Danelectro Back Talk Reverse Delay





We’re not shy in professing our love for effect pedals here in the ‘Maker, but nothing warms our heart more than seeing an old discontinued favourite return, as if back from the dead, to grace our pedalboards once more. And what better place to start our new Pedal Of The Month blog than harking back to an old, gone-but-not-forgotten favourite of mine -  the DANELECTRO BACK TALK Reverse Delay (imagine a big round of applause sound here, it’s well deserved!)




Let’s set the scene. It’s 1999. Take That have waved goodbye “For Good”, the Spice Girls have begun pulling the head off each other, everyone is bored of Britpop and there’s a weird cross-genre mutilated wave of Nu Metal and sickly sweet pop approaching from across the pond. The world is bracing for the end of the music industry, Lars is out there, crying loudly about it, and the internet is just about to change E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G as we once knew it. Sounds scary, right? On the other hand, there’s a new dawn on the horizon for guitarists. A new company called Line 6 has started putting weird kidney shaped effects units in shops, and they are the new “gotta have it” for players everywhere. And though Line 6 have no affiliation with DANELECTRO whatsoever, it’s worth noting that Line 6 have people talking about effects again. This was an important step in the evolution of effect pedals.

Suddenly, instrument shops everywhere began seeing a spike in pedal sales, guitarists were digging deep to find their sound, link-lead sales were through the roof, people were putting multiple effects on wooden “boards”, and there was a new found interest in the “how did they make it sound like that?!”, or “what effect is making that sound?” and “if I get that pedal, can I do that now too?” Which might sound like a small thing, but I really can’t underestimate how powerful that feeling was. It’s as simple as this, no matter how much practice you put in, not everyone becomes Slash, but with the right effects, you can at least sound like him. And that’s a gigantic feat of satisfaction, all provided by effect pedals. Confidence grew, genres bloomed new sounds, and look - 30 years later, I’m still writing about them!

But I digress. It was around this time in 1999 that you suddenly noticed a lot more colourful options in the pedal cabinets of music stores. Old lone rangers like Boss, Pro Co, Dunlop, Ibanez and Electro Harmonix suddenly found themselves in the company of Dod, T-Rex, Arion, Wampler, Fulltone, MXR, Z.Vex, Behringer, and the newly founded Line 6, plus hundreds of other brands that have since disappeared. One company that found a new home in the pedal world was DANELECTRO, who up until this point were only known for their Guitar/Bass range, and they’ve kept putting out effects ever since. The pedal that caught my eye was the DANELECTRO Back Talk Reverse Delay - who, at the time, transformed my guitar into virtually another instrument, allowing me to play parts that weren’t even designed for guitar, and emulate the MASTERS of guitar
wizardry!




It comes from what’s now known as DANELECTRO’s “Classic Pedal Line”, a series of pedals which all looked kind of looked more like Prince’s ashtray that regular effect pedals. Even that, I thought was cool at the time, they really stood out. But it was the tone that sold it. That dreamy, chorusy, organ-esque reversed delay trails sound, that stuttered in a very Graham Coxon kinda way, instantly drew my attention. It wasn’t the first reverse delay effect I’d heard - but it was the first one that I liked, the first one with a real “wow” factor. The first one I could use. The first effect I had that made me feel like I had my own sound.

It was also the first pedal that I was ridiculed for owning!! Yeah, back in 1999, these pedals were actually bullied by more self-assured, old school pedal owners, and kinda seen as cheap alternatives to more expensive, yet similar effects. Little did we know that these things would go on to be rare gems who’s value would increase tenfold (I probably flogged mine for £20 back then - I know.. I know…) Hold on to what you got folks, you will inevitably regret selling it, you know you will.

Now. Here we are. It’s 2024, and effect pedals have advanced so much they can almost cut your lawn, and you pretty much have to take out a mortgage to afford some of the higher end types. But DANELECTRO knows what’s up, knows what people want, and knows how to deliver. They’ve finally reissued the classic Back Talk Reverse Delay, given it a makeover in it’s cosmetic look, but changed nothing about it’s aesthetic in sound. Their blurb on it reads:
“Nobody does Reverse Delay like this! Invented by ­Danelectro® in 1999, this pedal has achieved cult status. Originals cost a small fortune. Why? Because of its warm violin-like, organ-like tone. It literally flips the phrase you just played and plays it ­backwards.” Featuring the same 3 simple control dial layout, and using the same software and NOS chip processor featured in the original. The Back Talk is well and truly back.




It sounds every bit as good as it did. I think it’s even better, but that’s just my regret arguing with my pride. However. It’s just as unique, and though it’s an old effect, it’s every bit as inspiring in 2024. It sounds like 1999 all over, and just like in 1999 - it’s totally affordable again. You still got your baggy Sloppy Joe’s pants, DV8 shoes and Carhartt tracksuit top? Let’s GOOOOO!!