Disaster Transport and Ghost Echo vs. Dispatch Master

[fungalattack]

Okey. So I have been lurking and using the search and looking up all about the Disaster transport and ghost echo and dispatch master. So I just acquired a handful of dirt pedals and now want to get some modulation, while maintaining a fairly minimal setup. I really really love the darkness of the DT. It is just sexxy sounding. I tend to favor a nice atmospheric delay to a reverb but having a splash of reverb would add a little bit more atmosphere. I tend to play down-tuned sludgey heavyiness. The Dispatch master covers both bases but I prefer the darkness, "anti-moderness" of the DT. Do you think it would be silly to buy both the DT and GE when I can just get a DM for half the cost? Sure moaaaaaarrrr equipment is moarrr toanz and moarrr fun, but I am trying to budget my money effectively. I know it is more versatile to have both but I am torn. I was much more wow-ed by how the DT reacts with fuzzies and dirt. I wasn't as wow-ed by the DM but I was quite impressed I also love the modulation of the DT. I would most likely use it subtlety and not get to crazy with the long delays but it would be cool to experiment with the weirdness in the comfort of my bedrooms so I don't have to agonize my bandmates (although I don't think I would agonize them because all the sounds coming from the DT sound greeeeeaaaaat to my ears). Or maybe I will just get the DT and hold off on the reverb because it can almost sound like a subtle reverb at certain settings. I understand it is all a matter of personal preference but I would love to hear what y'all think on these wonderful products. Sorry if I am rambling a bit! Thanks again fellow ILFers!!!!!! Any tips or advice from you experienced peoples? All the advice would be much appreciated.

[MaggotBrainNY]

I can only speak to the Ghost Echo... thing is fucking awesome. From what I gather listening to Jamie's demo of the DM, the reverb component sounds a lot "prettier" and cleaner/clearer than the Ghost Echo, which, to my ears, has some filth to it. It's got the grime and character of an old spring, without all the "boing!!!". The name is all too appropriate. It's very spooky and dark sounding. Sometimes at shows, I'll just hammer the muted strings on my SG and let the reverb blast out of my amp... I've seen it actually startle people in the crowd. One thing I love about old spring reverbs, is that with age, they get flawed and have what I've actually referred to as "ghosts" in them.... meaning seemingly random occurrences that happen within the circuit, or in the case of amps, springs without warning. The GE has that element to it, without the concern of it dying, or losing that part (similar to using a tape echo with an old, wrinkly, dirty, beat up cartridge in it).

I play heavy shit as well, and find the GE is a fantastic compliment to what I'm feeding it. Handles the insane amount of distortion and fuzz I throw at it with ease.The attack control, alone, in combination with a delay, or just by itself, is worth the price of admission. I've been able to get some SERIOUSLY trippy atmospheric shit happening by timing the attack of the GE to some sort of sub-division of whatever beat my Memory Man is pulsing. I'll never want another reverb (I don't think), outside what comes in old Ampeg combo amps like a Reverberocket or Gemini, which in my experience were my previous favorites.

It's also capable of getting that old Morricone-style drenched effect that you hear on classic recordings, or super-subtle space around whatever you're playing. And the attack, much like using pre-delay on a reverb send when mixing int he studio, allows the initial transient or fundamental of the note/chord you're playing to get through without sounding washed out, even if you have the depth up high.

I would also note that the self-oscillation that happens when you crank the Dwell control can be loads of fun as well.

[t-rey]

Yep - there is something special about the Ghost Echo. If you want darker, dirtier, (for lack of a better word) more vintage sounding delay and echo, you really can't go wrong with the DT and GE combo. Or find a Ghost Disaster.

[fungalattack]

I agree I feel the DM sounds a bit cleaner and polished than the darkness, grit of the ghost echo. Thank you both posts are very helpful. I will probably just say fuck eeeet and get both the DT and GE to expand my sound. The ghost disaster seems cool but I like the modulation control of the DT.

