Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler

This is not very easy to use without some practice. The tweak and tweez thing was a good idea, but I can never remember what they're for. The looper is pretty straitforward.

Tele>seymour pickup booster>vox wah>fuzz>jekyll and hyde>boss chorus>dl4>peavey C30

I like the delay sound a lot. You can tell the analog models are not perfect, but they're great approximations. My favorite is the memory man. The looper is pretty cool too. I use it for getting big sustain sounds, not to be a one man band (not enough practice). The reverse sounds pretty harsh to me.

One thing that I do not like about this pedal is that it seems to color the dry tone on all of the analog models. Maybe that's fixed in the newer version, but I doubt it.

I've had this for about two years, and the only problems I've had were dead batteries, but I use a power supply now. The 1spot and voodoo lab supplies work fine. It really doesn't take 1200mA. They just wanted to sell the rest of their pod supplies. If I were smart I would not have gotten it, based on the poor reliability reviews, but I must have gotten lucky.

I emailed them about what power supplies I could use, but got an auto reply from their support website. I got another email later saying that they had posted an answer on the web, but I had to register to see it (or something like that, I can't remember). They said you can only use the line6 supply, which was wrong.

I've been playing for about 5 years. I play Christian rock, mostly in church, and this is a great fit for me. It was a lot more than I wanted to pay, but I think it was worth it now.

Not as hard to use as the DD-20 but theres a reason for that.

I am biased because I now hate line 6.
I hated there amps. only cheesy three doors down style cover bands use line 6.
Like this band in Cincinnati called Langus. They suck dick. I hate them.
Anyway, when this thing works it sounds good, but it is such a piece of crap.
It's analog rendition is far worse than the Boss DD-20. The digital delay and reverse delay are about the same though.
I am using it with a Fender twin and a thinline tele. My only other effects are a Dod FX-17 Wah(very very underated) and a homemade fuzz from Awenda music(check them out these pedals are amazing and cheap)
That's it.

This is where this thing sucks. Right out of the box it was dead.
And i got it at guitar center! talk about fragile, cause I didn't just throw it in the trunk, ya know.
Took it back, got a new one, worked great.
First show the looper kept cutting off while I was soloing.
Took it home, it did good all week, next show, stopped working all together. I had to take it out of my line-up and play without delay.
Then i read these reviews and got the DD-20.
Line 6 sucks.

I didn't call the company, just took it back.
From the looks of things it sounds like they suck as much as their crappy merchandise.

Listen, maybe if you are a tone deaf, shredder, stoner, retard, "I play for the chicks and the booze" type. Yeah, Line 6 is probably the Shiznit.
But, if mommy and daddy don't buy your gear, and you appreciate a quality product and a good deal, leave Line 6 stuff alone. I know it is easier to have all the effects you could need right in your amp or right on your "pod". But it is the musical equivalent of selling your soul.
I guess if you are in a cover band it helps you out when you have to play "she f%cking hates me">"You shook me all night long">"super clever 80's medley where we play ice ice baby and act like we are the only ones who have ever done it", but who gives a shit about you besides the drunk chicks you let sing in the mic anyway?
Sorry I REALLY hate cover bands. But they do get all the chicks.

Back to the DL-4. This thing sucks. Save yourself 60 Bucks and get a DD-20. If you get an extra Tap Tempo switch with it, then there is NO reason to get the DL-4 instead. Unless you really really really really belive all that true bypass mumbo jumbo.
Folks, True bypass is only necessary for Wahs, Flangers, and Phasers(Phasors if you nasty). On any other effect it is just a selling point.
The Electro-Harmonix 16 sec. is awesome too, but not as much stuff and waaaayyyyy to rich for my blood.
Haven't tried the Akai Headrush but I did use to own a Digitech pds 8000. Those babies are sweeeet too. No reverse and not a long enough loop though. But they are great.

"Since when was banality considered a good quality for a role model to posess.....Play from your f%#king HEART!" - Bill Hicks, stand-up comedian, philosopher, visionary, sinner

Easy to get a good sound out of it, but not easy to tweak. You can't footswitch to looper, which sucks. Manual is TOO COOL (sarcasm). I got mine a while back, and I have been regretting it lately...

Sound quality is pretty sterile, when you think of what it is supposed to 'model'. It doesn't come close to any of my real analog delays, including my DM-2, and Korg tape echo. My effects have been screwing up lately, and the thing looks brand new!! I use it with Marshall, Garnet, Traynor amps, sounds OK, when it works (read on).

