The Doctor Lo-Fi Delay is a delay pedal from Wampler, and it is 100% analog. It is Brian Wampler's take on the popular "colored delay + modulation" concept: rather than aiming for clean, uncolored repeats, it leans into a gritty character that, as Delicious Audio's Christopher Scapelliti put it, "works as well for laying down an ambient sonic bed as it does for old-school slapback"1.
The pedal was born from a collaboration with Brad Paisley, the country guitarist and tele-master, and it debuted as one of the new pedals at the 7th Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit in 20171.
Controls and how the Lo-Fi effect works
The Lo-Fi character comes from the tone and modulation section. Three knobs shape it1:
- Tone colors the repeats1
- Rate, part of the modulation section, sets the modulation speed1
- Depth, also part of the modulation section, sets how far the modulation reaches1
Together with the delay controls, these give the pedal what Scapelliti describes as a straightforward layout1.
Tap tempo and subdivisions
The Doctor includes tap tempo and four easily selectable rhythmic subdivisions1. That combination is worth noting on an analog delay: tap tempo and subdivision choices are features players more often find on digital delays, and having them here means you can lock the repeats to a song's tempo without giving up the analog signal path.
Where it sits in Wampler's delay range
Wampler's delay lineup spans from simple analog designs to programmable digital workstations. The Doctor sits on the colored, analog end of that range. Players looking for digital flexibility can look at the Wampler Metaverse, an eleven-algorithm multi-delay, or the Wampler Catacombs, which combines delay and reverb programs. For other analog-flavored options, the Wampler Faux Tape Echo V2 adds a subdivisions switch for quarter, eighth, dotted eighth and triplet delays, and the Wampler Ethereal pairs reverb with delay. See the full Delay Pedals page for how these types compare.
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Questions
Is the Wampler The Doctor analog or digital?
The Doctor is a 100% analog stompbox. Delicious Audio's news item on the pedal, written by Christopher Scapelliti, describes it as Brian Wampler's take on the popular colored delay plus modulation concept, built entirely with analog circuitry rather than digital delay processing.
Does The Doctor have tap tempo?
Yes. The pedal includes tap tempo, along with what Delicious Audio describes as a straightforward layout featuring four easily selectable rhythmic subdivisions. That makes it unusual among analog delays, which often lack tap tempo and subdivision selection.
What do the Rate and Depth knobs do on The Doctor?
Rate and Depth are the two knobs of the modulation section, and they work alongside the tone knob to produce the pedal's Lo-Fi effect. Rate and Depth shape the modulation applied to the repeats, while the tone control colors them.
Who designed the Wampler The Doctor?
The Doctor is Brian Wampler's design, and it was born from a collaboration with Brad Paisley, the country guitarist described by Delicious Audio as a superstar and tele-master. It debuted as one of the new pedals at the 7th Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit.
How many rhythmic subdivisions does The Doctor offer?
The Doctor offers four easily selectable rhythmic subdivisions, according to Delicious Audio's coverage of the pedal's debut. Combined with tap tempo, these let you lock the repeats to the song's tempo in different rhythmic relationships.
Sources (1)
- New At The BK SBE 2017: Wampler The Doctor Lo-Fi Delay, Delicious Audio, 2017-08-31
