The Teisco Delay is a 100% analog delay pedal built on bucket brigade technology, released by the revived Teisco brand in March 2019 alongside companion Fuzz and Boost pedals12. It delivers up to 600ms of delay time with warm, dark repeats, and adds a modulation section and a direct out jack that most pedals in its price class leave out3.
The Teisco name goes back to a Japanese guitar and effects maker that ceased production in 19694. The brand's Delay, Fuzz and Boost pedals became available on March 15, with the Delay priced at $149.005. Guitar.com's review also lists a UK price of £1792.
What it does to your sound
Delicious Audio places the Teisco Delay in the "colored" analog delay category, with warm and dark repeats comparable to vintage units, and notes it is capable of wild and noisy self-oscillation at extreme Feedback settings3. Pedal of the Day found the self-oscillation from the Feedback knob to be classic BBD tonality1.
The modulation section is the feature that sets it apart from a plain analog echo. Rate and Depth controls let you add movement to the repeats, from a subtle chorus-like shimmer to more pronounced pitch wobble, and the pedal includes a direct out for players who run multiple amps or unusual routing setups3.
The controls
The control set covers the delay itself plus the modulation section3:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the volume of the delayed signal |
| Feedback | Sets the number of repeats; pushed far enough it self-oscillates1 |
| Time | Delay time, from 40ms up to 600ms1 |
| Depth | Depth of the modulation on the repeats1 |
| Rate | Speed of the modulation on the repeats1 |
| Slow/Fast switch | Selects two different ranges for the modulation speed1 |
| Direct Out | A second output for multiple amps and unusual routing3 |
Pedal of the Day noted that the Rate and Depth controls make it easy to dial in favorite modulation sounds, and that the Slow/Fast switch sets two different ranges for the modulation speed1.
Circuit and lineage
The pedal is a 100% analog delay using bucket brigade tech, the classic approach where each repeat passes through a chain of capacitor "buckets" that progressively darkens and warms the signal1. JHS Pedals' Josh Scott says the circuit is based around a 3205 chip set, which he places in the lineage of the BOSS DL-27.
The Teisco name has an earlier history in delay: Guitar.com notes there were a couple of Kawai-made Teisco tape echoes in the '70s, and an analog delay unit in the early '80s, before the brand's modern revival2.
Build and power
The pedal comes in a premium zinc housing with recessed screws, removable feet and a textured base for stronger velcro-sticking to a pedalboard3. Premier Guitar's announcement described the trio's sleek high-gloss designs in premium zinc alloy housing for extra durability5.
Power comes from a standard 9V DC supply with a 2.1mm center-negative barrel, drawing 19mA3. Switching is true bypass3.
The 2.1mm center-negative barrel is the same standard used by most modern pedals, so the Teisco Delay fits typical pedalboard power supplies without an adapter.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's review scored the Teisco Delay 8 out of 102. Pedal of the Day's verdict was positive:
"this is a solid specimen, able to bring that classic, warm delay sound into the modern world with ease"1
Pedal of the Day, December 20201
Delicious Audio added the pedal to its Best Analog Delays list when it profiled the pedal in August 20203.
Questions
Is the Teisco Delay true bypass?
Yes. The Teisco Delay uses true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off your signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. It runs on a standard 9V DC supply with a 2.1mm center-negative barrel plug, drawing 19mA.
What is the maximum delay time on the Teisco Delay?
The Delay Time control ranges from 40ms up to 600ms. That is enough for slapback echoes, rhythmic repeats and longer, ambient-style delays, and the Feedback knob can be pushed into self-oscillation at extreme settings.
What chip does the Teisco Delay use?
According to JHS Pedals' Josh Scott, the Teisco Delay is based around a 3205 chip set, which he places in the lineage of the BOSS DL-2. That makes it a bucket brigade analog delay rather than a digital one.
How much current does the Teisco Delay draw?
The Teisco Delay draws 19mA at 9V DC, powered through a standard 2.1mm center-negative barrel connector. That is a modest draw, so it fits easily on most pedalboard power supplies.
Where is the Teisco Delay made?
Guitar.com's review lists the Teisco Delay as made in Singapore. The pedal is part of a trio of Delay, Fuzz and Boost pedals released under the revived Teisco name in March 2019.
Sources (7)
- Teisco Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2020-12-19
- Review: Teisco Fuzz, Boost & Delay, Guitar.com, 2019-07-12
- Teisco Delay, Delicious Audio, 2020-08-31
- NAMM 2018: Cult Japanese brand Teisco returns with three new pedals, MusicRadar, 2018-01-30
- Teisco Launches New Delay, Fuzz, and Boost Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2019-02-07
- NAMM 2019 Video: Teisco returns with three wild new pedals, Guitar.com, 2019-03-15
- TEISCO'S BIG COMEBACK, JHS Pedals