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MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay Pedal

Analog bucket brigade delay. True hardwire bypass.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          9 out of 10
 
 

"A versatile, great-sounding analog delay at a wonderful price. "

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          7 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          10 out of 10
User: Sam from zZounds
Submitted: 7/23/2009
Style of Music: Alternative, Electro, Shoegaze
Musical Experience: Active Musician
Location: Chicago, IL

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
The Carbon Copy is a rather basic delay, in terms of features. The delay features simple controls for Mix, Regen (feedback/repeats), and Delay (delay time), as well as a Mod button for engaging the delay modulation. On the inside of the unit, there are two internal trim pots that allow one to access the rate and depth of the delay signal's modulation. The delay features around 600 ms of delay time, which is rather long for an analog delay (although not the longest analog delay time available). The enclosure is pretty small, which is a plus, as it does not take up too much space on the pedal board. MXR style enclosures are slightly smaller than a typical Boss single-pedal enclosure. In typical MXR fashion, the pedal is very sturdy and well made. I gave the Carbon Copy's features a seven, as it would have been nice to have the internal trim pots accessible on the outside of the unit. More controls for the modulation, or perhaps the option for vibrato instead of chorus would have also been great. However, these features may potentially increase the price of this pedal. Yet, for an analog delay, the features are typical.

Quality:
The Carbon Copy that I received was perfect, both functionally and cosmetically. MXR pedals are very well built, and last quite a long time. Under normal usage, I would expect this pedal to last a very, very long time. The jacks are sturdy, and the knobs feel good.

Value:
This pedal is a great value. It's almost impossible to find a quality analog delay for $150.00 or under. When the Carbon Copy first came out, there was almost no other analog delay that was comparable with the same features. However, EHX is coming out with some new analog delays based upon the Deluxe Memory Man that are aimed to take up a more affordable share of the market (roughly in the same price range as the Carbon Copy). Overall though, this pedal is definitely worth the asking price (and then some).

Desirability:
The Carbon Copy is great in this area. Visually, it has a nice finish and a wonderfully simple layout. It is easy to manipulate any of the knobs, and the placement of the jacks and power connector are very pedal-board friendly.

Sound:
The MXR Carbon Copy is an analog delay. As opposed to a digital delay, an analog delay typically tends to roll off the high frequency response of the repeats. The Carbon Copy has a very "warm" sound to it. The repeats decay nicely, and as they decay further, the sound tends to distort and compress more and more (especially at higher feedback settings). Personally, this is a good thing, as it allows the trails of repeats to smoothly cascade into one another. The delay is slightly brighter than some of the Malekko analog delays or the old Boss DM series, but seems to be slightly darker than, say, an EHX Deluxe Memory Man. The shorter delay times will yield a brighter delay signal, while longer delay times will have a darker delay signal. The delay will also go into self-oscillation sooner at lower delay times. The self-oscillation on this pedal is quite good, but doesn't seem to be as crazy as other pedals (most notably, the Boss DM-2 comes to mind). The modulation on the Carbon Copy is very nice. It is rather subtle, but can lend a nice, fluid quality to the delay signal. The delay cannot provide a 100 percent wet signal. When the "Mix" knob is fully clockwise, the dry signal is still audible (yet, this is a feature common to most analog delays). The pedal is true-bypass, and there isn't a hugely audible "click" sound when the pedal is engaged (like most true-bypass pedals). It is still audible, but is not audible enough to cause a problem. Overall, the Carbon Copy provides a basic, solid, analog delay signal.

Ease of Use:
The pedal is quite straightforward. One input, one output, and a standard 9V power connection. It's almost impossible to get a bad sound out of this unit. The internal trimpots are pretty easy to access, if you wish to modify them.

Support:
N/A. I've never had to deal with MXR support myself. However, I have heard favorable things from others who have dealt with them. I've gotten the impression that they are fairly easy to deal with.

Overall:
If you are in the market for a solid, versatile delay, then the MXR Carbon Copy is definitely worth a very close look. I'm completely satisfied with the pedal, and it covers everything that I would expect an analog delay to do. Some additional features, such as more control over the delay modulation would have been nice. However, as is, the pedal is a phenomenal value, and the features that the pedal lacks do not hinder the usability of the pedal in any way. A wonderful option for those looking for an affordable, great-sounding delay.

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"Sparkle finish, Awesome sound"

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          6 out of 10
User: Julio from zZounds
Submitted: 12/24/2008
Style of Music: Ambient/Rock/Pop
Musical Experience: Musician/Engineer
Location: Chicago

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
The pedal is pretty straightforward. It just has single in/out jacks. The bright blue LEDs are a nice feature.

Quality:
The product feels solid. It's metal & the footswitch is heavy duty. The finish & feel of everything is awesome.

Value:
I think the price is fair. The sound quality seals the deal for me.

Desirability:
This pedal is awesome looking. It has that sparkle deep green finish. The bright blue LED lights really finish it off. The size is great since it's not a pedal board hog.

Sound:
It has a really rich thick sound. It's perfect for all types of music (country/pop/rock/exper/etc.). It's really easy to get a nice subtle delay trailing behind or you can overload the Regen & get an awesome distortion. No tap tempo, so you will actually have to listen to your music.

Ease of Use:
3 knobs! It really doesn't get much simpler.

Support:
Haven't contacted them.

Overall:
I was looking for a small analog delay for my board & I found it in the Carbon Copy. Simple, small, warm, detailed, & looks cool. I can use it in subtle or crazy ways. I'd def. replace it if it got lost or stolen.

12 of 13 people (92.31%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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