The Subdecay Anamnesis Echo is a modulated delay pedal made by SubDecay, hand built in Oregon1. It pairs a digital delay, built on the Princeton Technologies PT2399 delay IC running at 5V internally, with an LFO that modulates the delay time, giving the repeats a chorus or vibrato character rather than a flat, static echo2. Subdecay describes it as excelling at "lush ambient walls of modulated swirl," with fast "creepy" modulation and warm repeats that the maker says create a feel of real space and work with both clean and overdriven tones1.
The pedal is out of production. Subdecay's product page points to the newer Echobox as its replacement1. It carried a street price of $179 at the time of Premier Guitar's review2.
Where it came from
The Anamnesis Echo follows Subdecay's earlier Echobox in its circuit design: like the old Echobox, it uses a companderless design, which Subdecay says avoids the clicking and popping artifacts heard in some delay pedals1. Beyond that shared approach, the pedal is built in die-cast metal enclosures for durability and is hand made in Oregon1.
The controls
Premier Guitar's review describes the control set as the typical level (blend), regen, and time knobs found on countless other delays, plus what it calls "very potent" LFO depth and speed controls2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| TIME | Sets delay time, up to a 600ms maximum. Placed at the lower right so you can reach it and manipulate it as repeats trail off1 |
| REGEN | Controls the repeats or feedback. Infinite and oscillating repeats are possible with it turned all the way up1 |
| LEVEL | Blends the delayed signal with your dry signal2 |
| DEPTH | LFO depth, modulating the delay time2 |
| SPEED | LFO speed2 |
The modulation side is where the pedal gets its character. On the related Echobox, whose control scheme the Anamnesis Echo shares, the depth knob fully cancels modulation when all the way down and moves toward what Subdecay calls "full on pitch madness" at the end of the dial, while the speed knob sits chorus-like echoes to the left and vibrato to the right, with chorus and vibrato sounds available at fast delay times and low regen settings3. The Anamnesis Echo's own LFO depth and speed controls give you the same kind of command over how the repeats move2.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on a regulated 9VDC to 18VDC adapter with a negative center 2.1mm barrel plug, drawing less than 100mA1. Because of the 18V power option, there is no 9V battery option, as Premier Guitar noted in its review2.
The 18V capability means no battery compartment, so the pedal needs a wall adapter or pedalboard power supply with a 2.1mm negative center output12.
Input impedance is 1M and output impedance is less than 1K1. The pedal sits in a die-cast metal enclosure for durability1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the pedal using a Fender US Lone Star Stratocaster and a vintage 1965 Fender Twin Reverb amplifier2. The reviewer's verdict:
"Versatile. Great headroom with excellent range of controls, particularly for LFO."2
The review highlights the pairing of the digital delay with the LFO as the pedal's defining feature, and singles out the modulation controls as especially capable for players who want fine command over LFO behavior2.
Videos
Subdecay
Prymaxe
Dennis Kayzer
Questions
Does the Subdecay Anamnesis Echo take a battery?
No. Premier Guitar notes that its 18-volt power requirement means there is no 9V battery option. It runs on a regulated 9VDC to 18VDC adapter with a negative center 2.1mm barrel plug, so you need a power supply rather than a battery.
Is the Anamnesis Echo true bypass?
Yes. Subdecay's product page specifies 3PDT switches for true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off your signal passes through without buffering.
Can the Anamnesis Echo self-oscillate?
Yes. The REGEN control sets the repeats or feedback, and Subdecay states that infinite and oscillating repeats are possible when it is turned all the way up. The related Echobox's regen control launches into oscillation when pushed past about 3:00.
Is the Subdecay Anamnesis Echo analog or digital?
It is a digital delay. Premier Guitar's review identifies the Princeton Technologies PT2399 delay IC as the core of the circuit, running at 5V internally, paired with an LFO for modulation of the delay time.
Is the Anamnesis Echo still made?
No. The original Echobox was discontinued in 2012, and the Anamnesis Echo followed it out of the lineup.
Sources (3)
- Anamnesis Echo, Subdecay, 2016-04-04
- SubDecay Anamnesis Echo Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-09-26
- Echobox - Modulated delay (b-stock) - Guitar Effects - Subdecay, Subdecay, 2021-02-24