How do YOU use Delays

[koula901]

In another thread, I found the following statement, by the esteemed Rockabily very interesting:

 

"I had the Delay beat timed to the drummer, with just enough decay to get to the end of the measures."

 

I have never given it so much thought, but am at a loss as to how to set the delay at times. I know if the delay beat is off, it sounds terrible.

 

What do you guys do?

 

[Billgelder]

Delay Time Calculator

 

http://www.guitar9.com/delaytime.html

[schundog]

Me Like Overdrive better; Overdrive easy; stomp on... stomp off... I'm only half kidding. I never use any long delays. If/when I use it, I have it set for more of a slapback setting, or a little longer, just to thicken things up. I admire guys/gals that have better timing than I have, and can do the U2's Edge thing; it sounds glorious.

[Genericmusic]

Delay Time Calculator

 

http://www.guitar9.com/delaytime.html

That's pretty cool. Thanks for posting.

[tulk1]

I have my delay set for about 2 repeats that can be actually heard above the band. The rest come across as just ambient reflections (ha!) creating sort of a reverb flood.

[SouthpawGuy]

Personally ...

 

 

[DetroitBlues]

I have always used mine as a slap echo, very close to a longer reverb like ambient sound...

[koula901]

Personally ...

 

 

LOL!

[JeffB]

I use/ed two. One set long one set short. Some times I even remember/ed to turn them on. Never use more than one quieter repeat. Unless its a U2 song.

I suck at tap tempo. Always feel like theres something else I would rather do than think about things.

[Genericmusic]

I usually use a delay when I don't want to do something. But... it usually just delays the inevitable.

[Kuz]

I am a delay junky! Why? Because it makes you sound so big and round. Also because it makes you sound like a better player than you really are. The whole David Gilmore thing.,. You sound bigger and faster. The guys that play dead clean dry are the real players (like blue grass, jazziers, and country players).

With all that said I like one audible repeat and a small amount of lower volume feedback/repeat.

[Billgelder]

I am a delay junky! Why? Because it makes you sound so big and round. Also because it makes you sound like a better player than you really are. The whole David Gilmore thing.,. You sound bigger and faster. The guys that play dead clean dry are the real players (like blue grass, jazziers, and country players).

With all that said I like one audible repeat and a small amount of lower volume feedback/repeat.

What if you are already BIG and ROUND like me? ..... like me?.........like me?.....like me?....

[schundog]

Beat me to it, haha

[smurph1]

In another thread, I found the following statement, by the esteemed Rockabily very interesting:

 

"I had the Delay beat timed to the drummer, with just enough decay to get to the end of the measures."

 

I have never given it so much thought, but am at a loss as to how to set the delay at times. I know if the delay beat is off, it sounds terrible.

 

What do you guys do?

 

Katy, I know I'm in the vast minority here, but I have never bonded with delays.. I tend to use a touch of amp reverb instead.. My 2 cents..

[Kuz]

Katy, I know I'm in the vast minority here, but I have never bonded with delays.. I tend to use a touch of amp reverb instead.. My 2 cents..

 

It is my opinion (and just mine) that reverb can make your tone get muddy sounding with only a little use. Delay on the other hand, not so much. Your version may vary.

[LK155]

This doesn't really answer the original question, but ever since I got my Carbon Copy Analog Delay and, through experimentation, found some settings I liked, the Reverb level on the Vibrolux has stayed at zero. And prior to the CC, I thought the Fender reverb was spendid.

[Trouble]

I wasn't gonna jump in on this but there is something I've been doing recently that hasn't been covered. I've been using a short slapback delay for years, for twangy country, rockabilly and '50's rock type stuff, and sometimes a longer delay for Gilmour type stuff although I've haven't gotten into The Edge type playing as of yet.

 

The last couple of gigs I've been using 2 amps, a 50w Peavey Valveking that has a pretty nice spring reverb and solid bass, the other is the KBP 5e3 so no reverb.

 

What I've been doing is running the signal from my pedalboard before my delay's to the Valveking, and keeping a little reverb on, and then running my whole board plus delay's out to the KBP. I always have a little reverb, and then the delay on one side if I want it, I have never liked delay on top of reverb, so I don't have to reach back and turn the reverb down when I turn the delay on.

 

I really like this setup, especially since the two amps are very different from each other. And as far as what my delay settings are, one is really short one repeat almost equal (just below) volume to the original note gets used most. one set a little longer with about 3 repeats with the volume lower than the original note, gets used rarely when I'm in a weird mood.

[rockabilly69]

Reverb after the delay can help smooth the edge of the repeats on longer delays, but it is very important to use it sparingly. As Kuz stated reverb can lead to the mud!

 

Slapback delays 80-120ms with one repeat set to slightly less then the original signal volume are pretty much standard in Rockabilly music for that SUN records tone,

and with my screen name you can probably imagine I like that sound. Closer to 80ms it sounds like a double, closer to 120ms and it sounds like a slapback. I typically

assign the same reverb to my voice when I'm singing that kind of material!

[bolero]

I just stomp on delay sometimes when I want to add some girth to my solos....but eating a big burrito before the gig aften does the same

[SouthpawGuy]

I just stomp on delay sometimes when I want to add some girth to my solos....but eating a big burrito before the gig aften does the same

 

... and I bet that adds a few repeats of its own

[bobmeyrick]

I usually just use a little bit of slapback echo on occasion, but someone I really liked for his distinctive use of delay was John Martyn. He could build up some fantastic sonic textures with that Echoplex...

 

[bobmeyrick]

Here's another, rather different use of delay by John Martyn. I love this tune.

 

 

[koula901]

I like when he uses the volume pedal with it - very nice effect.

[rockabilly69]

I like when he uses the volume pedal with it - very nice effect.

 

This is a good example of a delay filling in the sound to the next measure.

 

[koula901]

I heard it - nice effect.

 

Rockabilly - may I say, you really rocked that tune! Oh yeah! Love that country blues!