The MXR Carbon Copy Bright is a limited edition analog delay pedal that MXR released in 2015 as a brighter-voiced alternative to the Carbon Copy. Dunlop describes it as "a limited edition pedal that gave players all the functionality of the original but with a brighter sound"1. It keeps the original's three-knob layout, modulation button and 600ms of delay time, and swaps the familiar dark green enclosure for a light green, lime one23.
The reason it exists is taste. As MusicRadar put it, "While the original MXR Carbon Copy has many admirers, taste is subjective, and some users pined for a brighter-sounding analogue delay"4. The Carbon Copy Bright was MXR's answer: the same all-analog bucket-brigade circuit, voiced so the repeats cut through rather than receding into a dark wash.
A brighter version of the Carbon Copy
The original Carbon Copy Analog Delay (model M169) was introduced in 2008 and built its reputation on dark, mellow repeats58. Its repeats roll off the high end, which many players love for a warm, tape-like wash, but which others found too murky for parts that need definition.
The Bright addresses that directly. Pedal of the Day's review describes the difference: "where the original echoes are dark and mellow, the Bright's repeats are more defined, with a more distinct vocal quality"3. Premier Guitar found the same character, noting that "the more-pronounced high end makes the warbles feel less hazy and tape-like" and that the repeat tones suited both clean chord arpeggios and mildly overdriven lead sounds2.
The Bright circuit outlived the limited edition. It reappears as a switch in two later pedals19:
| Pedal | How the Bright voicing appears | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Copy Deluxe (2017) | Bright switch engages the Carbon Copy Bright circuit | Manual specifies 1.5 kHz, +4.5 dB on the delayed signal61 |
| Carbon Copy Mini | Bright switch adds sparkle and definition | Default mode gives the original's dark, mellow wash10 |
On That Pedal Show, Daniel and Mick compared the Bright against the original Carbon Copy side by side, the channel noting the original was "introduced in 2008" and the Bright was "new-for-2015"5.
The controls: Delay, Mix and Regen
Premier Guitar states that "the Bright's feature set is identical to the original Carbon Copy: mix, regen, and delay knobs, plus a button that activates" the modulation2. Since the circuit and control set match the M169, the original's manual describes how each control behaves118:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay | Sets the delay time, 20 ms to 600 ms |
| Regen | Sets the number of repeats |
| Mix | Blends the wet and dry signals |
| Mod button | Toggles modulation on and off, with a blue LED to show it is on |
The modulation is the hidden extra. It is switchable with the press of a button, and its width and speed are adjustable internally by removing the bottom plate and turning trim pots37. There are no external modulation controls; a player who wants to tweak the warble on the fly without opening the pedal would need to look at the Carbon Copy Deluxe, which exposes the modulation controls that were internal trim pots on the original12.
The Bright is a limited edition from 20151. Players who want its voicing new can find the same circuit behind the Bright switch on the Carbon Copy Deluxe, where the manual specifies it as a 1.5 kHz, +4.5 dB boost on the delayed signal6.
What reviewers said
Published reviews of the Bright were positive about its tone and its place in the analog versus digital discussion2.
"Yummy echo tones deftly straddle the divide between digital definition and analog soul. Adjustable modulation section."
Premier Guitar's overall verdict was that "if you're on the fence about whether to go analog or digital, the Carbon Copy Bright is a rich, colorful, and classy" choice2. MusicRadar called it "all-analogue" and MXR's answer to players who wanted a brighter delay, adding "you can't fault their hard graft when you plug this little green pedal in"4.
Pedal of the Day found it "punchier and more present than the original, with more sparkle and shine," recommending it for players who want to "make your presence known and stand out more on stage"3. The same review noted the true bypass switching "keeps your signal nice and quiet when you're in bypass mode"3.
Not every reviewer preferred the brighter voicing. Reviewing the Carbon Copy Deluxe, which includes the Bright circuit as a switch, Guitar World's Paul Riario wrote: "The Bright mode is a nice inclusion for accentuating high end, but I actually preferred the pedal's unadulterated darker" tone13. That split is the whole story of the Bright: it exists because some players want the original's darkness and others want definition, and reviews landed on both sides.
