The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
I'm not a huge delay fan, unless it's just screwing around, like making really goofy whammy bar noises.
My best delay advice is be creative with it, like Tom Morello (using it in conjunction with a whammy pedal for faux-harmonizing). I also have a lot of fun using it for making two-part noise layers.
Also, use it sparingly.
I'm not a huge delay fan, unless it's just screwing around, like making really goofy whammy bar noises.
My best delay advice is be creative with it, like Tom Morello (using it in conjunction with a whammy pedal for faux-harmonizing). I also have a lot of fun using it for making two-part noise layers.
Also, use it sparingly.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
Here's some stuff I've figured out....
Slapback and short delays, use analog.
Medium and long delays, digital's fine.
The DigiDelay is surpisingly good, and the tape sim is killer for the price.
The Ibanez DE-7 self oscillates.
The Boss DD-2 & DD-3 are analog delay circuits with a digital chip....so the repeats tend to degrade in a manner similar to analog.
The DD-6 fixes everything that was wrong with the DD-5.
The Maxon AD-9 is a sweet analog delay.
The Maxon AD-999 makes the AD-9 sound like trash.
Running two delays in series can give a good, reverb-ish lead tone.
Running two delays in parallel (into two different amps), one set to a short delay, the other set to a longer (eg, 250ms & 650ms) sounds killer. I do this so that I get a clean slapback on one channel, but a long trailing ambience on the other. The combined volume of the original dry signal through both channels keeps the repeats from taking over in the mix.
Everyone should try running a chorus after the delay at least once.
Here's some stuff I've figured out....
Slapback and short delays, use analog.
Medium and long delays, digital's fine.
The DigiDelay is surpisingly good, and the tape sim is killer for the price.
The Ibanez DE-7 self oscillates.
The Boss DD-2 & DD-3 are analog delay circuits with a digital chip....so the repeats tend to degrade in a manner similar to analog.
The DD-6 fixes everything that was wrong with the DD-5.
The Maxon AD-9 is a sweet analog delay.
The Maxon AD-999 makes the AD-9 sound like trash.
Running two delays in series can give a good, reverb-ish lead tone.
Running two delays in parallel (into two different amps), one set to a short delay, the other set to a longer (eg, 250ms & 650ms) sounds killer. I do this so that I get a clean slapback on one channel, but a long trailing ambience on the other. The combined volume of the original dry signal through both channels keeps the repeats from taking over in the mix.
Everyone should try running a chorus after the delay at least once.
RGN
New member
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
I like a little delay on my lead tone... usually a subtle 400MS, 20% feedback, about 18-22% as loud as the dry signal. I think delay sounds great in a parallel effects loop if it is a good unit. I use a TC Electronics G-Force and have since '98. It is bullet proof and sounds great. The G-Major is probably great too- it wasn't available when I bought my rack stuff. The Fulltone Echoplex thing looks really interesting but I think I am sticking with the modern offering and avoiding a few tape delay headaches. Anyone tried that Fulltone yet? It sounds pretty amazing. If you are really needing that beautiful Eric Johnson clean delay sound I think the Fulltone is your solution.
Fulltone Echoplex MP3
I f-ing LOVE the way that sounds!!!! Beautiful sounding delay!
I like a little delay on my lead tone... usually a subtle 400MS, 20% feedback, about 18-22% as loud as the dry signal. I think delay sounds great in a parallel effects loop if it is a good unit. I use a TC Electronics G-Force and have since '98. It is bullet proof and sounds great. The G-Major is probably great too- it wasn't available when I bought my rack stuff. The Fulltone Echoplex thing looks really interesting but I think I am sticking with the modern offering and avoiding a few tape delay headaches. Anyone tried that Fulltone yet? It sounds pretty amazing. If you are really needing that beautiful Eric Johnson clean delay sound I think the Fulltone is your solution.
Fulltone Echoplex MP3
I f-ing LOVE the way that sounds!!!! Beautiful sounding delay!
Last edited:
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
I use long and longer delays...my Line6 DL4 (my fav pedal based dealy) has great oscillation, reverse and modulated delays, and 28 seconds of looping....my Oberheim Digital Echoplex Pro has 3 mins of looping time...I use this for live compositions- lots of live looping capability, foward, reverse, half-speed, etc...
For creative delay use, check out Robert Fripp's 'Let the Power Fall' and any of his 'Soundscape' releases...also David Torn's 'What Means Solid, Traveller' and 'Tripping Over God'.
Give me a delay pedal & an Ebow, and I'm in heaven.
I use long and longer delays...my Line6 DL4 (my fav pedal based dealy) has great oscillation, reverse and modulated delays, and 28 seconds of looping....my Oberheim Digital Echoplex Pro has 3 mins of looping time...I use this for live compositions- lots of live looping capability, foward, reverse, half-speed, etc...
For creative delay use, check out Robert Fripp's 'Let the Power Fall' and any of his 'Soundscape' releases...also David Torn's 'What Means Solid, Traveller' and 'Tripping Over God'.
Give me a delay pedal & an Ebow, and I'm in heaven.
Hellion
New member
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
My guitar tone is totally wet. I use varying degrees of echo and distortion. With echo, keep the level below that of the original signal, and I wouldn't recommend more than 2 generations of signal. The most lengthy delay I use is 0.45 seconds, which is plenty long and will give you a LOT of depth.
