In today’s article, I’m going to compare three really good delay pedals manufactured by BOSS – DD3 vs DD7 vs DD8. If you’re not sure which one of these effects will be a good fit for you, this detailed guide should answer all of your questions.
All of these BOSS delay pedals offer a really good quality. There’s a few small things that differentiate them, so it all depends on what you’re searching for. But in my opinion, BOSS DD7 is the best sounding and the most versatile effect.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes these pedals so good and so popular. We’ll have a close look on each of these models to see what exactly they offer. Of course, there will be a few sound demos included as well, so you’ll be able to hear how they all sound.
BOSS DD3 – Specs & Pricing
BOSS DD3 is one of the most popular delay pedals in the world. It is often recognized as an industry standard. It was introduced back in 1986 and it’s still really popular among the guitarists of all genres.
What makes it so cool? Well, it offers a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. The manufacturer equipped this pedal with three delay time modes (from 12.5ms up to 800ms) and the hold function which repeats the the sound indefinitely.
It’s considered as a legendary delay pedal, so as you can imagine, it was used by a lot of famous musicians and guitarists. That includes Dave Grohl, Tom Morello, Slash, Matthew Bellamy and many, many more! If you want to see the full list of artists who use the BOSS DD3, here’s the full list.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not the cheapest delay pedal in the world. But since it’s made by one of the most famous guitar manufacturers in the world, it’s totally understandable. Considering how efficient, durable and good sounding this pedal is, it’s definitely worth the money.
Overall, it’s a fantastic and versatile delay pedal. You just can’t go wrong with it – it’s so functional! That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out.
Here’s the sound demo.
BOSS DD7 – Specs & Pricing
BOSS DD7 is really similar to the DD3 model, but it has a few additional features that make it a bit more interesting.
The main advantages of the DD7 are the modulation delay mode, classic modeled analog delay mode, external pedal control options and longer delay time. All of these features significantly improve the overall functionality and quality of that effect. It has everything that you need from a pedal of this type.
The pedal offers the delay time from 1ms up to 6400ms, so as you can imagine, it gives you a massive opportunity to experiment with your sound. It also has a maximum recording time of 40 seconds in the hold mode.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not cheap, but it’s definitely worth the money. In my opinion, this is one of the best digital delay pedals that are available on the market right now. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s the sound demo.
BOSS DD8 – Specs & Pricing
BOSS DD8 is the newest delay pedal from the DD Series – it was introduced in 2019 and it quickly became one of the most recognizable delay effects that are available on today’s market.
This particular model features 11 different delay modes: Analog, Standard, Tape, Warm, Reverse, +RV, Shimmer, Mod, Warp, GLT and Loop. As you can imagine, having this many options means that Boss DD8 gives you access to an indefinite amount of different delay tones.
What’s important, the pedal also features a 40-second looper with overdub capability and the Tap Tempo, which is an another massive advantage.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not that cheap. In the end, it’s the newest effect from this series of delay pedals! Nevertheless, it’s definitely worth every cent, especially when you think how versatile it can actually be.
Who is it for? Well, the DD8 will be ideal for both amateur and more advanced musicians who are looking for a great sounding and versatile digital reverb pedal. It’s a bit different than the DD3 and DD7, but that’s what actually makes it so interesting.
Here’s the sound demo.
BOSS DD3 vs DD7 vs DD8 – My Verdict
Although I really like the sound of all of these three effects, in my opinion BOSS DD7 is the best and the most versatile one. Of course, this is only my subjective choice, so it’s totally fine if you disagree with me.
Why would I choose the DD7? Well, I think that it has a really dark tone on certain settings – and that’s why I love it!
Still, I’m sure that you’ll be really satisfied even if you choose one of the remaining two delay pedals as well. The effects made by this legendary manufacturer always deliver a really high quality.
Here’s a really good video that compares all of these three pedals – make sure to check it out, it will definitely help you to spot the differences between these effects.
FAQ
Where are BOSS pedals made?
The vast majority of BOSS pedals are manufactured in Taiwan.
Where can I find out more about BOSS pedals?
If you want to learn more about the pedals by this manufacturer, make sure to check out the official website of BOSS.
BOSS DD3 vs DD7 vs DD8 – Summary
As you can see, all of these three delay pedals are really good. It is totally understandable why these effects are so popular! No matter which one you decide to choose, I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed.
Like I said before, the DD7 is the winner for me. Which one would you choose? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review and comparison, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like: