Electro-Harmonix Memory BoyFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 37 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment66%
PROS 66%
CONS 34%

Rank based on 37 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want warm, murky analog delay tone at a budget price
  • You want tap tempo, modulation and an effects loop in one pedal
  • You enjoy experimenting with unique, lo-fi or self-oscillating delay textures

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need rock-solid reliability straight out of the box
  • You want a clean, bright, predictable feedback response
  • You plan to power it via a daisy-chained pedalboard supply

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Budget
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy
Warm, Atmospheric Analog ToneFeature-Rich for a Budget PedalStrong Value for the PriceFeedback Knob Oscillation InconsistencyReliability and Quality Control IssuesDarker, Mushier Repeats Than Rivals
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy
Warm, Atmospheric Analog Tone
Feature-Rich for a Budget Pedal
Strong Value for the Price
Feedback Knob Oscillation Inconsistency
Reliability and Quality Control Issues
Darker, Mushier Repeats Than Rivals

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Warm, atmospheric analog tone at an approachable price. Commenters consistently describe the Memory Boy's repeats as warm, murky and atmospheric compared to brighter digital or tape-style delays. Several say it holds up well against pricier EHX siblings and even prefer its character in direct comparisons. Multiple owners call it excellent value, with one saying they'd happily pay far more than they did, and another defending the roughly $180 price given everything it offers.

Packed with features for the money. The pedal offers tap tempo, subdivisions, an effects loop, built-in chorus/vibrato modulation, and expression pedal input on the Deluxe version. Commenters note the tap tempo switch works flawlessly and the overall feature set outpaces many similarly priced competitors. Users enjoy dialing in everything from slapback to psychedelic, freak-out oscillation sounds, calling it simple to use despite the range available.

Some units show quirky feedback behavior and reliability hiccups. Several users report unpredictable self-oscillation on the feedback knob, with some units starting to oscillate as early as 9 o'clock and others needing it past 3 o'clock, while one couldn't get oscillation at all. Others experienced hardware failures like a feedback knob dying within days or a pot breaking within months, plus inconsistent behavior when powered via a daisy-chained supply instead of the dedicated adapter.

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