JHS 3 Series Delay
Excellent digital delay at a great price.
£97 at amazon.co.uk | £99 at andertons.co.uk
U.S. brands have been offering cheaper bare-bones versions of their flagship guitars for a very long time, but this practice is relatively new for guitar pedals. JHS were one of the first companies to give their boutique pedals the same treatment. The 3 Series by JHS is a comprehensive collection of $99/£99 pedals built in the same shop as their more expensive units. The catch? They all share the same enclosure and knob layout, the same minimalist white aesthetic and utilise cost-saving manufacturing techniques without compromising on quality.
The 3 Series Delay has a very basic feature set, especially if you compare it to other digital delay pedals. Mix controls delay volume. Max it out for the repeats to be at the same level as the input signal. Time sets the delay time between 80 and 800ms, and Repeats controls feedback or how many times the signal will be repeated. There is also a Type selector to switch between digital and analog modes. Technically, they are both digital, but the analog mode is an excellent approximation of a bucket brigade delay.
The sound quality is exceptional. In digital mode, the repeats are identical to the input signal. Most digital delay pedals will accomplish this just fine, but the 3 Series Delay is on another level. Compared to the TC Electronic Flashback (on the 2290 digital delay setting), the JHS pedal sounds just a little bit crisper. This is very impressive, considering the low price of the 3 Series.
The analog mode is hard to judge since different bucket brigade pedals will have different tonal qualities. For example, it is not nearly as dark and warm as an MXR Carbon Copy. The repeats stay quite clean, unless you max out the feedback. It is more similar to the Custom mode on a Boss DM-2W. Very impressive, given that the Boss pedal is considerably more expensive and does not have a digital mode.
The build quality is excellent. Everything looks and feels very solid. Although it is worth noting that JHS offer just six months of warranty on their 3 Series pedal. For comparison, the similarly priced Boss DD-3T will be covered for five years.
Bottom Line
Often discounted to as little as £85, you simply cannot beat the sound and build quality of the JHS 3 Series Delay for anywhere near this price point. You can switch between the crystal-clear digital setting and a warm analog mode. If a simple, versatile delay pedal is what you are after, look no further than the JHS 3 Series.