I am not a huge Delay pedal guy. I mainly set and forget my delay pedal. I owned a TC Electronic Flashback for years and really only used the Analog and the 2290 settings.
But I have been getting into more ambient soundscapes. Delay by itself just doesn’t do it. It needs additional effects! That’s where the JHS Flight Delay comes in – it has Modulation on the delay echoes.
The JHS Flight Delay
The JHS Flight Delay also comes in two colors – White with White knobs, and Blue with Yellow knobs. Personally, I would prefer blue with white knobs, but I like the blue pedal better than the white.
Analog Kid
Analog Delay is usually my delay of choice. I am an Analog Kid (Rush reference). I like smooth echoes over the crispness of a digital echo. It just sounds more natural to me.
Being able to add Modulation to the delay echo really changes the game for me. The JHS Flight Delay allows me to add chorus or vibrato, and it has it’s own Rate and Depth knobs. It’s like adding a chorus pedal after the effect, but it only adds it to the echo. Genius!
Reverse Delay
I really like the Reverse Delay, even though it takes some getting used to pick the note correctly to get the best effect. Adding Modulation to the delayed effect after the pick attack would fill in that awkwardness.
Digital Delay – use that Expression Pedal!
The Flight Delay comes with an extra jack for an expression pedal. Josh Scott uses this masterfully in the YT demo to make the digital effect that you get when you change the delay setting on a delay pedal or Flanger – that almost “squirky” digital scratchy sound.
As always, JHS knocks it out of the park on marketing and demo-ing the pedal, as in this video.
JHS Flight Delay vs. TC Electronic Flashback 2
So which one should YOU get?
The JHS Flight Delay is $249, whereas the TC Electronic Flashback 2 is $159.
- The Flashback is a Stereo pedal. The JHS Flight Delay is not.
- The JHS Flight Delay has modulation effect on the delay echo. The Flashback does not.
- The JHS Flight Delay has EQ on the delay echo. The Flashback does not.
- But! The Flashback 2 has a new feature – the MASH button, which is pressure sensitive and allows you to use it like an expression pedal. Although I have not tried one with the MASH Button.
- The JHS Flight Delay has a jack for expression pedal, which is extra. I like the effect though.
Since I am getting into ambient effects, I am also intrigued by the Walrus Audio Lore Reverse Soundscape Generator and that Flashback 2 likely be a future purchase.
