The Ross Stereo Analog Delay is an analog delay pedal from the 1970s, made by Ross, a company Pedal of the Day describes as probably best known for creating the, in many opinions, greatest compressor of all time. It is a stereo design: two output channels, labeled Local and Remote, let you run it in stereo, each with its own Mix control knob1. Pedal of the Day calls it one of the more rare and coveted analog delays from the '70s, and it is genuinely hard to find today1.
The controls
The pedal keeps its control set simple, with the stereo outputs as the distinguishing feature1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay | Controls the overall time of the delay1 |
| Recycle | The repeats knob, which Pedal of the Day calls "a cool way to label the repeats knob"1 |
| Mix (Local) | Each output channel has its own Mix control knob1 |
| Mix (Remote) | Each output channel has its own Mix control knob1 |
On the sound, Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote:
"Very organic and lush, perhaps even hints of reverb, the Stereo Delay will do awesome slap back, cool undertones on lead"1
The same review notes the pedal will do runaway repeat oscillation, meaning it can be pushed into self-oscillation1.
The Reticon SAD1024 chips and why it is rare
The true analog delay sound is achieved using 3 of the famous and coveted Reticon SAD1024 bucket brigade chips, according to Pedal of the Day. Those chips are really rare and fairly expensive nowadays, if you can find them, which is part of why the pedal itself is rare and coveted and hard to find1.
There are two versions: the USA-made version covered here, and a later black box version made in Taiwan1.
A modern comparison: the Walrus Audio Meraki
Players looking at stereo analog delays today will more likely come across the Walrus Audio Meraki Stereo Analog Delay, a modern stereo analog dual delay. Where the Ross uses three SAD1024 chips, the Meraki uses eight MN3005 bucket brigade chips to create warm, rich repeats, and its Time control tailors delay time from 80ms to 1200ms2341. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described it as positioned to rival the likes of the truly superlative Boss DM-101 Delay Machine, and wrote that heavy users of delay and those running a stereo rig are sure to get a lot of mileage out of it5.
Questions
What chips does the Ross Stereo Analog Delay use?
The Ross Stereo Analog Delay uses three Reticon SAD1024 bucket brigade chips, which Pedal of the Day describes as famous and coveted. Those chips are a large part of why the pedal is sought after, because they are rare and fairly expensive nowadays, if you can find them at all.
How long is the delay time on the Ross Stereo Analog Delay?
Pedal of the Day puts the maximum delay time at around 600ms or so, maybe a little bit more. The Delay knob controls the overall time of the delay across that range.
Where was the Ross Stereo Analog Delay made?
The version Pedal of the Day reviewed is USA-made. A later black box version of the pedal was made in Taiwan, so the country of origin depends on which version of the pedal you are looking at.
What is the difference between the Ross black box version and the earlier one?
The later black box version was made in Taiwan, while the earlier version Pedal of the Day covered is USA-made. Beyond the country of manufacture and the black enclosure, the review does not draw further distinctions between the two versions.
Can the Ross Stereo Analog Delay self-oscillate?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes the pedal will do runaway repeat oscillation, alongside slapback echoes and cool undertones on lead runs, with a sound described as very organic and lush, perhaps even hints of reverb.
Why is the Ross Stereo Analog Delay hard to find?
Pedal of the Day calls it one of the more rare and coveted analog delays from the 1970s. Part of the scarcity comes from its parts: the three Reticon SAD1024 bucket brigade chips it uses are really rare and fairly expensive nowadays, if you can find them.
Sources (5)
- Ross Stereo Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2017-02-09
- Deep Six Compressor Stomp Box, Walrus Audio
- Walrus Audio Meraki Stereo Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2024-01-18
- Meraki Stereo Analog Delay by Walrus Audio, RockBoard (PedalPedia), 2026
- NAMM 2024: “Cozy up and immerse yourself in true stereo analogue delay”, MusicRadar, 2024-01-22
