Gear Guide

Best Delay Players — Tone Guides & Rig Breakdowns

David Gilmour's soaring, delayed leads on Comfortably Numb are the most recognisable use of delay in rock history. John Mayer uses it to create dimension in his playing without crowding the mix. Joe Satriani and Alex Lifeson both rely on rhythmic delay patterns to build texture and space. Whether analogue or digital, a good delay makes every note breathe.