Using Delay with overdriven tones

[lv]

I've used delay mostly for clean tones, but would like to use it for some overdriven tones. Do I need a wet dry setup or an amp with an effects loop to do this?

A good example is on this page: http://www.prosoundcommunications.com/english/video/michael_thompson/

Click his AC booster clips.

 

[TheArchitect]

The delay needs to be after the source of the gain. However you get there is not that important

 

[exodus]

not really. if you have a delay with lots of headroom it will work. I have a maxon ad-900 (@12 volts) and it sounds fine... the od doesn't overdrive the delay. The echoczar clips sound fine as well (that is at 18 volts I think).

 

[mbratch]

Yeah, you can have your delay pre-gain, but it likely will exaggerate the delay intensity compared to the clean due to the increased gain. I have mine set up this way, and I use it on the gain channel when I can accept the difference.

 

[Beam Tetrode]

Delay, Chorus, Flange, etc will always sound best after your source of overdrive.

If you get your overdrive from a pedal, simply connect the delay after the OD unit.

A wet dry setup is only important if you plan on cranking your amp to the point of power tube saturation.

If your overdrive tone comes from a preamp, a loop is the best option.

One think to keep in mind: If you are using a stompbox in a loop, you'll want to make sure your loop sends a signal that is close to instrument level. If you send a line level signal to your stompbox, you'll overload the input of the stompbox and your tone will suck.

 

[justicetones]

I use a Boss DM-2 Analog delay for slap and Analogman modded Boss DD-5 for longer delays on my pedalboard. I have them after All OD's including a Bad Cat Extreme tone (which has alot of gain and volume output) and the delay has not been overloaded yet and sounds good.

 

[Barge Concepts]

It's all a matter of preference. My amp doesn't have an effects loop and only a limited amount of headroom, but I also run a couple of delays before gain devices. I like it, but obviously it's not everyone's cup'o'tea.

 

[Kaiser]

Maybe it's a silly question, but I really don't know, I've never before used an amp with an effects loop, but I know there are in line effects loops and serial effects loops, right?
Is this what I.T. is refering to in his "One thing to keep in mind" note ??????

 

[mbratch]

Maybe it's a silly question, but I really don't know, I've never before used an amp with an effects loop, but I know there are in line effects loops and serial effects loops, right?
Is this what I.T. is refering to in his "One thing to keep in mind" note ??????

Serial versus parallel effects loops.

In a serial effects loop, all of the signal output from the pre-amp goes to the FX out, and the power amp gets all of it's input signal from the FX return.

In a parallel effects loop, the FX loop signal is blended with a dry signal path between the pre-amp and power amp. On many amps, there's a knob on the back to adjust what the level of blend is.

There are pros and cons of each. The idea behind the parallel FX loop is to maintain "signal integrity" from pre-amp to power amp, ie, keep that pure tone in the signal, as well as to adjust how much effect versus dry signal. So, it can help with avoiding tone degredation when using external effects. However, if your FX introduce delay in the signal path, then you can get an undesirable boxy (out-of-phase) sound unless you are set at 100% wet signal. Some amps won't even let you adjust up to 100%, so this can be a problem (I had an amp like this).

The serial effects loop always includes 100% of the effects in your signal chain, and relies on the FX device(s) to adjust how much effect you want. This avoids the out-of-phase sound issue, but if you have low quality effects, your tone can suffer.

 

[HarryJ]

I use the effects loop in the Tim pedal, so delay comes on with the OD, it is totally out of the loop when the Tim is off.
Perfect solution

Harry Jacobson
www.harryj.net

 

[jero]

Yeah, you can have your delay pre-gain, but it likely will exaggerate the delay intensity compared to the clean due to the increased gain. I have mine set up this way, and I use it on the gain channel when I can accept the difference.

exactly my experience. I have mine in front of the pre-amp and the delay is more pronounced when used on the gain channel than on the clean channel.

 

[Kaiser]

thanks Mark!! this will help with my new amp buying chore and effects true bypass consideration