How important is delay to you

[K.Ross]

I just bought a Fishman delay...( which is quite expensive)...But WELL WORTH the expense. I've been looking for a good upright sound for YEARS. With my Wendler and just a TWEAK of the pedal,I sound like a microphoned upright...(A NICE MICROPHONED UPRIGHT!! My delay is certainly a keeper.
Kent

 

[bongomania]

Interesting! I never even knew Fishman was making effects. Link Removed

 

[icarussmicarus]

Delay is probablly my most favourite effect after various gain sounds. I'm trying to resist picking up a second delay pedal.

 

[DanielleMuscato]

I'm thinking about getting rid of my delay pedal (can't mention what it is because then it will be considered a for sale thread). I don't use it for much other than just screwing around and even then I don't have much fun with it. How essential is delay to your board? I really don't think I would miss it.

I pretty much never use mine (built into my Line6). I would never buy one on my own, and wouldn't own one, if it weren't built into my multi-FX unit.

 

[KsToaDangr]

yeah, I'm all about resurrecting old threads

I just picked up my first delay pedal a few weeks ago, and it has already become a necessity. I currently play with 4 groups(including solo noise stuff), and the only one I haven't used it with yet is a cover band that I play with once a month or so. Other than that, I use it in at least 1 song for each group, and it's just about everywhere in my noise stuff.

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

i've tried really hard to replace my LIne6 DL4, but it is an irreplaceable part of my approach to electronic bass sounds. mine is almost dead, i have to replace 2 switches before the next tour, but the short modulated delays, tap tempo filter delays, and auto swell sounds are priceless to me. and there is some really cool sneaky stuff you can do with the looper part.

for most music, though, i am a bass --> amp kind of guy.

john

 

[dannybuoy]

I got my Stereo Memory Man w/Hazarai the other day, and loving it. I want to get into making post-rock / noise type stuff and this is just the ticket. If you've not tried it John, give it a go. If you have tried it already, what cool tricks can the DL4 do that the SMMH can't?

I'm loving the reverse features. In one mode you can play a phrase, then hold down the switch and it'll play back the last 6 seconds in reverse. You can make some really inventive riffs with that. Also good is playing something backwards (takes some brainpower) then recording it to a loop and reversing it. Kinda like Jimi Hendrix used to do but with tape! Multitap delay that fades in is also cool. It can also do reverb/chorus/flanger sounds too, which are effects I wouldn't use enough to warrant having separates on my board, but having them built in is a bonus.

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

one of the best things for me about the line6 is having 3 presets available on dedicated footswitches. i do a lot of switching between different DL4 patches, sometimes in the same song with Nerve, and I also like being able to tap the tempo we are playing at, save it by stepping and holding on the pedal, and that way being able to come back to the right tempo when i switch back to that preset.... that is the practical side of it that makes stage life better...

the looper part i tend to use mostly as a one-shot sampler. i can sample one fragment of a bass line with one sound, trigger that with the one-shot pedal, and then play the rest of a line with a different sound that would require way too many feet and hopping on things. plus it lets me think in an even more 'electronic' manner.

and the easy vari-speed and reverse functions while in loop mode make it easy for me to create eno-esque pads and atmospheres.

it's probably just because i have been using it for like 6 years, so i have developed such a rapport with the pedal... 6 years with the SMM would probably yield similar results.

john

 

[emjazz]

I got myself the Empress Superdelay and I love it. It has 8 presets and many, many, many different sounds and types of delay. I will say that I would really love to have a DL4 for myself. There are sounds in the pedal that are special to that particular pedal that just can't be had with other delays. I am however looking forward to continue discovering everything that the Superdelay can do. It's a very special pedal in it's own right.

I personally incorporate reverse delay within improvised situations, ala Stomu Takeishi. I also use different delays with a volume pedal for swelling chords, which works very nicely with my six string. I've also used with good success, after reading John's writings here, a short delay with my OC-2/Overdrive/Moog LPF trio. It works well with just the OC-2 as well. I've just begun to revisit effects in the past year or so and I look forward to creating my own sounds and ideas with them. Delay is something that I see using quite a bit.

Someone that uses the DL4 in the most amazing ways is Daniele Camarda...check him out. He's a true musical gift to the world.

 

[dannybuoy]

I figured out how to select presets on the SMMH on the fly by turning and pressing the Hazarai knob with my big toe! Easiest with bare feet though!

 

[W_R]

Live, I cannot imagine it being useful. Rooms and mixes through monitors, etc already tend to provide reverb, resonance and delay. Seems to me to make more mud than anything I care for. Cool that folks find use for it, and like it, but not my thing.

Counter-question, what would you need it for, and if so then what are options to get dealy at that point. I use the Line 6 Toneport at home, it's got plenty of effects including delays galore, so if I ever get to that point, I'm covered...

 

[EADG mx]

I play somewhat ambient music and it's very necessary. I have certain songs where it's the only effect I use (not counting reverb which is on 24/7). I have an Echo Park and I use pretty much all of the modes. Sometimes I don't even play notes, just fiddle with the time and repeats.

 

[Atomik Rooster]

My basic setup includes a compressor and delay. I can't imagine playing without either one. Truthfully, the delay is very subtle and fades out quickly, but to my ear it sounds essential and so much better than a dry signal. If no one but me notices, that's enough to keep it in the chain.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Love it for guitar work, but never used it live, for bass, ever. Unless you're into a trippy band, and they're going to play along to the tempo of your delay, you may not miss it...

 

[Vic Winters]

For me

Covers - Practically useless

Originals - Indispensable

 

[bass-shy]

I would not be without mine

I would recommend trying one of these-

Just a touch rounds out the sound and gives it a touch of warmth.

I have one of those and I use it a lot. It does great reverb-type tones and it self-oscillates like a Mo-Fo!!!! I also use a Homebrew Electronics Mimic Mock II. I usually keep that dialed in for a "One of These Days" tempo and I use it for solo slapping nonsense. In a band, I'd use the DM-2 every night but longer delay times are pretty much out of the question when I'm playing with other people.