Is the Deluxe Memory Man (DMM) clipping at all musical?

[nb_fan]

Does the clipping from a hot input signal into the DMM sound musical at all? Does it give your sound an added edgy warmth?

I can't tell what the clipping sounds like from any of the video clips online.

[Companyman]

not musical to me ! Just really annoying ! I'm saving my pennies to send mine to Analogman for modding !

[nb_fan]

Could you describe the clipping to me? Is it just like a buzzy type of thing?

I'm really curious as I might be bidding for one on ebay, but I don't have time to go out to a shop and try one out, as I know I should.

[Companyman]

well , you don't notice it with any sort of dirt , but when you are going for a clean sound it is an inconsistent clipping , most noticeable on the lower strings or when you dig in or play near the bridge . Kind of hard to describe , you really won't get it with single coils but humbuckers really bring it out IMO .

[TheLemon]

I always thought it added a nice sound, very musical IMO.

[Jahn]

It's horrible. But you know, it kinda works when your modulation gets out of control, it kicks in, and you've got that garbagey mess on your hands. But no, I wouldn't rely on it as a main source of overdrive in normal applications.

[nb_fan]

I wasn't thinking of OD per se, but would you say it adds a slight bit of hair when you dig in?

I guess this question is a really subjective survey on the tone...

thanks for all the replies so far though.

[TheLemon]

Originally Posted by nb_fan

I wasn't thinking of OD per se, but would you say it adds a slight bit of hair when you dig in?

I guess this question is a really subjective survey on the tone...

thanks for all the replies so far though.

I wouldnt describe it as a harsh clipping or adding hair, but more of a compression to my ears.

[Bluesrocker99]

I have to say that I found it a bit of an annoyance. Fine with O/D but when you think you have a nice clean sound sorted and kick the MM in, it messes things up a bit, plus I think that the pedal affects your whole signal chain in a not so good way, needs to be isolated in a loop. Not too bad in my amp's effects loop. Of course that's just me and my rig, it may work fine in other set-ups.

[sevenflatfive]

if you swap out the op amps (http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/mmmod.html) it sounds very organic... it doesn't break up as much as the originals very sweet sounding IMO.

[Bluesrocker99]

I've just re-read your post and realised that you weren't talking about a totally clean sound so I'll say that I don't think you'll notice a lot of difference between the pedal off and the pedal on if your signal is already overdriven. However, I still say that this pedal has a major affect on the rest of your signal path. That is to say, take it out of the chain and you will hear a big difference.

[nb_fan]

wow.. I'm feeling more and more dissuaded from the DMM. I was almost 100% convinced I was gonna get it. I thought it had the whole mythic designation here on TGP...

So it seems like in order to get the DMM to sound mostly good, I've got to find new chips, rewire the thing for true bypass, and try never to play absolutely clean?

[Coach]

The DMM sounds amazing, especially when it clips. Very musical and warm...don't know what other people are hearing but mine sounds awesome. It's been my favorite delay since I got it 3 years ago.

[drolling]

Originally Posted by nb_fan

wow.. I'm feeling more and more dissuaded from the DMM. I was almost 100% convinced I was gonna get it. I thought it had the whole mythic designation here on TGP...

So it seems like in order to get the DMM to sound mostly good, I've got to find new chips, rewire the thing for true bypass, and try never to play absolutely clean?

nononon no no..
no.

The clipping I'm talkin about's the kind where you 'dig into a string & get this crunchy *non-musical* noise on the attack of the note - it's not the kind of 'clipping' that gearheads talk about when referencing overdrive pedals - AND it's completely avoidable if you adjust the volume correctly (there's a 'clip' light under the control). It's pretty much a non-issue if you play strats & teles.. When I use my PAF-loaded Flying V, I just lower the input level.

But if you're used to pristine digital gear, any analog delay'll be a shock to your system. You'll definitely hear some 'white noise' in the delayed signal, as that's just the nature of bucket-brigade chips. Again, not really an issue till you get into the max (550 ms) delay time - and even then, not a deal-breaker for me.

The modulation (chorus/vibrato)'s a unique sound that has yet to be captured by modelers, and the joys of oscillation (spaceship landing/taking off/blowing up) is the icing on the cake.

Every guitar player I know couldn't get rid of their analog pedals fast enough when digital delays arrived in the 80s - we trampled one another in the stampede to the pawn shop!!

Many of these same guys have a DMM on their board today...

But maybe you should try one before you commit?

[Jahn]

But yes, DMM=tone suck even when off, so I left it behind a Keeley Looper when I had one. But when it was time to kick it in, the DMM is one of the best analog delays out there.