Review: Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper Pedal

With its compact size, four control knobs and humble price, the Electro-Harmonix Canyon appears on the surface to be a basic version of what the name on the box suggests: a delay/reverb pedal with a looper function.

However, closer examination reveals that this is no basic delay/reverb effect but rather a versatile multi-function processor that delivers sophisticated, professional-quality effects that previously were the exclusive domain of expensive pedals and rack units. Canyon really is the perfect name for this pedal as it is impressively deep and incredibly fun and rewarding to explore.

FEATURES
The window to Canyon’s versatility is an 11-position rotary mode switch, which provides access to a looper function (62 seconds maximum) and 10 distinctly different delay modes: echo, modulated delay, multi-tap delay, reverse, Deluxe Memory Man, tape, reverb plus delay, octave delay, shimmer and sample/hold.

There also are standard control knobs for FX level (mix/balance), delay time (five milliseconds to three seconds) and feedback (single to infinite repeats), although the latter two also can provide secondary functions that are engaged by holding down the tap/divide switch (which normally is used for selecting quarter, eighth or dotted-eighth tap tempo divisions). A secondary knob mode is available for every effect mode except echo and looper, and three modes (multi-tap, reverse and sample/hold) provide a secondary function for the delay knob only.

Tap tempo can be set with the footswitch or an optional footswitch connected to the ¼-inch Tap In jack. The pedal also provides an internal Tails switch to either cut off or maintain delay tails when the effect is bypassed.

PERFORMANCE
The sound quality and variety of effects that come out of this little box are simply staggering. Most delay pedals in a comparable price range offer the capabilities of only one or two of Canyon’s modes, and