Boss DM-2 Analog Delay

Its real easy and intuitive.

I use either a 91 Les Paul Standard or my 07 HSS Strat Deluxe through a 79 Super Reverb with it these days. It's not noisy at all. I got this pedal as a teenager back in the early 80's. I had no idea what delay was until a friend of mine who had this pedal called me up and played it over the phone for me. At that moment I knew I had to have it. I remember trading a guitar and some cash for it and it became integral to my lead sound. I didn't know these old things were worth anything until I dug it out of a crate of old unused pedals I have and looked it up on e-bay. I was shocked at how much this thing in good condition (mine is like new) is worth. I plugged it in with a new battery and I'm still shocked. It sounds just like I remembered it to when it was new. It's sound is really no big deal. I don't exactly know what a "warm" sound is, but if it means it sounds like it has a reverby kinda echo to it then this is warm. Mine has never been messed with (no internal pot tomfoolery) so I guess it sounds like good ole' analog delay. To tell you the truth I prefer the exactness of a good tranparent digital delay. I have messed with the analog setting on a Boss ME-50 and I can get it to sound pretty close to the DM-2. I thought about selling it on e-bay because I don't use it much, but $200- $300 is not really that much money to me so I'll just keep it for nostalgia's sake.

Well it still works fine after 20 years so I guess it's pretty reliable. I hope my BR-900 lasts as long as this thing.

N/A

I play classical and metal. This is probably a good match for a blues player or someone that likes to mess with the settings to create spaceship sounds. By the way this thing will drain a battery quickly doing those weird space sounds. Use a good quality, brand new battery and you can really make some freaky noises with this pedal. I really can't compare it to any other product or brand as I'm just not that into analog delays. I love spring reverbs and natural sounding choruses but as far as delay goes I like the exact timing of a good quality digital delay.

I already had a Boss DD-3 which I now use for longer delay times. The DM-2 onlly has max 300mms but this is absolutely beautiful for dreamy arpeggios when used clean... just stunning and I use this for all distorted solos along with my Boss MT-2 and Boss GE-7. It adds an amazing new dimension to leads that's for sure.

I use this with my Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus and my Dean ZX played through a Marshall VS100R and it sounds incredible with both guitars and with all the rest of my pedals (primarily Boss).

There's a great range of effects you can achieve using this pedal owig to it's analogue nature. Really spacey effects and tight slapbacks if you tweak the timing of the delay. I just wish you could get a longer delay time from it but that's why I have the DD-3 which is also an incredible pedal considering it's digital.

It's a Boss... I would shrink myself down and hide inside it during a nuclear fallout.

Yes, have dealt with Boss to get spare pedal boxes for a couple I bought second hand and they sent me them... for free! Lovely friendly people at Roland UK. Oh and also had contact with them to get a free carry case for my Boss Micro BR and they were easy to deal with.

I play hard rock and metal and this fits in with everything... it sounds great clean and distorted so can be used for many different styles.

I have been playing since 1992 and this is the second delay pedal I have owned. It it were stolen I'd cry but I would have to appreciate the fact that a friend of mine bought it a few years ago at a second hand shop for next to nothing and passed it on to me for a similar price so it's not as if I shelled out hundreds of pounds for it... I am aware of it's current and escalating value though!

As I said, just wish it had a longer delay time... Am aware it could be tweaked to achieve this but wouldn't want to ruin it. It is in absolutely A1 pristine condition... absolutely like new with not a mark on it so am very proud to own this pedal (and greatful to my friend that sold it to me for a few quid)!

Within a minute tweaking with this thing, I was already making some
great delays.

Some might argue that this delay is overpriced and dull sounding. I don't see this to be the case.
I have used more delays than I can count. It's not the most versatile but what it does do, it does great.

If you want a "cleaner" more precise delay get a DD-5 or a DD-6.

Just like any other boss pedal, they last forever. I need to replace the LED though.

Never had to deal with it.

Some people complain that it's "dull" sounding. however, I like that it has a very 'haunting' effect compared to the newer Boss delays.

If you can afford it, I recommend you have one in your collection,and a newer Boss for the clean delays.

Apparently my DM-2 was modded to achieve a "spill-over" delay effect? I just purchased an alternate DM-2,and it sounds absolutely amazing! I guess the "spill-over" mod had an effect on the fidelity of the pedal? This has got to be one of the best delays I have ever heard! Very Roland RE-201 Space Echo oriented.
I always considered the DM-2 as a really good,but somewhat dull sounding delay...but this one rocks into the 10 spot!!! Maybe mine is a different year model? Maybe Roland made some with the s-over effect,and others without it? Now to get an old CE-2 Chorus,and mod that to CE-1 specs...

This is to correct my Artec Delay being #4 on my favorite delays list.
Well...the Artec started making tones of noise,and then "fizzed-out"! I tried a second one and the delay quality was the worst I've ever heard!!! My new #4 delay is the DM-2.Maxon AD9 slides in as #5.I guess the Artec Delay is a "hit or miss" item? I did notice that it's made in CHINA!!! Then again...so is the ADA (re-issue) Flanger...

Set! - Stomp! - Echo!
What more can I say?

This is the first delay pedal I ever owned,and it sounds as good as it did back in 1981-when I first purchased it.From a sound quality perspective,I must say that the DM-2 is quite over-rated.I read comparisons to tape echo units-which the DM-2 is not... Not even close!
It is as you would expect a good analog delay to sound...good! When this delay was first released,many players felt that the DM-2 was somewhat dull and lifeless.If you weren't using a quality tape echo unit,the only suitable replacement was the E-H Memory Man.Although the MM was noisy-it was able to reproduce a tape echo "vibe".(The new DMM with its chorus feature emulates motor "warble" to the T! They are the best tape echo simulator you can buy...period!
What I like about the DM-2 is that it "spills-over" its delay effect after you switched it off...very cool! Most analog delays can be modded to do this-but it will cost you a little fidelity to do so.I came up with a mod for the DM-3 that will give the user the ability to switch between the standard "stereo" effect - or a modded "ping-pong" effect! Is the DM-2 a the best delay ever? No...but it's definitely in the top 5.
I rate them:
E-H Deluxe Memory Man(new with chorus/warble)#1
Diamond Memory Lane #2
S.I.B(blue analog)Echodrive #3
Artec SE-ADL Delay #4 ($50.00 new!) Some think it's the best analog delay ever? We will see...
Boss DM-2/DM-3 both rate #5 (DM-3 has "improved" fidelity?...you be the judge).
It's tough to judge as we all have our own preference in delays.I had to put the new Artec SE-ADL Analog Delay in there.This delay has amazed many a new user.Not just by the incredible sound of this pedal...but also the $50.00 price tag! If it weren't for the modulation effect on my Diamond ML,this would rank as my 2nd favorite delay ever!
I would also like to give a strong nod to the Ibanez/Maxon AD9 delay.I have two of them-and they will always be part of my rig.I see DM-2 delays selling for over $225.00! It's a good delay...but (IMO) it's not that good! But who knows-with the analog IC market drying up...it may be going for over $500.00 very soon!

Built like a tank!

Never needed it...

If it were lost or stolen,I would not seek another one.

It's easy to use but the repeat rate knob works backwards compared to what you might expect. that means you turn to the left for longer delays and to the right for shorter delays.
It shouldn't take you that long to figure out and get some great sounds and favourite settings out of it.

It's a warm echo. The guy who claimed "warm=dull" obviously has don't know what he is talking about. A natural echo looses quality for each repeat and that's how this is working. It doesn't sound dull at all, but very natural sounding.


You can get some cool oscillation for spaceship or pure effects type sounds if you play with the knobs.

300ms might be too short delay time for some people, but for slapback and shorter delays it's perfect!

There are trimpots inside which you can tweak for slightly longer delay time but then you the signal starts to degrade more audibly.

NOTE: you can seriously ruin your pedal by playing with these trimpots.
Chances are that if you buy a used pedal the previous owner might have messed with them and the pedal might not sound good at all.

