Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

[TwilightOdyssey]

The new epic my band is working on features a guitar sound I’ve never used before, a kind of ambient, very distant, modulated, kind of 80s electro inspired. But it also needs to have enough definition to hear the notes in a chord or lead line.

What I settled on is this:



The signal chain is pretty standard:
Guitar > volume pedal > compressor/boost > amp sim (for DI use) > chorus/flange > delay > reverb (hall with modulation)

The Tech21 clone can be bypassed if I am running into an actual amp, but for demos I often like to keep it simple.

Here’s a demo of how it sounds:

[Mincer]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

Some solid choices!

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

Thanks! I'm not in love with the delay, I really need something decent.

[Mincer]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

It just means you get to do some delay shopping...what do you use a delay for?

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

Well, I don't use it to create harmonies or Frippertronics types of things, but a couple of seconds of delay would be nice. Doesn't have to have stereo. I am not interested in analog emulation or tape emulation, I need clean repeats with a feedback control. Modulated repeats is not necessary, but would be nice. Keeping trails is important. I wouldn't mind MIDI sync but it's not a deal breaker.

When I use a delay it's usually before a long reverb to create smear and a seemingly long note, though in reality I've already turned down the volume pedal and am getting the next note ready.

[Mincer]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

Well, analog pedals won't do a few seconds. You also might be limited to space- bigger pedals like a DL4 might not fit on your board. Newer, more advanced delay pedals with midi generally aren't battery powered, either.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

I use a power supply, so no issues there! I can juuust fit one more double width pedal on that board, but you are right — there’s no way something like a big strymon or 500-series BOSS will fit! And yes, definitely looking for a digital delay, not analog! I have three analog/tape style echo/delays already.

[Mincer]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

Some of the newer digital delays need their own proprietary power supplies, which is a pain. However, a DL4 doesn't (I power mine with a One Spot) and it just might fit.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Put together this simple board for huge guitar colors

Ah cool, I'll check it out! Thanks!