Tremolo vs. Delay

[Killing Floor]

Tremolo is an AMPLITUDE modulation effect, the modulator jacks the volume up and down so unless you are going for some kinda special effect I don't see the point in rapidly having your volume go in and out unless you are trying to make your amp sound broken LOL.

Tremolo IS the sound on guitar on the old surf records and of course what made Creedence Creedence; I was in a band that played "Born on the Bayou" and could not get it through the guitar player's thick head you need TREMOLO to get that sound, he just kept futzing with a damn chorus pedal. Chorus modulates the PITCH, Tremolo modulates the amplitude, all they have in common is they both modulate the signal.

I'm a total delay freak, I own a way vintage cool Lexicon SuperPrime time in my studio F/X rack along with a Line Six Echo Pro (which emulates various classic delay devices). Even then the only use I ever found for delay on bass was a slapback kinda effect to sound like the intro to "Cygnus X1" or on a bass solo harmonics thing.

On regular bass? Just not my jam but I'm not a big fan of effects on bass.

NOW on OTHER STUFF, oh yell yeah I love effects processors which is why I have 9 of the things in my studio rack, but they rarely get used on bass tracks.

Analogeezer

Fender “Brown Face” modulation is floating high and low harmonics. This was the Tweed or Showcase Fender amp sound. “Black Face” tremolo is what you describe, at high rate it can almost sound like on/off cycles. The Brown Face style is what you hear in a lot of the old surf rock classics.
Some tremolo effects are one or the other, some offer both.

 

[OOD]

TC Electronics Flashback delay. I use to have one. Let someone borrow it and never got it back. On really low settings it adds some sparkle. Higher settings I would only use at home or in an experimental project.

 

[mobeme23]

that's a tough call.
delay is super useful, especially if you like a good slapback.

but tremolo is so fun! especially with other effects.

i am a huge EarthQuaker devices fanboy, and i really love the Hummingbird tremolo pedal. i especially love having it linked to my expression pedal so i can dial in the speed as needed, and sometimes to act like a delay.

EQD also makes the Dispatch Master which is a perfect little delay reverb box.

have fun-un-un-un-un-n-n-n-n......!

 

[Analogeezer]

Fender “Brown Face” modulation is floating high and low harmonics. This was the Tweed or Showcase Fender amp sound. “Black Face” tremolo is what you describe, at high rate it can almost sound like on/off cycles. The Brown Face style is what you hear in a lot of the old surf rock classics.
Some tremolo effects are one or the other, some offer both.

Funny I was just reading about this differences in tremolo designs the other day, it was in the manual for my Line 6 Mod Pro which has two different models of tremolo. "Opto" is based on the Blackface 1965 Fender, "Bias" is based on the Vox AC15 tremolo circuit.

The difference was in the circuit that was used to do the modulation, but both designs still did amplitude modulation.

I don't know if the brownface Fenders used bias tremolo or not.

It's weird how that effect (tremolo) kind of went out of style circa 1970 and never really came back as a popular effect. Sure in the 1970's it got sort of supplanted by phase shifters and then chorus pedals but you would think as a retro thing it would have come back in popularity but it seems to not be the case.

In any event there is a reason Fender never made a Vibro Bassman amp

Analogeezer

 

[Treblefree]

TC Flashback II or Flashback 2 X4. I bought the X4 for my guitar (takes a lot of space though), but I was surprised when I put some of the bass toneprints on it. Thickens it up a bit and gives you some options. What I really love about it though is the addition of a looper. You can run infinite loop or a one time (each time you press the pedal) ditty. Very cool feature. I have a tremolo on my Zoom B3, but I have never used it out at all. Neat effect though so I can see why you'd ask, but it's a very specific type thing for me. Like a one song a set use.

 

[Karlo.kc]

and sometimes to act like a delay.

Can you please explain how? Thanks!

 

[mobeme23]

Can you please explain how? Thanks!

the hummingbird has three speed levels connected to a 3-way switch, so you can select which speed range to work with. it goes from very slow, to almost bit-crushing territory. i tend to use the mid-tempo setting most often.

with the expression pedal, I can set the speed to synch, or closely synch to my preferred tempo. and i can use the momentary/latching footswitch to ride the trem as a delay effect for shorter bursts.

it's definitely not a delay, but with other looping effects i use, it can add some nice repeat percussion elements that i like very much.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

If I had to choose I would probably say Earthquaker Devices Hummingbird
I like delay on bass and I do use it but I find it to be mostly a thickener is a band setting, wouldn’t really know it’s there unless it’s a quiet part or a solo. Delay can be really cool I can never seem to work in longer delay times into music without it stepping over something else.
But a hard chopping trem after some a fuzz or distortion is a “WHOA” sound Juan Alderete from Pedals and Effects YouTube channel got me turned onto “the helicopter sound” and it’s one of those things that’s unmistakable.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

the hummingbird has three speed levels connected to a 3-way switch, so you can select which speed range to work with. it goes from very slow, to almost bit-crushing territory. i tend to use the mid-tempo setting most often.

with the expression pedal, I can set the speed to synch, or closely synch to my preferred tempo. and i can use the momentary/latching footswitch to ride the trem as a delay effect for shorter bursts.

it's definitely not a delay, but with other looping effects i use, it can add some nice repeat percussion elements that i like very much.

You beat me to it!

 

[mobeme23]

If I had to choose I would probably say Earthquaker Devices Hummingbird
I like delay on bass and I do use it but I find it to be mostly a thickener is a band setting, wouldn’t really know it’s there unless it’s a quiet part or a solo. Delay can be really cool I can never seem to work in longer delay times into music without it stepping over something else.
But a hard chopping trem after some a fuzz or distortion is a “WHOA” sound Juan Alderete from Pedals and Effects YouTube channel got me turned onto “the helicopter sound” and it’s one of those things that’s unmistakable.

yep, Juan's bit about that "helicopter sound" was what sold me as well.
i'd always wanted to be able to make that sound!!

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I put that hummingbird last on my board to feed it all different types of effects and it’s really cool. I even feed it reverb which sounds like it wouldn’t jive but it does!

 

[matante]

I first used tremolo on bass when GarageBand had an effect called "mono tremolo". It's gone now but it made a very pretty sound with a slow setting playing high on the neck. Great for slower, introspective music, if that makes sense. I don't know what pedal would reproduce that but i image it's the most basic tremolo sound. I also really like catalinbread paraedolia demos I've heard. I'm probably misspelling that.

 

[cdef]

In the bass world, a delay pedal is much more useful from a sonic point of view. You'll have chorus, flanging and phasing available, all of which yield various interesting tonalities. Tremolo is an atmospheric effect that can work wonderfully with guitar, but IMO doesn't really bring much to bass, unless in an experimental context. I do have a Triangolo on my board, but it only comes into play on rare, feverish occasions.

 

[gpTron]

On bass I think delay works better. I like tremolo more on guitar. My Boss DD3 does what I need for delay whereas my Malekko Goatkeeper (tremolo) might be my favorite pedal overall.

 

[matante]

In the bass world, a delay pedal is much more useful from a sonic point of view. You'll have chorus, flanging and phasing available, all of which yield various interesting tonalities. Tremolo is an atmospheric effect that can work wonderfully with guitar, but IMO doesn't really bring much to bass, unless in an experimental context. I do have a Triangolo on my board, but it only comes into play on rare, feverish occasions.

Put. Down. The. Pipe. Where on earth are you getting that delay can function as those other effects?

 

[cdef]

.. Where on earth are you getting that delay can function as those other effects?

"Delay" is not a single effect as such. Chorus, phasing and flanging are distinctive types of delay in ranges of milliseconds. It's all on a continuum. With a longer delay you'll eventually get "slapback" echo.

 

[micguy]

The only time I ever used delay for a gig was a single slapback - set to an eight note delay. You can play quarters, and it fills in the other notes. The resulting sound is smoother than eight notes played by your fingers - there's "overlap" that occurs with the delay - it's a different vibe.

I've never found a use for tremolo on bass.

 

[40Hz]

All depends on the genre(s) you're covering and your own musical style. Different tools for different jobs.

Like the old saying goes: If you don't have a destination in mind, then any direction (or in this case any pedal) will do.

 

[RJ]

Shampoo is better

 

[dreamadream99]

Unless you play Crimson and Clover, you don’t need a tremolo.