The TC Electronic 2290 P Dynamic Digital Delay is a digital delay pedal that brings the company's classic 2290 rack unit, first introduced in 1985, into a stompbox format123. It offers up to 9.999 seconds of delay time3, stereo operation with independently controllable delayed notes4, and a feedback loop that lets you insert other effects into the wet signal2.
Where most TC Electronic delay pedals, such as the Flashback X4 or Nova Delay, use knobs and a small set of switches, the 2290 P goes for a retro aesthetic with classic digital displays and control buttons3, echoing the front panel of the original rack unit.
The controls: retro buttons, the Keyboard encoder and three footswitches
Instead of the knob-per-function layout common on delay pedals, the 2290 P uses an assortment of retro buttons to select parameters from the Modulation, Panning/Dynamic, Delay, Feedback, Output and Preset sections of the pedal. A larger Keyboard encoder is then used to manipulate and adjust the chosen setting3.
The delay time itself runs from 1 to 9999ms, with Invert and Sub.Divisions options covering Off, Straight, Dotted and Triplets. The Delay switch also selects between Direct and Reverse delay modes7.
The FEEDBACK control does double duty: it sets the number of repeats and also gives them a fundamental tonal shape2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Retro parameter buttons | Select parameters from the Modulation, Panning/Dynamic, Delay, Feedback, Output and Preset sections3 |
| Keyboard encoder | Manipulates and adjusts the chosen setting3 |
| DELAY: TIME | Delay time, 1 to 9999ms, with Invert and Sub.Divisions (Off / Straight / Dotted / Triplets)7 |
| DELAY switch | Delay mode: Direct or Reverse7 |
| FEEDBACK | Sets the number of repeats and shapes their tone2 |
There are three on-board footswitches, listed by Guitar Pedal X as A, A+B Down, B, B+Learn Up, and Learn / Tap Tempo7. With them you can punch the 2290 P in and out, browse banks, and tap the tempo2. Gearnews describes them as three dedicated footswitches for preset A/B, bank up/down, and the dedicated Learn tap tempo6.
The Learn feature on the Tap Tempo footswitch is new to the pedal3. The LEARN footswitch includes tap tempo control per Preset (A&B), per Board (A+B), or globally28, and it works with sub-divisions218.
Power and connections: stereo, MIDI, USB-C and expression
The rear panel carries MIDI jacks, stereo ins and outs with a dedicated stereo switch, USB-C for firmware updates and computer use, and an expression pedal jack for off-the-cuff parameter changes3.
- Stereo ins and outs with a dedicated stereo switch3
- MIDI jacks for integrating with MIDI-based setups32
- USB-C for firmware updates and computer use3
- Expression pedal jack for real-time parameter changes3
In stereo, the pedal produces stereo dynamic delays, and users can control the delayed notes independently from the original4. There is also a companion 2290 P app to control the pedal5, which gives access to a library of presets inspired by the sounds of "the greatest artists and producers in music history", as well as some imported directly from the flagship 2290 rack unit3.
The 2290 P's feedback loop lets you insert additional effects into the wet signal2, so repeats can pass through your own overdrive, filter or modulation pedals before being fed back into the delay.
From the 1980s 2290 rack unit to a pedal
The 2290 P recreates the 1985 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay + Effects Control Processor, TC Electronic's rack-mount delay7. The original 2290 Digital Delay Processor dates from 198593 and has what Guitar World calls an illustrious history3. Guitar.com's review of the Joshua Ambient Echo noted the 2290 pedal is "the pedal version of the rack unit Mr Evans was using back in the day", referring to The Edge's 1980s rack delay10.
The rack original earned a strong reputation over the years. Reviewing the Nova Delay in 2016, Pedal of the Day's Mike B called the 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay "possibly the best delay ever"11.
The pedal version is a faithful recreation of the rackmount unit's character2, described by Delicious Audio as a modernized reissue1, with the modern extras being things like the app, USB-C and the Learn tap tempo125.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2024 review was positive about how the pedal balances old and new:
"TC Electronic has reinvented a classic device, bringing it into modern times without losing any of the original's revered sound2."
The same review describes the pedal as evoking a distinct classic vibe from the past in a contemporary setting, suited for lead guitar tones and rhythmic patterns to build walls of guitarscapes with or without additional modulation2.
Gearnews' verdict at launch was that "the classic '80s digital delay, added control features, and that FX Loop integration could make this new digital delay a winner"6. The pedal was also named one of Gearnews' five favorite stompboxes of 20234.
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Questions
How long is the maximum delay time on the TC Electronic 2290 P?
The 2290 P offers up to 9.999 seconds of delay time3, with the delay time range running from 1 to 9999ms7. That is far beyond most compact delay pedals and supports long ambient repeats as well as standard short delays.
Is the TC Electronic 2290 P true bypass or buffered?
Guitar Pedal X lists the 2290 P's bypass switching as true bypass7, while Guitar World describes it as true or buffered bypass for engaging or disengaging effect trails3.
How many presets does the 2290 P come with?
It ships with 128 presets created by TC Electronic along with influential artists and producers2. A companion 2290 P app also gives access to a preset library, including some imported directly from the flagship 2290 rack unit35.
What does the Learn feature on the 2290 P tap tempo footswitch do?
The Learn footswitch is a dedicated tap tempo control whose behavior can be set per preset (A and B), per board (A plus B), or globally28. It also works with sub-divisions4.
Can I put other effects in the 2290 P's feedback loop?
Yes. The pedal has a feedback loop that lets you insert additional effects into the wet signal2, so repeats pass through your own pedals before being fed back into the delay.
How much does the TC Electronic 2290 P cost?
At launch in October 2023 the 2290 P was priced at $349 in the US and £349 in the UK5, and Guitar World reported it as available from retailers such as Sweetwater for $3493.
Sources (11)
- TC Electronic 2290 P Digital Delay, Delicious Audio, 2024-01-17
- TC Electronic 2290 P Dynamic Digital Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2024-01-30
- TC Electronic unveils 2290 P Dynamic Digital Delay pedal, Guitar World, 2023-10-26
- Best Effect Pedals 2023, gearnews.com, 2023-12-18
- TC Electronic brings a classic '80s rack unit to a pedal with the 2290 P Dynamic Delay, MusicRadar, 2023-10-26
- TC Electronic 2290 P, gearnews.com, 2023-10-26
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-10-30
- TC Electronic revives '80s Delay classic the 2290 in pedal form, Guitar.com, 2023-10-26
- Pedal Review: TC Electronic Flashback X4 Delay/Looper, Delicious Audio, 2013-01-11
- MXR Joshua Ambient Echo review: impressive The Edge tones, guitar.com, 2024-06-14
- TC Electronic Nova Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2016-01-02
