MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay Guitar Effects Pedal (M169)

Product Information

This review will be about the MXR Carbon Copy and will represent my experience and subjective opinion about this wonderful delay pedal. By now you probably already know how much we love the MXR Carbon Copy, but Dunlop has decided to give this pedal a new flavor with the MXR Carbon Copy Bright! It’s imperative to remember that the model is very specifically called Bright because that’s what it is. It’s not pristine, it’s not perfect, and it in no way is meant to cover the same ground as a digital delay. So, if you have a digital delay already (and maybe even a darker analog delay like the original) there are still plenty of new sounds here for you to explore. Now the Carbon Copy has pretty much the same knob controls as any other analogue delay - vintage or new - out there, but the modulation adds more scope.

On that note, we should also reiterate this is still a fully, 100% analog delay circuit and features the same self-oscillation fun as the original. Modulation width and speed can be adjusted since there are present 2 internal trim pots solely for this purposeBypass switching is important in making any type of music, and with the carbon copy it occurs in the form of true hardware switching Anyway, here’s the list – you can sort the list by either the original or the clone too. I hope it proves useful in your search for new effects to try! UPDATE

The faulty items are JFETs Q10-13 (the little 3 pin triangles. As you can see I’ve fitted a tiny Transient suppressor between two legs of the replaced JFETs. This should guard against recurrences of the same problem. Sound-wise the pedal does everything you would expect of an analogue delay, including the regen knob that sets off self-oscillation for dub and spacey effects when turned past midnight.Tonally, the repeats have clarity combined with a dark warmth and a natural sounding decay that seems to work well between guitar and amp. Well, I didn't grew up in the late 60s or 70s, but I'm feeling like this is the real deal. It gives me the charming pleasure of warm, wobbling, floating delay sounds with decreasing volume to the end of the delay time. With the "mod" button engaged the soundshape dives into a marvelous chorus/vibrato like mood, which I have on nearly everytime. Here’s another MXR carbon copy repair – this one had been damaged by the use of the wrong power supply. I’ve repaired quite a few of these Carbon Copy pedals– the older ones are prone to an ESD related fault that’s quite easily fixed. This is the first carbon copy I’ve seen since MXR implemented the ESD fix on their production line. They use the exact same m ethods that I’ve been using since first discussing the repairs with MXR in 2013. If you’ve ever heard Andy Timmons’ ‘halo’ delay sound, you’ll know its something special. And so when someone with as good as delay tone as Timmons teams up with effects wizard Robert Keeley to create a signature delay pedal, it’s pretty easy to recommend.

In the seemingly never-ending array of delay pedals and devices, it’s hard to come up with something new. The Carbon Copy is certainly in that category. Past attempts have always fallen a bit short of my expectations; this pedal is the first one that hasn’t. The straight-forward layout of Regen, Mix, and Delay controls on the Carbon Copy provide an extremely open-ended array of delay tones to work with. Regen controls the number of repeats in the delay signal, while Delay controls the time between each repeat. The Mix knob adjusts the level of dry and delayed signal going to the output. MXR kept it simple with the original Carbon Copy.Instead of fitting theirstompbox with fiddly and unnecessary controls,MXR decided to equip you withthe absoluteessentials, and the Carbon Copy Mini adheres to the same philosophy. This makes it very easy todial in a fantastic delaysound anywhereand at any time (no pun intended). Bright switch toggles between the original Carbon Copy's darker tone and the Bright version's more articulate soundThe CC Mini has a recessed, side-mounted Bright switch to activate the upper frequencies for more sparkle and clarity in its analog repeats. The digital signal chain has an ultra-hifi bitrate, and the sheer number of digital processing options is staggering. A lot of them are drawn from the rest of Meris’ pedal line, such as the Polymoon, but there are effects unique to the LVX too. My overall impression is really positive. From sound, to handling, to quality and to feeling it is one thing: A pedal with an unique character. Just from the first time I plugged it in and until now after a recent concert I did with it, it never ceased to amaze me. I have it for about 2 months now.