The Steel Panther 1987 is a dual delay and distortion pedal built for '80s hair-metal tones, released by Steel Panther's guitarist Satchel and made with All-Pedal12. It packs both effects into one purple and green enclosure, with a dedicated footswitch for each side so you can run the distortion alone, the delay alone, or both together23. All-Pedal describes it as a "Dual Delay + Distortion for Pure '80s Glory"1.
The maker's own pitch for the sound is characteristically on brand:
"With the grit of 100 chainsaws and the ability to repeat itself more than that super stoned dude from Chemistry Class"
Delay and distortion in one pedal
Guitar World's Paul Riario calls the 1987 "an imitative 2-in-1 stompbox with separate delay and distortion" aimed squarely at hair and sleaze metal tones2. The two halves are laid out as two rows of knobs, each with its own footswitch on its side of the pedal23.
| Section | Controls | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Delay (top row) | Level, Feedback, Delay | Sets the delay's volume, number of repeats and repeat time23 |
| Distortion (bottom row) | Level, Tone, Gain | Sets the distortion's volume, tonal balance and amount of drive23 |
| Footswitches | Two, one per side | Turn each effect on or off separately, or engage both together23 |
Pedal of the Day framed the appeal of the format plainly: as with all great 2-in-1 effects, the Steel Panther 1987 Delay Distortion has two effects in a single box, covering "all your hair band needs covered at once"3. For a player building a small board, that means one enclosure doing the job of a distortion and a delay side by side, with top-mounted jacks to keep cabling tidy2.
Steel Panther had already released a standalone delay before this one, the Poontang Boomerang, so the 1987 is the band's take on combining drive and repeats in a single unit rather than a second delay-only pedal234.
Power: 9V, 14mA
The 1987 runs on a 9VDC center-pin-negative supply and draws 14mA1. There is no internal battery, and the maker is specific about what it wants on the other end of the cable:
The power adapter is not included. All-Pedal requires a fully regulated 9VDC center-pin-negative supply delivering at least 20mA, such as the TrueTone 1 SPOT1.
In practice that means a standard modern pedalboard supply will run it comfortably, but a battery is not an option, and Guitar World notes the pedal "is powered only with a 9-volt adapter"2.
Designed by Satchel
The pedal carries the design input of Satchel, Steel Panther's lead guitarist, whom Guitar World describes as the band's "lead maestro"2. All-Pedal's product page puts it in the guitarist's own voice: "Just like most of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, this has Satchel's flavor all over it"1. The pedal is designed and built in the USA1, and it sits in All-Pedal's lineup alongside their other artist collaborations3.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review, which lists the pedal's origin as "Sunset Strip?", delivers a verdict aimed squarely at players of a certain vintage2:
"A retro-fun pedal for hair and sleaze metal enthusiasts, particularly those of a certain age... If you can remember the '80s, you can remember these tones"
Pedal of the Day's 2023 review took the same angle, calling it a "purple and green beast" with "the grit of 100 chainsaws and the ability to repeat itself more than that super stoned dude from Chemistry Class," a line the maker also uses on its own page13.
Warranty and support
The 1987 ships with a 3 year warranty, which All-Pedal offers to upgrade to a lifetime warranty at no charge1. Support contact runs through Steel Panther at steelpantherrocks.com2.
Videos
Brett Kingman
Dave Webb Music
ZIMM'S GUITARS
News
Questions
Can you use the delay and distortion on the Steel Panther 1987 separately?
Yes. Two footswitches let you turn each effect on or off on its own, or run both together. The delay has Level, Feedback and Delay knobs on the top row, and the distortion has Level, Tone and Gain knobs on the bottom row.
Does the Steel Panther 1987 take a battery?
No. The maker states there is no internal battery, and the pedal is powered only with a 9-volt adapter. It needs a fully regulated 9VDC center-pin-negative supply of at least 20mA, and the adapter is not included.
Is the Steel Panther 1987 true bypass?
Yes. All-Pedal's product page lists true bypass for the 1987, so with both effects switched off the pedal should not color your signal.
Where is the Steel Panther 1987 made?
The maker states it is designed and built in the USA. It is a collaboration: the pedal carries Steel Panther's name and Satchel's design input, and it appears in All-Pedal's lineup.
Is the Steel Panther 1987 analog?
Yes. All-Pedal describes the 1987 as a low-noise, analog OTA based circuit, so both the distortion and delay sections are analog rather than digital.
Sources (4)
- Steel Panther 1987 Guitar Pedal, AllPedal
- Steel Panther 1987 Pedal review, Guitar World, 2023-02-28
- All-Pedal Steel Panther 1987 Delay Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2023-04-27
- [Artists
