All the different DD-3 models

[Pepe]

I just stumbled over a rather cheap DD-3 with a blue label. Surprisingly it wasn't made in Japan, it is a Taiwanese model from 07/1992.

With a blue label?! Does it mean that it has the big chip from the DD-2 and MIJ DD-3 inside? Or was there already a change during the last production months in Japan and all the Taiwanese pedals have the square chip?

Personally I definitely prefer the circuit with the big chip and the more lo-fi sound, as so many others do. I have had a Taiwanese model with the square chip and its delays simply sounded too clean and perfect. Right now I have a more modern version from 2012 which has complete SMD boards. The delays do pretty much sound identical to the original signal and I don't enjoy that too much.

Which are all the variants and when did they stop producing the boards with the big chip?

[fernieite]

I'm not sure if this is accurate, Pepe. But this old article might help...
https://stinkfoot.se/archives/516

[fernieite]

Here's another.
https://www.guitarlessons.org/gear/peda ... tal-delay/

[Pepe]

Ah, the stinkfoot article is really good! Thanks for the link, fernieite! So there are late Japanese pedals (all have the blue label) with the square chip (version 2a). I wasn't aware of that. The Taiwanese pedal that I mentioned has the internal PCB mounted adapter jack, so it's definitely a square chip model (version 2b).

Interesting. I always thought that the blue label was an indicator for long chip models. So far I was always lucky to find the big chip in the Japanese units that I bought over the years.

[chromandre]

last time I checked, I'm pretty sure the large style 9V adaptor jack indicates long chip, I could be wrong. I have 2 long chip DD-3 I haven't gotten around to repairing, its the perfect sounding delay. Digitech PDS delays are close to the same sound.

[bigtone23]

Calling The_Doc and Zentropa!
I have only long chip: DD2, DSD2 and DD3. Great pedals!

[BearBoy]

My DD-3 is a blue label MIJ model that I bought in January 1992 (serial number decoder indicates it was manufactured in November 1991). It has the small flush 9V adaptor socket. I have always believed that it was a square chip model but tbh have never opened it up.

[Pepe]

Yep, this seems to be the square chip model.

[zentropa]

Calling The_Doc and Zentropa!
I have only long chip: DD2, DSD2 and DD3. Great pedals!

I have had most/all of the DD-3 versions at some point, but do not currently own any of them. My memory tells me that the long chip sounds the best, and each successive version sounds worse than the previous one. The only 3 Boss digital delays in my collection at the moment are a DD-2, DD-8, and DSD-2 (and an RV-3 and RV-6 that have delay functions).

I sort of regret replacing my DD-7 with the DD-8, since I think the DD-8 sounds worse but has better features.

[laurie]

Calling The_Doc and Zentropa!
I have only long chip: DD2, DSD2 and DD3. Great pedals!

I have had most/all of the DD-3 versions at some point, but do not currently own any of them. My memory tells me that the long chip sounds the best, and each successive version sounds worse than the previous one. The only 3 Boss digital delays in my collection at the moment are a DD-2, DD-8, and DSD-2 (and an RV-3 and RV-6 that have delay functions).

I sort of regret replacing my DD-7 with the DD-8, since I think the DD-8 sounds worse but has better features.

I have 2 DD-7s for that reason. Never saw the need to "upgrade"