Ibanez DE-7 Delay/Echo

Basic controls. I don't see much need for everyone to repeat the controls and functions which are perfectly detailed in the product specs given in the advertisement from whichever music equipment distributor you choose (e.g. musican's friend, american musical supply, sam ash, zzounds, etc.)

Ah, here's where i depart from the majority of reviewers. In comparsion with a Boss DD-3, for example, this unit is NOISEY and muddy-sounding with distortion. I thoroughly tested the DE7 then promptly sent it back, got a Boss DD3 instead which immediately proved to be a superior product, sound-wise and construction-wise. I'm not completely satisfied with the Boss though, but clearly it's better than the DE7. If you tweak the delay time knob, it has considerably better outer space and UFO sounds as well, if you like that. I thought about trying the Digitech X-delay but the harmony central reviews aren't very good in comparison. The reviews for the Guyatone microdelay are very good, but it apparently doesn't have two separate outs for stereo if you want to use two amps separated by enough distance to get that effect of depth and spaciousness.

Spend a few more dollars, get the Boss DD3 or perhaps the Guyatone for $100 each. You'll have a considerably better delay pedal.

-From when I got it I immediatly started trying to get every sound out of it, and it has it all, everything you could hope for from an analog delay + 2.6 seconds of delay!
-Only complaint would be that the switches (between delay ranges and delay and echo) are awfully small, if they were toggle-like then it would be easier to switch in between them using ones foot.
-Oh, and the "tone-lock" feature isn't all that exciting or special to me - it sort of makes knobs harder to turn with a foot, but that's not too big of a deal.

-Very excellent - much more than I expected - I usually use the echo mode for anything from a slapback to a long droned out mush to oscillation (which I was somewhat suprised this pedal was capable of) [I'm not going to give it a 10 though, don't know why - there could be more options, which could be said of almost any pedal...]
-There are no noise problems, even on the echo setting, where you'd expect it.
-My set-up is Gibson SG "Custom" with mini-humbuckers, an LP Junior Double-Cutaway, and a '98 Fender Standard Strat with humbucker installed through a E-H Small Stone, Ibanez DE-7 Delay, MXR Blue Box, Ibanez TS-5 (for treble boost), MXR Distortion +, E-H Big Muff to a Marshall VS232 2x12 [in case you care about any of that].

-I bought this used of ebay and it was in gret condition.
-As far as I can tell, it may last forever - but nothing has gone wrong with it.

-Never dealt with the company - never had a reason to for this pedal.

-For my music this is a good match, I can't imagine any music it wouldn't be a match with.
-I, of course, love the long delay times it can achieve.
-This would have to be bought again, if stolen; in fact, I think I may purchase another one because I get tired of having to change the settings (of which I use many) - now another brand/delay may add more variety, but this delay is just so cheap I doubt I'll be able to resist.
-If you've been searching for the most versitile delay, then you've found it here.

Your basic 3 delay pedal controls: Time, Feedback, and Mix. Then it's got a switch to switch the range of delay time, and a choice between echo (analog emulation with self-oscillation) and delay (digital delay without). Simple enough features, couldn't ask for more at this price range (you want a reverse or tap tempo? shell out more bucks.)

My ONE complaint about this pedal? Despite having a buffered bypass, the delays don't trail off. Still, I'm not deducting points for that because I only use trails for long delays and despite the fact that this pedal is capable of them, I use other delays for long settings.

A Danelectro U2 with an added Bigsby is my main guitar (incredible value for the price, just like this pedal). I've also used it extensively with a Jazzmaster that was my main guitar till I got the Danelectro. I run it along with a Zoom Ultra Fuzz for distortion, a Boss DD-20 for additional delays and looping, and a Digitech GNX3 for a few miscellaneous effects (try 3 delays in a row!) and looping, and then they go to a Fender Ultimate Stereo Chorus solid-state amp (warm Fender cleans without tube unreliability). When I'm playing garage-rock or surf, I go Dano -> DE-7 (set for various slapback times) -> various low-wattage tube amps, currently a Gibson. However, I also use this on keyboards (Rhodes, synths, Casios, even circuit-bent stuff like a Speak n' Spell)

This pedal sounds amazing. Having owned 7 other delays (see below), the DE-7 comes out the clear winner in terms of sound quality versus price. It sounds like analog, but cuts through in a way analog never could. And one can be had for much cheaper than analog. Simply put, it's a great value.

