Delay pedal that doesn't thin tone?

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 25 Apr 2011 4:18 pm

I use a DD-3, which I'm pretty happy with as a simple, inexpensive delay box. However, in noticeably thins my tone, which I find problematic. I had the same problem (perhaps more so) with the Boss RV-3.

Is there a delay pedal that doesn't alter tone? Maybe the DL-8? I find that the RV-7 doesn't affect my tone.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

Dan

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 25 Apr 2011 5:07 pm

Check out the Malekko Ekko. It's got a buffer on the front end that you can switch on and off. Usually it's an impedance mismatch that will thin you out. It's the best delay pedal I've heard yet thats not a vintage one.

Otherwise I love my Ibanez AD99.

I find that many of the new pedals can't handle the impedance of the PSG pickups. They either thin the sound or crackle. Neither is good.

http://malekkoheavyindustry.com/index.p ... edals/ekko

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Apr 2011 6:54 pm

Arion ANALOG delay.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 25 Apr 2011 7:22 pm

You might look into the Pigtronix Echolution. I have one and it's served me well.

http://www.pigtronix.com/products08/echolution.html

The Boss Giga Delay is also decent.

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 26 Apr 2011 4:39 am

I agree with Chas, the Echolution is a good choice.
I just sold my Damage Control TimeLine delay, and if you find one of those used - or just wait for the second version, as I am - you'll be very pleased with the rich sound you get. Damage Control morphed into Strymon, and many posters on The Gear Page love their Brigadier (analog sim) or El Capistan (tape sim) delays.
Haven't had good luck with analog delays, but there are quite a few options. Dealers like www.tonefactor.com or www.proguitarshop.com are very reputable, and if you really don't like something you bought, they offer a return/refund policy that's great.

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 26 Apr 2011 4:58 am

Echolution is very nice...It was my favorite in the stable until the El Capistan came out......The El Capistan is much more user friendly and has the very best tape delay sound......To my ears a good sounding tape delay actually fattens the tone.......Paul

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 26 Apr 2011 5:36 am

Strymon is certainly a top-shelf builder. I have a blueSky Reverberator that offers a range of quality reverbs; with the MOD switch, you get thicker (modulated) reverb. www.strymon.net
One reason I still have an Echolution is that a delay can be tapped in up to something like 15 seconds.
Really nice for creating a sort of loop, although it has a separate looping function.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 26 Apr 2011 6:08 am

Thanks for all the great feedback folks. The Echolution and Strymon pedals look fabulous, but might be overkill for the little bit of delay I use and the Bar-room-acoustical-reality I tend to work in.

I might start with the Malekko and go from there.

Daniel, thanks for the links to the Proguitarshop and tonefactor sites. Their return policies will allow me to try out some options. Who knows, I might end up with one of the more professional pedals when all is said and done.

Thanks,

Dan

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 26 Apr 2011 6:21 am

I'm not aware that the Boss series digital pedals and delays thin tone. I know the sort of doubling effect may enhance the overall sound in all frequencies, unless you're using so much as to wash out the initial sound.....but I defer to your ears.

As mentioned, the analog delays would probably be your ticket or any one of those that are modded with or have the HI-CUT circuitry built in.

Sounds like you're just using a halo of delay anyway, so these hi end units would appear to be overkill. Anyway, most stomp boxes darken your tone, so I would think that would be the biggest issue rather than adding hi end.

The analog units like the AD9, AD80, AD99 Ibanez units are great, but good luck finding one at a decent price.

Best of luck in getting it sorted out.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 26 Apr 2011 7:10 am

I had Analogman do a mod to my DD-3. I think the tone is great.

http://www.buyanalogman.com/Boss_DD_3_H ... -hicut.htm

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 26 Apr 2011 8:17 am

I use the DD-3 100 per cent of the time, I like the sound. Much more preferable to me than reverb. To me, reverb changes the tone more and for the worse. I rarely use any reverb. I set the delay to kind of sound like reverb, no noticeable repeats. Just my opinion.

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 26 Apr 2011 10:07 am

Dan Beller-McKenna wrote:Thanks for all the great feedback folks. The Echolution and Strymon pedals look fabulous, but might be overkill for the little bit of delay I use and the Bar-room-acoustical-reality I tend to work in. I might start with the Malekko and go from there.

Daniel, thanks for the links to the Proguitarshop and tonefactor sites. Their return policies will allow me to try out some options. Who knows, I might end up with one of the more professional pedals when all is said and done.

Thanks,

Dan

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 26 Apr 2011 11:19 am

Usually Boss pedals won't thin tone. You haven't given us any idea as to what you are using equipment wise, and how it is all hooked up. More detail will help us to help you solve the problem.

Does it sound thin no matter if the effect is turned off or on? If so, the delay pedal could be acting as a buffer and giving you back highs that normally are being attenuated through your cables, etc.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 26 Apr 2011 12:44 pm

Hi Michael,

Fessy E9 with Trutone, Goodrich 120, Digitech RV-7 reverb, DD-3 delay, Twin Reverb (either a '77 135w or '71 100w): all connected with George-L cables. The thinness is just when the delay is engaged. I only use it for a mild slap-back on rock-a-billy type numbers where I turn off the RV-7.

I just had my '71 twin tweaked by Bob Metzger and was using the on board reverb to see how it sounded (which was quite good). The thinning effect of the DD-3 was far more pronounced when applied to the amp's own reverb than when it is paired with the RV-7, but it's noticeable then too.

Dan

p.s.-I made a significant typo in my initial post(!): it was with the Boss RV-3 with which I had the same thinning problem, not the (Digitech)RV-7 (as I originally typed), where the tone of the reverb is adjustable.

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 26 Apr 2011 3:13 pm

Franklin wrote:Echolution is very nice...It was my favorite in the stable until the El Capistan came out......The El Capistan is much more user friendly and has the very best tape delay sound......To my ears a good sounding tape delay actually fattens the tone.......Paul

I just ordered an El Capistan today. After reading lots of reviews and clips I'm convinced this is the delay I've been waiting for.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 27 Apr 2011 12:02 am

I like to use my old boss dm-2. It's an anolog pedal so it sounds pretty fat, but it has very clean repeats like a digital pedal. It also does very good full oscillating sounds like a real echoplex. The ibanez ad9 sounds more like a dirtbike in full oscillation, which is cool too. I always hear a highend chirp with digital delays, which I can't stand.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 27 Apr 2011 2:23 am

I always hear a highend chirp with digital delays, which I can't stand.

Maybe "High-end chirp" is a better description of what I am referring to as a "thinning" of my tone. Perhaps I'm simply after an analog, rather than a digital sound.

Dan

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 27 Apr 2011 7:00 am

I have an El Capistan, and find its overall tone works very well with steel guitar. I like it much better with steel than 6 string guitar.

I find it cleaner than a real tape delay, and the Wow and Flutter sounds fake to me (I just turn it down), but overall I am happy with it.

Here is a track that I used it on, you can hear it gives an atmospheric vibe like a tape delay does. The dry and delay signals are hard panned, delay is in the left channel.

http://www.prairierehabmusic.com/Music/ ... Sample.mp3

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 27 Apr 2011 7:34 am

Dan Beller-McKenna wrote:Who knows, I might end up with one of the more professional pedals when all is said and done

Malekko is the professional pedal! It's a boutique an along delay that can also serve as vibrato and chorus, and that switchable buffer is no small thing. Let us know what you think when it arrives!

Oh yeah, the Malekko is US made too. They are based out of Austin I think.

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 27 Apr 2011 9:00 am

You also might want to try the Line 6 DL4. It has a pretty good emulation of both an Echoplex and a RE301. More rounded delayed signal.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 27 Apr 2011 4:57 pm

Dan,
Come up some time and give my El Capistan a whirl, it's pretty sweet and worth the price.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 27 Apr 2011 5:58 pm

Sounds like a plan Carty; I'll give you a call.

Dan