Best delay for ambient

[JensCambre]

What's the best delay for creating ambient sounds? I need it to have taptempo. Also, what other pedals are a must? flanger? Chorus? ....

 

[SplinteredSkull]

I don't have any experience with tap tempo delays (though the Line 6 DL4 would be good to check out), but I think reverb is also a must for ambient music. Loopers can be very useful too

 

[JensCambre]

Is wah an effect that is used too? or not really?

 

[MightyMiloQuinn]

Here's a good thread to read through for ambient effects: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ambient-post-rock-textural-bass-playing-thread.1012788/

As far as delay, I would look at things like the Wampler Faux Tape Echo, Diamond Memory Lane Jr, etc.

 

[JensCambre]

Here's a good thread to read through for ambient effects: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ambient-post-rock-textural-bass-playing-thread.1012788/

As far as delay, I would look at things like the Wampler Faux Tape Echo, Diamond Memory Lane Jr, etc.

Great! thank you very much

 

[sunbeast]

The Strymon El Capistan excels at this! Or any tape delay or tape delay emulator including the EHX Memory Man with tap tempo (if you can afford it).

Ideally a couple delays in series (one short and one longer) will give you great ambience. Robin Guthrie (guitarist of Cocteau Twins) is a great example of this technique. He is also very anti-reverb, so everything you hear from him is delay-based.

I'm a big fan of chorus or a detune effect like the Iron Ether Polytope- mixing that with delay makes super lush washes. A slow phaser can give a similar depth.

A wah or a resonant low-pass (Iron Ether Xerograph or Robot Factory Brain Freeze) or band-pass filter that you can sweep manually can also help you hone in on the right frequencies in a cool way.
You can also run a fuzz into a low-pass filter to get cool textures that don't need to even sound fuzzy.

A pitch shifter can add some nice harmonies as well.

 

[Mosfed]

Another vote for the Strymon. I have such a woody for that pedal right now...

 

[Driven Crane]

Another vote for the Strymon. I have such a woody for that pedal right now...

Sure. Timeline would cover any needs for ambient - swell mode for example.

 

[DanGouge]

Strymon El-Cap or Timeline, also a decent reverb, again Strymon is a great choice here with the Big Sky. Just beware, an all-Strymon setup get pricey fast.

 

[Driven Crane]

Mobius, Timeline, Big Sky and something more - cool!

 

[toblerone24]

If you want to go simple, a Carbon Copy is excellent. Small profile, easy to find/replace, has modulation and analog warmth! Tried so many delays with heaps of crazy features, digital, tap tempo etc -- not necessary IME

 

[champbassist]

Get a Zoom MS 70 CDR and be done with it

 

[Driven Crane]

Zoom CDR? I had one. It is good, but shimmer is bad.

 

[triviani]

Capistan is great (and I was not a fan of Strymon hype). Expression pedal for any of the knobs, and it has that sound-on-sound mode that is a delight for ambient stuff.

 

[mattbass6945]

while i'm fairly new to ambient effects, i've been using a phaser at a relatively slow setting with a modern sounding reverb. very spacey and sparse. i dig it. (a mxr phase 90 and a t rex tonebug verb)

 

[6jase5]

Toss in some verb with the delay. Mr. Black Eterna and Supermoon are both great, with the Eterna having the Shimmer.

 

[newmusicmichael]

I don't have any experience with tap tempo delays (though the Line 6 DL4 would be good to check out), but I think reverb is also a must for ambient music. Loopers can be very useful too

I've got the Electric Mistress, which functions as a chorus and flanger, that I love, and is great for this type of sound. Only downside is that because it functions as a flanger, or chorus, or both, depending on the song you may have to reach down and fiddle with the knobs between songs, instead of setting it at the beginning of the set and leaving the dials for the night.

 

[newmusicmichael]

If you want to go simple, a Carbon Copy is excellent. Small profile, easy to find/replace, has modulation and analog warmth! Tried so many delays with heaps of crazy features, digital, tap tempo etc -- not necessary IME

Which reminds me I have the Dispatch Master from Earthquaker to do delay and reverb functions. I don't find I use it a lot with the bass right now, but I do love it for the guitar.

 

[I am Soma]

i love my TCE corona chorus and TCE flashback. mint.

 

[toblerone24]

Which reminds me I have the Dispatch Master from Earthquaker to do delay and reverb functions. I don't find I use it a lot with the bass right now, but I do love it for the guitar.

Definitely a smart thing to do. Carbon Copy sounds like a delay, subtle chorus and reverb all in one! Sometimes the beauty of gear is its simplicity. I'm adding an MXR Phase 90 to my board... interesting how I actually love that it only has one knob, the amount of ambient sounds you can get with it in one turn of the knob is incredible!