The Strymon Brigadier dBucket Delay is a delay pedal built around Strymon's dBucket algorithm, which the maker describes as a hand crafted approach to reproducing every stage of an analog bucket brigade chip and its associated clock driver circuitry. In plain terms, it aims to capture the character of a vintage analog delay circuit digitally, and it sits alongside Strymon's other delay designs such as the El Capistan dTape Echo, the DIG Dual Digital Delay and the TimeLine. Reviewing it in 2014, Pedal of the Day's Mike B called it "a prime example of their craftsmanship and skill"1.
Delay modes and tap tempo
The Brigadier gives you three delay modes, Short, Medium and Long, with delay time ranging from 40ms all the way up to 5 seconds. Pedal of the Day noted that these modes "provide a TON of time to play around with"1.
Two footswitches handle the main operations: Tap Tempo and Bypass1. The Tap switch does more than set the tempo, because it also selects the note division your repeats follow:
- Quarter Notes
- Dotted Eighth Notes
- Eighth Note Triplets
That covers the timings most players reach for, including the dotted eighth sound that sits well behind lead lines1.
Inputs, outputs and expression control
The input is a high impedance mono input, and an internal jumper enables a selectable TRS stereo input, so the pedal can accept a stereo signal if you open it up and set the jumper1. On the output side, the Stereo Out can be run into a multiple amp setup, which makes the Brigadier usable in a stereo rig1.
There is also an expression pedal input, allowing you to control any knob you choose with your foot. That means you can sweep delay time, repeats or mix live without bending down to turn a control1.
Controls
The front panel centers on a Mix knob that lets you blend the Wet and Dry signals as you see fit1. The reviewer found it worked well in practice:
"I love the Mix knob on just about any pedal, and it works extremely well here, too."
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review, published in September 2014, was favorable, with the reviewer describing the Brigadier as "a prime example of their craftsmanship and skill" from Strymon1.
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Questions
How long is the delay time on the Strymon Brigadier?
The Brigadier offers Short, Medium and Long delay modes, with delay time ranging from 40ms all the way up to 5 seconds. That range covers everything from tight, short repeats to long, spacious delays, and the modes give you a wide amount of time to work with on a single pedal.
Does the Brigadier have tap tempo?
Yes. The Brigadier has dedicated Tap Tempo and Bypass footswitches. The Tap switch also selects note divisions, so you can set your repeats as Quarter Notes, Dotted Eighth Notes or Eighth Note Triplets against the tempo you tap in.
Can the Brigadier run in stereo?
Yes. The pedal has a high impedance mono input, and an internal jumper enables a selectable TRS stereo input. On the output side, the Stereo Out can be run into a multiple amp setup, so a stereo rig is possible with the right cabling.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Brigadier?
Yes. The Brigadier features an expression pedal input that lets you control any knob you choose with your foot, so you can move delay time, repeats or the mix in real time while you play.
What note divisions does the Brigadier tap switch offer?
The Tap switch offers three note divisions: Quarter Notes, Dotted Eighth Notes and Eighth Note Triplets. That covers the most commonly used delay timings, including the dotted eighth sound popular with ambient and lead players.
Sources (1)
- Strymon Brigadier dBucket Delay, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-09-14
