Ultimate Delay Under $100
Delay is one of the most versatile effects for guitarists, but which pedal delivers the best value under $100? To find out, we put eight of the most popular budget delay pedals through a head-to-head shootout. From vintage analog warmth to crystal-clear repeats, our No Fear Guides tested each one to see which deserves a spot on your pedalboard.
Finding the Ultimate Delay Pedal Under $100
Browse any major music retailer and you'll quickly discover there are dozens of delay pedals competing for your attention. Whether you're after classic slapback, soaring solo delays, or long ambient echoes, the ideal delay pedal should handle them all with ease.
To separate the true standouts from the crowd, our No Fear Guides compared eight of today's most popular delay pedals under $100 using similar settings in a bracket-style shootout. While many pedals looked nearly identical on paper, each one delivered its own distinct personality once plugged in.
FLAMMA FC17 Analog Delay
The FLAMMA FC17 delivers classic analog delay with an intuitive three-knob layout that's easy for beginners yet satisfying for experienced players. Even at longer delay settings, it remains impressively quiet while producing warm, musical repeats suitable for everything from rockabilly slapback to atmospheric lead tones.
- Analog delay with warm vintage character
- 25ms–600ms delay time
- Controls for Time, Echo, and Feedback
- Rugged metal enclosure
- 9V DC power supply required (sold separately)
KMISE Analog Delay
The KMISE Analog Delay proves you don't have to spend much to enjoy analog echoes. Its straightforward controls and durable aluminum housing make it one of the most affordable entries in the category while still covering the essential delay sounds most guitarists need.
- Approx. 25ms–500ms delay range
- Controls for Time, Mix, and Repeat
- Metal construction
- 9V DC power supply required
Behringer VD400 Vintage Delay
The Behringer VD400 has long been a favorite among budget-conscious players. Its bucket-brigade analog circuit delivers authentic vintage-style repeats, while dual outputs make it surprisingly versatile for stereo rigs or advanced signal routing.
- Bucket-brigade analog delay
- Up to 300ms delay time
- Separate direct and delay outputs
- Operates via 9V battery or optional power supply
Mosky Blue Delay
Based on the discontinued Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay, the Mosky Blue Delay offers smooth, warm repeats that naturally sit underneath your playing. Its compact footprint and simple controls make it an excellent "always-on" analog delay for players who prefer subtle ambience over dramatic effects.
- Inspired by the Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
- 25ms–450ms delay time
- Self-oscillation at maximum repeats
- 9V DC power supply required
Donner Yellow Fall
The Donner Yellow Fall impressed our team with its tape-inspired analog character. Short delay settings produce lively slapback, while longer repeats gradually darken into warm, lo-fi textures that never overpower your original guitar tone.
- Tape-style analog delay
- 20ms–620ms delay range
- Warm, vintage-style repeats
- 9V DC power supply required
GAMMA Narcissus
The GAMMA Narcissus combines rugged construction with authentic bucket-brigade delay. As the repeats decay, they naturally lose high-end clarity, creating rich analog ambience that complements your playing rather than competing with it.
- Bucket-brigade analog circuit
- 25ms–600ms delay time
- Infinite self-oscillation capability
- Operates via 9V battery or power supply
TC Electronic Echobrain
TC Electronic's Echobrain delivers authentic bucket-brigade delay with vintage warmth and plenty of character. At high feedback settings it enters smooth self-oscillation, making it equally comfortable producing classic echoes or experimental ambient textures.
- Authentic bucket-brigade analog delay
- 40ms–300ms delay range
- Self-oscillation at maximum feedback
- Optional 9V DC power supply
JHS 3 Series Delay Pedal
The JHS 3 Series Delay combines boutique sound quality with beginner-friendly simplicity. Its standout feature is the Bright/Dark switch, allowing players to instantly switch between pristine digital repeats and warmer analog-style echoes without changing pedals.
- Analog and digital delay modes
- 80ms–800ms delay range
- Bright and Dark voice selection
- Three-knob control layout
- 9V DC power supply required
Which Is the Ultimate Delay Pedal Under $100?
You definitely have a lot of options — so which delay pedal under $100 delivers the best value? Our No Fear Guides put these pedals to the test in a bracket-style shootout, comparing them head-to-head with similar settings. These are our top picks.
Donner Yellow Fall — Lo-fi Vintage Warmth
In our testing, the Donner Yellow Fall delivered everything we would hope for in an analog delay pedal. The initial repeats sound clear and articulate, while longer delay times with more repeats quickly warm up in a lo-fi way. In other words, Yellow Fall has the clarity and presence you’d want for slapback effects, and can also create a warmly-filtered bed of echoes that stays out of the way of your playing.
I like how the feedback is filtered in a lo-fi way. — Sean Daniel
It’s worth noting that at its low price, Yellow Fall is reassuringly durable with its aluminum case, and it operates with very low noise. That’s not always the case with guitar pedals this inexpensive, so we’re pleased to report that the Yellow Fall both feels and sounds like a good investment if you’re looking for analog delay effects on a budget.
Wow — there is a lot going on there! — Sean Pierce Johnson
FLAMMA FC17 — Analog Delay for All
With its ultra-low price and impressive performance, the FLAMMA FC17 analog delay pedal makes vintage analog delay effects accessible to practically any guitarist. The FLAMMA FC17 is a great example of how one delay pedal can simply feel and sound more inspiring to play than another. In our testing, the FLAMMA FC17 was one pedal that caused our No Fear Guides to really stop and listen to what it was doing — there’s a lot of harmonic richness and sonic versatility to explore here.
While the FLAMMA FC17 did not ultimately win our shootout, it definitely caused our No Fear Guides to re-consider what to expect from a $30 delay pedal. If you’re looking for analog delay at a very low price, you should definitely check out the FLAMMA FC17.
JHS 3 Series Delay Pedal — the Ultimate Delay Under $100
In a rare unanimous decision, our No Fear Guides crowned the JHS 3 Series Delay Pedal as the winner of our shootout. At just under $100, the 3 Series Delay pedal delivers everything we could ask for in a delay effects pedal for electric guitar. What really put this pedal over the top for our No Fear Guides is the Bright/Dark switch, which toggles between digital and analog delay modes. With the ability to switch between bright and clear digital delay, and warmer, darker analog delay, the 3 Series Delay Pedal provides an exceptionally vast range of delay effects in a very accessible format.
I could do more with this — I feel like I could make it fit my rig. — Jay Leonard J
JHS is a well-known name among pedal enthusiasts, and you can find their boutique-style effects on the pedalboards of countless world-class guitarists. The JHS 3 Series intends to deliver the JHS sound at an affordable price point, offering high-quality guitar effects in a simple, no-frills package. We’d say they nailed it with the 3 Series Delay Pedal — it would make a great first delay pedal for any beginner guitarist, and it has the tone and reliability any pro player would appreciate.
I feel like I can push and pull and let it do things, that it can react — I can make it go somewhere! — Jay Leonard J
- Introduction
- Finding the Ultimate Delay Pedal Under $100
- FLAMMA FC17 Analog Delay
- KMISE Analog Delay
- Behringer VD400 Vintage Delay
- Mosky Blue Delay
- Donner Yellow Fall
- GAMMA Narcissus
- TC Electronic Echobrain
- JHS 3 Series Delay Pedal
- Which Is the Ultimate Delay Pedal Under $100?
- Donner Yellow Fall — Lo-fi Vintage Warmth
- FLAMMA FC17 — Analog Delay for All
- JHS 3 Series Delay Pedal — the Ultimate Delay Under $100
