The Wampler Analog Echo is a delay pedal that takes a hybrid route to an analog sound: Premier Guitar's review describes it as loaded with a digital delay chip, but with pure analog circuitry surrounding it. The point of that arrangement is reach. It offers a 650ms maximum delay time, and the reviewer found it delivers "an excellent analog-sounding delay, with an extended delay time without any signal degeneration"1. It sits among the delay pedals aimed at players who want the character of an analog echo without the short delay ceiling that analog circuitry usually imposes.
Controls and layout
The pedal keeps to the classic three-knob delay layout. Premier Guitar notes "It offers the typical controls for Level, Repeats and Delay Time"1, so anyone who has used a delay pedal before will find their way around it without a manual.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the overall output level |
| Repeats | Sets the number of delay repeats |
| Delay Time | Sets the delay time, up to a 650ms maximum1 |
Besides the controls, there is a status LED right above the footswitch1. The pedal is housed in a "fire orange" powder coated box (3.5 x 4.5) with white knobs and graphics1.
Power
Power is flexible for a pedal of this type. It runs from an internal 9V battery or an external wall-wart with a barrel plug like Boss/Ibanez pedals, and it can handle power up to 18V for some more clean headroom if needed1. The 18V option is worth knowing about if you run a higher-voltage supply and want extra headroom on tap.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer summed it up by comparison to a well-regarded older unit1:
"It reminds me a lot of the old TC Electronic Analog Delay, smooth and clear at the same time, with tons of tonal potential."
The same review carried a buy-if recommendation: it is the pedal for you if "you want an excellent analog-sounding delay, with an extended delay time without any signal degeneration"1.
How it compares
Other pedals take different paths to a similar brief. The Mythos Oracle Analog Echo, designed in collaboration with John Snyder of Electronic Audio Experiments, uses true-bypass switching23. The Supro Delay Hi-Fi Analog Echo reaches up to 600ms of delay time4, a little short of the Wampler's 650ms. Within Wampler's own range, the Faux Tape Echo V2 leans toward tape-style character, the Metaverse is a programmable multi-delay, and the Catacombs combines delay and reverb in one box. The Analog Echo is the straightforward, single-purpose option among them.
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Questions
Is the Wampler Analog Echo true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review confirms the pedal is true bypass, so when it is switched off your guitar's signal passes through without the delay circuit loading it down. That matters on a pedalboard where several pedals sit in front of the amp, since buffers and bypass schemes add up across a chain.
How long is the delay time on the Wampler Analog Echo?
The pedal offers a 650ms maximum delay time, according to Premier Guitar's review. That is longer than many analog-voiced delays manage, and the review notes the extended delay time comes without any signal degeneration, which is where the digital chip inside earns its keep.
Is the Wampler Analog Echo analog or digital?
Both, in a sense. Premier Guitar describes it as loaded with a digital delay chip but with pure analog circuitry surrounding it. The result, in the reviewer's words, is an excellent analog-sounding delay with an extended delay time and no signal degeneration.
Who designed the Wampler Analog Echo?
The pedal comes from Brian Wampler, whose name is on the company and the circuit. Premier Guitar's review introduces it as Brian Wampler's Analog Echo, built by Wampler Pedals.
Sources (4)
- Wampler Analog Echo Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2008-10-15
- Mythos Oracle Analog Echo, Delicious Audio, 2021-03-31
- Mythos Pedals announces its first delay, the Oracle, Guitar.com, 2021-03-16
- Supro Delay Hi-Fi Analog Echo, Pedal of the Day, 2021-11-28
