Moog MF-104Z Analog Delay Pedal Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm not wealthy, and I'm not a musical professional, so the decision to buy the very expensive Moog MF-104z was not made lightly. Put simply, I love delay. It transforms and inspires my guitar playing. As such, purchasing the right delay was important to me. And after many hours of research and in-person comparisons, I chose the MF-104z. Three months later, I'm glad I did. Here are a few reasons why:
1) The sound.
The MF-104z creates ALL-ANALOG delays that shimmer with clarity, yet carry the character, warmth, and perfect increasingly "dark" sound you'd expect to hear from an analog delay. In a word, it's beautiful. And it's the longest analog delay in the world: up to one full second. (caveat: the MF-104z's very rare big brother, the MF-104sd, can achieve 1.4ms delays)
2) The control.
Wet/dry mix, delay time, and delay feedback are pretty standard controls. But beyond that, the MF-104z actually acts as a preamp, allowing you to control the output volume of the pedal itself. This is immensely helpful, both in live settings, and when recording. And no more worries about unwanted volume fluctuation because of your delay pedal.
In addition, the MF-104z allows you to use the "external loop" function which essentially allows you to "inject" the sound or effect of your choice into each delay swell, in addition to the already-existing wet signal. For example, connecting a simple overdrive pedal through the external loop yields delays containing the white noise generated from the overdrive pedal. It's a very cool effect, and I haven't yet tapped into anywhere near its full potential.
Also, the MF-104z's self-oscillation capability can create undeniably cool sounds ranging from spaceship landings to fat analog beats which result from increasingly darkened repeats.
3) The Value
The MF-104z is built well, and is backed by a great company with a history of innovation and excellence. I expect this pedal to hold its value well (as evidence of this, try finding a cheap MF-104z on ebay), and I view my purchase as a long-term investment. I'll use it with my toddler when he is old enough to make music with me.
In conclusion, it is true that the MF-104z doesn't offer some of the capabilities of newer digital delays like tap tempo or reverse delay. But keep in mind that if you need these features, they are available in common/cheap pedals like the Boss DD-7 or Line 6 Echo Park (both barely over $100). However, the MF-104z stands alone in terms of pure, creamy, warm, and BEAUTIFUL delays.
Finally, as a note of encouragement to married musicians, my wife DID approve of this purchase after some persuasive coaxing (and maybe some begging). Yes, it can be done. ( :[Note: as of the time of this review, Amazon is incorrectly displaying a picture of the MF-103 phaser, rather than the MF-104z delay]


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Moog MF-104Z Analog Delay Pedal

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