Mine is from 1982 and have been used a lot. So yes I would rely on it.
It's a BOSS pedal and they rarely fail.

Never had to deal with them.

It's a great delay. Though thanks to the hype these pedals are getting I would be worried about having it stolen, so I might not gig with it.

I wish it had slightly longer delay time. Around 400-500ms would be perfect.

I also wish BOSS got their **** together and started making these analog delays again. But there are plenty of other players on the market so if you don't have the cash to go for one of these on Ebay there are lots of great alternatives which sound just as good.

3 knobs. Easy to use.

I bought this pedal in the early 80s and it has been stuck in a drawer for the last 20 years. It still works, but then it's a Boss and I've never had a Boss pedal fail on me yet.

I think a lot of people are getting overexcited by this pedal. When somebody refers to this pedal as WARM they mean DULL. ANother issue is that after a couple of repeats all you get are dull clicks. I'm much happier using a DD5 with external pedal for on the fly sync delays.

Please people, don't get caught up in the bidding wars for these pedals on Ebay. They really are not worth it.

It's a Boss.

Never had to deal with them

Three knobs, took me a couple of days to pretty much master the sound and memorize where to get certain tones.

Ummmm, can you say the best??? This is hands down the best delay I have ever heard in my life. That's probably the reason they're so expensive at the same time.

Haha! It's a Boss. Anyone who knows anything about effects knows what the name means. I just bought mine on eBay for around $220. It is probably in my guesstimation 20+ years old and everything still works perfectly.

Never had to deal with them, don't think I ever will, so no opinion on this question.

I've been playing for around 8 years (mostly acoustical only) but have recently within the past year been crossing over to electric. The tone that comes out of this is amazing, especially for any blues or new age rock. If you get to play one, try shuffling harmonics on it, quite possibly the coolest sound ever. If it were lost and stolen, I would cry, and then buy another one. Cool space ship sounds come out of this too, watch out though if you're buying one on eBay. I've heard some people who have gotten gyped because someone over the years has messed with the internal pots, causing it to so not so hot! I pray that God would allow to have a lot of good years with this thing so it doesn't break, cuz I really, really, really, really, like it. BEST PEDAL I OWN!

I submitted a review on this pedal FIVE YEARS AGO!
Go look at my review dated 8/13/2001 by Godmachine

I bought this pedal new at Guitar Center back in 1982, I beieve....
....that's about TWENTY TWO years ago!

ok, now I get it....
After playing screaming heavy metal for years (maybe 30 years?) I've started to get into the blues and classic rock again...that's right "again".
So with a 2000 Fender American Strat and a 1976 Fender Champ and a DOD 250 preamp/overdrive in front of the DM-2....well....now I get it!

The thing about an analog delay vs. digital, is that the analog echo does sound a bit different than the original signal. This echo sounds much more natural that a digital delay, which gives you an echo that exactly matches the original signal.

Also, the analog echo is warmer...ah, and smoother too.

very very cool....now I get it!

24 years old and still like new. never a problem with it accept when i first dug it out of the box a few years ago. It seemed to need to warm up before working. Perhaps a dirty pot.

I've been playing since 1969 and everyday since 1979 (finally got a good job where I could buy a good guitar and amp).

I play blues, classic 50's, 60's and 70's rock, grunge and 80's and 90's metal.

Of all people, Yngwie Malmsteen has inspired me to play the blues again. I never knew what an amazing blues player Malmsteen is (was) until lately. (no, not old black blues but Hendrix and SRV style blues).

These boxes sell for over $300 on eBay but thank God I didn't sell mine. Although, I believe, companies are starting to make analog delays again. Diamond is one such company.
Electro Harmonix still makes a Memory Man delay which is analog and costs about $200. I use to love my old Memory Man.

Well very easy to use as the 3 knobs vary delay time, delay feedback and volume of delay.

The quality of the delays are very warm, slightly lo-fi, but at the same time very clean and clear. They accompany your playing like a match made in heaven. The sound is perfect for all your needs of delay. Can also produce "space ship" sounds that I can't seem to get out of a digital delay like the DD-6.

Over 20 years old and still going strong. Tank build.

A perfect delay for anyone wanting a delay up to 300ms. I personally would like a bit more delay time like closer to 600ms but what the DM-2 offers is of the best quality. I highly recommend this for anyone after a top quality delay.

Couldn't be easier to get a great Delay from this pedal. The only thing you need to know (already been mentioned in an earlier review) is: The delay should really be the last effect in your chain, this is common knowledge and true for most delay applications. Other than that, it's really simple and great sounding. I would give it a ten if it offered longer delay time

Warm, sweet and musical

So far so good. Bought it used about a year ago...no problems.

This is my favorite analog delay pedal. I haven't tried them all but this one works well.

Three knobs. Got mine without the manual and it took me literally seconds to work out what each one of those did. Easy to also start experimenting with it and pushing it to the limit to create those crazy crazy effects it's famous for.

It.



Sounds.



Beautiful.



Nuff said!!!

Well, I just got it today, and the guy I bought it from has had it for 20 years with no problems, so I guess it's pretty damn reliable!

N/A

I play experimental/ambient/progressive music. It's the perfect tool for creating those soundscapes. It takes whatever notes you're playing an paints a picture behind them, creates a gorgeous wall of sound that isn't overpowering, and lets you play over the top.

I've been playing 4 years, and I also own a Digitech Whammy, Boss Compressor, Big Muff, Boss DS1, Boss RDD-10 delay, and a Line 6 DL4, and it sits very snugly into that rig.

If it were stolen or lost, I would probably save up the cash to get another. I've never used anything like it. It's an amazing piece of equipment.

It's a fantastic tool. Everybody who plays ambient music NEEDS one of these. Seriously.

this pedle is simple to use

I dont know what everyone is talking about but I must have gotten a bad one. Mine sounds terrible!! After the direct signal goes through that is when it turns to crap. The delayed signal on mine is very distorted sounding (not "warm" at all). I'm not shure you can even fix it.

I would have to say no for this piticular one I have has never been used by me at all (too crappy)

Tried contacting some boss tech in texas about it, never got a response

I think I got ripped off. I would like to rip someone els off with it but I dont think my concience will let me (i've almost had it laying around for about a year now. I know; I will paint it & sell it as some freak distortion unit, far out man. What will probably happen is I will end up taking it to some rinkey dink local music store & play dumb; (ah yea my brother moved to another state & he used to play guitar back in the 80's; is this thing worth anything?) Maby I will at least get my $20.00 back. If you have read this & are seriously seeking one of these out make shure it sounds good before you buy it. When i got mine i was at a music aucion & when I tested it out the guy had the amp volum low and all I paid attention too was that it worked & that the pots were not scratchey. I did not know at the time that they could be ruined by adjusting the internal pots. This pedle has soured me on used effects. I have also bought other used effects & watched them petter out within a short amount of ownership time.(Dunlop rotovibe, dunlop fuzzface) I'm going to try a brand new maxon ad-9 next, wish me luck.

What to say... Most every setting on this pedal is worthwhile, even the crazy "spaceship" stuff which is really alot of fun and sometimes even mind altering. The affected signal blends incredibly well with the unaffected sound, tone, and volume of your guitar. Also, I think Boss switches are what all switches should be...effortless and quite. It's so easy to use you may never shut it off.

I'm not sure why some people give this pedal a bad review. I hope people who have a dm-2 and have given up on it try to reaquaint themselves with this little wonder. The only thing I really want to say about the sound of this pedal without throwing adjectives around is this...whether you feel the delays are too dark or too short or too inexact, all that is really up to the individual to decide. What this delay actually does extremely well is enrich your mood. When a pedal can change the way you FEEL while you're playing then something must be right about this piece of equipment. It is lush and you have to listen behind your playing for the delay, but boy is it worth it!!
One more thing: Please don't disrespect this pedal for its delay time. The longer the delay, I feel, the less usability it actually has. This pedal isn't a novelty trick.

