Boss DD-5 Digital Delay

I have had one of these for over 8 years. The product is very easy to use, but you do have to spend some time with it to be able to use it without the manual. Just use your ear to dial the sound you want (delay time, number of repeats). Once you get used to the knobs you can dial in any type of delay you want pretty quickly (like in between songs during a show LOL). I recommend writing down your favorite settings so you can dial them up faster.

Sound is decent with this item, as with all digital delays it records and then plays back your sound. The quality is good enough for live performance, YMMV when using this for recording (I have not). Some people think that the delay sounds sterile, a valid claim when you are working with anything digital.

This item is very reliable, like all Boss products. However, I had one for a few years and it started making a subtle, regular cracking noise every few seconds. I bought a brand new replacement, thinking at the time it was the best thing around. I have since switched to a Danelectro DanEcho, an analog pedal with a better sound IMHO (you can cut the highs on the repeats to make it sound more like a real tape echo).

Never had to deal with Roland/Boss.

I wouldn't recommend this pedal any longer. The "reverse" delay function Boss promotes for this product just plain stinks. It's quite expensive if all you want is a stock delay pedal. I would opt for a reverb pedal instead, unless you really need some kind of timed delay (like quarter note or triplet delays). Definitely try this pedal out before buying. This pedal does not have a hardwire bypass, for that alone I would say buy something else. I have been playing for 9 years, mostly metal, but this pedal would work with any type of music that requires delay.

Not too difficult to use, you just have to remember the numbers for each mode. the manual's pretty helpful, although i was a little lost as to the tap tempo mode but i never use it anyway.

I'm using a bit of a complicated setup at the mo, and since my amp's fx loop is designed for rackmounted stuff instead of stompboxes (that was a stupid oversight in my opinion), everything is in-line. that is: '77 ibanez artist with humbucker pups->seiko tuner->ehx big muff usa reissue->proco rat 2 ->ehx russian smallstone (occasionally)>boss ce-3chorus->boss dd-5->boss BF-3 flanger->marshall dsl401.
For a digital processor, the sound quality's pretty good. modes 1 and 2 have such short delay times that they are more suited to giving reverblike stadium echo-type effects, but mode 3 is probably the one i use the most. it gives the classical delay like pink floys's 'the wall'. classic! i don't use mode 4 as much, but mode 5 (reverse) is cool. it's also the main reason why i chose this over the dd-3. the way the reverse echoes come through adds a real extra texture and general weirdness to a lead line or arpeggio (like the intro to my vitriol's alpha waves or "pieces"Mode 6 (hold) is less useful, however. For what i would use it for (ie. a short chord progression or riff), it's useless cos 2 seconds is simply too short a time to be of any use. i can't really comment on the tap-tempo settings, since i don't have an expression pedal thingy.
Overall, though, the pedal isn't at all noisy, and is fairly transparent when switched off. you can't really ask for much more than that.

I got this pedal nearly-new and i've had no problems. since all my boss pedals are next to each other in my setup, i have a 9v dc adaptor connected to a five socket extension cable in a christmas-tree arrangement which allows them all to be powered without batteries. Since the adaptor and extension cable cost the same as three batteries, it's highly recommended. The flanger and the delay eat batteries for breakfast. otherwise, have at least one spare battery on standby. The build quality...do you need to ask? exactly.

not sure, but it is unlikely to break. i've both a receipt and a warranty.

For the stuff i play (90s alternative and classic rock my dad listens to), this pedal is really useful. delays aren't really confined to a specific style, but using stuff like chorus and distortion in front of it increases the amount of sounds it can produce. as i said earlier, the reverse function sets it apart from other delay pedals, and altering the delay time knob as the sound is echoing gives a cool pitch bending effect. what fun. most importantly for me, it was thirty quid cheaper than the dd-6 (probably cos it's discontinued now) and the only loss seemed to be the lack of 'warp' mode (which i wouldn't need). all in all, a quality piece of equipment. the only real problem is the short memory in the "hold" mode. if the sampling time were, say, 5 or 10 seconds i could use it to do looped chord progressions. but this is only a stompbox.

