Fender DGL-1 Digital Delay

This is my second review, because I now have a second Fender DGL-1 pedal.

In my 2003 review I mentioned that I wanted another one as a backup - I now have another one.

The sound is just as good as my original and in the last 2 years this pedal has proven it's reliability as well - and the original pedal that I've had for 13 years is still running strong.

Actually, its 5 knobs are self-explanatory and easily set.

Considering my set-up (PSM-5 -> DGL-1 -> wah -> EQ-7 -> CS-3 -> CH-3 -> DS-1 -> BF-2 -> Marshall) it has a great value; maybe a larger delay would turn it into a ultra high interesting pedal.

I think is fine.

It's an imported good in my country (Brazil); I once contacted Fender's local dealer who hadn't the manual (actually the guy didn't know the pedal...)

I play some 80's and some hard rock; it fits accordingly.
I've been playing with it for 2 years, no problems.
If I lose the pedal, I would buy a DD-6.
I like the visual and I hate its size...
I compared it with DD-3 and some other local brands and I found it better...
I am not fully aware of speed and depth settings; I just turn the knobs and try to get the sound by ear...

Very easy to use. I've had this pedal since about 1994 and it's been very consistant. There is one pedal to activate the delay, a 2nd pedal to use for the hold feature. The maximum delay time is 2 seconds(?).

Great pedal - almost reminds me of analogue delay in that it has lots of character and is not sterile as most digital delays seem to be. The pedal is not noisy. The delay can go from minimal echo volume to a delayed signal that is louder than the original (you can completely cut out the original signal if desired).

I bought it used 10 years ago and it's still running strong.

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Great delay - I wish I could find a 2nd one to use with it or as a backup. The hold feature is excellent.

With half a brain you should be up and running immediately. I use it for keyboards so rather than keeping it on the floor it's usually perched on one of my boards - so I have easy access to the knobs (especially the range knob! - see below) for tweaking as I play!

As a digital delay it sounds very good and very clean. Max out the feedback control and you get crazy buzzsaw sounds. The range switch is the bomb! With the range on longest setting, get a signal into the delay, then quickly flip the knob to a shorter range and then back - instant craziness! And different every time you do it! (Yes, I do enjoy space noise!) The real time tweakability is where this thing shines.

Going on two decades - and it's still going strong! Definitely built solid - I wouldn't want to get hit in the head with one of these. I've plugged the wrong adaptor into it at least a few times, makes a nasty sound but has always recovered when used with the right adaptor.
Only problem is that the Fender emblem has fallen off the pedal face. (boo-hoo!)

Never needed it.

Real time tweaking may be tough with the pedal on the floor - but that's not where I keep it! Great for space noise!

Very easy to use. You need to fool around with it a few days to get the sounds you want. Just alot of potential to explore.

I have a Les paul and a Custom 72 Tele. I play through a Hotrod deluxe. I use a Blues breaker II to boost the sound level. I use the clean and overdrive channels on the amp. The tone is clean unless you get into too much loop feed back. Overall it delivers a great analog type slapback echo as well as the extended delay popular in the 80's (ala Pat Methany or Michael Hedges). I also use this pedal with an ovation and a Boss Chorus. Crystal clear.

Bought it around 85. Still works 100%. It is built very solid. No issues.

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I have a Boss analog delay pedal. I use that for down and dirty stuff. This one delivers a more refined and clean tone. Which I also like to build into my overall sound.

The Fender DGL-1 Digital Delay is like having several vintage pedals in one easy to use stompbox at half the cost! These pedals were built in Japan right along side the more famous Boss Delay Pedals in the Mid-80s. The controls are as follows: Input Jack, Mono Output or Stereo Output Jacks, By-Pass Foot Pedal, By-Pass Led, Hold Foot Pedal, Input Level Adjustment Knob and Level Indicators, Feedback Knob, Multi Knob (Fine Tuning of the Delay Time), Range Knob (Delay Time Range), and Delay Level Knob. Manual is simple to use and provides suggested settings (Doubling, Natural Echo, Flanger 1, Swell Echo, etc.) Setting these patches is also very easy and your up and running in no time!

Sound Quality is what you would expect from a Mid-80s Japanese built pedal -- classic breath taking tones! I use a 1950s Reissue Fender Stratocaster and ProCo Vintage Rat Reissue along with this pedal. My amps are either a Mid-70s Fender Twin Reverb or a Mids-80s JC-120. With the Fender set up, think "Little Wing," "Comfortable Numb" or "Eruption." With the Roland set up, think "Message in a Bottle," "When the Word Is Running Down..." or "Don't Stand So Close to Me." The only thing that really bothers me about any Mid-80s pedal is the longer the patch cord between your pedals the more your tone may be compromised in the by-pass position -- this is more of a technology quirk that has been has now been addressed by newer pedals, but the sound quality of the older pedals is waaaay much better! Still, this may be a concern to some people but I don't mind the trade off of using those little short plugs to achieve those vintage tones. : )

These Mid-80s Japanese pedals are built like tanks! Remember that old Boss where showed some poor guys beat up DS-1 after it had been around the world 5 times? Well, this pedal hasn't been around the world 5 times (maybe the Mid-West about million times), but the pedal has definitely been used as a door stop, bottle opener, can opener and there's hardly a scratch on it. I own 3 of these pedals and I never gig with a backup because you don't need one -- yes they are that reliable.

Ummm, not so good here. As you many of you know, the Fender Corporation has been bought and sold many times and records have gotten lost along the way. So, they are not going to be too helpful. Plus these pedals where built in Fender's "Dark Days" when the company was about to go belly-up.

Luckily, the manual comes with a schematic and partial parts list -- you can still get parts from electronics supply stores should the pedal die or have problems. In conclusion, Fender Customer Support "1" and your local electronics store is a "10."

This delay pedal is an all-purpose effect pedal -- period. Thus, the pedal will sound good with any application. I have been playing for more than 20 years. I play primarily whatever the gig pays me to play (Zakk Wylde once said "Rock-n-Roll pays the bills" to his son), but my first love is Blues and Jazz. The mere fact that I own 3 of these pedals is a pretty good indication I would replace the pedal if it were lost or stolen! The sound of this pedal is beyond words. : ) I disagree that you cannot obtain echoplex sounds from a vintage stompbox. The Fender DGL-1 not only does this, but does so much more. Definitely worth the money if you can find one.