Let's hope it lasts forever more. I just got mine from e-bay and I'm not going to talk about that. It's a free market and hopefully you buy one that's not tampered with. Oops! I just talked about it.
Good Luck, as they say.

A vintage work of art!

3 knobs. I honestly think if you can't get a good sound out of it by simply adjusting dials until you get something you like...

I've been looking for this since I started playing guitar. I have it mainly to 'thicken' up my guitar tone a bit. I'm the only guitar player after having a second guitarist since I've played in bands, and I wanted a fuller sound. I've tried lots of others (digital) and was never happy with the way they colored my tone. I don't pretend to be one of these purists who turns their nose up at anything that wasn't built before 1980, but the digital stuff I've used hasn't always bothered me. DM-2 is full, lush, organic, and retains my tone beautifully. I've also noticed it gives a slight boost to my signal. Wonderful pedal.

It's well over 20 years old now I think, and it's in mint shape. Boss makes damnned reliable pedals. Enough said.

Never had to deal with them.

I've been trying to buy this pedal off of my friend for a long time, and he would never sell. Well, unfortunately for him (fortunate for me), he needed some quick cash, and offered it to me for what I think is an awesome price considering what they go for elsewhere. I love this pedal. All I run is a Vox Wah and this (plus a Boss Tuner) straight into my Marshall 50 watt SL-X and Avatar 2x12 w/ V30's. Outstanding sound. I finally really love my tone.

easy to use plenty of variation considering it is only a 300 or mili second delay.
I think mine is a1982 model.

This effect sounds like jimi's guitar sound on waterfall on one of its settings.
I have tried a dd3 and must say that the dm2 is a warmer more usefull effect alltogether, even though the dd3 has a much longer delay time.
It reminds me of a tape echo without the noise.
The effect has a very familiar feel and sound to it, like the delays you hear on late 60's recordings, obviously done by the sounds engineer.
I was supprised how quite it is.

its 22 years old and still works.

I have had success in the past when I rang boss UK.

It is as good as the hype.
I understand you have to be carefull when buying one as if the previous owner has messed with the 3 internal trim pots, the pedal is buggered, and you can not retune them easily/by ear!
I bought mine of ebay from a nice chap in portsmouth and it sounds fab.
Get to hear the one you intend to buy before you cough up for it.
So far I love it.

easy...

ok, i like the sound of this pedal, it's "full of life", warm and rather versatile, from subtle ambience to extreme auto-oscillating strange growing sounds!
but, there'sone thing that i don't like, there's a "trebly noise" that appears when you turn the "repeat rate", so, while you decrease the "tempo" this noise becomes harder (personaly, i find it disturbing at 11 o'clock and "unusable" at minimum).
so, i wonder if this noise is a general feature of dm2s or if it's only my unit?
maybe someone can answer (and that's mainly the reason i wrote this review).
if i can get rid of this noise by a repair or even buying another unit i would think it's an amazing pedal because i really like its "feeling", for the moment i only rate an 8.

have it only for a few days, but boss pedals are very dependable, even older ones (like this one!),so ...

don't know.

nothing more special to say...
i think i will use this pedal, i like its overall sound and feeling and is actually usable (rather set with short repeats)
it's the kind of effect that brings life to your tone and can reveal a lot of sounds and ambiences by tweaking it.

i hope someone could help me to solve this noise problem, or at least tell me if it's a normal feature of the dm-2s, thanks!

easy as can be

sounds really nice. i think analog delays sound really nice. gererally they sound very rich..... not cold like digital delays (although sometimes digital delays are nice).
no noise.
i think one of the finest sounding pedals ever made.

this one has been around since i think 1980, maybe earlyer? it was handed down to me by my father years ago.
i've sumited a few reviews on boss pedals- and i saw the same thing everytime. boss makes great pedals- it takes some work to hurt one.
this pedal is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-30 years old. it sounds amazing. its nicked up, but nothing is wrong with it.

never delt with them

i highly doubt you could find someone with something negitive to say about these pedals.
they sound great- if i was gonna pick up another delay it'd be ether a DM-2 or a DM-3. i'd feel like i was risking something grabbing another old analog delay. im sure other brands have great delays too- these pedal just sound so good i have no interest in finding out.
this pedals sounds nothing short of amazing. worth what they go for now-a-days (which can get up to $200 on ebay). if you can find one for $100-$160, i'd recommend grabbing it fast.

stomp-twist-smile

yup

this is the reason I bothered adding a review to this one. my DM-2 was the ONLY surviving peice of gear from a fire several years ago. it's blackened, crusty and ugly as sin. but it still works like new. I use as many layers of delay as I can and they all pass through the dm-2 before hitting the marshall. it resides in a place of honor on top of the amp where I can hit the knobs for the classic alien attack delay sweep. I would be lost without this pedal and it survived a fire. 'nuff said

easy to use.

i think the key to this pedals intrinsic value is that its a tone thickener.
of course it delays, but due to the subtle and decaying nature of the repeats, it also thickens your tone..a lot.
Another pedal that does this is the boss ce-2..perhaps even more so.
people just buy these off ebay, and i think thats plain 'asking for trouble.'
One of the other reveiwers has pointed out that the trimmers inside the dm-2's are being messed with, and subsequently ruining the pedal. He is correct.
The trimmers have a green sludge which holds them to the factory position. If you have one of these pedals where the trimmers have been moved...well, i pity you mate.
The pedals sound will become thin and lifeless.

I think these pedals were painted with soft paint. The dm-2's paint job doesnt fare well, even with careful treatment.
Some boss pedals have hard paint, some soft.
So, even if your dm-2 looks like its been to war, i reckon it probably hasnt.
I wouldnt go dropping it...
having said this, my feeling is that this pedal will last longer than i will anyway.

"ever get an upgrade" is the question this webpage is asking me now.

There IS no upgrade for this pedal.

if you slag off this pedal, then you are a moron.
go back to your tight pants and wig haircut.


By the way...DO NOT CHANGE THE FACTORY TRIMPOT SETTINGS!

Very easy to use. Nothing to it. Of course, it is a one trick pony: there is no tap-tempo, there aren't different modes, no backwards repeats, no looping, no long delay times, it is not stereo, not true bypass, there are no output controls, nadda. Just a basic analog echo. Plain & simple. 3 knobs. Does one thing.

Well, I have read many a review about my favorite pedal (and favorite TYPE of pedal). I bought mine new in the 80's when I was a kid. It was my 1st effect (I had the money for two or three effects - and decided to spend it all on one analog delay - yea that's right, the DM-2 was expensive even then). My parents were pissed. :-)

I remember A/B-ing it with an Ibanez AD-9 at the time and preferred the DM-2. It has been with me at every gig I have ever played in my life except for the last year or two when I was trying out some other analog delays (more on this below).

What to say... it was the only thing available then - "no moving parts" was the catch phrase of the time. I always thought it sounded lush and beautiful. I used it a lot. Probably overused it many times.

When digital delays came out and everyone was running around yelling about how much better they were I was VERY surprised at how much I DIDN'T like them. I thought the repeats were cold and hard (as opposed to soft and warm of the analog - not just the DM-2, but all analog delays). I also did not like how the "exactness" of the digital repeats interfered with the notes being played in real time.

Analog delays have a tone that is NOT precise. Each repeat is "decayed" a bit more than the one before it. I very much prefer that. Many people like the precision of a digital delay to get that "Run Like Hell" (Pink Floyd) slap back or a sort if U2-ish HiFi thing (although the Edge did use an analog Memory Man much of the time).