The unit is relatively easy to use but the knob are small and not the easiest to read.
The controls are pretty obvious in terms of their function. I find the feedback control a bit on the sensitive side.

I've used this pedal exclusively in the effects loop of various JCM2000 Marshall heads. All types of guitars were used i.e. Super Strat, regular start, Alder bodied guitars, mahogany bodied guitars mahogany/maple cap etc...

The sound quality is bad in my opinion. Although it produces the amout of delay you dial in, it hollows out the sound to make it very sterile and dry. In my opinion, this unit is amateur gear for any type of music.
You can tell Zakk Wylde is probably using this unit in his lead to No More Tears.

A1

n/a

I currently play Metal but have played in Classic Rock and Blues bands in the past.
I've been playing 18yrs
If lost or stolen, I wouldn't care

VERY easy to use. Just crank knobs and have fun! Then, read the manual, learn about delay, and have more fun!

Sounds great! Very transparent...may even add some high end (but I guess that's just wave interference). I use this right before my 5150. It's the end of my big pedalboard. I use the tap-tempo function A LOT since I'm the only guitarist in a 4 piece it really fills out the sound to have some delay.

As long as you use an adapter, it's golden. If using 9V, expect to get just a couple hours out of it. As for durability, it's a BOSS...'nuff said! ALL my BOSS/Roland gear is going strong!

never dealt with them.

I play upbeat-intelligent-alt-rock (female-fronted). Works great for my 3 piece and a singer setup. I own loads of gear, mostly BOSS, and highly reccomend this one (although I wanna try the DD-6!). The tap tempo function is great! Check-out my band's website to hear the DD-5 in action! www.brotherlush.com

This pedal has a lot features, so it may take some time to dial in the best settings. The tap modes are easily the best thing about this pedal, and really are what set it apart from other digital delays. When in tempo mode (and with the "tempo pedal" accessory) it's as easy as tapping in time to the music. It couldn't get much easier than that!

I play Rick 360V64, various effects, to '65 Fender Pro Reverb. The DD-5 is very crisp & clear sounding, no noise. It works well with clean & overdriven tones. It doesn't have the warmth or personality of an analog pedal, but that's to be expected. It sounds much better when run stereo out to two amps.

I gig regularly with this thing and have recorded with it as well. It's never been a problem. I don't bother with a backup.

Never had to deal with Customer Support.

I play instrumental post-rock and indie rock and it works really well in a live setting. It's very, very easy to manipulate onstage, even mid-song. I would replace it if anything happened to it, because even though it doesn't have the analog sound qualities that I cherish, it's a workhorse. To cover my bases, I use an MXR analog delay in conjuction with the DD-5. They compliment eachother well.

If you understand delay's you will get it easily, its pretty easy to use if you play around with it for a while, but id you actually know something about delay, it will save you some time, the manual is pretty usefull too

It sounds awesome, almost gives a metallic sound ring too it too, but i like the sound it gives (more treble) but after all it is a digital delay pedal, not analog! (take note people), after researching millions of delays (rackmount too) i found this one to be the best sounding to my taste, and easiest to use, and expecially for its price, i use a ton a distorsion, and use this from emg loaded gibsons into marshall full stacks (plexi, jtm45, 6100, and expecially the tsl) its awesome

it eats fucking batteries (ever heard that song by wierd al, girls just wanna have lunch?) well boss pedals just want fucking 9v's for breakfast, snack, lunch, brunch, snack, dinner, desert.... get a fucking adapter, its worth it! its built solid as all hell too, hasnt broken after ive been STOMPING on it

havet had to delt with

Its a great digital delay pedal, and i am a total fan of boss pedals, but remember it is not an analog delay so it does give you somewhat of a digital metallic sound, more in the trebley sense, but i fucking love it, would buy another if stolen, but kinda on the pricy side, but i guess you get what you get when you get 100x different configs of delay including hold!

