DD-20, DD-7, or DD-3 ???

[Col Ronson]

Great my delay pedal (DD-20) broke.

I really don't have $200 to spare on a new one, but i saw they had DD-7s and DD-3 for cheaper.

What's the difference between the three? I liked the DD-20 because you could dial in the exact tempo you needed (i suck at tapping and i have no sense of rhythm whatsoever).

Can you get similar/same results with the DD-7 or DD-3?

[nixpix]

I've used the DD-3 only. You can't dial in the exact tempo with that one, but for simplicity it is great. It's a good basic digital delay unit. A friend of mine has the DD-7 and he really likes it. He's still learning how to use it, but it offers sampling and longer delay times than the DD-3.

[E5RSY]

I have a DD-3 and am plenty happy with it. I prefer simplicity in a pedal. Something like the DD-7 would probably fry my noodle.

Scott

[Pinball_Wizard]

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...dal?sku=482465DD7

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...lay?sku=151305DD-20

DD-3 is pretty much a digital delay; no extra effects.

DD-7 is a DD-3 with a hi-cut mode, modulate, reverse, and tap tempo. hold time is dramatically increased. and a slight pigment change.

[laundromatt]

if dialing in your tempo is a must, then you only have one choice out of the three.

personally, i use my DD-7 with a tap tempo pedal, and that's suited me just fine. i use my DD-3 to fatten up my sound, and also when i'm doing a volume swell. the DD-3 is as plain as it gets, but it sounds good for what i use it for.

[franchelB]

I can't believe a Boss product would stop working! Anyway, I have another brand that pretty much has all the features of a DD7, BUT I found myself using only one mode!
I've tried the DD3 though...and it does have a "warmer" sound than my delay pedal.

[petesguitar1]

Myy DD3 just keeps ticking - I really dig it -like someone said before - too much more and I'd fry my noodle!

[Pinball_Wizard]

I've tried the DD3 though...and it does have a "warmer" sound than my delay pedal.

the DD-3 and DD-7 aren't entirely digital. It's an analog delay circuit, except the process of making the copy is done digitally.

[Col Ronson]

Yeah. Like i said i'm pretty bad with tapping so anything that requires a tap pedal is out of the question.

I think i'll just get another dd-20, since dialing in the tempo and having presets is still good for live shows. i would utilize my warranty but i bought the thing off craigslist so that's pretty much useless.

[holgaguy]

I've had the DD3 and now have the DD7 which I bought for the tapping thing. It's rare that I actually get it right. Maybe the DD20 would be better for that sort of thing.

[Tibbonds]

Originally Posted by Pinball_Wizard

the DD-3 and DD-7 aren't entirely digital. It's an analog delay circuit, except the process of making the copy is done digitally.

Can you explain what you mean by this in more detail?

[Pinball_Wizard]

Originally Posted by Col Ronson

Yeah. Like i said i'm pretty bad with tapping so anything that requires a tap pedal is out of the question.

I think i'll just get another dd-20, since dialing in the tempo and having presets is still good for live shows. i would utilize my warranty but i bought the thing off craigslist so that's pretty much useless.

I'm pretty sure you could buy the DD-7 and practice tap tempo w/ a metronome.

And also listening to music; feeling the rhythm; and tapping out your foot to music you like helps. I've always been more comfortable tapping with my foot than dialing in a beat with a machine. But I'm certain that's because I always tapped my foot when taking apart a song.

Can you explain what you mean by this in more detail?

Boss has already made the DM-2 and DM-3 before getting the idea to release the DD-2/3 version 1. the DD-3 came about because they realized that the chip in their rackmount delay was just wide enough to fit perfectly inside the standard boss shell. So they designed the DD-3 with the idea of making a Digital stompbox delay ASAP and went with circuit designs they were familiar with.

The DD-3 ended up being an analog delay circuit; with a digital chip making the copy signal. So the echo is created by the chip, but the delay time, volume and other parameters is set by Analog circuitry (although technically the bracketing of 12-50, 50-200, 200+ is digital) That's what gives a DD-3 a surprisingly natural sound to it's delays.

Most other digital delays involve a lot more set by digital circuitry. Boss's DD-6 was designed on the more digital side (which is why a hi-cut mod was not a simple task to bring about). and after user complaints Boss went back to the digital chip in an analog circuit with the DD-7; the modes are set apart digitally, but the control parameters are all analog; bringing back the fresher sound of the DD-3.

[E5RSY]

Anyone here had the Keeley mod done to their DD-3. Looks like a pretty cool deal for not that much cash: http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=41

Scott

[Rick J]

Pinball Wizard - thanks for the info. That explains why my DD-5 delay I got never really sounded that good to me, compared to the DD-3 I had been borrowing. I bought the DD-5 as I assumed it would be just like the DD-3, but "better". It wasn't but I didn't know why till now. (I'm assuming the DD-5 is fully digital, compared to the "semi-digital" DD-3)

Rick J

[Pinball_Wizard]

I believe the DD-5 is their first full digital (although I'm not sure, which I why I listed DD-6 instead).

It's kind of amusing if you think about it, that the DD-3's longevity is due to one of those "happy accidents."

[Manolian]

DD-3

[bradpdx]

DD-3. I have used 2 of two in series in my board for years (long and short delay presets) and can't think of anything wrong with the unit. It does exactly what is needed, perfectly.

[cowie86]

The DD-7 is incredible. It took me ages to decide between that and the DD-3 but I've never looked back since I got the 7. I use all the modes far more than I thought and the standard digital delays sound identical to the DD-3s to my ear.

Also DD-7 doesn't take much current draw and doesn't take up much room on a pedal.

Perfect for me.

[Rick J]

I gather the DD-3 was revised in 1990, and more drastically in August 2001. Anybody got any views or experience on how the sound quality changed with these versions?

Rick J

[TelecasticFS]

I was going through this dilemma and concluded dd-20 isn't all that much moar than a dd-7 and dd-3 looked lame compared to the other two so i settled on the dd-20 and it was worth the extra less than hundred bucks when i found out all the extra kool things (pan, reverse, twist, etc) it has (not to mention the over-the-top 23 second delay)
The giga delay is pretty ultimate...so save up a lil and youll be quite pleased!