NOT RELIABLE AT ALL!! This rating should be zip, but it isn't only because it worked more than once. However, it doesn't work now, and I have barely used it over 3 years. Piece of CRAP, compared to other units. My reverse echo doesn't work, neither does the volume swell setting; the looper's 1/2 time reverse (tap tempo) button is intermittant and screws up now and then. This thing is worse than a tape Echo because at least, usually, you know what is wrong with a tape delay when it kaks out. This thing, however, will likely require hours of labour!! DON"T BUY THIS PEDAL!!

They answer questions quickly, but my warranty is up and so I'm screwed. Pedals that cost $300 plus should not fuck up after a couple years of light use-they just shouldn't!

I play spacey music, and rock, and etc. etc. I have been playing for 14 years. I have loads of vintage effects. This line 6 thing comes close, but no cigar. It f-ed up too much. I am very pissed off at it right now, because it should work and it doesn't...

Quite difficult to get to grips with quickly - definitely requires sitting down with to explore all the functions. The settings are quite sensitive - it can takes time to find the sound you're after. The manual for this pedal is fantastic - very well written and useful.

As most people have said, the only frustrating things about the DL4 are that you can only save 3 settings and that you can't dial in a sound, press the switch and get that sound (a la a Boss delay). This is a shame, but its sound quality and versatility make up for this.

My setup is:

2004 American Deluxe Telecaster > Boss DD5 > Boss RV3 > Boss OD3 > Keeley-mod Boss BD2 > Rat 2 > Big Muff Pi (USA) > Line 6 DL4 > Boss TU2 > Fender Twin reverb '65 reissue.

I already own quality digital delays in the Boss DD5 and RV3 which I am very happy with. I was looking for something that was more versatile and offered a greater palette of delay sounds. The DL4 is wonderful. I can't compare the modelled sounds to the original pedals as I haven't played many of them. My friend owns a Deluxe Memory Man and the DL4 pretty much nails that sound. But I'm not concerned with how true to the originals the DL4 sounds. I wanted lots of different delay sounds - i got 'em!

The looper is great. and I particularly like the Multi-head delay, stereo delay and volume swell modes (nail that Explosions in the Sky sound!).

My FX chain is pretty long and adding the DL4 didn't increase noise. It's quiet.

So far so good, but I've only owned it for a month. I would gig without a backup, but if I could afford a backup I'd get another!

N/A - touch wood!

Been playing for over 10 years. I play post-rock style music. Delay is extremely important to my sound. I love Boss digital delays and I love this equally. Very different beasts and both very worthy.

I love the sheer range of sounds you can get from the DL4 and hate that you can only store 3 of them!

If it were lost or stolen yes, I'd buy a replacement.

This unit not only sounds good out of the box but creating, changing and saving presets is very easy. Playing live I'll use the tap tempo and save it on the fly. I just wish it had room for more presets. Only 3 presets for a unit that has a dozen different delays is kind of a tease. I also dont like how to swith to the loop sampler you must turn a knob. Makes using delays and the sampler in the same song in a live setting difficult. The manual is very help and actually fun to read! (Then again being the gearhead I am I enjoy reading all manuals)

I Play a Les Paul and a PRS McCarty through a Mesa F-100 and Marshall 1960 4X12 and the delays sound great with my setup. When I use the loop sampler the sound quality of the loops sound good but even with the mix all the way up my drummer complains that he cant hear the loop when I solo over top. The unit is quiet and switching is silent. I like how the delay continues to decay even after you switch it off. I use this pedal at the end of my effects chain but in front of my amp. I know that modulation effects are supposed to sound better through the effects loop but for some reason whenever I've tried the effects loop on either my F-100 or my Rectifier it sounded HORRIBLE! Who knows maybe I'm a moron and don't know how to use an effects loop. I've noticed that the repeats are louder when on my gain channell. I like the lo-res delay and the sweep echo. The lo-res delay gives you that really dark sounding delay that Wes Borland uses and sounds great with my Roland Jazz Chorus. The digital delays and the rhthymic delays are great with low gain to get that Edge from U2's sound. This is the first delay unit I've had that using delays in time with my songs is easy. I love the tap tempo function. I've never tried the pedal in a stereo setup but I would love to hear the multi-head delay and the stereo delays.

This is the only delay unit I currently own and I RELY on it every show. I have no back up delay pedals! I gig at least 3-4 times a month and I've never had a problem. I was a little miffed that I had to buy the power supply seperate and it has it's own special power supply. I've owned my pedal for over 3 years. Not a single problem. After reading so many reviews with people who have had problems it makes me wonder if I got a magical one but then I remember I know at least 6 other musicians who own this pedal and I've never heard of them having problems.

