Tell me about Deluxe Memory Man

[frigid midget]

I know, as a longtime (sorta) gear slut growing up in the '90s, it's almost a crime to not have owned a DMM
I'm talking about the older big box 5 knob dmm by the way.

I'm thinking of maybe making the leap now, but only if if I get the right answers to these very specific questions:

- Might sound weird, but pedal board real estate whise this is actually kinda important to me: Is there room enough on top of the enclosure to put another pedal on it? At least my EHX Freeze, or at the very least a Malekko Omnicron? I was ruling out large delay pedals, but it could work out if I go EXTRA large, and stack my pedals. Literally

-What build date/period or version should I look for? True bypass would be prefered, I don't know what the deal is with that through out the dmm history

-Lastly, as much as I hate to bother you guys with a 'versus' sorta dilemma: The other contender in the same price range was a new Ibanez ES-2. Which is a whole different animal, I know. But if anyone has by any chance ever tried both the old big box dmm side by side with the ES-2, I'd be very curious to ear how they compare in similar type settings. Might be a long shot, but I had to ask cause unfortunately there's no way I'll be able to a/b these two pedals myself.

Thanks.

[Tristan]

First question, yes you can stack other pedals on top, I'd say the Freeze should fit like a breeze.
Second question, I'm not 100% sure but I thought all the ones without the power chord are true bypass, at least the late 90's till 2000's ones should be.
I have a 2000's one, it has the four 3008 chips and it sounds completely awesome, I'll be damned about the fuss over the different versions.

[Disarm D'arcy]

I have a 2000's one, it has the four 3008 chips and it sounds completely awesome, I'll be damned about the fuss over the different versions.

Seconded. I have an XO and I'm EXTREMELY happy with it.

[Uncle Grandfather]

4th'd. I have a vintage Blueface and it's easily the best of any other dmm ever made. Ever.

[Ghost Hip]

The early Memory Men's pre amp is always on regardless if the delay is engaged. I have a 2000's reissue and the pre-amp is only on when engaged, and is true bypass. I forget how the 90s reissues work as far as bypass.

[retinal orbita]

I had a big box version for years - I sold it because I wanted to fund some other pedals and I found I was using digital delays more. I sold if for $375 in like, 5 min too. I don't regret it. At all, but it was a fucking great delay.

I had a detachable AC cord on mine, so a 90's version, was always flawless and easy to dial in great sounds.

I'm infinitely happier with a Flashback x4 which uses the same space but has the looper and the cool ambient delays I like....

[PetZounds]

I would not advise putting another pedal on top of the box if you're going to be stomping it.
That sounds like a pretty good way to mess up the enclosure.
Maybe an always-on pedal could go up there.
But really, you should just embrace the hugeness because I love my blueface DMM.

[braaandooon]

I know the 90's reissue is typically more collectable, it houses the two 3005's, I guess all the booze lawyers and edge wannabes rave about the added mojo and what not. Other differences being knobs, and not the biggest fan of the bypass, I think I'd prefer the true bypass 2000's reissue just to know that the power light lets me know if the pedal is engaged or not, my polychorus is of 90's origin and the constantly lit indicator light bugs me sometimes.

[DarkAxel]

Vintage blackface over here, absolutely fantastic delay pedal on either bass or guitar (on bass i like less repeats so it doesn't get too spacey and cloudy and has a bit more definition)

huge and noisy, but still absolutely worth it.

having a vintage one and being able to compare with the XO version... really didn't like the XO. OR let me put it differently - compared to current production, the XO is quite nice, but comparing it to the vintage one makes it sound like just another run-of-the-mill delay pedal. Sure it's smaller and less noisy, but the character of the repeats seems almost drastically different to me

the old one is heavily coloured but a bit more clear. The new one is the default generic modern analog delay voicing, so darker... doesn¨t saturate nearly as nicely and i also didn¨t enjoy the modulation that much. And in my head, the DMM is all about the repeats saturation and modulation

[Ghost Hip]

having a vintage one and being able to compare with the XO version... really didn't like the XO. OR let me put it differently - compared to current production, the XO is quite nice, but comparing it to the vintage one makes it sound like just another run-of-the-mill delay pedal. Sure it's smaller and less noisy, but the character of the repeats seems almost drastically different to me

This. I had an XO version as well as a vintage one and my current 2000s reissue. The XO is nice, but for whatever reason it didn't impress me like the bigger boxes did.

[skullservant]

I REALLY miss the vintage Deluxe Memory Man that I had, it was the one PumpkinPieces also had. I'd like to get another vintage unit if I could. There is nothing like that sound

[BoatRich]

If I've never had a DMM and play downtuned bass and bass vi predominantly, should I be looking at one? I've always been interested in them. (If not, Skully, you should make me a delay like the one Skip had)

[Tristan]

I agree with the sentiments about the XO version, at least the non Tap Tempo one, I also had the feeling it wasn't as good as my big box, my 550TT isn't completely as good either but I really do enjoy it a lot.

[frigid midget]

Thanks guys, I'll have to remember all this untill another DMM comes up. I had my eye on a vintage, but someone else beat me to it.

I just bought myself a fresh acoustic guitar for my birthday though, so other gear purchases will probably have to wait a while anyway.

[Gigahearts_FX]

my polychorus is of 90's origin and the constantly lit indicator light bugs me sometimes.

you can readily mod that...

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