Slightly easy to use as far as feedback and time functions. You can get a more prominent delay like that damn POD song "southtown" or a less prominent delay for a little ambience or echo. The option knob is simple. 1-4 are for lengths of delay, 5 is a hold mode, 6 is reverse and the other ones i never figured out or use.

Ooo it sounds marvelous i'd say. I use a PRS CE-22, several boss pedals including flanger, phase shifter, chorus, noise suppressorand an Ibanez Tubescreamer. I also play through my Crate Blue Voodoo half stack. I think it sounds absolutely great! The delay does what its supposed to do without any extra noise.. THe only beef i have with this pedal is using the "Hold" mode with distortion. Say i record a riff using my amps tube distortion..then i decide to keep it repeating while i solo over it. This part of the pedal sounds awful!! It turns to instant mud and just play sucks. I play a genre which i like to call emo/prog/metal. KInd of like Tool in a way... Overall i like the way the delay sounds and it comes to use more often than you'd think.

Boss. Duh.

Dunno never needed to or tried.

Its a great pedal and is useful for most musicians. Whether you play metal or jazz theres millions of ways to use delay. I'd keep it for as long as i could, and if it was stolen i'd probably get another or look for a higher end delay. Oo look on ebay for this pedal by the way, you'll save buttloads of money.

I only ever use the tap modes, that's why I bought it in the first place.

It works well but I find that it colors my sound a lot, wich is to be expected from a digital delay. I use a '98 Fender Tele American Deluxe into a Twin Reverb Reissue with a couple of distortion pedals and find that when I turn the dd5 on it takes the character of my sound away. I'm still gonna use it though, its a great pedal, love that tap feature.

No problems ever, had it 4 years

couldn't tell ya

I play mostly indie/math rock and being able to change the tempo of my delay on the fly is a godsend

Phenomenal is the only word that comes to mind about this little thing.

Twist the knobs a bit and you'll get the sound you want. Anything from a little reverb to heavy delay, this does. Versatile and easy.

Crystal clear. Sounds great, keeps the sound, lasts until... you turn it off, on some of the longer ones. I've yet to find something about this that I don't like... I'll repost when I do. (And that's after a year of playing on it.)

Boss=Indestructible.

I haven't tried to see how hard it is to break... I just take other's words for it.

Does anything you want, and then some. Phenomenal. I've looked at the new DD-6, but I don't think it's as good as this one. Masterpiece.

Only downside is it seems to go through a 9V in a matter of minutes. Get the adapter.

Ok, this thing comes with a little manual so you can get started with some pretty reliable settings. Now the hard part is experimenting to find just the right type of delay you want, so if your very specific on your delay type, it might take you 5 minutes to find exactly what you want

Here's my setup:
Peavey Ultra Tube 112 - Boss Tuner - DD-5 - Creamy Dreamer Sustainer/Distortion Pedal - Vox Wah - Gibson MVX victory or Gibson Les Paul Studio
I strongly recomend placing the delay before a distortion box (when i mean before i'm starting at the amp then ending at the guitar) this way the notes come out much cleaner. If you want to get that Pink Floyd "Run Like Hell" delay, i suggest setting your amp on a mild distortion setting and lowering the volume on your guitar, because if you use this delay with a really meaty distortion, then you get this never ending realm of sound that might not seem too great for many players, but play around with it, it's a great tool.

It's a Boss, enough said

Never dealt with them

My band has played everything from Heavy/Hard Rock stuff to blusey jazz laiten music. I love using the delay in combination with the wah pedal to achieve really cool pulsating wavey sounds. I'm really into texturing my sound so this pedal is very prominent in my sound. If your going to buy this pedal i strongly suggest buying the FS-5U foot pedal so you can tap in the rhythm. It just sounds more professional if your delay is in time with the rest of the band.