Never had to contact Line 6.

This is a great pedal that not only sounds good but is very versatile. ALL the delays in this unit not only sound authentic but are also useful. There are very authentic sounding vintage echoes as wells as clear modern sounding delays. At the time that I bought this pedal there really weren't many units that do all this stuff except for rack gear, so if I had to replace it now I would do a little research to see anything else comparable has come on to the market. I'm also curious to try the rack version of this unit because I feel like I'm unable to maximize all the different delays due to the lack of presets. I would say that the tap tempo feature has allowed me to learn how to play with delay and use it rhthymically to write songs. It's a steal for how much it costs.

Like everyone else said, tweak and tweez are the kickers, hard to remember what they do sometimes, but it comes with these nice little stickers that you can stick right on the pedal that tells you what they do for each setting. Looper is easy enough to use after some time.

I'm playing a PRS McCarty through a peavy 5150 head and a 4x12 marshall 1960 cab
These delay sounds are awesome, a couple favorites of mine are the Auto Volume Swell Echo, Low res, and tube echo just to name a few.
Best sounding delays I have ever used.
The Looper was also a large reason I purchased this pedal. You can make some really cool sounds with this. Record a loop, play a phrase, record it, and you can play it back normally or...at half speed, reverse, reverse half speed, double speed, double speed reverse., its really cool, very fun

I would use it without a backup, these things are expensive, and I dont necesarrily need it, but I have played a couple shows without it recently because of power supply issues, and it wasnt bad, but this thing adds alot to my songs live.

Built like a rock too

havent had to deal with them yet, but I hear they are good

I play in an indie/dancy/rock band, there are a lot of things I can use this for. trying to write new songs using the sampler's craziness.

also play in a pop punk/rock/indie band
this thing has done wonders to our live show, and I will be recording with it this weekend for the first time

A chorus pedal is easy to use. A Delay modeler and loop sampler pedal with tons of crazy functions is not. However, for what it offers, I think line-6 did a very good job of making it user friendly. The loop sampler is pretty easy to use. I have got 2 guys in my band who occasionaly stomp on it during performances, and always do so correctly.

One of the things that really makes the delays easy to use is the tap tempo. It's usually pretty difficult to turn a knob and get the exat right tempo. The tap tempo makes it very easy.

The main complaint for ease of use is the Tweek and Tweez knobs, because they do different things for each different delay. So you either have to play with them, or read the manual when you get to a delay patch you are not familiar with.

If you have any trouble, the manual is fantastic. It has pictures and explanations of all the old pedals it is modeling. The manual is great.

I give it a 9 because, although it's complex, I don't see how it could be much easier.

The sound quality is fantastic. When using the loop sampler, your loops will sound EXACTLY as they did when you played them. They don't end up choppier or dirtier. The delay effects are very very good also. You can achieve many different sounds. My favorite is the low-fi delay. Which allows you to set the bit rate, and make it sound really low-fi, like some old analoge gear.

All of the effects are very good and very versatille.

I have had no concerns with reliability. I have had it for several months. It's very strong. I haven't dropped it, but I doubt doing so would hurt it. The shell is really tough. It's a strong metal. The buttons are all very reliable as well. They always work.

I do not have a backup, and the pedal has given me no reason to be concerned.

I have not dealt with customer service. I haven't had any need to.

I bought this pedal specifically for the loop sampler. I am extremely pleased with it. I would have paid $500 for this unit.

The loop sampler surpassed my expectations. You can reverse your loops, you can half time them. You can use a simple rythmic delay while sampling. You can layer infinately. You can record 28 seconds worth of material.

Another great feature is the dual inputs and outputs. When practicing with my band, I have my guitar plugged into it, and my keyboard player plugged into it. I loop something, he lays down some keys on top, and I loop them also. Then I switch out his keyboard input, and we put some bass on... then he switches to guitar, and we jam, with a really full sound. He is able to play 3 instruments this way. It's incredible.

And the delays are fantastic. I really don't use a lot of delay, so I didn't think I would be too concerned with them, but they are great. I find myself using the reverse delay a lot. You can play anything, and it reverses it in real time.

In one of our tunes we have a little interlude that is just keyboard. During that time I start to play with my reverse function. I play some notes in the correct key to provide a bit of background noise. Towards the end of that section, I scrape down the strings really hard, and I start tweaking the delay knob... which just makes everything go crazy! It sounds insane. You can create some really weird stuff this way. Everything from screeching white noise to a fast machine gun type sound.