My guitar tone is totally wet. I use varying degrees of echo and distortion. With echo, keep the level below that of the original signal, and I wouldn't recommend more than 2 generations of signal. The most lengthy delay I use is 0.45 seconds, which is plenty long and will give you a LOT of depth.
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
i dont feel the need for paying a hundred dollars on a pedal. when i play live in firehall type places(or BIG places) my sound reverbs and echoes naturally of the walls. i like a slight delay sometimes on slow chord progressions cause with the right strumming tempo it can kinda sound like your doublling ur sound or playing 2 guitars at once. its too late. i have no idea what im talkin about anymore.
peace.
i dont feel the need for paying a hundred dollars on a pedal. when i play live in firehall type places(or BIG places) my sound reverbs and echoes naturally of the walls. i like a slight delay sometimes on slow chord progressions cause with the right strumming tempo it can kinda sound like your doublling ur sound or playing 2 guitars at once. its too late. i have no idea what im talkin about anymore.
peace.
CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
Both Marc Ford and Rich Robinson are using the Fulltone units on stage now, and when I saw them, they sounded FANTASTIC..but they've got top notch gear to begin with (Harry Joyce, Roccaforte, modded Marshalls, Fulltone tape echoes, etc)
RGN said:I like a little delay on my lead tone... usually a subtle 400MS, 20% feedback, about 18-22% as loud as the dry signal. I think delay sounds great in a parallel effects loop if it is a good unit. I use a TC Electronics G-Force and have since '98. It is bullet proof and sounds great. The G-Major is probably great too- it wasn't available when I bought my rack stuff. The Fulltone Echoplex thing looks really interesting but I think I am sticking with the modern offering and avoiding a few tape delay headaches. Anyone tried that Fulltone yet? It sounds pretty amazing. If you are really needing that beautiful Eric Johnson clean delay sound I think the Fulltone is your solution.
Fulltone Echoplex MP3
I f-ing LOVE the way that sounds!!!! Beautiful sounding delay!
Both Marc Ford and Rich Robinson are using the Fulltone units on stage now, and when I saw them, they sounded FANTASTIC..but they've got top notch gear to begin with (Harry Joyce, Roccaforte, modded Marshalls, Fulltone tape echoes, etc)
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
To me, tasteful delay means as little as possible. A good example of overuse is Mars Volta.
To me, tasteful delay means as little as possible. A good example of overuse is Mars Volta.
MikeRocker
What's Your Forum Nameologist?
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
Slapback is great, and so is the old dotted eighth note trick, as used by The Edge, Albert Lee, The Hellecasters, EVH, etc. This is when you set the delay to play in tempo between every two notes that you play with the level about the same as the original note and one or maybe two (trailing off) repeats.
Graphical example (plain #'s are played by you, #'s in brackets are produced by the delay)
You play: 1 2 3 4, etc.
and it sounds like: 1 2 (1) 3 (2) 4 (3), etc.
Examples:
The 'Casters (I think John Jorgenson) - "Orange Blossom Special"
The BoDeans - "Good Things"
EVH - "Cathedral"
The Edge - A bunch of stuff, "Pride (In The Name of Love)" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" come to mind
A lot of people have used this trick, but it sounds great, very cool ambient/textured sound. You gotta make sure that the timing is correct, and that the drummer doesn't vary the tempo. Tap-settable delays help. It's a testament to how good a drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. is that in the old days (before MIDI triggering and tap tempo delays) he could follow The Edge, who was setting the tempo with his delay, and not vary the timing.
Oh, and the DD-20 rules.
Slapback is great, and so is the old dotted eighth note trick, as used by The Edge, Albert Lee, The Hellecasters, EVH, etc. This is when you set the delay to play in tempo between every two notes that you play with the level about the same as the original note and one or maybe two (trailing off) repeats.
Graphical example (plain #'s are played by you, #'s in brackets are produced by the delay)
You play: 1 2 3 4, etc.
and it sounds like: 1 2 (1) 3 (2) 4 (3), etc.
Examples:
The 'Casters (I think John Jorgenson) - "Orange Blossom Special"
The BoDeans - "Good Things"
EVH - "Cathedral"
The Edge - A bunch of stuff, "Pride (In The Name of Love)" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" come to mind
A lot of people have used this trick, but it sounds great, very cool ambient/textured sound. You gotta make sure that the timing is correct, and that the drummer doesn't vary the tempo. Tap-settable delays help. It's a testament to how good a drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. is that in the old days (before MIDI triggering and tap tempo delays) he could follow The Edge, who was setting the tempo with his delay, and not vary the timing.
Oh, and the DD-20 rules.
Imp
New member
Re: The Care and Feeding of Delay Effects
the best delay is one you can't hear
no-one can go 'oh, it's too much' if it fits properly with the song heh - i like it for doubling on solos and ambient stuff, i dont really have a use for slapback..
i've owned the Danelectro Dan Echo, DD-3 and RV-3, and whilst i agree the reverb is a bit bright, the RV-3 has the longest delay of the three.. the dan echo does sound surprisingly good though! i'd recommend it!
tom
the best delay is one you can't hear
no-one can go 'oh, it's too much' if it fits properly with the song heh - i like it for doubling on solos and ambient stuff, i dont really have a use for slapback..i've owned the Danelectro Dan Echo, DD-3 and RV-3, and whilst i agree the reverb is a bit bright, the RV-3 has the longest delay of the three.. the dan echo does sound surprisingly good though! i'd recommend it!
tom
