Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

[B2D]

I've gotten into the habit of practicing/playing my tube amp straight with just my Dan-Echo in the loop for a little echo here and there for ambience. I also use this setup when I play with my friend's classic rock band and don't really need effects.

Here's my issue: When I have the delay pedal running in the loop, the repeats aren't crystal clear like I like them... they're usually a little "muffled" and fuzzy sounding. The Dan-Echo does have a high-cut knob on it but it's set to the "off" position so it doesn't purposely cut the high end on the repeats. On the clean channel it only does it a little bit but when running distortion the mufflefuzz effect is exaggerated.

This doesn't happen if i run a distortion box into the delay pedal and THEN into a clean amp. If I do THAT it repeats clearly like I like it to.

I have the FX level send on the amp set to full and then the delay level set accordingly to taste. Am I slamming the pedal with too much signal and that's why its muffling the repeats? Should I back it off to something like 50% and then raise the delay level to get the same sonic effect? Is it the pedal's fault and I need to get a different pedal? A pedal-power supply issue?

I'd just like crystal-clean delays from a pedal in the loop no matter how much gain I've got going. What should I do?

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

I'd try backing off the effect send level on the amp. Your pedal is designed for a instrument level input singal and you are sending it a line level signal. As a rule, pedals work best before the input jack and rack units work best in the loop.

 

[Pat]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

I prefer the Delay in the loop really , as I do for Chorus,Flange etc . But stompboxes need to be in a serial loop. I dont like them in the paralel loop at all, even with the dry signal mixed with the effects signal to the max the dry signal is still to strong then. So imo paralel loops are better for gear such as rack effect units. If its the only loop there your better off with putting them in front of the amp like Robert suggested.

 

[B2D]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

Well I can't really put this thing in front of the amp for two reasons.

1) I get my distortion from a MIX of amp gain and pedal gain. Delays need to come AFTER gain, as I'm sure you're well aware.

2) If I run the thing drive pedal > Delay pedal > gainy amp > speakers It will defintely sound like buttmud as the delays will get distorted a mushed on top of each other. It'll be distorted delays overlapping on top of each other, not what I want.

I'll try reducing the send level way down and seeing if that works. If not, what are some good, resonably priced rackmount delay units? I know Joe Satriani is fond of the Chandler units but I have no idea how much those run.

 

[B2D]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

bump...

Rattled my brains and the only rackmount delays I could think of off the top of my head were the Chandler ones, The Line 6 Echo Pro, The Roland SDE series, and a TC electronics D2. Anyone else have any suggestions? I don't need a lot of fancy stuff, just a basic delay from a rack unit.

 

[HRP]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

Hey man,

I keep my Maxon AD-80 in my FX Loop so I know what you're getting at. Personally, I like how the echos get lost in the mix while using distortion, but that is mostly because the amp I use lacks reverb.

I guess you'll just have to choose whether you want horrible clashing notes, or less distinguished echos that provide a more reverb like sound.

Pirate.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

The best sounding delays that I've ever heard were the Roland Space Echo Units. I owned an RE301 and a 501 for a long time. I'm not sure why I sold them. I think it was because they weren't very practical, but I ran them through the effects loop, and was greatly pleased with the way both one of them sounded. The thing is, you can't overdrive the effects loop or you get mud.

 

[B2D]

Re: Delay pedal/effect loop q's...

Hey man,

I keep my Maxon AD-80 in my FX Loop so I know what you're getting at. Personally, I like how the echos get lost in the mix while using distortion, but that is mostly because the amp I use lacks reverb.

I guess you'll just have to choose whether you want horrible clashing notes, or less distinguished echos that provide a more reverb like sound.

Pirate.

Thanks, but I don't like how the echoes get lost in the mix, and I don't have to choose between "horrible clashing notes, or less distinguished echos" because I want clean echos and i know it CAN be done and I'm just looking for some rackmount delay recommendations because I know NOW that'll do the job.

I think Gearjoneser once said he used a small Alesis unit in the loop... I wonder if that'll work?

The thing is, you can't overdrive the effects loop or you get mud.

I'd try backing off the effect send level on the amp. Your pedal is designed for a instrument level input singal and you are sending it a line level signal. As a rule, pedals work best before the input jack and rack units work best in the loop.

I'll keep this in mind in the future... thanks.

Robert - you've got some nice rack setups; what would you use?