The Boss DM-2 has a very warm yet clear sound. To compare the DM-2 to other delays (I am a delay junky and currently own or have owned: Boss DM-3, Maxon AD-9, Ibanez AD-9, Maxon AD-80, Ibanez ADL, Arion SAD-1, Line 6 Delay Modeler, DOD FX-96, original Electro Harmonix Memory Man):

The repeats are no where NEAR as clear or bright as any digital unit I have tried, but have more treble than any of the Ibanez or Maxon units (which are warmer overall). The Boss DM-2 is a bit brighter than the Maxon Ibanez pedals, but still analog sounding. Since the repeats are brighter on the DM-2 you can set the overall delay level lower while still hearing the percussiveness of the repeats. With the Ibanez/Maxon units the repeats are noticeably warmer with less high end. But since that equals "less audible" in the mix, you can turn (or "must" turn) the delay level higher to get the delays to be as audible in the mix. When you do that you have "more" delay overall, especially in the mids and lows. So the Maxon/Ibanez delays can sound a bit richer in some ways, while the Boss Delays (both the DM-2 and DM-3) are more "audible" with less delay. I hope that makes sense. The Boss is more "watery". The Ibanez/Maxon is more "soupy".

Ironically, the delay that sounds the closest to my ears (other than the DM-3 which is REAL close) is the Arion SAD-1. The Arion is a bit brighter than the Boss. Even more "watery". But very much in the ballpark. Too bad the pedal itself is a cheap piece of garbage.

The Ibanez ADL is a bit lower quality sounding (not in a good way), but still closer to the DM-2 than the AD-9 or AD-80 are. Definitely not a bad delay at all. Well worth the money.

The DOD FX-96 was a joke (IMHO). WAAAY too low quality and not musical. Same thing with the EH Memory Man. I know people love em, but I couldn't STAND it. Real weak and low quality sound as far as I'm concerned. The Boss, Ibanez, Maxon, & Arion units all smoke both of them to my ears.

The Line-6 DL4 (the green Delay Modeler) I eyed for a few years before taking the plunge and buying one. True bypass, tap tempo - I was ready to leave my beloved DM-2 home in safety. But, not so fast. The modeling is OK, but no cigar. There is an audible "digitization" to the signal that, when A/B-ing with the DM-2 or AD-9 drove me crazy. Onto eBay it we

Oh my god. Well let's see..... It has been at 99% of all the gigs, practices and auditions I have ever played in my LIFE (since I was a kid)!

It has fallen, been kicked, stomped on, dropped, had beer spilled on it, you name it. For a few years there it wasn't on a pedal board and I just threw it and a tube screamer, loose, in a gig bag (what the hell was I thinking). Both got HORRIBLY banged up and chipped, scuffed, scarred, etc. The Tube Screamer stopped working. The DM-2 continues to work exactly the same as the day I bought it. I think the same is true for all Boss pedals.

Never needed it.

I play psychedelic, jamband, funky world music. Have pro gear. Have traded in almost all of my old Boss effects with newer True Bypass effects. Not here. The DM-2 is one of three or four "buffered bypass" effects I will still use. There is no replacement. It sounds the best to my ears.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I absolutely HAD to mention this. There are some people who adjust the internal trim pots inside the unit to "tweak" the delay time (make it a TINY bit longer). I have bought several DM-2's on eBay that had been ruined (yes... "ruined") because of how difficult it is to get those trim pots back to their original positions. Near impossible. Boss does NOT do it. You need a special scope to do it properly. I had at least three units that came in with thin harsh repeats. One unit that had almost no wet signal. Boo.

If you want a long delay, get a digital. These analog delays are for short slap back type repeats.

There is also an issue with the "ray gun" or "runaway feedback" you get when you set the "intensity" level (repeat #) all the way up on CERTAIN units. There was a time where the DM-2 was NOT calibrated for it (I think the mid period).

Some people try to "tweak" the repeat amount to get it happening. Not a good idea. You need a scope to adjust those pots right. Again, although it is a good "novelty" freakout thing, it is NOT WORTH RUINING A CLASSIC PEDAL FOR.

MY Maxon AD-80 doesn't do it, but other AD-80's do. Oh well. That is NOT what I want the pedal for. I want analog echo.

BEWARE when buying analog delays on eBay. Many of these DM-2's & DM-3's are damaged goods. And EXPENSIVE. I got a MINT condition, not a scratch or ding on it, in the box DM-2 with all the manuals, stickers, etc. Time Capsule. BUT.....as soon as I plugged into it I realized the trim pots had been adjusted to do the space ship sounds and the pedal was fucked.

I tried to re-set them by comparing the positions to my favorite DM-2 (original one), but to no avail. The pedal could NOT be made to sound like the beautiful, rich untampered with one. It was weak, thin, and anything but useful. It wasw SO frustrating. I returned it (which sucked because othewise it was a total time capsule). Please don't perpetuate this. There are only a finite # of these "bucket brigade" delays out there. Let's not make the matter even worse.

Sorry for preaching but I just needed to say that.

I now have a few backup DM-2's that sound exactly like my original one. ;-)

It may not be the delay for you. Try before you buy.

Really easy to use, nothing to it.

Sounds like an analog delay pedal, ie crappy muffled bandwidth - so what. This makes it the "best delay pedal ever" "the holy grail" "sell your balls to get one". These self-fulfilling prophecies just drive the prices up to insane levels. Like the overrated TS-9 tube screamer, the 3-bolt neck Strat and the silver-face Fender amps, it was all you could get years ago because that was all was available. We cried out for something better. Now they are cool and retro??? Please.

It's an analog delay for chrissakes.

Ultra-simple to set up and operate!

I have always loved the sound of this pedal. Use it with Strats and Teles through a Reissue Deluxe or original 65 Super Reverb.
This is my second one. My first DM-2 was stolen after I had gigged with it for 22 years. I missed this pedal so much and didn't realise how really great it was til it was gone. Lucky to have found another one. A friend who runs a local music store let me trade a Boss CE-5 Chorus and a DD-6 Digital Delay(which I had NO USE for)even up for it. He could have gotten a couple hundred off of eBay for this so I was really happy. I basically begged him to let me have it!

I expect this to outlast me.

Maybe not an issue because all their pedals are really well built..

I've playing for 30 years. Play out 4-6 times a month. I finger pick a lot so Fender guitars and amps are my favorite. I tried to enjoy playing with a "replacement" DD-6 Delay, but it didn't do anything for me. Too clean, too precise. I own an Echoplex and the DM-2 sounds pretty much just like it. The DM-2 has been with me since 1982. I've never depended on any other pedal more!

Yes..mine WAS stolen and I DID replace it as soon as I could..I HAD TO!

peice of cake, tho i use one of the knobs to get the weirdest sounds out of it. i like to push it up high and then hit my tremelo, and with the delaey knob in one hand and the tremelo speed in the other start tuning in tokyo. the most bent sounds i have ever heard. don't use too much overdrive when doing this, the sound chokes. the delay has the best retarded-dolphin sounds out there. just don't blow it up/fry it like i did, 'cos you'll have to make do with not-as-cool pedals till you can get it fixed!!! after all that tho' you do have to fool round with it to make it do what you want. worth it tho!!

i run my firebird/mustang/white falcon/ricki through a heap of pedals: tuner-baez overdrive-curtis overdrive (the baez is a aussie made custom little muff kinda thing, the curtis is like an original tube screamer, custom made over here in aussie..) then thru a early boss chorus-mxr phase 90, smallstone, old flanger, octaver, ibanez analog delay boss dd-5 digital delay, purple dunlop tremelo, bass wah and then into an old 0range 120 watt head thru my custom half cab. when i get the dm2 fixed i'm gonna get it off the floor and tape it to my guitar. more freedom then to bend heads with!!! i love my whole setup and usually have about 5 pedals i've nicked from mates to fool around with on the side of my regular set up. the dm-2 sounded great thru my old re-201 tape echo. why the hell did i sell that? oh yeah, the dm-2 kicked it ass!!! and the tape echo whs too unreliable. at the end of the day the dm2 is probably my most favoured effect i've got! doesn't hiss around either.

i fried it somehow, now it smells like a blown-up slot car or something. there's a guy here in melbourne who'll fix it tho. an ex-girlfriend's brother gave me the pedal for free (as in happy birthday) i was just like cool, old crappy purple delay for free. when i found out what it was and how good it sounded i was stunned. so reliability isn't %100. trying to make do with an old analog ibanez delay, but i doesn't cut the mustard. can't wait till it's alive again. it was a big part of my signature sound, so i really wan't this little beast back.

never dealt with boss. i get all my stuff secondhand. not into new gear really.

the is the most inspirational little pedal. if anyone out there says pedals shouldn't make u write songs/a good song can be played onto an acoustic/don't rely on gimmicky sounds/ra ra ra, then they should find one of these and go nuts. i did. i'm a huge late 70's early 80's nut, so this does all that weird post-punk shite, like the cure/echo and the bunnymen, really dark cool stuff. anyone else out there into this kinda stuff? overdrives and volume are cool, but delays and modulations are where it's at i reckon... thanks for reading my ramblings...

you could operate this pedal blindfolded.