I've heard of switches crapping out in the past, but since it hasn't happened to mine, I'm fairly confident. So I'm going to give it a ten for six trouble-free months so far (and since I got mine used, who knows how long the previous owner had it for).

Never dealt with them.

In the past, I've had two original EH Deluxe Memory Men, a Digitech Digidelay, a Danelectro BLT slapback, a Line 6 DL-4, a Boss DD-20, and a Digitech PDS 2000, not to mention the ones I've tried out before and didn't buy. This is hands-down my favorite for regular delays. It and the DD-20 together are a monsterous combination not to be messed with, particularly when you're playing keyboards and have a hand free to twiddle knobs.

it's easy, it's got flexibility, it's got level control.

It's awesome. it does surf, anywhere to sound-on sound. But it's tricky when to turn off the switch, cuz when you do, shows over, the echo stops. It sounds warmer than, like a boss, soft like analog delay. But longer. And try the insane repeats... like Johnny Greenwood. I ran one of mine for insane repeats to my crappy 15watt crate, and the dry output to another one for a regular echo and the rest of my FX loop, to the Marshall. cool trick. turn up the crate, you've got a wall of... something.

My favorite echo, all time. never tried echoplex, too big for gigs.

They run fine. I dig the tone-lok stuff, it keeps ticking. Not all of them sound this good though.

dunno.

I like it. Go buy one. How many reviews do you need?
It does any kind of echo you can cook up, and it can do some sequencer-type tricks. but remember, thats not the echo's job, thats a sequencer. peace.

The manual covers all you need to know, its not lke you're not going to know how to use it any how because it is so easy to understand

Im using this with an ibanez rg550 > Ibanez de7 > Marshall valvestate 40W
Its not very noisy at all, on a clean setting, its a little noisy on the overdrive.
I can get it to easy make a limp bizkit echo, (i believe wes used the same model) with a bit of fiddling with the settings.
The delay is great, has a very good sound to it.

I could depend on it definately, only one thing that concerns me a little bit are the plastic knobs, but they should be fine if treated well.
I would gig without a backup, but if I had a backup id definately use it.

Never dealt with ibanez.

Overall this is a great pedal, it sounds fantastic looks great and seems very dependable.

Simple as a pimple, even if you haven't used one before. I imagine. It's just like any other delay pedal. You really don't need the manual, just 10 minutes and some headphones / a nice quiet room and your amp.

Epiphone SG (nicer than it sound!), and a lovely ld Silvertone valve amp from the mid-60's. Unfortunately, the amp doesn't have reverb: whilst this pedal is not specifically designed as a reverb unit, it does the job admirably, and doubles up as a fantastic echo / delay.

The delay is unimpressive. But how impressive should a delay be? At least it's long.

The echo matches up to my expectations, which were high, after reading the reviews below. The ocillation is great. This is a very organic sounding pedal, considering the technology and the price.

The first one sent to me by Musicians Friend wouldn't do anything but make a buzzing noise. BAD SIGN.

The replacement, however, is working fine, to date (2 weeks ago). I shall treat it VERY carefully, but will gig with it, as it sounds so good, and I'm not the kind of person who buys backups (too poor).

I think this pedal is a gamble, but it sounds good enough, and is cheap enough to be a gamble worth taking. I don't throw my gear around or stomp on it, as half of it is home-made, so it should be OK.

Never spoken to them

Get one!

I don't like delay pedals but since I was in the music store and I am a fan of Ibanez's effects I said what the hell. I asked the clerk and he set it up for me. When he left I started to mess with the knobs and everything. The ease of use was good, but a delay is a delay so who cares.

As I said before I don't like delay pedals this just happened to be a time that I tried one out. Anyways when the clerk left I started to mess with the knobs. Not much difference with them excpet for the Delay Time. This is what made the pedal for me but broke it for wanting to buy it. While you play it move the time knob and it will change your pitch from drastically to... not so drastically. I thought that was the only kool thing so my rating is based on that.

I dunno about the dependability becasue once I buy it I am gonna hook it up to an old wah wah foot pedal so I can control the delay timeing.

Ibanez usually have good customer support, unless you are asking about a guitar. Then they suck.

I play heavy metal mixed with jazz. So when I solo with the jazz licks I want to add a cool effects at the end of my scale progressions. If I were to hook it up the way I want then the pedal would kick arse.

Good manual, and with 3 simple controls its easy as pie!

