A delay pedal can be used to support your sound and add that extra width and separation, or it can be the basis over which you build your entire performance. In the second scenario, a delay pedal with a hold function where the repeats never stop is one of the most valuable features in your rig.
A delay pedal with a hold function will suit you perfectly if you use delay not only as an additional effect to add to the tone but as a part of the guitar arrangement. Considering how tricky getting the timing right can be, I recommend using an easy-to-use pedal that allows for enough versatility to tweak the repeat’s tone.
As with everything that loops, a hold function can either be your best friend or your worst enemy on stage. Practicing is key, but a good pedal choice makes the difference between nailing the performance and sounding great or failing to impress, even if your playing is impeccable.
Our Top Picks
- Boss DD-3 Digital Delay – Boss pedals are immortal in the minds and rigs of all guitarists. The DD-3 is small affordable, reliable, and has enough features to satisfy all rhythm and lead rock players’ needs.
- Boss DD-500 – A few steps up from the DD-3, the next in the list is a staple of all my best delay pedal lists. It’s a highly versatile workhorse with both a hold function & looper settings.
- ZCAT Hold – Delay – Chorus – A smaller brand name but with a much more versatile hold function packed in a simple 3-knob interface. I like how it allows you to shape the delay repeats with the first two knobs, so if anything sounds wrong, you can just bend over a moment and fix the issue on stage.
- Delay Llama+ – Besides winning the award for the coolest name on the list and probably the most memorable pedals you’ll read about today – it does impress with its straightforward interface and good tone.
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Why Choose a Delay Pedal with a Hold Function?
As the only guitar player in a three-piece band, I have always struggled to find ways to fill up the sonic space. Sacrificing solos for rhythm or blending both into one in a Jimmi Hendrix or Nuno Bettencourt chord-focused playing in one option. Still, one of my favorites was playing around with the delay like David Gilmour or later the Edge would do live.
A delay pedal with a hold function is an excellent choice for the following reasons.
- Excellent to compensate for sparse live instrumentation by mimicking a second guitar
- Good practice and songwriting tool
- Easy to use and get in time with the band
- Perfect for adding atmospheric layers, volume swells, and other texture touches
Delay Pedal With Hold Function Vs. Looper?
The first thing to make clear is the difference between a looper and a hold function. While a looper will loop everything you play and let you add layers, a hold function will only make the delay repeats infinite.
The delay hold/freeze setting is more limiting but a much safer option on stage. With a looper, a poorly timed tap can throw all the song off and get all eyes over you for not a good reason – with a hold function, you can nail the timing if the delay settings are right.
If looping is not your thing, a hold function could get you started on wanting more layers on top.
Delay Pedals with a Hold Function
The best delay pedals are always those that sound the best – no matter how many functions and knobs a pedal has, if the repeats don’t do justice to the original, it’s not worth the buy.
Luckily I’ve chosen the best-sounding delay pedals with a hold function for all budgets and styles.
1. Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Boss pedals are immortal in the minds and rigs of all guitarists. The DD-3 is small affordable, reliable, and has enough features to satisfy all rhythm and lead rock players’ needs.
The hold function is very straightforward; you set the mode knob to ‘Hold’ and hold the pedal down for as long as you want the delay to repeat. This way, you can improvise to very cool song endings or add another layer to your solos.
I’d get it right away if it’s your first delay pedal or an improvement to your existing beginner one.
2. Boss DD-500
A few steps up from the DD-3, the next in the list is a staple of all my best delay pedal lists. It’s a highly versatile workhorse with both a hold function & looper settings.
The DD-500 might not be easy to use at first if you’re not used to many knobs; however, it’s intuitive with the BPM display that helps get timing right. One thing to be aware of is to know when the Looper is on, as it shares the same footswitch with the hold function.
Price-wise, it’s right at the edge of where it becomes too expensive for the hobbyist and just right for the regular gigger.
3. ZCAT Hold – Delay – Chorus
A smaller brand name but with a much more versatile hold function packed in a simple 3-knob interface. I like how it allows you to shape the delay repeats with the first two knobs, so if anything sounds wrong, you can just bend over a moment and fix the issue on stage.
You can also add a chorus effect to the repeats, which at a low rate, does wonders to separate the guitars in the mix. There’s no need to hold the footswitch down like with the DD-3, as the hold function is turned on and off by tapping on it.
On the downside, I wouldn’t use it as my main delay pedal if I was not after the hold function.
4. Delay Llama+
Besides winning the award for the coolest name on the list and probably the most memorable pedals you’ll read about today – it does impress with its straightforward interface and good tone.
It’s less versatile than you might want a professional delay pedal to be, but it compensates for that with the analog nature of the tone and the easy-to-use hold function. There’s not much to it, but there’s quality in what it offers.
On the downside, I would only use it with an external expression pedal to get the most out of the hold function. As it is, it’s still usable but limited for a big stage.
Careful What You Hold
As with everything related to delay, you need first to have a good tone running through it, and, more importantly, you need to play for the effect and adapt your playing to it if the feedback level is high.
Your dynamics, timing, and note choice will impact the sound much more than the quality of the pedals.