If you want an old sckool/dubby/atmospheric echo vibe - this pedal is THE SOUND IN YOUR HEAD, but could never quite find.I can't give it a ten - noone wants their atmsophere pristine. I run it in line with an AKAI headrush in delay( which are excellent, takes some tinkering - but worth it) to get the low fi and the ultra modern pristine layered up.

If after 22 years doing the same thing I was still as rocking like this pedal I want a ten too.

BOSS

Sell your testacles, sell your surgeons testys - find it, buy it.
I have alot of cool FX, mostly of the same type - delays,tremeloes - reverbs.,., but I always just have this and the guitar when I'm playing mellow at home. The DM2 bottom line.

Easy to figure out, hard to master....

I use an american tele and fender amp. Some people here say this pedal sucks, and to that I reply, you either aren't the type of person who plays music for this kind of equipment, or you didn't give it enough room to breathe. When playing this pedal, you should keep it right at the point of self oscillation, and use the dynamics of your picking to either create the "smudge" or the crazy synthesizer feedback. If you can get on top of the feedback wave you can ride the tone and then "tune" the feedback to be a warbly chord against your melody. It is an extremely subtle thing, but once you master it, people will be asing you "where are your analog synths?". Then you show them the DM-2 and watch them look at you like you are a nutcase or something.

Boss, reliable, tank.

I think that this is one hell of a delay pedal. Once you figure out the subtleties of it, is will grow on you and pretty soon it will be your main weapon in your sonic arsenal. I have recorded songs where my wife has gotten pissed thinking I went out and bought a hammond. For real, this thing is more like an analog synthsizer with an lfo than a delay. Once you master it, that is.

I bought this yesterday in Mellbourne, Australia. It took me a few seconds to get a fookin great sound out of it. It came in the box and is in great condition.

Im using it through a fender 4'10 Deville, playing a vintage jazzmaster combined with an mxr distortion(these 2 sound great together), jim dunlop rotovibe, Wah, boss pitchshifter delay ps2, and a line 6 delay modeller. The pedal doesnt affect my tonal settings at all (very rare in many pedals)I can pull the sounds ive been hanging to get for a long time, eg The Doves, Coldplay, Pink Floyde!

Haven't had enough experience with it yet, but its a boss. Strong as a tank!

Haven't had a problem yet!

An incred find. Searched for one of these all over the world and the only place I found one was in LA at the guitar centre for $300 US. The best music stores in London, New York and New Orleans hadn't seen one for a long time. The day I got back to Melb I found it in a pawn store for $60 Australian ( app $40 US)The most amazing delay pedal I have ever heard! Soooo easy to right songs now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Initially the DM-2 takes some time to get around as the controls are quite sensitive. But after a while you get comfortable with it. Still with 3 control knobs, you can't go wrong.

The DM-2 is very warm and you can achieve those great 70's-styled echos and is in no way noisy (but I've had mine recently serviced by a friend). I also love the fact that the delay is slightly inaccurate and is not exactly perfect. So if you love pristine sounding digital delays, I would advise to steer clear of the DM-2 as you will definitely HATE it.

Very reliable. It's an old Boss pedal, what more needs to be said.

Never bothered

If it was stolen or lost I would be most unhappy as these pedals go for absolutely insane amounts on ebay. There are many doubters out there (probably Pod and Line 6 owners!) who sneer at "vintage", but put simply the DM-2 is one of the best delay out there. The more modern digital delays out there just sound way too clean and for a lack of a better word, polite! And who wants to sound like that?

Very easy to use compared to today's very complicated multi-tap, midi-synced effects. The DM-2, apparently uses all analogue circuitry.

A very mild and warm delay pedal. The overall sound is buttery smooth,simple the feedback is very natural...believe the hype. While tape echo is more often used as a multi-tap delay the DM2 sounds exactly like a space echo in single delay mode.The feedback has a way of adding odd harmonics to the signal..creates many natural overtones...similar in many ways to roland's RE series tape echo. When you turn the knobs you get a very smooth transition...very small increments can have a profound effect on the delay, go too far, too fast and the thing will create bizarre alien landing fx and screeching. Use it for anything, piano, vocals, fx, guitar... not JUST a guitar pedal. It has a bit of noise I guess, never a problem. The feedback loop that can be created is reminiscent of old reggae dub records- it is a very special sound.

Ultra-reliable! Bought mine used back around 89' for about 50$, it was all beat up...has been around the block and more...takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'.

If Roland would only make more analogue gear like they used to the world would be a better place,

I also have the chorus echo re301, digital reverb srv3030. Even though the re301 sounds t similar to the Dm-2, the dm-2 has no tape warble and is more reliable- but it still can't replace the space echo's spring reverb and mutlitap delays. The dm-2 has been with me for years...the little pedal goes with any style.

8-this guy was a little confusing at first,just because i am a newer guitar player and am used to pedals witha thousand"tweeking"knobs.3 knobs isnt quite enough for getting detailed and trippy,but you can definately get a variety of sounds

it is an older model and a few of the guys i have talked to about this item say it can be scratchy because of its age.but not to worry,your local electronics store has a can of cleaner that does the job perfectly,and WHAM-O......no more scratchy pots..the thing sounds great though my marshall....(even though what doesnt sound great through a marshall?)...i found it a little tricky to c onfigure in my set-up,but took the time to line it up right....

like i said ,these are old units,so reliability is not an issue you can really depend on.A used car is only as good as it's last owner.chances are you wont find one of these puppies in mint condition unless you are shelling out big bucks and happen to be on ebay at a miracle moment in time.that doesnt mean if you find a broke one that you shouldnt grab it.99% of the time your local music repair house will be able to ressurect that "simply dead"pedal back to it's natural functioning self again.For the most part,these guys have been around for quite awhile,so i would have to say they are DEPENDABLE!!!!!

i bought mine from a pawn shop a few years ago,used,beat up and working for $25 bucks.talk about a steal!!!THIS UNIT HAS NEVER FAILED ME!!!!!! why would i need to put down anything for support?thanks again roland!

not the most versatile unit,but a great addition for any collector.i found it quite useful in so many scenarios,it is impossible to count.i use it along side a digitech rp3.i use the dm-2 for one amp mono for slow drueling delays,while i use my rp3 for long delays,going stereo.they all go through marhall 100watt jpm half stacks.other than that i simply use my amps distortion channel,and occasionally a digitech whammy4.

no prob, very simple. maybe too simple, i dunno.

Read below for a good insight into the pedal. i just got one and was worried because i couldn't get any trippy effects out of it, then a guy from guitargeek told me it might be 'tamed'. So i opened it up and fiddled with the trimpots to get back the feedback effect. it was the one labelled 'bias'. Hope this might help someone in the same predicament. Now it's crazy time. :) For what it is, I'll give it a 9 for quality of sound. If you're lucky you can still find one for a reasonable price, and even sell it for more later on (when you can afford a roland space echo or something) if you want.

