Back in the early 2010s, Donner was a relatively new music company determined to release basic quality gear that was far less expensive than products by bigger, more established brands. Most of their effects were mini pedals and vert first and extremely popular was the Yellow Fall digital delay pedal, released in 2014. Just over a decade later, Donner is a more competitive, established company that still specializes in affordable guitars and gear. But they’ve significantly upped their game.
Donner Versa Yellow Fall 2 is an evolution of the original Yellow Fall. While the original was too small for some users and created an overly artificial sound at some settings, the Versa Yellow Fall 2 is a sturdy, larger pedal that will still fit on any pedalboard and provides everything the original promised and more, The sound of the Versa is vastly improved. The new circuitry not only offers more natural, ear-pleasing delay sounds, it’s easier to dial in the desired tones.
One of the most notable improvements in the Versa Yellow Fall 2 is a significant reduction in the “ringy” digital circuitry that sometimes plagued the original. The new delay sounds smoother and more organic, with a warmer character that leans less towards the sterile digital realm. This makes it easier to dial in subtle delays, whether players want to capture the dotted-eighth note echo of U2’s guitarist The Edge, a shorter, more streamlined delay sound that provides texture, or long delay times for more experimental music. The Versa is equipped with a toggle switch that offers three delay settings, “Vintage” (a more analog sound), “Digital,” and “Echo” (an improvement on the original Yellow Fall tone).
By combining the delay with a reverb, the Versa gives players more musical options and avenues for creativity. The reverb offers a solid range of sounds, from its spacious “Hall” setting to a more intimate “Room” sound, and the classic “Plate” sound, making it suitable for a variety of genres, including blues, rock, indie rock, and ambient music.
The Versa Yellow Fall 2 utilizes a combination of digital and analog-modeled circuits to create a wide range of delay and reverb tones. This hybrid approach offers both the warmth and character of classic analog delays and the flexibility and precision of digital processing. Each effect can be used alone or combined to create more expansive sounds, and both the delay and reverb effects come with their own setting dials.
Players can choose how dry or wet their sound is, whether they want short or long trails, and, of course, the length of the delay (Time) and the number of repeats. The pedal also includes tap tempo, and two settings can be stored in the unit and called up with the click of a switch.
While the Versa Yellow Fall 2 lacks some of the extensive features of more expensive delay/reverb pedals, its simplicity is a major strength. The intuitive controls make it easy to search for inspiring sounds without the need for a complex manual. At around $100, the Versa Yellow Fall 2 competes with other budget-friendly multi-effect pedals and its sturdy, economical construction (yellow, metal casing, separate delay and reverb foot switches, six smooth turning plastic dials, three metal toggle switches, and stereo ins and outs) make it easy to use and difficult to damage.
If you specialize in avant-garde music and want to create wild, off-kilter, sounds and galactic war noises with your reverbs and delays, the Versa Yellow Fall 2 probably isn’t versatile enough for you. But for those seeking a solid, reliable, user-friendly delay/reverb that sounds great and is reasonably priced, this pedal ticks all the boxes.
