Best tape echo pedals: Nail the warm and wavy sound of tape delay, regardless of your budget

Boss Space Echo RE-202 on a dark background
(Image credit: Future)

The best tape echo pedals act as musical time machines, transporting players back to the golden age of rock 'n' roll with their warm, shimmering echoes and hauntingly beautiful soundscapes. Today, the tape delay pedal market is more competitive than ever, with a wide range of options from the biggest brands to choose from. That said, for us, the most valuable pedals build on the technology that's come before, seamlessly blending echoes of the past with the modern features demanding contemporary players are looking for. 

Today, we take for granted just how easy it is to add a little depth to our sound through delay. Back in the day, if you wanted to spice up your guitar tone, it involved rather large and cumbersome tape units – a far cry from just stomping on a pedal. These retro units would record the input sound onto a loop of magnetic tape and then play it back a short time later, creating the famous echo that captured the hearts of many players. 

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49