Hey Justin, I've been really enjoying your forum. Thanks so much for your valuable insight!

I've been wanting to incorporate delay into my bass playing for a while. I know that guitar players often set the delay effect to the tempo of the song (via tap-tempo ect...). Do you find that to be important on bass as well? I guess what I'm concerned about is crossing the line from playing a cool bass line into just making things muddy and getting in the way of the other musicians. What are your thoughts on it?

Hey Justin, I've been really enjoying your forum. Thanks so much for your valuable insight!

I've been wanting to incorporate delay into my bass playing for a while. I know that guitar players often set the delay effect to the tempo of the song (via tap-tempo ect...). Do you find that to be important on bass as well? I guess what I'm concerned about is crossing the line from playing a cool bass line into just making things muddy and getting in the way of the other musicians. What are your thoughts on it?

It's not "important" on bass, per se, but I use it all the time. I use multiple delays to make "clouds" of sound that serve as transitions into and between sections and do the occasional timed delay part on songs too. I couldn't live without it, but it doesn't show up on every record I do by a long shot.

JMJ

I'm curious Justin, do you favor a particular delay unit? If so what pedal might that be if you are will to share with us. My favorite delay at the moment is an Ibanez DE7 because I've had it the longest and understand it's simplistic programmability. I just purchased a DL4 which I've tried before. The controls are a bit different and not really informative on what they are doing but I really like the sounds that come out, guess I just need more time with the manual.

To the OP, Tap-tempo can be really useful. I like using it for different delay times during time changes in a song because it is way easier than kneeling down and turning some knobs, but there is no real bar set as far as delay on bass and there are no cons to having the option of tap-tempo. Man I'm not if that will make sense to anyone.....well, I tried.

just experiment...isn't that what effects are about?

I'm curious Justin, do you favor a particular delay unit? If so what pedal might that be if you are will to share with us. My favorite delay at the moment is an Ibanez DE7 because I've had it the longest and understand it's simplistic programmability. I just purchased a DL4 which I've tried before. The controls are a bit different and not really informative on what they are doing but I really like the sounds that come out, guess I just need more time with the manual.

To the OP, Tap-tempo can be really useful. I like using it for different delay times during time changes in a song because it is way easier than kneeling down and turning some knobs, but there is no real bar set as far as delay on bass and there are no cons to having the option of tap-tempo. Man I'm not if that will make sense to anyone.....well, I tried.

just experiment...isn't that what effects are about?

I have all kinds of delays, my absolute fave of all time is the Guyatone MD2. Not made anymore, though. DL4's are good sounding and handy for tempo-matched programs during a set, that's why I have one. New MXR Carbon Copy is gorgeous, BLack BOx Quicksilver is on my list. Experiment! Don't think about it!! Just play!!

JMJ

hey justin can you give me an example of a song that has some of your delay in it cause im not for sure what you ment when you explained where you use it

im kind of new to bass only played for a year now

hey justin can you give me an example of a song that has some of your delay in it cause im not for sure what you ment when you explained where you use it

im kind of new to bass only played for a year now

Some obvious ones:
Ima Robot "STD Dance", "Ages of Ruin", "Dirty Life"
CHarlotte Martin "Steel"

Verious Beck, Tori Amos, Air. Many other places where you can't tell it's a bass. Several movie scores, lots of records. I use it more for sound design purposes, rather than the obvious "Hey - there's a bass with delay on it".

JMJ

Justin, Dirty Life is probably my favorite Ima tune...amazing bass lines. What delay pedal are you using on that tune? I have monkeyed with delays, but always felt they compromised the low end. Dirty Life certainly doesn't have a problem with the lows. Thanks!

Dirty Life is a Guyatone MD2. The reason why it keeps the lows isn't the pedal; it's that the signal is split into three sources. DI, guitar amp, and bass amp. The DI is clean, hence good bottom end is retained. I don't mind losing some lows, though. Not a biggie for me live.

JMJ

o justin dude thanks i think now i have an idea how to get started and man i have to say your one of my top five favorite bassists and this is why cause you would go and help fans like this

Sorry to hi-jack an old thread but , I've always liked STD Dance and your work in Ima Robot. I was wondering what effects (other than delay) you used on that song ? Also is that you playing the sorta envelope filter sounding line that comes in about 30 sec. in ?

Thanks for the info and sharing your knowledge and experience with us ! You are one of my favorite players and influences !

Rich

That's a Moog Multimoog playing along with me.

You're welcome!

Best,
JMJ

Ok, bump. Justin, I was wondering, have you ever used the Moog EP-2 with your Line 6 DL-4? Partially because I want to know if the Moog is compatable with the DL-4, and also because I was wondering what kind of results you got using Exp. on the delay.

No idea. I use line 6 expression on DL-4.

Hi Justin, I wanted to ask you about your MD-2. Have you compared it to the MD-3? What exactly is the difference? Also I don't know if you've seen the new Guyatone MDm5 but if you have maybe you can share your thoughts on that...

Thanks!

The MD-2 is dirty, and f*#$ed up sounding. The MD-3 is cleaner, but has longer delay times. I bought every MD-2 I could find, it's become such a personal thing for me.