Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

[Jeff_H]

So I've never really used stand alone pedals much. I have a big Boss GT-6 that I've had forever and when I wanted effects I'd just use some of the presets it had. But it doesn't play nice with my DSL40c, at least to my ears. So I have a Vapor Trail for delay, but I'm having trouble getting it to sound just right. I'm looking for a tone similar to that in the video below. Just listen to the first 1:10 or so, after that the video switches to a different tone.

Just help me out with where to set the knobs on the Vapor Trail to get this tone, then I can tweak from there. Oh, it is running through the loop. I also have a TC Corona Chorus and a Hall of Fame Reverb in the loop, but use them very lightly if at all. I prefer the ambience of delay to reverb these days.

Thanks.

https://youtu.be/oztvYyu7zzo

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

hes using a digital delay so id start with the rate and depth all the way down. right around 1:00 you can hear how long the delay time is and that hes got a good number of repeats. i dont use mine in the fx loop so not sure where youd want to set your mix knob but start with getting the repeats and time close then blend in the delay till you get what you want

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

Thanks Jeremy. That bit right around 1:00 is the sound I'm looking for. I'll start with your suggestions and see where it get's me. So far if I get the repeats close I can hear the repeats over my playing. I just want the ambiance with the repeats sounding when I trail off playing....

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

the repeats should be quieter than your playing unless you have the mix up pretty high. i put my vapor trail in front of the amp and i think the mix is set around 9 o'clock if i remember correctly

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

Just to chime in. I've used the gt6 since it came out and there isn't much within reason it can't do well...especially delays, reverbs and chorus...the bread and butter of time based effects. But like 99% of all-in-one FX processors most factory presets are junk. Build your own.

What worked well for me...
1)Set your global stuff first
a) output level that matches just your guitar and cable. don't want to add or subtract any level unless we do it at a certain patch for an exact reason.
b) global output to match you rig...combo...stack...etc.
c) global tuner setting to on/off via the currently selected patch pedal ...also set to not mute
d) global setting of expression pedal to volume...min=off max=full up. (now you can tune silently by pulling back on the expression pedal but always be able to bypass the selected patch an keep playing with the gt6 doing nothing but passing dry signal.
e) the unit can be set to act like a bunch of individual stomp boxes or what I call "patch only" operation. I only ever used patch only as I always used it in conjunction with a few stompers like a good old TS9. So select that.
f)find the global eq and set it flat.
g) Can't think of any more global functions that need setting so........

2) Now go to user patch 1-1 and edit out everything creating a completely dry/empty patch...I even erase its name leaving it blank. EQ, model, effects...at all has to go. Now save that to bank one patch one (1-1)

3)Now you've got a blank canvas to create what you need. Copy it to say... 1-2 and get busy. If you like the new one save it. If you need to create a patch that is similar, copy the old one to a new bank and number and fine tune it. Say you want a delay patch like an old one but with just a different time. Don't start from scratch. Just tweak an old one and save it someplace else.

In general delays run into the front of an amp set to a high gain setting will be very pronounced. So delay patches created to run into high gain need the mix level set pretty low. The same patch into a dead clean amp won't be nearly as pronounced. Reverbs and Chorus don't suffer nearly the same effect. But that's why amp fx loops are preferred for time based effects. But with some planning you can run everything in front and be just fine. I certainly have for 20+ years.

So anyhoo...just what worked for me...maybe don't give up on that old boat anchor just yet .

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

howd ya make out jeff?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

I dunno man.
He's using a very different amp.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

i cant imagine the bluesbreaker clone hes using has a loop either

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

Hey guys. I just haven't had much time to mess with it the last little bit. The amp I have is the DSL40c, so it does have a good loop. I did a basic tweak to your suggested settings Jeremy and it was much better. Much. Now I just need to dial in a more exact sound and refine it.

I may have more questions coming up.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

yes, we know yours has a loop. they guy in the video doesnt so he is putting the delay in front of the amp and using pedals for at least some of the drive. glad you are getting closer. its a cool pedal

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

Oh see, I'm totally dense. I thought maybe you guys got my kind of amp mixed up with someone else; it's not like any of you have time to keep up with my gear, LOL.

A lot of guys manage to get a great sound with everything in front of the amp, but it all never quite worked out for me that way. At some point this year or early next year my plan is to pick up a head and 2x12. It's likely going to be a Friedman Runt 50. It's more affordable than his other stuff but still sounds great. I've always wanted a Splawn Quick Rod in a 50w version, but you never see those used. New, they are almost as much as a 100W and they're really more amp than I need. If at some point I can afford it comfortably then maybe I'll scratch that itch, but who knows.

Ceriatone also makes some nice amps and a Silver Jubilee model in lower wattage sounds like something I would like, but I like having separate eq for the clean and dirty, even if the clean eq is very basic.

Anyhow, I'll check back with you guys on the vapor trail. I really like the sound of the pedal, so I know I can make it work for me.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking For Setting Help w/ My Vapor Trail

most of my amps are old school so dont have a loop but ive used the vapor trail in the loop of my bad cat and it worked great. im sure youll get close to what you want with a little futzing around