I would also like to note that you can plug in any instrument that has a 1/4 inch connection. I have tried keyboards, bass guitars, electronic drumkits, and even vocals.

I have plugged vocals into it, and used the reverse delay with them. Hearing yourself sing backwards, in a live setting, is pretty fun.

no problems here.

nice. no major complaints here either.

mine was dead right out of the box! i wasn't surprised after reading all the other reviews. thought i'd take a chance on it and lost. exchanged it for another only because i thought that the DL-4 was the only thing out there that did a bunch of different delays AND could be used for loops. being a total gear junky, i'm embarassed to say that i was unaware of the Boss Giga Delay DD-20. so as you've probably figured out by now, i got rid of the Line 6, got the Boss and haven't looked back. (except for this review LOL) The Boss DD-20 is far superior, but that's for it's own review. what YOU should know about the Line 6 is that it CANNOT be counted on. it almost seems as though Line 6 is trying to hide the origin of this pedal's manufacture. take the back cover off and you will see MADE IN MALAYSIA printed on the rear of the mother board. you will also see that the four toggle switches connect directly to this mother board. i don't think i need to get into why this is bad. also- same thing with the rotary knobs on the front panel. rather than having the pot shafts anchored/screwed down to the pedal casing, they float on a PC board. it is obvious here that Line 6 shamelessly cuts corners when it comes to the manufacturing of their products. i bet what happens is that they spend so much money R&Ding it, that when it comes time to put it into production, they need to find ways to make up for all the money spent in R&D. that's just a guess, because most of Line 6's stuff DOES sound really good. an indication that some people put alot of time and effort into getting the sounds to be that good. i would probably own a few Line 6 products by now if i knew i could count on them. they'd have such a winner if they could just improve the build quality of their line. the problem isn't so much that it's made in Malaysia- it's just that it is DESIGNED to be built cheaply, and as such, you get cheap quality. period. do yourself a favor and check out the Boss. it's also about 60 bucks cheaper than the Line 6, and you'll sleep better not worrying whether it'll make to your next gig or not.

i can only imagine. shudder to think. they've GOT to be flooded with calls from people with broken down gear. no thanks, i'll pass.

a great sounding, but UNRELIABLE TOY.

It's easy to use, it's only a stompbox. The manual is good, it gives you a history of how they came up with all the different effects in the unit. The manual is thick cause it contains instructions for all the Lime 6 modelers, pretty cool.

Great sound quality, I use a marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100, with a crate 4X12 cab, Best sounding delay i have ever heared. The lead singer in Jimmy Eat World uses this same pedal, and i am a huge fan of their music. The Boss DD 20 thing, comes close, so i think it's just a matter of what you need it for, and here is the difference between the two in my opinion: The Boss has 4 user banks, and the line 6 has 3, but on the boss you only have one pedal to SCROLL throught the 4, so if you have an effect you like in the first bank, and a setting you like in the 4th bank, you have to scroll through 2 setting before you can get to it, no good for a live setting. On the line 6 there are sepatarte stomp buttons for each effect so you have them at any time you want. Both pedals do pretty much the same thing, but what i just described was the selling point for me. Try both and choose which one fits your playing style, dont buy one cause someone told you it's better

I have had no problems with this pedal so far, seems heavy, built like a tank

Never dealt with them yet

I am in a band and play emoish type music, and i need delay for almost all my songs, i think i will even eventually buy another one in the future, just for more delay settings. The only one thing that i wish it had was another delay bank, so there would be a total of four, or even more than that would be cool.

Well it's easy to use, nothing to say, BUT....


THERE IS NO MANUAL MODE! Everytime you move EVERY knob (or even if you turn down the effect for a while), the settings for delay time, repeats, tweak, and tweez.... ALL COME BACK to the default factory presets, unless you store them in 3 (three) miserable patches. I's a STUPID, ridiculous thing!

It's UNUSEABLE on a live setting. NO use for it!

Nice, nice delay sounds. Lots of delays, clear sound, truebypass, etc..

You can't use it on a gig simply because you can not have a manual mode.
Bad thing. More, it's ridiculous.

It's a nice delay box if you play at home, or if you want to record something in your PC.
But if you think to use it live, forget it.
I give it a "3" because of the incredible STUPIDITY of its features.
If you play live, don't absolutely buy this pedal.

I repaired my mistake: i sold the DL4 and i bought a Boss DD-20. Real manual setting,
4 user presets, more reliable, better quality of the sounds, 23 seconds looper.

Don't buy the line 6.