Where it sits in the Carbon Copy family
The Bright is one branch of a delay line that now runs to several pedals943:
- Carbon Copy Analog Delay (M169, 2008): the original, dark-voiced 600ms analog delay875
- Carbon Copy Bright (2015): limited edition, same features with a brighter voicing1
- Carbon Copy Deluxe (2017): adds the Bright switch, 1200ms of delay time and exposed modulation controls114
- Carbon Copy Mini (M299): a mini housing with a side-mounted Bright switch151617
For a player weighing analog against digital delay, the Bright sits on the analog side of the line, with the repeats and adjustable modulation that implies, at the original Carbon Copy's 600ms ceiling rather than the longer times digital delays offer423.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Carbon Copy and the Carbon Copy Bright?
The Bright has the same feature set as the original Carbon Copy: Delay, Regen and Mix knobs, a modulation button, and up to 600ms of delay time. The difference is the voicing. Where the original's repeats are dark and mellow, the Bright's are more defined, with a more distinct vocal quality and an enhanced frequency range, in a lime green instead of dark green enclosure.
Is the MXR Carbon Copy Bright true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review notes true bypass switching that keeps the signal quiet in bypass mode. The original Carbon Copy's manual lists a True Hardwire bypass, and Premier Guitar describes the Bright's feature set as identical to the original.
How long is the delay on the Carbon Copy Bright?
Up to 600ms, the same as the original Carbon Copy, whose manual gives a delay time range of 20 ms to 600 ms. Pedal of the Day confirms the Bright offers up to 600ms of delay time.
Can you adjust the modulation on the Carbon Copy Bright?
Yes, but not from the outside. A button switches the modulation on and off, and the width and speed of the modulation are adjustable internally, by removing the bottom plate and turning trim pots, just as on the original Carbon Copy.
Does the Carbon Copy Deluxe have the Bright circuit?
Yes. The Carbon Copy Deluxe, released in 2017, has a Bright switch that engages the Carbon Copy Bright delay circuit. Its manual specifies the Bright setting as a boost at 1.5 kHz of +4.5 dB on the delayed signal, and it also exposes the modulation controls that were internal trim pots on the original.
Is the MXR Carbon Copy Bright a limited edition?
Yes. Dunlop released the Carbon Copy Bright Analog Delay in 2015 as a limited edition pedal that gave players all the functionality of the original Carbon Copy but with a brighter sound. The Bright voicing later carried on in the Carbon Copy Deluxe's Bright switch and the Carbon Copy Mini's Bright mode.
Sources (17)
- MXR® Carbon Copy® Mini Analog Delay, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2019-05-15
- Quick Hit: MXR Carbon Copy Bright, Premier Guitar, 2016-03-08
- MXR Carbon Copy Bright Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2019-01-17
- MXR Carbon Copy Bright review, MusicRadar, 2016-04-20
- MXR Carbon Copy Bright & Original Carbon Copy. What Do We Think?, That Pedal Show, 2015-08-14
- M292.pdf, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com/mxr), 2019
- M169.pdf, Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., 2019
- MXR® CARBON COPY® ANALOG DELAY, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR Carbon Copy Mini Delay Pedal Demo with Bryan Kehoe, Sweetwater, 2019-07-19
- MXR® CARBON COPY® MINI ANALOG DELAY, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR® TOM MORELLO POWER 50™ OVERDRIVE, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- 2023 UPDATE: The Best Analog Delay Pedals (Mono & Stereo), Delicious Audio, 2024-01-04
- Review: MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay, Guitar World, 2018-03-01
- MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Delicious Audio, 2023-06-09
- M299.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2019
- Best Mini Delay Pedals In 2023: Compare Price And Features, Delicious Audio, 2023-09-29
- MXR Carbon Copy Mini Analog Delay, Delicious Audio, 2019-06-02
