MXR Delay System II - Model 151 - Rare '80's Digital Delay

Vintage early 1980s MXR Delay System II Digital Delay Rack Unit – Excellent working condition.

Up for sale is a legendary piece of early-80s rack history: the MXR Delay System II. This particular unit has the full factory installed memory upgrade.

If you are looking for that classic, warm, slightly gritty digital delay that defined the production of an entire era, this is the unit. 

Some musicians who utilized the MXR Delay System II were David Gilmore, Brian May, Joe Perry, Steve Vai and Jaco Pastorius. Later it was used by musicians and producers like Steve Albini in the rock genres of Shogaze, Dream Pop, and Indie LoFi.

This delay system is built around the coveted Reticon SAD1024A Bucket Brigade Delay chip.

Great as a studio outboard delay and also for guitar effects rigs!

This was MXR's top of the line rack mounted delay, first produced in 1981 continuing until their bankruptcy and closure in 1984.

These units are relatively rare. in that they were produced in limited numbers

Current matket price for a restored unit by Browner Sound is going for $1700. I'm offering this unrestored, clean and fully functioning unit with all original components for much less $$$.

Features & Sound:

• Key Tonal Characteristics
• Bandwidth vs. Time Trade-off: At higher bandwidths, the sound remains bright, crisp, and exact. Lowering the bandwidth extends the delay time and softens high-frequency transients for that classic early'80's digital character.
• Memory Package: It is equipped with the full memory upgrade (pushing delay times to 3,145ms)
• Versatility: Beyond long and short echoes, the unit handles creative studio and live effects like doubling, chorus, and flanging.          
  It can be used either as a studio unit via XLR in/out or as a guitar effect via 1/4" in/out
• Modulation: The Width and Speed controls dial in anything from a subtle, lush chorus to deep, sweeping psychedelic modulation on the delay trails. It is essentially a variable pitch control.
• Interface: Rotary knobs for Speed, Width, Delay Time (fine), Delay Time ( general), Mix, Regeneration, and Level. Button switches for Power, Dry Defeat, Repeat Hold, and Delay Bypass.
• 
  Connectivity: Rear-panel inputs and outputs in Low Impedance XLR and High Impedance 1/4" ring/tip. There is also a 10 db pad on the 1/4" in and out jacks. It's mono, baby, mono.
• Display: Large red LED frequency counter and LEDs which indicate bandwidth 16k, 8k, and 4k.

Condition:

This unit is in excellent functional condition, with all original components.

It is in perfect working order.

All knobs, switches, and jacks have been tested and are working smoothly. The Speed knob has a sticker on it which reads "No Thank You".

This rack delay has an attached power cable.

This unit is in what I consider good cosmetic condition for its age. 

The faceplate looks clean with some paint wear at the screw holes in the rack ears.  

There are some significant scratches and worn off paint on the top of the chassis. The bottom of chassis not as much. This from normal rack use over the years. These are not visible when the unit is in a rack.

The knobs and switches are original and exhibit cosmetic wear typical of gear which is over 40 years old.

Since the working condition is Excellent and the cosmetic condition is Good, I'm classifying this particular unit as being in Very Good overall condition.

History of Use:

The MXR Delay System II was used by a number of famous musicians back in the day.

David Gilmour (Pink Floyd): Gilmour famously transitioned into using digital rack delays alongside his analog gear starting in 1977. He stocked his touring and studio rigs with both the original blue-face MXR Digital Delay and the Delay System II. It was a staple in his setup during his 1984 About Face solo tour and contributed to his legendary, ethereal solo tones and ambient soundscapes.

Brian May (Queen): May famously used two MXR Delay System II unitsin his sophisticated, Pete Cornish-designed live touring rack during the 1980s. He utilized them to replicate and expand upon his classic three-amp "Brighton Rock" multi-delay harmony setup live on stage.

Jaco Pastorius: The jazz fusion bassist used MXR digital delay units as primitive, early looping devices. He would engage the unit's "sample and hold" feature to freeze a phrase or bassline, allowing him to layer live solos over it.

Steve Vai: Early in his professional career, a Delay System II could be seen integrated into his personal Stucco Blue Studios setup as early as 1983.

Joe Perry (Aerosmith): Perry integrated the rack unit into his live guitar rigs during the 1980s to add depth and grit to his tone. 

Where It Is Used in Indie Music

• Steve Albini's Electrical Audio Studios: One of the most famous independent rock studios in the world, Electrical Audio (founded by the late indie/underground icon Steve Albini), keeps an MXR Delay System II in their outboard gear collection. Scores of indie rock, noise rock, and post-punk bands tracking there have run their vocals, drums, and guitars through it to capture its distinct 8-bit character. 
  
• Alex Maiolo (Moroderik Musik): The indie multi-instrumentalist, synth head, and prominent gear journalist Alex Maiolo is a vocal champion of the unit, famously using a triple MXR Delay System II setup for his modular synth and old synthesizer soundscapes. 
  
• The "Shoegaze & Dream Pop" Studio Secret: Modern indie producers use the vintage System II rack unit for studio mixing. When you turn the delay time up and force the unit down to a 4kHz bandwidth, it degrades the repeats in a lush, lo-fi way that perfectly matches the textures of bands like Radiohead, Beach House, or Slowdive.

Will be packed securely and shipped protected with Reverb's Safe Shipping coverage.

14 lbs.