The Sonicake BBD Wonder is a genuine analog Bucket Brigade Delay based on four MN3005 BBD chips. It is incredibly affordable, which immediately piqued my curiosity. Naturally, I put it through its paces—or rather, tested its chips and sounds.
Visually, the BBD Wonder makes it clear which era it aims to transport the user to: the late 70s or early 80s. The pedal is sturdily built, and its pedalboard-friendly design is enhanced by the fact that all connections are mounted on the front panel to save space.
The signal can be split into wet and dry paths, and the delay time can be controlled via an expression pedal for sonic experimentation.
Both the controls and the sound strongly remind me of the Deluxe Memory Man. The “Big Box” version of the legendary Deluxe Memory Man—especially units equipped with four MN3008 BBD sockets—was often modified with four MN3005 BBDs. This doubled the delay time, and I personally love my own modified DMM.
Features like the Chorus/Vibrato switch, the dry output, and the level boost also reflect the DMM’s fundamental design. However, many Deluxe Memory Man owners would surely appreciate having a tap tempo option; the BBD Wonder includes this, along with an input for an expression pedal. The latter is a great convenience, as it eliminates the need to manually adjust the delay time.
The BBD Wonder’s knobs, switches, and inputs
The BBD Wonder features true bypass, activated by a smooth, pop-free footswitch. The knobs offer a pleasant amount of resistance when turned.
Turning the Time knob all the way up yields a delay time of 1200ms. Here, a touch of noise blends into the signal in classic fashion. This analog sound possesses a wonderful warmth and a very organic quality.
The shorter the delay time setting, the lower the noise level in the signal. This is typical for analog delays and defines the pedal’s character.
The repeats are sonically well-tuned; the low and high frequencies are subtly rolled off with each successive repeat. This reminds me a great deal of the bright sound characteristic of the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man.
As with that legendary unit, the input signal can be boosted using the Level control. This provides a nice volume boost when the pedal is engaged, allowing the signal to cut through the mix effectively. I really appreciate it when a delay pedal offers a boost function.
The Mix control allows you to adjust the volume of the delay signal itself. This means you can set the delay repeats louder than the dry signal while still boosting the overall output, thereby avoiding any drop in volume.
Oscillation
The Feedback knob allows for precise adjustment across the entire range—from a single repeat to fantastic oscillation effects. Oscillation begins to kick in gradually once you pass the 2 o’clock position.
The oscillation on this analog pedal is genuinely fun. By tweaking the Feedback and Time controls, you can build a massive “wall of sound.” Personally, I love setting the feedback just on the verge of oscillation, so the decaying notes create a sonic bed beneath the new notes. I use the Mix control to pull that layer back slightly so it doesn’t overpower the dry signal, resulting in a beautiful, atmospheric wash.
Delay time can be set via the Time knob or Tap Tempo. Conveniently, the Tap Tempo function allows you to select quarter notes, dotted eighth notes, or quarter-note triplets, making it easier to tap in your desired subdivisions.
Modulation
The Tap footswitch can also be used to activate the modulation. A switch allows you to toggle between chorus and vibrato modes. The preset speeds are optimally tuned, and the Mod Depth knob lets you control the intensity.
Naturally, this analog pedal also works perfectly as a dedicated modulation pedal. With the shortest delay time and the Depth knob turned up, you can create wonderful chorus and vibrato effects. Increasing the feedback pushes the sound into flanger-like territory—even reaching the point of self-oscillation.
At faster delay times, you can comfortably turn up the Depth knob to create floating, swirling tones. With longer delay times, I would set the depth more subtly to keep the modulation from becoming overpowering.
All in all, then…
With the Sonicake BBD Wonder, you get a fantastic-sounding analog delay featuring legendary MN3005 BBD chips for just €116.10. Between the boost capabilities reminiscent of the legendary Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, tap tempo, and wonderful chorus/vibrato modulation, you really can’t go wrong.
The BBD Wonder carries the DNA of a DMM but it features a longer delay time, an expression pedal input, tap tempo, and switchable modulation—plus, it is significantly more pedalboard-friendly than the good old “big box” pedal. A truly excellent delay.
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