Boss DM-2W Delay (Waza Craft) Settings Guide
The Boss DM-2W Waza Craft is a modern reissue of the original 1981 Boss DM-2 analog BBD (Bucket Brigade Device) delay. The Waza Craft edition includes the original circuit in Standard mode, plus an enhanced Custom mode with extended delay range and additional warmth. Analog BBD delays produce warm, slightly dark repeats that degrade naturally — each repeat is slightly quieter and warmer than the one before, producing a musical echo decay that digital delays don't naturally replicate.
Used by: Eddie Van Halen
The best Boss DM-2W Delay (Waza Craft) settings start with: Delay Time at 5/10, Feedback at 3/10, Effect Level at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Rockabilly (slapback): Delay Time 2/10, Feedback 1/10, Effect Level 6/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Delay Time | 5/10 | Short → Long |
| Feedback | 3/10 | None → Max |
| Effect Level | 5/10 | Off → Full |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Short Delay Time for slapback echo — the DM-2W at its shortest time setting produces the classic 1950s rockabilly slapback that tape echo machines originally created. Low Feedback means one clean repeat. Effect Level at 6 makes the slapback audible but not dominant. The analog warmth makes this feel more vintage than any digital simulation.
Medium Delay Time with moderate Feedback for warm echo. The DM-2W in Standard mode replicates the original DM-2 range: 20–300ms. At Delay Time 5, repeats fall in the 150ms range — a natural echo that suits blues lead playing. Effect Level at 4 keeps the delay behind the dry signal.
Custom mode (S/C switch to Custom) extends the range beyond 300ms. High Delay Time and Feedback in Custom mode produces the longer, more ambient analog delay washes. Each repeat degrades gently in high-frequency content, producing a self-filtering sustain.
Short, single-repeat slapback in Standard mode for country picking. The analog BBD warmth suits the Telecaster and Stratocaster country sounds — the delay's high-frequency roll-off complements the bright guitar and amp tones rather than adding brightness.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
EVH used the original DM-2 on early Van Halen recordings and performances. The analog BBD delay's warm, slightly wobbly repeats suited his clean and lead tones from the first album era. The DM-2W Waza reissue accurately models the circuit he used.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- The S/C (Standard/Custom) switch changes between the original DM-2 circuit (Standard) and an enhanced version with extended range and slightly different character (Custom). Most players use Standard for vintage accuracy and Custom for extended ambient uses.
- BBD analog delays have a maximum delay time limitation (300ms in Standard mode) due to the number of bucket brigade stages in the circuit — this is a fundamental physical limitation, not a design choice. For longer delay times, digital delays are required.
- Analog delay also applies significant high-frequency filtering to repeats — each repeat is slightly darker than the last. In a mix, this means the repeats sit naturally behind the dry signal without cluttering the high-frequency space. This is why many players prefer analog delay for live use even when digital offers more features.
FAQ
Boss DM-2W Delay (Waza Craft) — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Boss DM-2W Delay (Waza Craft): Delay Time at 5/10, Feedback at 3/10, Effect Level at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Rockabilly (slapback): Delay Time 2/10, Feedback 1/10, Effect Level 6/10. Short Delay Time for slapback echo — the DM-2W at its shortest time setting produces the classic 1950s rockabilly slapback that tape echo machines originally created. Low Feedback means one clean repeat. Effect Level at 6 makes the slapback audible but not dominant. The analog warmth makes this feel more vintage than any digital simulation.
For Blues / Classic Rock: Delay Time 5/10, Feedback 4/10, Effect Level 4/10. Medium Delay Time with moderate Feedback for warm echo. The DM-2W in Standard mode replicates the original DM-2 range: 20–300ms. At Delay Time 5, repeats fall in the 150ms range — a natural echo that suits blues lead playing. Effect Level at 4 keeps the delay behind the dry signal.
Delay Time: Delay / echo time (Short to Long). Feedback: Repeat / regeneration amount (None to Max). Effect Level: Wet effect level (Off to Full)
The S/C (Standard/Custom) switch changes between the original DM-2 circuit (Standard) and an enhanced version with extended range and slightly different character (Custom). Most players use Standard for vintage accuracy and Custom for extended ambient uses. BBD analog delays have a maximum delay time limitation (300ms in Standard mode) due to the number of bucket brigade stages in the circuit — this is a fundamental physical limitation, not a design choice. For longer delay times, digital delays are required. Analog delay also applies significant high-frequency filtering to repeats — each repeat is slightly darker than the last. In a mix, this means the repeats sit naturally behind the dry signal without cluttering the high-frequency space. This is why many players prefer analog delay for live use even when digital offers more features.
Eddie Van Halen settings: Delay Time 4/10, Feedback 3/10, Effect Level 5/10. EVH used the original DM-2 on early Van Halen recordings and performances. The analog BBD delay's warm, slightly wobbly repeats suited his clean and lead tones from the first album era. The DM-2W Waza reissue accurately models the circuit he used.
Got the Boss DM-2W Delay (Waza Craft)? Build the rest of your rig.
Use the Rig Builder to find matching guitars, pedals and cables for your genre and budget.