Delay Pedal Usage???

[sublimerules9604]

I just got my Rocktron Short Timer in today and after playing it for a while, I dont think that its for me, but im not sure if maybe im just not using it right. Ive never really played through a delay before other tnan in a multieffects pedal, and had read before that they can be used to thicken up your sound. This is where maybe I think im using it wrong because when I put it even at the smallest amount of delay it just mushes up the tone. Where am I going wrong???

 

[brit84]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

try it through your effects loop, This is where you should put mudulating pedals such as eq, delay, chorus, flanger and phaser. Overdrive, wah, boosts should go between the guitar and the amp.

play with the settings on you amps eq and the pedal and se if anything can be worked out.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Put it in your effects loop and set the delay time from 60ms-90ms. Set the repeate down very very very low and dial the effect in subtly.

Mine just adds a slight shimmer to my tone and makes leads stand out.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Set your delay to create different rhythms in your music. If you're playing a song in 4/4 then set the delay up to create repeats 3 times per bar. This gives you a cool syncopated feel coming from your repeats (but you have to play in time pretty well for it to sound good).

 

[sublimerules9604]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Ok, my only problem is that I dont have an effects loop on the blues jr. Would some of that dialing in stuff work just at the end of my effects chain, or is it ment to be in your effects loop? I tried it out a little more on the cleans and its great not only does it make a cool sound it also helps me stay in time.

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Use the LEVEL control. That's the real key. Turn it DOWN or UP depending on how much of the original signal or the delay signal you want.

 

[Brewtone]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Put it in your effects loop and set the delay time from 60ms-90ms. Set the repeate down very very very low and dial the effect in subtly.

Mine just adds a slight shimmer to my tone and makes leads stand out.

This is exactly how I use it and I love it for lead stuff.

TO my ears you've either got to run it in the loop of an amp or after your dirtboxes to get good tone when using delay.
I never liked the sound of a delay "pre-distortion"

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Delay is an effect that's very easy to overuse. When used properly, for the purposes you state (i.e., thickening up your sound), it should be nearly unnoticeable while you're playing. This is the way guys like Eddie Van Halen used it.

Sparing use of delay and reverb make a record sound quite professional. Overuse of either (or both) are the quickest way to make your recordings sound quite amateur. This is tricky and takes time to get right, but the time you spend tweaking is well worth the effort when all's said and done.

Delays are incredibly useful. Don't ditch yours just yet...you may be sorry later on.

- Keith

 

[sublimerules9604]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

OK, when I get home tonight Ill have to give it some more tweaking, thanks everyone for your help.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Sparing use of delay and reverb make a record sound quite professional. Overuse of either (or both) are the quickest way to make your recordings sound quite amateur. This is tricky and takes time to get right, but the time you spend tweaking is well worth the effort when all's said and done.
/QUOTE]

I'm glad that nobody told David Gilmour, or the Edge that they were being unprofessional and amateurish when they kicked on their delays. And didn't EVH overuse his delay a bit when playing songs like Ain't Talkin' About Love?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

I'm glad that nobody told David Gilmour, or the Edge that they were being unprofessional and amateurish when they kicked on their delays. And didn't EVH overuse his delay a bit when playing songs like Ain't Talkin' About Love?

Easy, killer. The implication is that you can't just turn up the reverb and flip on the delay, then sound professional. The guitarists you mentioned are meticulous about their delay settings, even when they're very prominent. No need to get sarcastic here.

- Keith

 

[Aceman]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Put it in your effects loop and set the delay time from 60ms-90ms. Set the repeate down very very very low and dial the effect in subtly.

Mine just adds a slight shimmer to my tone and makes leads stand out.

+1 It's all about balancing the short time with the right level for that. Get too loud or a little too long in this area and you get a nasty (for good or bad) metallic tone.

And there are ALL sorts of ways to use a delay: Fatten, thin, echo, verb, slap, rhythmically, goffy, space noise, double, more. Experiment!

 

[sublimerules9604]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Yep I think I got it chimed in, it was just a matter of turning the level down ever so slightly until you get away from that metallic tone which is what was bugging me. Doesnt do a whole lot of beefing, but enought to justify it

 

[Mephis]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

It should mainly just add a fluid quality to leads and make them stand out.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

Easy, killer. The implication is that you can't just turn up the reverb and flip on the delay, then sound professional. The guitarists you mentioned are meticulous about their delay settings, even when they're very prominent. No need to get sarcastic here.

- Keith

No sarcasm meant! I have to watch the wording of my posts more I guess. It was just a light hearted comment. All that I meant to point out was that there are two schools of thought when using delays:

1. Use it to improve tone (ie, put the level very low) and thicken things up a bit.
2. Use it to make sounds that you couldn't get without the delay (ie. The Police's Every Breath You Take, EVHs Ain't Talkin Bout Love, Pink Floyd's Run Like Hell, U2s Pride, etc.)

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Delay Pedal Usage???

No sarcasm meant! I have to watch the wording of my posts more I guess. It was just a light hearted comment. All that I meant to point out was that there are two schools of thought when using delays:

1. Use it to improve tone (ie, put the level very low) and thicken things up a bit.
2. Use it to make sounds that you couldn't get without the delay (ie. The Police's Every Breath You Take, EVHs Ain't Talkin Bout Love, Pink Floyd's Run Like Hell, U2s Pride, etc.)

Absolutely. I got the impression that the initial poster was looking to use delay for the first application you list, for which I posted a caution. Using it for the second application, which can go from simple (e.g., slap-back echo) to complex (e.g., the Edge's shimmer effect), is entirely different territory. It's awesome, but you've got to start with the basics first (i.e., the first application) and make sure you can use the effect well.

- Keith