or dotted eighth note.
Is the JHS Flight Delay analog or digital?
It is a digital pedal. The Analog mode is voiced after bucket brigade style circuits to recreate their typical warmth and degradation at higher settings, but the circuit itself is digital rather than a true analog BBD design.
How much current does the JHS Flight Delay draw?
It requires 9V DC center negative power and consumes 85mA. JHS warns not to use more than 9V DC, or you will void your warranty. There is no battery option mentioned.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Flight Delay?
Yes. Plug a stereo TRS cable into the TAP/EXP jack and connect it to an expression pedal with the polarity set to Tip. Heel down gives the fastest delay time and toe down gives the slowest.
Sources (11)
- FLIGHT DELAY, JHS Pedals
- “In a world full of complex effects, we worked hard to bring you the opposite”: JHS Pedals' Flight Delay bucks the trend of ultra-complicated pedals by delivering 3 iconic delays in a frills-free form factor, Guitar World, 2024-10-23
- JHS Flight Delay, Delicious Audio, 2025-12-08
- Flight Delay (white) by JHS, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- JHS Pedals Flight Delay: Minimalist Masterpiece, gearnews.com, 2024-10-22
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-10-22
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-20
- “A beautifully simple stompbox that combines the most essential delay types with the features that matter”: JHS Pedals unveils the Flight Delay, offering analogue, digital and reverse delays with tap tempo, MusicRadar, 2024-10-22
- JHS Pedals Flight Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2024-11-02
- The Morning Glory Clean loves delay pedals, JHS Pedals (YouTube), 2026-01-31
- Flight Delay by JHS, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
