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Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:50 am
by backwardsvoyager
I would say don't be afraid to try cheaper/older/weirder delays. For whatever reason the boss RV-3 and ibanez DML10 suit my playing style better than anything else I've tried. Boutique/expensive isn't always better for you.
Maybe it's time to begin RE201 pedge, phase 1.

Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:56 am
by rfurtkamp
Don't discount the 150 either, you have 2 of the 3 heads and well, the reverb isn't much to write home about on a 201 or 301 or 501.
I like the clarity of the later 201s and the 150s in a lot of respects, and the beautiful thing they do to the signal.
Since I generally only use two heads on any of them I've owned over the years, the 150 was a fine choice for me when I got my most recent a few years back.
That said, they are all an investment of time, maintenance, and money - and require a certain amount of willingness to tove them, tweak them and clean them and deal with their quirks.
For touring or gigging use on a regular basis, I'd leave the box at home and get the Boss one. It's so close that it's just fine and in some respects offers options and choices the original doesn't. I still need one even though I have almost a dozen dedicated delay choices in my closet or the board or the rack.
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 7:17 am
by retinal orbita
I loved the 616 but I just never used it once I got hooked on tap tempo. If they made a 919 I'd buy it in a heartbeat....
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:08 am
by retinal orbita
Bellyheart wrote:Flashback has tap tempo. It's more like pick tempo. You hold the foot switch and then hit the strings twice and then release. I think that is how it's done.
I have the delaylab and it is definitely too big and too much for me specifically. I don't mind the size too much but it is way over the top for what I need.
Gah thank you for that, most certainly NOT what I'm after.
I really like some of the delaylab stuff, the tape, digital and ambient delays are stellar, but I really got sick of scrolling through all those presets to find my saved delays - I'd try to only use banks 1 & 2 but then I'd need to scroll up to get back to 1. Needlessly overcomplicated!!! Plus there's some really stupid delays on there. I wish they'd toned it down a little for practicality's sake....
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:40 am
by OddKnowledge
Delay seems to be such a journey for everyone. There's so many options and different features that, even if what you have suits you perfectly, you can't help but wonder "what if..."
I've been through a lot of delays in the past year and realized that I rarely use most of the available options so a simple delay is all I really need. Then again, that one over there has an oscillation footswitch...
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:47 am
by retinal orbita
I should also say that I never have this problem playing in a band setting, just when I'm futzing around at home. I think I used my DD7 exclusively for the last demo my band recorded and I was totally happy with just a simple delay....
But then I watch the demo for the deluxe memory boy with the note subdivisions and shit and I'm like OMG I need that..... even though how often would I use that feature? Like never.....
I guess what would be awesome for me is something like the Flashback 4x as it has a ton of cool features but everythng is right out in front.... no sub-menus which I hate.....
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:52 am
by coldbrightsunlight
retinal orbita wrote:I should also say that I never have this problem playing in a band setting, just when I'm futzing around at home. I think I used my DD7 exclusively for the last demo my band recorded and I was totally happy with just a simple delay....
But then I watch the demo for the deluxe memory boy with the note subdivisions and shit and I'm like OMG I need that..... even though how often would I use that feature? Like never.....
Haha yeah exactly. The second I play with other people I stop caring about the exact sound of anything, so long as a fuzz makes fuzzy noises and a delay makes delay-y noises I'm satisfied.
If it's features you're after that nothing has have you considered going custom? That's what I'm trying next for my neverending perfect delay quest. We'll see how it works out, I know it won't be perfect but it should be awesome.
If it's sound, try a DMM, they sound incredible.
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:15 am
by retinal orbita
monkeydancer wrote:If it's features you're after that nothing has have you considered going custom? That's what I'm trying next for my neverending perfect delay quest. We'll see how it works out, I know it won't be perfect but it should be awesome.
If it's sound, try a DMM, they sound incredible.
I have thought about a custom job, there's a guy who built my brassmaster clone and he did a great job for a fair price, he makes really cool delays. I actually am really satisfied with my DD7 and SMM/H but the SMM/H isn't mine and I know I'll have to give it back at some point....
I had a big box DMM for years but I sold it for $375 last year and bought a synthesizer. I liked it a lot but it was just not exactly what I wanted. I like the SMM/H a lot more and I think one of the more "deluxe" DMMs might be where I'm at....
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:33 am
by coldbrightsunlight
I sold the DMM because I wanted to try something else, which in retrospect I kind of regret because it was so lush, but the mix control on those fills me with rage so not TOO many regrets. Also it's not as if they're unobtainium so I ever get bitten by that bug again it's easy to get my fix.
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:54 am
by Bellyheart
Had the flashback x4 and was really bored. The tone print thing was cool but the over all sounds were still pretty Boring. Really clean and hard to freak out. The editor came out while I had it and I still wasn't impressed. Might be different for you.
I traded for a delaylab and definitely prefer it over the two. More differences in the delays even if it's over the top at times.
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:55 am
by Hyphen Nation
PumpkinPieces wrote:Looks like you've only tinkered with digital delays, have you tried all analog?
^This…
get out and try some analog delays: lunar echo, EAR AD4096, moog, etc.
I love the modulation available on the Disaster Transport, it is a super cool effect. However, if I am just hitting some delay, it's going to be one of my analog ones.
I was able to be that annoying guy at a guitar shop recently, and demoed a lot of different delays. I don't care how great a digital one is, [and there are really good ones that do what no analog pedal could ever do] they just didn't move me in the same way. The Empress [awesome pedal] DT Sr [also awesome] Strymon, etc, none of those sounded/felt as good some of the simpler analog pedals in the shoot out.
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:18 pm
by retinal orbita
Bellyheart wrote:Had the flashback x4
I traded for a delaylab and definitely prefer it over the two. More differences in the delays even if it's over the top at times.
This exactly what I'm hoping to do. Got an ad on CL now.....
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:07 pm
by ryan summit
i can always find a setting on the delaylab that cuts through
when i got full dirt on both channels
the repeats get lost sometimes
but if i want them back a stereo setting always helps
theres a few panning options that work well too
i got two bugs up my butt with it though
one is i kinda wish there was dedicated time/mix knobs for both channels
and B is a static issue in one channel
i thought it was just my setup
but someone else here is havin the same issue
even with those two things i make do, and love it
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:35 pm
by DarkAxel
DMM is freaking amazing, I'm a huge delay junkie and that thing is the shit
sure it doesn't have the features you mentioned, but it does have THE sound
Re: Never satisfied with my delay
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:45 pm
by Bellyheart
That was me. The delaylab is noisy as hell in my setup. Maybe not others.