I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

[GuitarGuy503]

I've tried to like delay but in my experience it's such a finicky effect. I am constantly playing with settings and can't seem to find that one setting to use. I'm not so much into the repeats part of delay but more so using it to create a cleaner reverb type sound. Having said that, am I the only one that struggles so much with delay? I remember a music store employee once saying "delay is a tough effect to master". Indeed IMO.

 

[James Rock]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

You really have to play around the delay which usually means playing more rythmically with single note lines and playing with lots of space unless your just using delay for that 80s solo tone. For that reverb type tone you need filtering of someform whether filtered delays or analog or tape, lower level and medium amount of feedback otherwise it tends to get in the way, that said I rarely feel delay is cleaner then reverb tbh.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

They sound great in bypass mode.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

What is the problem??
It is just repeating what you're playing?

 

[blueman335]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

For me, the best use of delay is a single repeat, not too loud, that gives a fuller sound to your playing. Hearing that single repeat when you pause, is a classy thing. When you go beyond a single repeat, then it gets tricky, and you can have a confused mess if you over do it.

 

[trevorus]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

I have at least 2 delays on my board, and likely 2 reverbs. One tap tempo delay, one set for that dotted thirds U2 type of thing. If you want that short thickening delay, you need one geared for that. The short analog delays are great for that. Don't get too crazy into the Boss DD stuff or anything like that.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

For me, the best use of delay is a single repeat, not too loud, that gives a fuller sound to your playing. Hearing that single repeat when you pause, is a classy thing. When you go beyond a single repeat, then it gets tricky, and you can have a confused mess if you over do it.

Heh, I use delay the same way. But for me its that a ton of repeats will clutter up a good high gain tone where a single simple slap back gives it some breadth and depth.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

On a more serious, allthough delayed note, set the effect low and turn up the repeats for a more verby sound....

 

[aleclee]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

On a more serious, allthough delayed note, set the effect low and turn up the repeats for a more verby sound....

+1

Also, keep the delay time short (~250ms) and you can play at most temps without issue.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

I'm not an expert by any means. While long delays and lots of repeats can sound cool in certain circumstances, I've found the following to sound best during average playing...

Fairly short delay time
Only a couple of repeats
About 75% mix

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

I have the Boss-DD3 and have had it for almost 2 years and I have never been able to dial in a good sounding delay. But, stupid me has been trying to get a good delay through a processor with it....Not anymore, now im going into the actual amp and I couldnt be happier....But it is a pain to dial it in though

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

Delays to me are like P90s...sound incredible when others use them but I can never use them for my stuff. I prefer Reverbs to Delays personally.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

The key is the mix knob. Set it low enough that you "feel" the echo rather than hear it. See if you can use a built in function to make the repeats darker as they sustain. This pushes them back in the mix. Also, I like a few repeats, but at that mix they die out rather quickly. I also agree that shorter is easier to use than longer. Longer times kind of need to be tempo synced, but sometimes random can work.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

Heh, I use delay the same way. But for me its that a ton of repeats will clutter up a good high gain tone where a single simple slap back gives it some breadth and depth.

True. Delay/echo is a cool sound, but with more than a repeat or two, there's not many songs where it really contributes anything. It's something that can easily be overdone and become tiring (as does using too much reverb). If you're playing psychedelic or ambient music, delay has more applications. I'm a big fan of the old tape echoes, with a trail of gritty decaying repeats, but to be effective it has to be used sparingly.

And as was said, it needs to be low enough in the mix so that you're not fighting the repeats and confusing yourself and everyone listening.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

You have to try more than one delay pedal to get experience in what's out there. If you have just one, you generalize. Yet they all can be different sounding or are controlled differently, some easier than others. Or some sounds better for what you like.

i have 4, i ended up liking the Ibanez DE7 in the effects loop. in front of amp, it sounds like shiette

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

Delay is an interesting effect. I avoided it for a long time, but I've been using it for the last few years. Like all my effects, I try to use it tastefully and judiciously. There's are a lot of players that really make me wonder if they can actually play a single lick without it.

Don't be surprised if you wind up with two or three different delays on your board. You might want a basic digital, an analog or tape delay simulator, and a programmable multi-delay with tap-tempo.

There are several artists that layer their delays...Andy Timmons and Joe Satriani come to mind. If that's the type of sound you're looking for, be prepared to copy the rig of your favorite artist. Do remember that trying to copy recorded tones with mere pedals can lead to frustration of the Nth degree.

Best case scenario, you keep learning, listening and adjusting until you learn what works for each song. And then eventually, the light comes on and you develope your "signature" delay settings...that all of us will be trying to copy!

Good luck!

Bill

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

Delay in the FX loop set at 400ms with 3-4 repeats low in the mix, 15% or so, and you can leave it on all the time. With it set like that it just fattens things up, adds some life and air and is only really noticeable when you stop playing and you hear the repeats.

 

[Diego]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

I had a Boss DD5 and it made me hate delay altogether. Sounded really bad, dry and dead.

I prefer thicker/darker sounding units, what you'd associate with analog delays. Not too long delay time, go easy on the feedback, set mix to taste and if it doubt, go lower.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

low in the mix... it just fattens things up, adds some life and air and is only really noticeable when you stop playing and you hear the repeats.

+1. That's where delay really shines, especially for solos.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: I've tried to like delay but it's such a finicky effect in my experience...

Delay in the FX loop set at 400ms with 3-4 repeats low in the mix, 15% or so, and you can leave it on all the time. With it set like that it just fattens things up, adds some life and air and is only really noticeable when you stop playing and you hear the repeats.

That's pretty much how I do it as well. Every once in a while I find a song where it helps to tap the tempo in before the quick stop, but for the most part I can leave it alone without any trouble.