[Plastic_Telos]

I can speak to the ghost echo/disaster transport combo being beautiful filthy combination. I don't play heavy stuff so much but a lot of droney, post-rock, minimal type stuff and the beauty of this combo is unreal. Amazing textures. I recently added a rainbow machine in to equation and the spectrum of effects--from super washed out ambience, to really dynamic playable effects- is just sweeeeeeeet. Also, being able to turn the modulation on in the midst of everything and completely change textures is great.

[julius_deane]

The main reason I got rid of the Disaster Transport (even though it's one of my favorite pedals ever), is exactly this. It's smeared and indefinite and filthy and damn near broken as a delay. It's perfect.
It just wasn't working for most of what I was doing.
It also has the best oscillation I've ever heard from a digital delay.

And you guys are making me wish I had a GE.

[fungalattack]

Filthy and smeared is exactly what I am going for!! I can't wait to create some noisy, atmospheric sonic waves of destruction! Again thanks for the input. It is very reassuring

[WeHuntKings]

And you guys are making me wish I had a GE.

i think you all have convinced me of my next pedal desire.

[MEC]

My vote goes to the DM, although you can't really go wrong with
any of the combinations mentioned above.

If you want an example of how the DM sounds with heavy dirt check out
my Bandcamp: http://remainstheband.bandcamp.com/
The DM is the only non dirt pedal I used on that recording.

[fungalattack]

My vote goes to the DM, although you can't really go wrong with
any of the combinations mentioned above.

If you want an example of how the DM sounds with heavy dirt check out
my Bandcamp: http://remainstheband.bandcamp.com/
The DM is the only non dirt pedal I used on that recording.

Wow the guitar sounds really awesome and I am really diggin your songs and style! Nice job! Just curious, what dirt pedals are you using?

[MEC]

My vote goes to the DM, although you can't really go wrong with
any of the combinations mentioned above.
If you want an example of how the DM sounds with heavy dirt check out
my Bandcamp: http://remainstheband.bandcamp.com/
The DM is the only non dirt pedal I used on that recording.

Wow the guitar sounds really awesome and I am really diggin your songs and style! Nice job! Just curious, what dirt pedals are you using?

Thanks!
95% of the time it was Earthbound Supercollider>Earthbound Centurion>BAT Pharaoh>DM.
On the "cleaner" parts I turned the Centurion off.

[fungalattack]

I like the minimalism of that setup a lot, yet it still sounds full and sexxifying to my ears. I tend to favor a bunch of dirt pedals and one or two other pedals that are filthy like the EQD pedals. I want to enhance the atmosphere of the fuzzy-ness and you do that very nicely and more importantly, tastefully, on those songs!

[DarkAxel]

Disaster Transport = the best analog delay sounds i've heard. Awesome haunting sound, great modulations... i used o have the first version and my only beef with it as that it oscillated too soon for me. I'd probably take it back in no time now, though. Oh and when desired, those oscillations are spectacular!

i can imagine that combined with Ghost Echo, it'll be pretty awesome.

Dispatch Master on the other hand... sounds clean, no oscillations...just a completely different beast

[fungalattack]

Hmm. interesting. I like the haunting-ness of it. I feel like the el capistan is a really cool delay with a lot of features but I dont really need all those features just a nice haunting atmosphere booster. Hmm I tend to hold out some chords, does it oscillate after a couple or seconds? can you the oscillations be tamed even with loads of fuzz?

[coldbrightsunlight]

I have a DT Jr and I find it has the most 'headroom' before oscillation of any analog/analog sim delay I've tried. It can do loads of repeats without oscillating, or you can keep it in that awesome place where if you play hard you can get it to oscillate a bit, and you're barely in control and it's very fun. The DT sounds amazing for haunting, long chords, it can repeat nearly forever (well, a long time, about 10x better than the analogue delays I've had) without oscillating.