These new offerings from Electro-Harmonix include a maxed-out delay, a reconsidered reissue of an original classic and a cheeky revamp of a competitor’s popular distortion. All were tested with a Les Paul and a Novo Serus J into a Friedman Small Box head and 2x12 cab.
GRAND CANYON DELAY & LOOPER
First, a minor detraction: I had to wear my reading glasses to have even a slim hope of discerning the legends and functions on this bountifully loaded pedal, but I guess that’s my problem. Let’s just say it’s a small price to pay for the power and the glory that is the Grand Canyon Delay & Looper. Upping the ante on 2017’s Canyon Delay & Looper, the Grand adds new effects to achieve a full dozen delay and echo types, along with a boatload of bonus functionality. In terms of controls and I/Os, it tops out at seven knobs, six pushbuttons, two stomp switches, stereo outputs, and 1/4-inch connections for both an expression pedal and an external one-, two-or three-button foot switch. Amazingly, it all fits inside a rugged die-cast aluminum box that measures just 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches.
There’s not enough space here to detail every function, but those numerous control features include several noteworthy bells and whistles. The tap divide button offers a wealth of options, including quarter, eighth and 16th notes, along with triplet and dotted versions of each. The four illuminating pushbuttons above the control knobs let you select ping-pong delays (when using the pedal in stereo), tails (the echoes continue after pedal is disabled), moment (which alters foot switch functions in creative ways) and an Exp mode (which governs expression pedal performance). In addition, two mini knobs alongside the delay-type selector provide alternative parameters for each delay effect, such as distortion and