Okay, so I've been using a DD3 for a couple of years and was pleased but never totally happy with its clinical sound. I finally learned about the difference between Analogue and digital delays (insert sheepish grin here)and started trying out analogue delays, EH memory men, Ibanez AD9, etc. Finally I get that lush warm ton I've been itching for. But I dont have the money for the expensive boutique or vintage stuff so I'm frustrated. A friend tells me to try one of these DE7 things out and voila!! I ran this unit into a 70s Twin and got all the drippy, warm lush spaces I'd ever want, and all the slappy clean stuff too. It is particularly sweet on the ECHO settings. One of the things I loved about it when I spent time listening to it IN DETAIL were those wonderful "analogue" anomalies that are mentioned in some of the reviews below. There is a sweet organic/natural tone to this unit. Now...considering its simplicity, affordability, no bleed through and transparency I have to give this thing the full 10.

Have not received it yet, bought on Ebay yesterday!

I play a variety of different musical forms from, in your face lo-fi garagois, to jazzishfunky, and the alleged "jam band" stuff and this unit connects nicely to all of the stuff I'm interested in. Been playing for 9 years and my set up is currently a PRS> EB volume> custom loop bypass box> BossTu2> Keeley comp> VoodooLabMicrovibe> BossOC2> EH Qtron+> IbanezSF10> KeeleyTs9> stockTS9> MutronII> Ibanez DL10> Boomerang.
It will fit nicely along with my Ibanez DL10 allowing me to have some serious fun with two delays! For what I am doing in my basement, garage and on stage this will do everything I need. I am not sure about the studio but we'll wait and see at our next session, so I'll only give it a 9. Till then I wont waste my money on anything else.

Very easy to use this. And it's fun. The instruction manual is helpful, but you're going to get the most fun, and the best sound just plugging it in and messing around with the knobs.

The quality of the echo is excellent. A wide range of times, and nothing to downgrade my sound.

Cort Strat Copy --> Boss DS-1 --> Ibanez DE-7 --> Marshall VS102R

I play post-rock-ish kind of stuff. (Similar to Explosions in the Sky or Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and this is perfect for the tremelo-ing and fast picking. Sounds great. However, I'm a little dissapointed with the delay. Say, I strike a note, and stop it, the sound will come back, but with a bad fuzz sound mixed in with it. And the quality degrades as it continues. Buy this for the echo.

It's been dropped once or twice, and nothing has been damaged. Built just as well as a Boss pedal.

Never dealt with 'em.

An excellent pedal for those in the market for echo. ...Delay, I may look somewhere else for. I'd buy this again if it were stolen. It's definitely the best pedal out there for the sound and the price.

Very easy. You don't need any experience in using effects to see how it works. Good manual although you won't need it

Somehow I'm not so keen on the delay, but echo is just great. You can create some really great soundscapes with this thing. It adds an enormous amount of "spaceness" to your sound. Watch out when you're playing some leadsolo's, when you twist the repeat knob too much to the right, your sound gets blurred.
Also watch out when using high gain tube amps (for instance my Engl), you suddenly don't need to twist the delay level and repeat knob that much to the right; it gets a bit too overwhelming, your bandmembers would like to hear their instruments too :)
But then again, I like to play the more experimental kind of guitarmusic and I refuse to play leadsolo's, so this thing is perfect!
I like the sound of the DE7 far over the Boss pedals, which produce a way too digital sound. And it saves you a lot of money!

I think in the future I'll experiment some more with the delay mode, maybe I'll start liking it aswell!

(For the ones who'd like to know: I use a Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty > Marshall Vibratem > Ibanez DE-7 > Engl Screamer 50 (all tube))

Handle your DE-7 with care, it's not made to resist you jumping on it! I wish it was, but the thing is cheap for a reason.
I should also not experiment with throwing the thing from stairs, it'll probably not survive. But otherwise, I use it on gigs and sofar it's reliable enough for me.

One thing though:
DON'T USE BATTERIES!!! The thing eats a 9V in less than 45 minutes!
Use an adapter, BUT check the polarity. If it still doesn't work with an adapter, which many of you have experienced, return it to the store where you bought it and ask for a new one. I did so and got an new one, which does work with an adapter. Maybe it's a manufactural error since so many of you have had this problem.
For those who are thinking of buying one: check the thing in store with an adapter!

Never dealt with them

Like I said I really like this one. It suites very well with my music and I think any kind of music. For the price it's great and still realiable enough to gig with it. It's also very versatile, more than a couple of the more expensive ones that I tried.