Boss DD20

BluesyDave

I've been seriously thinking about buying a Boss DD500 but am now thinking...'do I really need one?'  Would a DD20 do what I want?  Not knowing very much about the DD20 I thought I'd ask for some opinions from players that have used 'em.

What I'm looking for is a delay that I can store 3 or 4 of my presets for instant recall.  I like the 50's style slapback, a longer analog delay sat back in the mix and maybe a bit of ambient/reverbish.  My amp has no loop so I'm straight in to the front.

JonHosker

Wonderful - get one

guitarfishbay

To get the best out of it you need an external pedal. There are two pedals but really 3 necessary functions (on/off, tap tempo, patch change), so in its stock form you have to compromise using a hold button to change function.

edit: just checked the manual there are additional switching modes -http://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/DD-20_OM.pdf

I have one and as far as sounds go I think it is great. I would be tempted by the DD500 if buying again though.

EricTheWeary

In the US they got sold off cheap when the dd500 came in, doesn't seem to have happened here. The tc X4s have 3 presets so might be worth a look. The 4th footswitch is for tap tempo or one of the looper functions. Always seemed a shame you couldn't opt to use it as a 4th preset if you didn't need tap.

sgosden

love mine. its been on and off the board for about 6 years now, but I keep going back to it.

been tempted by dd500/nemesis/timeline ... but this is old faithful.

Very easy to use. sounds as good as you need it too. reliable as hell.
was devastated when I thought it had broke a while back (it hadn't, I was being a spoon)

Branshen

Would you use the extra options and tweakability of the dd500? If not, the dd20 is fantastic. Simple and sounds great.

crunchman

The switching is the issue. As @guitarfishbay said, unless you get an external pedal you have to faff around holding switches down for a second or two to change their function.

Personally I'd look at the DD500 which has a third footswitch.  I think it also has a smaller footprint.

Based on my experience I'd avoid the TC stuff like the plague.  I had two Nova Delays die on me.  We've also had some TC Helicon vocal monitors at my church that have had real reliability problems.

BluesyDave

crunchman said:

The switching is the issue. As @guitarfishbay said, unless you get an external pedal you have to faff around holding switches down for a second or two to change their function.

Personally I'd look at the DD500 which has a third footswitch.  I think it also has a smaller footprint.

I do have a Boss F/S that I bought from Waz that I could use with the DD20.

ICBM

I really dislike the physical format of the DD-500 so if I want a more complex Boss delay it will be no contest.

Titch

It'll do what you want it to do and it stores four presets,I've had one on my board for three or four years and it's been totally reliable running off a Voodoo Lab 2. 

BluesyDave

Looks like a DD20 is the order of the day then.  That'll save a few quid.

Cookiemonster

Or you could buy the empress I have

BluesyDave

LOL, Kudos for persistance  

You didn't tell me how much it was...

handsomerik

I'm selling a dd20 in the classifieds if you're after one. I use my Helix now for all my delays (and everything else).

The dd20 is a great 'meat and potatoes' delay. A lot of useful sounds and options but in a very practical simple package. Plus I always prefer the larger stomp paddles on the old boss pedals to the new smaller switches that everyone uses these days.

BluesyDave

@hansomerik PM'd mate  

dilbert

Surprised that no-one has mentioned the Digitech Timebender yet. Not used one myself but every report I have read has been positive.

BluesyDave

DD20 acquired     

samzadgan

DD20 is great...you wont regret it. I bought one a few months ago for the similar reasons you mentioned.

then i discovered that my default setting is now Warp mode...normal delay, but then hold down the pedal and you get the oscilation thing going...its a great little tool to use in transition parts...well, for me anyway.

the tape delay is also really good.

Branshen

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/45457/my-dd-20-ambient-setting#latest

Here's an ambient setting I cooked up to get you going.

BluesyDave

Sounds good @Branshen, I shall give that a go when it arrives.

sgosden

good lad, you know it makes sence