MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini Analog Delay Guitar Effects Pedal

Honey, I Shrunk The Best Selling Analogue Delay of All-Time!

Inimitable titans of guitar effects pedals both past and present have gone and done it yet again. It’d be a pretty easily defensible argument to state that MXR’s Carbon Copy is one of the best analogue delay pedals ever made. It’s simplicity coupled with it’s puritanically faithful tonality has made it a favourite for guitarists all over the planet since its release in 2009. It’s well made, versatile, authentic, easy-to-use, and now, it is also tiny. 

Everything is in Proportion

Moving flawlessly with the times, MXR have decided to miniaturise their Carbon Copy thus allowing it to fit into any rig with ease. Crucially though, they have done this whilst preserving, and even enhancing in some ways, all of the tonality of the original along with all of its functions and flexibility. 

You’ll find all of the same controls from the original present on it’s new shrunken sibling. You’ve got the same three knobs to control the "Mix", "Regen", and "Delay". You’ll also still find the same button to engage the “Mod” function which injects the repeats with a beautiful analogue warble. Additionally, and new to the mini, you’ll also encounter a bright switch. This can be used, as the name suggests, to brighten the traditionally dark bucket-brigade tone of the original.

What is a Bucket-Brigade?

Technically, it’s the name given to a series of people who form a line to pass a bucket of water from one to another, perhaps from a river to a fire. It also just so happens to be the name given to a technique of creating a delay effect. The latter came about in the late ‘60s and derived its name from the former. The invention of the bucket-brigade technique served, predominantly, as a force to allow delay effects to be more manageable, portable, and affordable.

Until the emergence of the bucket-brigade circuit, delay was created using magnetic tape and recording heads in a sequence. This was quite a costly procedure both financially and spatially. You needed big reels, a lot of power, and a near constant supply of magnetic tape. A few other techniques popped up here and there but nothing was quite as revolutionary as the bucket-brigade method. 

How Does the Bucket-Brigade Work?

Functionally, the bucket-brigade system works similarly to the tape systems of old only it utilises capacitors rather than tape. Your signal is stored and then passed through a series of capacitors to repeat the note at the desired intervals. Because of its use of analog components, the bucket-brigade delays have a naturally dark, moody echo that gets darker and moodier with each repeat. This is a sound that they have become famous and adored for as it creates a lovely warm, slightly imperfect repeat which feels somewhat human.

This darker, murkier sound has become something held onto by a lot of professional gigging and studio guitarists alike. It has become a bastion of delay to balance tone with ease of use. The older tape delays are prohibitively expensive and heavy and the newer digital delays are much brighter and more perfect in their reproduction of the delayed note.

The Mini Monster

If you’re looking for soulful, murky, characterful analogue delay but are limited for board real-estate, look no further than the Carbon Copy Mini from MXR. It has all the class leading tone and functionality of the original in a chassis that is a fraction of the size. You also cover all bases with the inclusion of the bright switch which allows you to dial in the perfect amount of sharpness for any rig or scenario.

Why Bonners?

Here at Bonners Music, you have the opportunity to try one of these great MXR effects pedals yourself. Just give us a call on 01323 636141 or better still, visit our showroom! If you can't see the MXR pedal listed that you are after just call 01323 636141 for availability and the best price.