Hope so

dunno

if you want something a little different and less predictable in sound than a digital, go for it. think it will be good for your coldplayesque melodies and zanier moments.

Good luck.

None simpler

I went on a quest for the perfect Delay. In the last year I have had all the following Boss DM2, DM3, Ibanez Ad9, Ad99, Boss DD3, DOD FX96, Line 6 DL4 mod, Electro Harmonix memory man, Danelectro Dan Echo, genuine Echoplex EP3 tape was great just to finicky to play out, I just had to put in my two cents since these pedals are selling for an obscene amount right now. Some folks have more money than ears I guess. It is true it is a nice analog pedal and it does have great tone, but not as good as Ibanez DE7 echo delay the De7 Ibanez is the one I have kept each and every time over the others. The Boss is nice but is not the Holy Grail

Oh yeah it is a boss tuff

Bought a bargain on this just before Christmas 2002. I was in Melbourne in and saw it in pawn shop in St Kilda for $129AUS (about $60U.S) including the box. A bargain considering these are going for $200 U.S on ebay - so I guess you still can get those pawnshop bargains now & then.

Three knobs. How it's labelled is intially alittle confusing (as stated in other reviews) but doesn't take much to work it out.
Gives delays up to 330ms.

Has a few trimpots on the circuitboard inside for tweaking, not sure what, but may playing around to find out.

Sound quality - I've played thru different digital delays (boss, ibanez, digitech) and they all give a really harsh top end. This analog delay provides a more natural tone more true to the actual tone of your guitar. I use it with a visualsound jekyl & hyde, modded crybaby wah, boss ph-1, electroharmonix clone theory into a fender twin.

Built like a brick like all boss pedals.

Never have to deal with them.

A really great pedal, these old boss pedals had good quality components in them, new boss pedals these days have crappy cheap components inside which is why half of them sound crappy!
Don't know if they are really worth their $200U.S value, I think it's more guitar market hype that analog delay is "better" that pushs up the prices...

Pretty easy to use (3 knobs).

I didn't get a book with it (I got it free).

This pedal sounds good and has a cool feedback sound when you move the knobs just right.

The pedal only gets noisy (a faint high pitch noise in the background) when the 1st knob is turned all the way to the left.

But overall a nice delay sound.

This pedal is got to be pretty close to 20 years old (it has the "Japan" label on the back).

Great website!

A nice delay pedal.

Three knobs. Should be quite easy but the "echo" knob controls how pronounced the effect is and the "intensity" controls number of repeats. I would have expected it to be the other way round. Also the delay time knob goes the opposite way to how you'd expect - max delay time is all the way to the left. Apart from that it's dead easy.

I use a Tele into a Laney Amp and the following effects: Dm2, Boss Blues Driver, Pro Co Rat, Big Muff, MXR Blue Box, Sometimes a volume pedal and Ring Modulator too.
The pedal is not noisy at all, unless you make it self ossilate by turning the delay time right down and number of echos all the way up. Then it's SUPPOSED to be noisy. The delay sounds great. I was pleasently surprised as to how long the delay time is - I was expecting it to be much shorter but it's actually longer than the times I used my DD3 for. For comparason the longest delay time is about the same as a DD3 in long mode with the time knob at 10 O'Clock. It does me fine. I got this pedal from ebay to replace my cheap plastic no name analog delay I used to use to get fat walls of noise and to add some space to the sound with. It sounds much better than my old pedal. In fact I've started to use it properly now (ie to get echos) and I'm playing a lot more floyd type music now. You get simple warm scrummy repeats and nothing else. Analog delays are a different breed to digital delays - you usually use analog delays to add a reverby like ambience to parts. This pedal sounds great, the repeats are nice and dark and blend into your playing very well indeed. This has led to the critism that this pedal is too subtle. It is quite subtle but effects are a spice not and not a main dish. I think it's fine.
It doesn't suck tone too much (it has a buffered bypass), the Memory Man is a horrible tone sucker compared to this.

It's 20 years old and has a few marks to the paint & that's all. I'd trust it.

They don't support their NEW pedals! They aren't going to support an old one like this. They'd try to get me to buy a DD5 instead.

This pedal was expensive but it was worth it. It's got a much better sound than any other delays I've tried. It does seem quite subtle because it blends into your playing, if you want a more in-yer-face analog delay get a Memory Man. Memory Mans (men?) are better at the self ossilating noise thing too. This pedal is harder to overload. But I prefer this one. Apart from Maxon you won't get a new analog delay anymore, but this pedal crops up all the time on ebay. It's well worth it. It has a lovely sound with none of the fancy stuff that I never use on digital delays. Great pedal.

Ah, plug in - twist dials - find good space, keep adjusting for fun. Go too far - please - you deserve it. Especially at the end of a set, tweak them all to the right and watch the audience look around for the alien. It's too cool.

Great sound. Using with a new LP Standard and a Roland GA-60 (huge bass response amp which is accentuated with this pedal). Got a Jim Dunlop Crybaby before it and a DOD Envelope after. Things can get pretty weird when the overdrive and the EQ kick in with too much reverb on the amp, but take out the reverb or the delay and it's modulescence. I've found a 4-4-6 or 4-6-4 setting on the 3 knobs has worked well. I was using the Boss digital delay before, but never liked the precise sterility or the knobs - this pedal is warm and tonal and the knobs have no positive stops.

I can get the same unit, yeah, I want a backup. It's ancient, definitely been in use the whole time, and I have been using it for about two years without a hitch. I have always used the power adaptor at gigs, because batteries go fast.

Actually had a good experience when I was trying to get the power supply right. The LED won't switch on unless you have the proper supply. Wasn't a problem, but I live in Japan and my main man at the guitar shop got on the line direct...to Osaka.

Value-wise, they don't exist so don't think about it. Tone and effects value, get the grey matter moving. Don't know it's on until I realize that I can't have that good of a built-in reverb - and where is that other guitar coming from? I play blues and rock and spacestuff/improv. I always get that big comfy room sound and I play in some very, very small places. I feel lucky to have found one - also, it's the old 'made in Japan' Roland gear, and the 'made in Japan' Boss Flanger was on my list until I found this.

this pedal produces nothing but lush, true sounding delay. only having three knobs - echo (controls how pronounced the effect is), repeat (controls delay time) and intensity (controls delay duration), and being all analogue (MN3005)it's totally simple and intuitive to use. stab it and steer, basically. the only thing to remember is to roll off the intensity some if your guitar is outputting alot of signal, otherwise it goes into self oscillation, which isn't always that useful, but is still always fun. hell, the maxon ad90 is calibrated to do that on purpose. the manual is pretty minimalistic, no suggested settings, etc. i think the most helpful thing it said was "do not immerse the unit in water" - duh! since these haven't been made in 20 years it's unlikely it would still have a manual with it, though. i give it a '9' because it can sometimes be difficult to judge where to set the intensity to prevent auto feedback.

guitars i'm using this pedal with are a natural ash U.S.A. telecaster ('97) and a '52 reissue tele. both have bardens, so noise is minimal anyway. the guitars go through a very small and very british selection of amps (wem dominator mk.3, marshall bluesbreaker reissue, laney vc30). this pedal is a surprisingly heavy duty piece of engineering with a noise reduction circuit that really does cut noise.
the noise output from this pedal is negligible. amazing, really.
the delay/echo from this pedal is better than any room or open space i've ever heard! lush and natural. picks up the whole signal, then lets it decay beautifully. particularly good with clean guitars, preserves sparkle and enriches sound with depth. distorted repeats sound great too. delay range is 25 - 330 milliseconds, which is enough for me, but maybe not for everyone? with this setup i sound a hell of a lot better than my favourite artists! ;o). a good example of the kind of clean sound you can get are the repeats toward the end of "barbarism begins at home" by the smiths, and east bay ray style distorted repeats. the DM-2 sounds great after my EH small clone chorus. of course, it goes with other boss pedals very well too (cs-1, ds-1). it also works with my voodoo lab tremolo beautifully. it doesen't colour the tone, if anything it deepens and warms it. also the repeats don't fuzz up like they do with other analogue delays (dod fx96 etc.), staying clear and clean. again, it stays clean unless you turn up the intensity too much, when the signal kind of compresses into a 'knocking' sound, but that's the joy of analogue.
"pristine" sounds? yup, that pretty much nails it.

