Analog Delay - Ibanez AD-80 v`s BOSS DM-2?

[fuzzbuzzfuzz]

Any thoughts?

Have the AD-80. Remarkably "hi-fi"/clean, fairly long, but very hard to dial in a suitable mix - the dials practically sitting on zero.

Recently gassing for a DM-2 to join a few other vintage BOSS`s, but of course they seem to fetch big $$$$.

So what`s the score, pointless investment if I have a AD-80?

 

[lefty73]

MXR Carbon Copy may best 'em both - if you can't justify springing for the DM-2 that's OK. The Carbon Copy will only set you back about $150 USD (roughly half of the price of a DM-2 if my recent snapshot on Ebay holds true).

 

[willspear]

I think the carbon copy is as good as a dm2 maybe a touch better. I own both. The carbon copy is my go to pedal of the two. I think at this point the dm2 is kind of not worth the money because modern pedals have finally gotten to be as good

I have never used an ad-80

 

[zombiwoof]

I have the BBE Two-Timer, it's based on the DM-2, but has two switchable presets, and is true bypass. Fully analog, and sounds great. I got mine mint in the box from Ebay for half the new price. I recommend it highly.
Al

 

[fuzzbuzzfuzz]

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions.

Whilst I am not a tone snob by any means I am perhaps fairly picky with my ears. The CC is indeed a great modern compact delay (and on many a pro board these days), it sounded good but somehow no "wow, that`s different" factor. Nethertheless certainly great value and first port of call for someone jumping from digi to analog.

The BBE I have yet to try, the extra switch seems quite an advantage too.

I am lucky to have enough delays to cover most bases, and I feel that some of the vintage delays have a bit of magic that seems a little absent from newer units. (perhaps the Mn3005 chip etc). So far the AD-80 is beautifully clear and my Guyatone Dual Delay has the darker repeats from the same era. A Memory Boy is my gig alternative and great FX generator too.

BUT I`ve a big GAS for vintage BOSS, and a DM-2 will only get more expensive... so basically to complete a run of BOSS should I trade in the AD-80 (which may cover the cost)?

(And the best newer delay I`ve tried. Loved the Aqua Puss, big spacious reverby tone!)

But BOSS footswitches are perfect for me

 

[fuzzbuzzfuzz]

MXR Carbon Copy may best 'em both - if you can't justify springing for the DM-2 that's OK. The Carbon Copy will only set you back about $150 USD (roughly half of the price of a DM-2 if my recent snapshot on Ebay holds true).

Yep - $300ish for a DM-2, and I`ve just seen a Supa-Puss vid....argh!

At those prices its getting crazy...

 

[Walkin Stiff]

The DM-2 hype was true for me

The mxr CC didn't touch the Boss DM-2 on my rig. The CC was too dark and metallic sounding on my amp (victoria 35210). I only use delay for slap back, but I've gone through various analog and digital delays and the DM-2 was the best for me. . . above the mxr CC, way huge AP, ibanez ad9, dod fx96, dod fx90, Wampler faux analog echo, boss re20 space echo, modtone mini delay, Mooer Ana echo, tc electronics flashback, and a few others I'm forgetting.
I recently paid $150 from craigslist and $175 on eBay for a primary and a backup DM-2.

 

[xtrajerry]

Investigate the Malekko Ekko 616.. it's moving into the spot my MIJ AD9 was in.. Haven't even played with the modulation side of it..

 

[joeford]

i think this is one of the few areas where analog tech falls really flat. every analog delay ive played is dark and muddy sounding, has half the delay length available, and the sound almost completely falls apart after the 2nd or 3rd echo. then they have the nerve to charge 2-3 times what a digital effect goes for. i dont get it

i bought a cheap rogue delay pedal for $25 shipped (brand new)... and its sparkly, clean, and delightful. theres even a simple resistor swap you can do to give it infinite repeats... same as the belcat and other el cheapo delay pedals.

 

[Coldacre]

my 2 cents (and for the record I have on my board: DM-2, AD-900, AD-999, CC, DL4)

the Carbon Copy does not do what the DM-2 can do. not close. its repeats are much darker and the first repeat is much quieter than the CC. the volume of the repeat maxed out on the CC would be about 1 o'clock on the DM-2. the Carbon Copy is great for what it is, it has nice modulation. its very different to the DM-2 though and should not be considered a substitute.


as for the DM-2 vs AD-80. the AD-80 runs at 18v so more headroom = cleaner sound. the delays are darker, but cleaner. the DM-2 in comparison has brighter delays, yet have a unique decay to them. I've never found a pedal quite like the DM-2. if I could get someone to build one that had 600ms of delay, it would be my ultimate. nevertheless.... the AD-80 falls right in the middle of the AD-900 and AD-999 tonewise.

as they are both old pedals, there's always a chance you'll pick one up with clock noise. I don't think one model is any more suseptible than the other, its just luck of the draw.
both are great and I don't think one is "better" than the other, just personal preference.