Mosky Blue Delay Analog Effects Pedal — Find or Fail?

Getting to Know the Mosky Blue Delay Analog Effects Pedal

Packed into a compact mini-size pedal, the Mosky Blue Delay is simple and straightforward with controls for Delay (time between repeats), Repeat (number of repeats), and Level (the overall volume of the delay trail). The delay time ranges from 25ms to 450ms, and longer delay times really showcase the sonic degradation that guitarists love about analog delay pedals. As you can hear at 0:55 and 2:38 in our video demo, the Blue Delay’s repeats sound warmer and rounder as they decay, without introducing excessive noise or graininess.

The beauty of analog delay effects like the Mosky Blue Delay is that the delay trail creates a rich sense of atmosphere and sonic depth without interfering with the notes you’re playing. If you’re looking for crystal-clear repeats you won’t find them here: expect a tone-enhancing texture that sits beneath the notes you’re currently playing, perfect for enhancing solos. It also keeps your delay trail from cluttering up a mix, as you can hear in our full-band demo in the video at 4:01. Different analog delay circuits and components give analog delay pedals their own particular sonic character: Mosky notes that the Blue Delay is based on the now-discontinued Mad Professor Deep Blue delay pedal, so fans of that pedal should take note of this modern alternative.

• Controls for Delay (time), Repeat (feedback), and Level (effect volume)
• Delay time ranges from 25ms for short slapback to 450ms for solo-enhancing echoes
• Analog delay means the repeat trail sonically degrades over time, enhancing your performance instead of competing with it

Mosky Delay Guitar Effect Peda

$35.99

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Typically this is going to be an atmosphere and vibe type of thing. — Steve Sterlacci

What Does the Mosky Blue Delay Pedal Do Best?

After spending some time with the Mosky Blue Delay pedal, its strengths began to emerge. Both Tom and Steve agreed that the Blue Delay is not going to be your does-it-all delay pedal, and that’s okay. In our tests, the Mosky Blue Delay excelled in two common applications: slapback echo and tone-enhancing delay.

Slapback echo means a short delay with only one repeat, simulating the sound you’d hear in a space like a gymnasium or large garage as the echo “slaps back” at you. While it’s a must-have effect for rockabilly and perhaps vintage country styles, slapback can also be used to simulate a reverb effect if your amplifier doesn’t have reverb. It’s a common situation for gigging guitarists that play a different backline amp every night, and having an inexpensive mini analog delay pedal like the Mosky Blue Delay can give you the atmosphere you’re looking for without having a dedicated reverb pedal.

When we talk about tone-enhancing delay, we’re just talking about one of the most basic applications of analog delay — mid-length delay times (100ms–250ms) with three or four repeats, with enough volume to be heard but not so much that the effect is pronounced. You can hear it in the full-band demo at 4:01 in the video. It’s not an obvious, in-your-face sound like you get from a digital delay, but if you removed it you would immediately hear how much it’s supporting the lead line. In other words, when you’re looking for that little extra something to enhance your tone for a solo, the Mosky Blue Delay is a great choice.

• Short delay times with a single repeat create rich analog slapback echo
• Longer delay times with more repeats support solo lines without getting in the way
• Great solution for adding a single-purpose, set-and-forget analog delay pedal to your pedalboard

This could be an always-on type of rockabilly thing. — Steve Sterlacci

When you have a 3-knob basic delay like this, it’s great at doing those basic things, but you can also have some fun with it at the extreme settings. — Steve Sterlacci

How to Get the Most Out of Your Mosky Blue Delay Pedal

Like most low-priced guitar effects pedals, the Mosky Blue Delay does not include a power supply. And like most mini-sized pedals, it does not support battery power. To get the best performance out of the Mosky Blue Delay (or any effects pedal for that matter), choose a quality power supply from a reputable manufacturer like the Truetone 1 Spot effects pedal power adapter. A quality power supply like the 1 Spot will deliver reliable power without the noise that low-quality power supplies can add to your signal. And as a bonus, the 1 Spot adapter can power multiple effects pedals simultaneously: perfect for your growing pedal collection.

It’s Confirmed — The Mosky Blue Delay Is a Sweet Find at an Ultra-Low Price

After rigorous riffing, both Tom and Steve agree the Mosky Blue Delay pedal is a good find for inexperienced players looking for basic analog delay effects. With a street price under $35, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value in an analog delay pedal for electric guitar. Our No Fear Guides agree that you’ll likely find one specific setting on the Blue Delay that you’ll spend most of your time with, and that’s fine.

There are plenty of does-it-all delay pedals out there that cost up to 10 times the price of the Blue Delay pedal, offering much more control over the effect than you have here. But when all you want is bread-and-butter analog delay tone at the low end of the price spectrum, the Mosky Blue Delay stands out as a winner. If you’ve been searching for the most affordable analog delay pedal for vintage guitar tone, or you’re a beginner searching for the best delay pedal for a new player, you’ve found it in the Mosky Blue Delay pedal.

If you want just your basic analog delay, I think it’s a find! — Tom Butwin