this DM-2 was 20 years old when i got it, and had been COVETED by its previous owner. totally as new, even the box and instruction manual were in great condition. it's as solid as any boss. as is well known, boss pedals are impervious to nuclear blasts, voo-doo, 10,000ft. freefalls, lager, etc.

i've never dealt with boss. i guess that if i tried to contact them about a 20-odd year old pedal they'd just tell me to bin it and buy a DD5! such is the attitude of large corporations.

i play alternative rock, blues, and some jazz for about 9 years now. this is the best delay pedal i could ever own. i might buy a DD5 for it's higher functions but i'll always keep this for the gorgeous tone. i think it's time boss considered reissuing some of these classic old pedals. there's obviously a massive market for them. if it were stolen (here we go) i'd recover it by whatever means necessary then plead temporary insanity at the trial. failing that, i'd try in vain to find another one. which i wouldn't in this condition. it just has a simple "completeness" to it that for me usually marks out the best gear (i.e. telecasters, ac-30's etc.)(although i'm not a TOTAL reactionary! gorgeous stuff. the only thing i miss is a mains adaptor, as these old boss pedals run on a higher voltage (ACA adaptor)than the newer ones. this is now like my CS-1 compressor, in that i find it almost impossible to plug in without it. the DM-2 is a very addictive and musical delay, unlike some of the digital ones. however, if you want ultra defined, infinite hold, sampling, reverse repeat, etc. obviously give this a miss and go digital. i paid quite a lot (although still less than the going rate for one like this in totally as new condition), yet i still consider it a bargain. the guy i bought it from paid #79.00 new in 1980-82 (?) which i think would be at least #150.00 now. so i do feel like i got a bargain, bizarrely. if you can't get one of these in reasonable condition, my advice is go with the maxon ad90. similar price, sounds, circuitry (and similar colour!), and it's new. i've seen some sorry examples of DM-2's going on ebay and in local classified ads for crazy amounts of money. i keep meaning to try it out with an electric piano, for that "planet telex" thing. the low impedance circuitry even means you can run a microphone through it. if the delay chip ever goes i'll just rip the one out of the dodfx96 (same chip) to replace it!

It took me about an hour to figure the DM2 out, as to settings. Repeat, time, mix, no rocket science, or engineering background needed. Do not need a manual. Easy to use, and to get a good sound.

Excellent for my application, playing amplified blues harp. My current main amps are a 2001 Landgraff tweed deluxe( 5E3)clone, and a Gary Onofrio modded( Sonny Jr. amps) 50s Masco ME17( 2X6L6GB, 12AU7, 6SJ7, 5Y3(or 5V4)converted PA head thru a 4X8 pine cab. I am curious at what amps the last 3 posters use, who are very uncomplimentary about the DM2. This is a great analog delay for harp, very warm, quiet, organic. You can get that small room delay very easy. Not sterile. This may, or not match up with hi gain, multiple channel,multiple gain stage amps, for guitar; I cant speak as a g'tar player, but for blues harp thru a tweed sounding amp, awesome. Does not rob tone, boost volume, or make sound treblier.YMMV, just IMO.

So far dependable. I have no backup, unless I mic thru PA and mix in reverb.

NA

This will be used in blues music with several groups I play with, and on ocassion when playing amped at our Sunday Methodist church service. Been playing 30 years, about 20 semi-pro. Own and play thru the amps mentioned, also another old Masco amp.Use old Shure GB, Shure 545, and a crystal ball mic made by Scott Berberian. Use a Morley ABY box to run two amps together. Sold a Premier 90 reverb unit, not needed with the DM2. Also have owned and used the RI Maxon AD 80 Analog delay, did not care for it. Have used a Danecho digital delay, liked it until I used the DM2, no comparison. May not be your cup of tea, but it would surprise me to hear a harp player say it was terrible. Mine is in great shape, I consider what I paid( $175)reasonable.

this pedal is soo easy to use three knobs ,nothing to it

this pedal sucks ,vintege my a** ,i bought it ,on e bay ,tryed it ,,and but it back on e bay the next day and thank god i sold it ,i dont know whats all the hype about this pedal ,my dd2 or my chandler unit is 1000 times better than this pedal,trust me dont buy it ,unless you dont know anything about sound ,dont waste your money

it a boss ...

dont know never delt with them

this pedal sucks period

This pedal is lame. That's why I sold mine right away. What's this talk about "warm" delay. C'mon guys...if you want a warm delay signal, simply add a slight (real slight) amount of warm overdrive to any DD-3 or DD-5 and you will have the delay of your dreams. Plus you can actually turn it up, opposed to the DM-2 which is sooo quiet.

See above

This is the WORST sounding delay ever!!! I am a professional musician who is very experienced with effects. I've owned many pedals and rack mounted effects over the last 20 years. I heard so many good things about this pedal that I decided to give it a shot. The delay signal is so incredibly weak that it isn't even audible of the natural sustain of guitar strings. If you are someone who loves that thick wall of sound, this pedal is NOT for you. Don't waste your money.

Three knobs controlling a warm, well-done effects. How easy do you think it is? It took me a total of 5 seconds to get a great sound out of it.

I have a Fender Am. Std Strat and an Ampeg VT-120 Tube Amp for my guitar setup. My bass set up is a mongrel p-bass, w/ a Warmoth Jazz neck and EMG's. My pedals are Boss PS-3 Pitch Shift Delay->Crybaby 535q->Electro Harmonix Tube Zipper->Big Muff->Boss PH-3 Phaser->Boss DM-2. It's only noisy when its supposed to be, when it's self-oscillating. Nailed the intro to Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd in a couple minutes. Got a great sound by turning the knobs to full, except the Intensity knob that I roll back just before the point where the unit self-oscillates. This creates an evil-sounding filter. Like a flanger stopped in its sweep with alot of dissonance.

I depend on it, it's Boss right?

N/A

I play all kinds of rock. I've been playing for almost three years. This pedal is indispensable. I love its warmth and the ability to get great echos, slapbacks, and chaotic noises. It is very conducive to inspiring my creativity.

Step on it and you'll always get a good sound.

It's just one of the very best analog delay pedals ever. I thought, that after 19 years of continuous use of the DM-2, it was time for a kind of "Hall of Fame" mention for this pedal. I use it with a '65 Super and Strat or Tele.

Yes. Actually, it's one of the most dependable things I've ever owned. Not one problem in almost 20 years of gig use.

N/A

THis is a "classic" pedal in the truest sense of the word. I remember paying $81 for this new back in 81-82 so it was pricey then. But after 20 years I can say that it's worth the $1 per year it has ended up costing me.

There are three knobs on this thing, intensity, echo and repeat rate, it's fairly easy to use and not hard at all to get a good ol' warm analog delay sound. It's alot of fun for getting weird sounds like harsh slap-back echos and stuff, and sounds great when you make it feedback on itself by turning up all the knobs and manipulating the repeat rate knob. This pedal hasn't been made since about 1983 and there was no manual with it when I bought it three years ago, but you probably won't need one.

I love the sound of this thing, I've always hated digital delays, I'm not after long-ass repat rates so I don't mind the trade off of some milliseconds for warmth which is simply more important to me. My guitars include a '57 reissue Fender Stratocaster, a '94 Stratocaster and a 60's reissue Telecaster which I play through a Fender Ultimate Chorus. I use a lot of pedals including the DM-2, a Boss tremelo, Electro Harmonix Big Muff, Ibanez Tube Screamer, EH Small Stone, Electric Mistress, and a Jim Dunlop Crybaby wah. This delay sounds great clean by itself and adds depth to distorted tones. It can do some pretty crazy things and is one of the favourite parts of my setup.It will be a constant toy on my pedalboard for a long time I'm sure.

