Sensible Use for a Rack Analog Delay?

Bongolation · #1 05-17-2010, 11:57 PM

Many years ago I bought an Ibanez DM500 rack analog delay unit when I wasn't thinking clearly and put it away with other stuff for which I had no immediate use:

I found it the other day and was wondering if there was any earthly use for this with bass. The only thing that came to mind would be a single-iteration short delay to fatten the sound, but I'm not a big effects user with bass.

Any thoughts?

Any good linkable audio examples?

As always, many thanks for any useful information!

Taylor Livingston · #2 05-18-2010, 12:14 AM

You sure that's analog? Everything I'm finding online says it's a digital delay. Seems it has a modulation section, which is cool, but only 256ms delay time, which is pretty uncool.

If you've played around with it and can't make it do anything that you like, then it could very well not be for you. A 256ms delay in a 1U rack is not something I would even find useful, and I am a big effects user on bass.

It's probably fairly low bit depth (8-12 bit) which a lot of people like because it can get crunchy and aliased, but this is definitely an acquired taste in effects, and not something I'd imagine would be useful for somebody who's not that into effects to begin with.

bongomania · #3 05-18-2010, 12:16 AM

It also says "digital delay" on the front.

I happen to love the crunchy, sick sound of modulated 12-bit delay, so it's certainly something I or any noise/electro soundmaker would use; but whether a "normal" bassist would have any use for it... maybe not.

Bongolation · #4 05-19-2010, 08:05 PM

You're right, it's digital. I hadn't looked at it in years, and I was too exhausted to go look at it when I posted this the other night.

Taylor Livingston · #5 05-19-2010, 08:07 PM

Ooh, I don't often get to be sandwiched between a pair of Bongos.

I'll leave the "johnson" joke to your imagination.

Bongolation · #6 05-19-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conical johnson

You sure that's analog? Everything I'm finding online says it's a digital delay. Seems it has a modulation section, which is cool, but only 256ms delay time, which is pretty uncool.

Again, you're right; I could have sworn this went to 512ms.

This thread has used up my "being wrong allotment" for the next couple of months already and I haven't even accomplished anything.

Quote:

If you've played around with it and can't make it do anything that you like, then it could very well not be for you. A 256ms delay in a 1U rack is not something I would even find useful, and I am a big effects user on bass.

It's probably fairly low bit depth (8-12 bit) which a lot of people like because it can get crunchy and aliased, but this is definitely an acquired taste in effects, and not something I'd imagine would be useful for somebody who's not that into effects to begin with.

I dunno. I haven't messed with it as I don't enjoy aimlessly screwing around with effects unless I'm specifically trying to accomplish something and already have a head start on how to get there. I get tweak fatigue in about three minutes.

I was just trying to imagine what ANYONE would use delay for in bass in the first place except for the use I initially mentioned. I was just looking for some ideas.

bongomania · #7 05-19-2010, 09:24 PM

Seems like Pink Floyd and Michael Manring had some delay-on-bass tracks, but I'm not familiar enough to name or link the specific ones.

Taylor Livingston · #8 05-19-2010, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

I was just trying to imagine what ANYONE would use delay for in bass in the first place except for the use I initially mentioned. I was just looking for some ideas.

I think it kind of depends how you see the bass. If you use the instrument in a relatively straightforward way as is common in most rock, pop, r&b tunes, etc., then I think you wouldn't get much use out of delay of any kind, let alone a crunchy old modulated delay. A delay is likely to be a muddy mess in this sort of context.

But if your view of the instrument is more elastic, you can do all kinds of fun stuff with that unit. It should be capable of some wacky sea-sick wobble sounds, vibrato, and chorus, in addition to the delay. You may try looking into musical styles like "post-rock", krautrock, etc. to see the sort of musical setting in which you might use something like this. I can't think of any non-spacy use for something like that.

If you'd like to send it to me, I'd happily record some examples of what someone might use it for.

Bongolation · #9 05-20-2010, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conical johnson

I can't think of any non-spacy use for something like that.

Then that pretty much leaves me out. I guess I'll try seeing if I can use it to fatten the sound as in my original post and if not, I'll just dump it on CraigsList.

Thanks for validating my initial supposition, anyway.

superbassman2000 · #10 05-20-2010, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conical johnson

I think it kind of depends how you see the bass. If you use the instrument in a relatively straightforward way as is common in most rock, pop, r&b tunes, etc., then I think you wouldn't get much use out of delay of any kind, let alone a crunchy old modulated delay. A delay is likely to be a muddy mess in this sort of context.

But if your view of the instrument is more elastic, you can do all kinds of fun stuff with that unit. It should be capable of some wacky sea-sick wobble sounds, vibrato, and chorus, in addition to the delay. You may try looking into musical styles like "post-rock", krautrock, etc. to see the sort of musical setting in which you might use something like this. I can't think of any non-spacy use for something like that.

If you'd like to send it to me, I'd happily record some examples of what someone might use it for.

that's what i was thinking with such a short delay with modulation--they almost *had* to make it for chorus/phaser/flanger/vibrato sounds in my opinion

just for fun, I checked out what people are asking for them online and i see some are asking up to 300 bucks for them...my advice would be to sell it before people realize it's only worth about 15 bucks

Bongolation · #11 05-20-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

i see some are asking up to 300 bucks for them

WHY???

Are they actually getting these prices?

I've seen them go for much closer to your "true worth" figure.

I was thinking I might be better off keeping it for a glorified rack blank plate, but if people are actually paying money for them, I'll sell it.

superbassman2000 · #12 05-20-2010, 03:51 PM

lol boston guitar works seems to think they can get it for that

note that i said *asking* and not *selling* lol

bassbrad · #13 05-20-2010, 05:19 PM

It would make a wicked proto chorus or flanger! FWIW those old delays have a character that current tech does not have like Bongo said crunchy! I have a couple of old Delta Lab delays from that era that I keep for Chorusing, slap back and the kinds of multiple delays you get running one into the other in the studio but I don't think they would be useful for a bass player unless you experiment live or in the studio.

Taylor Livingston · #14 05-20-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

WHY???

Are they actually getting these prices?

I've seen them go for much closer to your "true worth" figure.

I was thinking I might be better off keeping it for a glorified rack blank plate, but if people are actually paying money for them, I'll sell it.

I think it's the kind of thing where there aren't many people interested in it, but there are probably a couple of guys feverishly trying to score one, so you might get lucky and catch one of those guys on the hunt. I've been desperately searching for some obscure gear before and been willing to pay significantly more than it's worth to most people, even though I'm not rich.