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Delay on bass

secombs

secombs

Oct 28, 2003
245
94
45
Nashville, TN
www.shauncombs.com
#1
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?
 
#2
secombs said:
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?
Click to expand...

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
 
#3
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?
 
#4
Mr. BooBoo said:
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?
Click to expand...

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
 
#6
tomhanzo said:
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
Click to expand...

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
 
#8
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
 
#10
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
 

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