Model Description:
Hands up, I am totally biased here. Firstly, I adore vintage analogue echo stomp boxes and, secondly, the American Electro‑Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man ranks in my top few favourite effects. The Memory Man was revolutionary at the time, being at the forefront of the migration from bulky, high‑maintenance tape echoes to the ‘new’ vanguard of solid state ‘bucket brigade device’ (BBD) analogue delays. It also had a big advantage over its competitors by stretching the maximum time delay from around 300ms to about 400ms. The extra 100ms makes a big difference whether creating spacey atmospheric soundscapes, ambient psychedelic grooves or pulsing dub reggae-style rhythmic mayhem. Well, let’s face it; it was the 1970s after all.
Pedal Description:
I bought this sizeable chunk of pedalboard real estate new back in the 1970s (c.1977 or maybe 1978 at just £21 GBP!) and it has served well over the decades, combining luscious lo‑fi logic with rapturous rambling repeats. The retailer provided the purpose built power supply on purchase, so while not original, it provides a reliable vintage source of plug‑in juice. It may affect collectable values marginally but it makes it so much easier to use, which is what it is for after all. It still performs as originally intended and is in fab condition with just the usual Electro‑Harmonix sprinkling of surface rust on the chrome to spoil the classic 1970s aesthetic. Combine with, say, a Big Muff and away you go – magic faerie dust. The values of these pedals on the vintage collector market are becoming seriously silly, meaning that I’ll probably hang onto this cool (copy) cat for a while yet. I recommend you try one without delay… but preferably with. OK-K-k-k-k.
Features:
- Made in New York City, U.S.A. in 1977
- The ‘Level’ knob controls the output level
- The ‘Blend’ knob controls the balance between original and delayed notes
- The ‘Feedback’ knob controls the number of repeats from none to runaway feedback
- The ‘Delay’ knob controls the time delay between the original and delayed notes
- The ‘Squelch On’ switch controls noise reduction and unwanted feedback
- The ‘Power’ switch is bypassed by the external power supply
- Standard footswitch turns the effect on and off
- Single ¼” input and dual output (‘direct out’ and ‘echo out’) mono jack sockets
- The ‘Power’ LED status indicator shows when mains power is connected
- The ‘Overload’ LED status indicator shows when the input signal is pushed into saturation
- Dedicated UK 240V AC to 17 V DC input only
- Philips screws (x6) on the base plate of the pedal
- Original cardboard box
Detail Gallery:
