Tremolo vs. Delay

[TOOL460002]

"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.

Technically correct. Still... context...

 

[the baint]

Delay. Walrus ARP-87: tap tempo, top jacks, and tons of usable sounds.

 

[RJ]

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

Chris Squire might disagree

 

[monsterthompson]

sounds like a good excuse for a ZOIA.

 

[matante]

Technically correct. Still... context...

Not even technically correct. Those other effects include delay as one component. That doesn't make them types of delay.
And you're certainly not going to find any delay pedals that gives you all of those sounds.

Edit: i don't think phasers include delay at all.

 

[Dr Greenthumb]

I'd say it depends on what else you already got going on on your board, the type of sounds you're going for and what context you want to use it in.

I think having a delay leads to some more creative stuff musically wise than adding tremolo. I love me a good tremolo on bass though, it adds a feel I really enjoy more than chorus.

The Dr Scientist Tremolessence, the EQD Hummingbird and the Empress Tremolo were some of my favorite tremolos.

For delays I think choices are a bit more complicated because there are so many differents things a delay can do and it really depends on what you're going to do with it to decide which one would be good for you.

If I add to choose only one I'd go with a delay. But you should buy a bigger board and buy both.

 

[mcnach]

If you had room on your board for only one more pedal and you were happy with everything else which would you prefer? And which specific pedal would you get?

Bonus points for those who actually make a choice instead of going both/other/neither.

I would wait until the need for either (or something else) arises. Filling the board with pedals just because there's space is fun, but not that productive.

 

[Nev375]

Chris Squire might disagree

Guy Pratt and Roger Waters, Justin Chancellor, the guy from Kings of Leon...

I mean, Guy Pratt has his own signature tremolo pedal.
Mind you it's for using on a single specific Pink Floyd song, but that's besides the point.

 

[CMallett]

I think picking delay because of chorus and flanger's use of it might be splitting hairs, somewhat.

 

[Jek Porkins]

Digital. That way you get both!

 

[Qlanq]

Delay.
It helps me to get that secondary note thing like a Rick.

 

[King Weapon]

I really like the Trem and Delay(Echo) sounds on the EHX Oceans 11. Lots of other options, too. Worth a YouTube binge.

 

[40Hz]

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

Nonsense.

Unless you mean that nobody really “needs” any pedal when you get right down to it.

 

[relayer66]

Chris Squire might disagree

I was going to say. Listen to Starship Trooper.

 

[CMallett]

Unless you mean that nobody really “needs” any pedal when you get right down to it

My sentiments exactly - It's art. Either all of it's unnecessary or none of it is.

 

[Chamber]

I like tremolo but I'd choose delay for sure.

 

[arepa_funk]

I put that hummingbird last on my board to feed it all different types of effects and it’s really cool.

+1 to all the EQD Hummingbird folks above. I also put it last on my board, usually stacked with others in a "synth chain." Usual order I go with is EQD Bit Commander OR MXR Sub Machine -> Mr Black Gilamondo phaser -> SGFX Electroman delay (to add depth, not always on in the chain) -> Hummingbird.

Other chains I've used the Hummingbird with are 3leaf Octavbre mini -> SSBS Mini -> Mr Black Fwonkbeta -> compressor (a must after the Fwonk) -> Gilamondo OR MXR Micro Flanger -> Hummingbird. Anyways, as a standalone effect trem doesn't give me much to work with in the music I'm working on, but stacked in these ways, it's really fantastic and now indispensable in my rig.

 

[El Güero]

This thing is made for bass.
Guitar players like them too.
I've never even seen one, so I can't recommend it,
but I've read only positive stuff about them.
You can SWITCH between sine, triangular, and square waves.
Ime, those waves-on-a-pot knobs are meh.

 

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

Already mentioned above, Walrus Audio ARP-87 is a fantastic choice for delay. Here is an example by someone on YouTube. It has tap tempo and great momentary functions (though not demo’ed on the vid).

 

[Auspuff]

Get one of these, and Live!