The Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail is a true analog delay pedal released in 2014 by Seymour Duncan1. Its repeats come from genuine bucket brigade device (BBD) integrated circuits supported by modern low-noise analog electronics, with no microprocessors or digital signal processors anywhere in the audio path2. Delay times run from 15 to 600 milliseconds, and the pedal includes a modulation section for chorus-like movement in the repeats345.
Guitar World's reviewer described the result as a pedal that "delivers the fat, warm tone of genuine analog echo, with crystal-clean signal quality and definition similar to state-of-the-art digital technology"3. It carried a street price of $149.95 at launch in 20143.
The controls
The Vapor Trail keeps its control set simple. Three full-size knobs handle the conventional delay functions, and two small knobs set the modulation section3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Sets the level of the delayed signal against your dry signal |
| Repeats | Sets how many echoes you hear and how they decay |
| Delay | Sets the delay time, from 15 to 600 ms2 |
| Rate (small) | Sets the speed of the modulation applied to the repeats3 |
| Depth (small) | Sets how deep the modulation effect goes2 |
The Delay knob is translucent, with a blue LED inside that flashes to give visual feedback on the delay time you have selected2. Premier Guitar's reviewer called this "a cool double function," noting the flashing LED makes the knob work as a delay rate indicator4. The Rate and Depth controls sit on the top panel so you can adjust them easily in a live setting2.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on a standard nine-volt battery or an external center-negative power supply anywhere from 9V to 18V23. Input and output are standard mono 1/4-inch jacks mounted on the top vertical panel, which helps tight pedalboard layouts3.
The unusual connection is the side-mounted TRS insert jack, which taps the wet delay signal only3. Seymour Duncan's launch announcement explained the possibilities: "A TRS insert jack allows you to add effects to the wet signal (loop the wet delay sound through a flanger, chorus, or other effect)"2. Guitar World's review listed three uses for it:
- Process the wet signal with separate effects, such as running the repeats through a flanger or chorus3
- Output a wet-only signal to another amp while the dry signal goes to the main output3
- Control the wet signal's mix level with a volume pedal3
The insert jack affects the repeats only, not your dry signal. Anything you plug into it sits in the delay path, so your clean tone stays untouched23.
How it differs from the Vapor Trail Deluxe
In 2021, Seymour Duncan released the Vapor Trail Deluxe, an expanded version of the original pedal6. Like the original, the Deluxe delivers all-analog bucket brigade repeats with modulation6, but it adds digital control over the analog signal path6.
The main differences:
| Vapor Trail | Vapor Trail Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|
| Max delay time | 600 ms2 | 1,200 ms7 |
| Presets | None | Three storable presets7 |
| Modes | Standard delay with modulation | Four specialty modes plus a Micro Delay mode from 6 to 300 ms8 |
| Bypass | True bypass2 | True hard-wire bypass with selectable active-bypass trailing repeats mode7 |
In Sweetwater's demo video, Don Carr described the Deluxe as "an analog delay with a bucket brigade based delay circuit" with up to 1,200 milliseconds of delay time, and demonstrated its Micro Delay mode, which he said is good for modulation, double tracking and slide-back delay8. Seymour Duncan's own announcement credited its high-quality chips for the increased delay times of up to 1.2 seconds9.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's 2014 review found the pedal notably quiet for an analog delay: "While many new analog delay pedals still have a slight amount of hiss in the background, the Vapor Trail is dead quiet"3. The reviewer also praised the range of delay times, from 15 to 600 milliseconds, and the small "bud box" enclosure that takes up minimal real estate on a pedalboard3.
Premier Guitar's reviewer reached a positive overall verdict:
"the Vapor Trail is a really solid analog delay with a deep range of voices"4
Premier Guitar, 20214
The same review noted the trade-off of the format: "the 15 to 600 ms delay range isn't as expansive as what you get from digital units," though the pedal "covers classic analog delay textures with ease"4. The review also found the wet insert jack adds value and tweakability at what it called a reasonable $150 price4. A Guitar World review of the original Vapor Trail found it "dead quiet, unlike many new analog delay pedals that still have a slight amount of hiss in the background," and said it "delivers the fat, warm tone of genuine analog echo, with crystal-clean signal quality and definition similar to state-of-the-art digital technology"3.
For players who want longer delay times, tap tempo and presets in the same analog bucket brigade format, the Vapor Trail Deluxe is the successor to compare it against6.
Videos
Guitar World
ProGuitarShopDemos
Sweetwater
Questions
Is the Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail true bypass?
Yes. The Vapor Trail uses true bypass switching, so your dry signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off. The later Vapor Trail Deluxe keeps true hard-wire bypass and adds a selectable active-bypass mode that lets repeats trail off naturally when you disengage the pedal.
Can the Vapor Trail run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal runs on a standard nine-volt battery or an external regulated power supply between 9V and 18V, center negative. The battery option makes it easy to use the pedal on a small board without a dedicated power supply.
What is the TRS insert jack on the Vapor Trail for?
The side-mounted TRS insert jack taps the wet delay signal only. You can loop the repeats through another effect such as a flanger or chorus, send the wet signal to a second amp while the dry signal goes to the main output, or control the wet level with a volume pedal.
What is the difference between the Vapor Trail and the Vapor Trail Deluxe?
The Deluxe, released in 2021, builds on the original's analog bucket brigade circuit but extends delay time to 1.2 seconds, adds tap tempo, three storable presets, four specialty delay modes, and a Micro Delay mode ranging from 6 to 300 milliseconds. The original is simpler, with three main knobs and two modulation controls.
How long is the Vapor Trail's delay time?
The original Vapor Trail offers delay times from 15 to 600 milliseconds. That range covers classic analog delay territory but is shorter than most digital delays. The Vapor Trail Deluxe extends the maximum to 1,200 milliseconds.
Sources (9)
- Seymour Duncan Launches Vapor Trail Deluxe Analog Delay, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-06-22
- Seymour Duncan Introduces the Vapor Trail Delay, Premier Guitar, 2014-02-27
- Review: Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail Analog Delay Pedal, Guitar World, 2014-08-15
- Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail Analog Delay Review, Premier Guitar, 2014-09-14
- Exclusive Demo Video: Seymour Duncan Releases Vapor Trail Analog Delay, Guitar World, 2014-02-26
- Seymour Duncan's new Vapor Trail Deluxe teams all-analog delay tone with versatile digital control, Guitar World, 2021-06-18
- Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail Deluxe review, MusicRadar, 2022-02-02
- Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail Deluxe Demo, Sweetwater, 2021-07-08
- Seymour Duncan The New Vapor Trail Deluxe Analog Delay Pedal, Seymour Duncan, 2021-06-12
Chris Letchford