Its sturdy, aside from a few paint chips it's in excellent condition, I've gigged with it a few times and it's never given me any problems.

Dunno really, never had any problems, thus no need to talk to 'em. It hasn't been made (as I said) since '83 or so, so I definately take care of it and make sure its always ready to RAWK.

I love it! The price on these little gems is going up now as well, I've seen some going for more than digital delays (we're talkin' like $250 or more!!!! YEOW!)So if you can find a good deal on one, get it, you won't regret it. I like it a lot more than the old pink Ibanez AD-9 which I was originally gonna get, but thats just me. Its ultimately up to what you want, different strokes for different folks.

Repeat, Time, and mix volume. Plug and Fly. That is what you will do, fly...

For my views on effects and especially delays, see my reviews of the 201 space echo, Guyatone ps-014 analog delay), Roland double beat, pearl ce-22 chorus/vibrato (oh, that vibrato!) and some others I forgot.
Being I have about 7 analog delays, next to a space echo, this is the fattest, lushest, and definitely has a personality. I owned a dm-3 and compared them (the dm-3 didn't have such a thick tone, but did have a fraction of a second longer delay time. Who cares? Tone is the deciding factor, anyway). I would suggest putting in front of any distortion boxes and/or amps, it will carry the guitar tone better (some people like them effects loops. Loops? Fruit loops?). That's all. The space echo is best for that analog, pitch shifty delay sound, but I would rate this second. Boss stuff is good! Don't knock it.

Have about 20-25 boss effects, and only have had one go funky on me, and it was a t-wah(funky? wah? hahaha. o.k. I will stop now.)!

The good Lord knows....

Look, I get inquiries sometimes about effects from people who read my reviews. Everybody is too worried about the price. Guys (and gals, too), Look: If you want the vibe analog gives (and I, personally, wouldn't think of anything else), eat taco bell for two weeks and get it. I own the line-6 delay thingy, and, with all the options, I still prefer the dm-2 to it. If I could own just one effect, it would be a space echo. Second, the dm-2. Life is short, and to us guitarists, it is meant to be making music, with the sounds we want. Do it. Get it. You will be so happy. That will, in turn, affect your playing, too. Now, can I get that vegetarian burrito with soy cream?
Even though I live in Korea and Japan, I dream of home everyday. God bless the USA.

3 simple knobs, repeat rate, echo and intensity, pretty straight forward interface.

When I first got it, it did no work. I had to disassemble it, spray with electronics cleaner and work out a few kinks. Once I got it working...

The unit is very quiet. Prior to the DM-2, I had a DD-3 (nice but sterile) digital delay. I play a American Standard Strat, a Fender custom series with floyd-rose, Les Paul and other guitars thru a Peavey Classic 100 amp with 2 4-10 cabs. I set the settings low for a subtle delay. To soften the delay I run it thru the effects loop (along with my chorus). It is always on, I may adjust the echo and repeat to match the style. Useful in getting Van Halen, Rush, fusion and other sounds. The DM-2 delivers a softer, lower delay then most, especially compared to digital delays.

It is a great I am not saying it is the holy-grail of delays, but it does work nice for subtle echo or reverb like effects. I think the slap back sound it can product (repeats all the way up, echo low) is to bright and kills sustain.

I own 8 Boss pedals, no problems yet! The are certainly the most noise free foot devices out there.

N/A

I play blues, some jazz fusion, and rock, like Zep, Rush, Sabbath, Halen, AC/DC... I leave the unit on all the time. If it vanished, I am not sure I would smoke out another 100 bucks for one, but I would miss it.

I have tried many delays, digital and analog (Arion, Ibenez, Boss (digital), I find the dm-2 gives me the suble echo-delay I was looking for.

I am still looking for a newer device with the same or similar characteristics.

Very, very easy to use. Anyone should be able to figure it out. 2 knobs, and an on/off pedal switch.

I think that this is the best analog delay out there. It is long discontinued, and they now run for insane amounts of money. This is true. You will be lucky to find one for less than $175. I have seen them go for $250. If you were to find one for either of those prices, i would say, DONT buy one, unless you are really, really desperate to find a fantastic delay pedal at any cost. It is just way too much money for such a simple effect. True, like i said, it is the best analog delay out there. So, if you have all the money in the world and are desperate to find the very best, this is it. It is the dreamiest, smoothest, most amazing and gorguose analog delay you will ever, ever find. I love it. HOWEVER, i got it for free from my uncle, who probably did not know of it's rarity and didn't need it anymore. You can get pretty CLOSE to the sound quality of this unit on some of the more expensive units, like the pod delay unit with 16 deyals, or others units. I know electro-harmonix also put out an anolog delay pedal that is really very good as well. So, as you can see, this is not the ONLY analog delay out there for you to concider. However, both those units i mentioned, are more expenive than the already very expenive DM-2. HOWEVER, they do MORE stuff than the DM-2, but, still, the DM-2 is better than all of them, reguardless of the fact that the others are more complex. But this is ALL if you have the money. You deffinetly pay for what you get. This is the only analog delay i will ever use, and it the the smoothest, creamyest, most perfect analog delay on this earth. You just can't beat it. I know that sound is a matter of opinion, but I have never met anyone who disareed with me.

Becuase this is a very old unit, it is NOT dependable. It has broken down twice on me, and I have owned it for 2 years. That is not good. However, as it is will all vintage items, their supirior sound quality is worth the struggle of fixing them.

I have no idea. I just tookmit to "the amp shop" in sherman oaks, ca, every time. They are pricy, but pretty good.

I give it a 8 because it is sooooo expensive. I would never even dream of spending so much on a simple analog delay, even though I have come to realize it is the best. I just don't use it often enough. however, with those with the cash, this is really the holy grail of analog delays. Other more expensive pedals can come close, but never really get there. Plus, like i said, it is a bit tempremental. But, you just can't beat sounds like this. Smooth as smooth can be, and those tiny controls are enough to do some crazy shit as well as beautiful, subtle delays. Killer sound.

3 knobs and a foot switch

real quiet, sounds like an old echoplex kinda, short delay, sounds great if your into old Zepplin and dont want to mess with an old echoplex.

I bought mine new in the early 80's and while I taken such good care of it that it still looks like new and so does the box I never have had an problems with it.

never tried to contact these people

It's cool for it's day and if your into analog delay this is the one you want but I like my digital delay just as much unless of course I'm playing 70's stuff.

This is real easy. 3 knobs. pretty standard.

Sound is warm fuzzy analog. I have 3 of these things and they all sound and behave much different from each other. I will use 2 in a row - 1 for short echo and one for cascading. I put em after my filter, distortion and modulation fx. I run a PRS hollowbody II->Musitronics Octave Divider->Teese RMC 3 wah->TS808->Ibanez Super Tube->Electro Harmonix Zipper->Ross Grey Compressor->mxr script phase 90->Arion Chorus->Ernie Ball Volumne Pedal->DM2->DM2->Boss DD5->1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb. oooh oooh oooh. Tone out the arse! You can check out samples at <a href="http://www.freshlybaked.com/pedals">Randtronics</a> and check out my band <a href="http://www.freshlybaked.com/">Freshly Baked</a>
I like to play a lot of styles. This is great for dubbing in reggae and psychedelic as well as country slapback.

I have beaten boss effects for many years. I am sure if i put it on the train tracks it may bust.

I have dealt with roland over the years for my various guitar synths. It is a dark bottomless pit.

Groovy. Fun for dub style reggae. just twist the knobs ...brrrrrrwweeeeeeeiiiiiiingggggggghhhhhaaaaaaaaavvrrrrrrrwahwahwahwah... I also use a way huge aqua puss and a Ibanez AD9 from time to time as well as the boss DM3