Boss DM-2W Waza Craft Analog Delay Guitar Effects Pedal - Vintage-Style Echo for Electric Guitar, Studio & Stage Use

The Waza Craft pedal line has been among the most successful initiatives from Roland/BOSS in the past 10 years. Whereas some of the Waza pedals include "boutique-style" modifications to existing products (like the DS-1 or SD-1), others represent pedals wholly resurrected from the dead. The DM-2 has not been produced by BOSS since the mid-1980's, though BOSS has included digitally modeled versions of the DM-2 in many other products, and there are many similar analog delays currently available.The original DM-2 was a "bucket brigade" delay (BBD) that used analog capacitance chips to delay and repeat the guitar signal. Compared to modern/digital delays, the DM-2 warm, lo-fi, and almost crunchy character to its decaying repeats. In a technical sense, this was a drawback and a limitation on what the circuitry available in the 1970's was capable of doing. However, like so many things related to the guitar, this vintage "character" became viewed as musical and desirable. Today, there are many options for analog and digital delays, but the DM-2's character holds a special place in the heart of many players, even if the only option for playing an actual DM-2 was to buy a 30+ year old piece of gear.That was...until the release of the Waza Craft DM-2W. The DM-2W is made in Japan and promises a few modern improvements. For example, the original chip set could only delay up to 300 milliseconds. To be honest, I ignored a lot of vintage delays for this reason alone. Most of my delay settings and dotted-eighth note patterns used a delay time between 350-400ms, so why would I look at an analog delay incapable of those times. Well, the DM-2 excels at shorter, slapback delays and a lot of other styles I am increasingly appreciating. Plus, the DM-2W Waza adds a "Custom" mode, which more than doubles the delay time to 800ms.That Custom mode also features a delay tone that BOSS describes as "cleaner" and slightly brighter. If I'm being honest, I like the sound of the Standard/Vintage delay better. However, the option to have a the additional delay time and to make it jump out more in a mix significantly adds to the versatility of the DM-2W. Some of the mods on the Waza pedals offer only subtle or incremental improvements on the original that are barely noticeable. I was impressed how much this additional functionality added in the DM-2W.A couple quick notes/disclaimers. First, the time knob on a DM-2 works backwards from most delay pedals. Instead of increasing the delay time, you turn the Repeat Rate knob clockwise to DECREASE the delay time. It's an easy adjustment to make, but probably confuses a new user or too. The other two knobs control the mix or repeat volume (ECHO) and the feedback or number of repeats (INTENSITY).Delay pedals are inherently simple effects, but I find the DM-2W to be very inspiring to play in different styles. It's also cool that it can be powered on 9V battery for up to 15 hours (according to BOSS anyway) - that's something you can't with a digital delay, and makes it great for grab-and-go play. This is a great reissue of a classic pedal, and given BOSS' durability track record, it should offer decades of enjoyment.