Echo/Delay Pedal Advice

GeorgeF

I'm looking to buy a delay pedal at some point in the next few months but am not sure on what to go for. I'm definitely set on going digital to avoid hassle but I'd like to emulate a nice vintage analog sound, so no Bosses!

So far I've looked at the Danelectro Reel Echo and EHX Memory Man which I thought were great but I'm sure I've overlooked loads. I'd prefer getting a pedal that does one or two amazing sounds rather than a load of ok sounds, I mean, come on, who has times to faff about with their board during a gig? I've made that mistake with a Line6 Verbzilla which never moves off "'63 spring", and an OS-2 that never moves from 12 o'clock on the colour dial.

So what do you guys think? I'd really appreciate the advice!

P.S. Price around

Tweez

I can't recommend the Deluxe Memory Man highly enough, they're pretty expensive on the bay these days though.

spaceghost

these are what i've used

awesome - http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-LINDL4?A ... ID=2078021

awesome - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=153306

decent - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... &src=00633

the Dan Echo is nowhere near as versatile as the other two, but it has a good range on it. I like the Line 6 because you can loop and you can save a few different settings for easy access.

BanditGuitarist1

Tweez said: I can't recommend the Deluxe Memory Man highly enough, they're pretty expensive on the bay these days though.

Tweez is right on the Deluxe Mem man its amazing!

Tweez

The Line 6 is pretty good too as spaceghost said, for the looping, and the various simulations it does. The DMM simulation sounded good, but not all that accurate to my ears, however all the other simulations are great and really useable/tweakable.

GeorgeF

I haven't tried the Deluxe Memory Man yet but I'll make it the next thing to do on my list. Looks like there's alot more to it than the standard MM, especially the 250ms extra delay time and I guess the vibrato will make some pretty crazy sounds too. I'm not completely sure about the whole extra switchable chorus and vibrato thing quite yet though, I've already got a Boss CE 5 which I don't really use and am looking to get a Fender Twin which has built in vibrato (though I'm sure it won't be as trippy as the EHX, plus I could always be using someone elses none-vib amp at a gig). ARGH! What to do...

Any of you guys tried this before?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Danelectro-Reel-Echo-Tape-Simulator-Pedal?sku=151903

Doog

The Marshall Echohead delay is a great delay for the price, spesh over here in Blighty. Lots of modes (hifi, analogue, tape, reverse etc) and 2 outputs- one for trailing echos when you turn the pedal off, the other for dead stops. I'd definately recommend checking it out, I had one last year, sold it when I was a little hard up, may considering getting another.

dinosaur

i'm getting a red repeat delay from carl martin. its pretty cool, does everything, slap echo, echo, clean repeats, oscilliation......

GeorgeF

That's the problem with both the Echohead and the Red Repeat. Price!

My bassist has a Martin Compressor/Limiter which I'm considering getting because it's amazing quite frankly. However, I imagine the Red Repeat will cost around

Tweez

Give us some idea as to how much delay you'd like, style of music etc etc then we can give you the best recommendation we can. The Boss DD-3 gets very good reviews if that floats your boat.

Doog

GeorgeF said: That's the problem with both the Echohead and the Red Repeat. Price!
My bassist has a Martin Compressor/Limiter which I'm considering getting because it's amazing quite frankly. However, I imagine the Red Repeat will cost around

Tweez

I think a lot of people over-estimate the difference between analog and digital delays, mainly the snobby twunts over at Harmony Central and TGP. The Memory Man sounds fantastic but so do most digital delays, and they're quieter too.

GeorgeF

Tweez said: Give us some idea as to how much delay you'd like, style of music etc etc then we can give you the best recommendation we can. The Boss DD-3 gets very good reviews if that floats your boat.

I'd like to get a vintage sound that's warm, decays and doesn't repeat the tones and sounds identically, that's why I'm not after a Boss. All my mates have Boss delays and I don't like how well they repeat everything. I'd also like to have around 600ms or more and I'd wanna use it with reverb to compliment lead work and create ghostly atmospheric sounds (moody sigur ros stuff) rather than do crazy layering and repeats. I'd like it to have a tone and level control aswell if possible.

Doog, I wasn't implying that you're a cheapskate or anything. I'd just like to try it out first 'cos I don't really trust Marshall effects! Having looked at the Red Repeat (thanks Dinosaur), that's only

Tweez

Red Repeat maxes out at 600ms, more than a Memory Man, but not as much as a digital delay. I'd recommend a Boss DD-3 or DD-6 for Sigur Ros stuff, you get the sample function on the DD-6, and it has a reverse function for swell sounds too. I'm currently looking to sell mine at

dinosaur

GeorgeF said: , I imagine the Red Repeat will cost around

GeorgeF

That guy's got some really mindbending stuff out of that pedal! Will definitely have a look at it now, especially as it's 70 odd quid.

dinosaur

just go try them out and see which one works best for you dude.

dinosaur

tried any yet?

GeorgeF

My local shop didn't have any Martin gear so haven't tried the Red Repeat yet. I have tried a Boss before but wanted to have a good sit down with one, and also try a Marshall Echohead (recommended by Doog) and was well impressed with the Echohead. This was following Tweez's advice to look for higher delay time and it was good advice. The DD-3 was good but only had the one sort of setting but the Echohead really was a sweet little pedal. The way the analog setting decayed and was well cool and it still had that digital setting the Boss had but with loads more time. However, I would like more control over tone.

So here's the list of what I've tried: Memory Man, Boss DD-3, Echohead, Reel Echo

Still would like to try: Red Repeat, Danecho, Memory Man Deluxe

Winner so far: ECHO HEAD!!!

Sorry for the massive spiel 😆

jellybelly

Just to clarify, I've played a little on a standard memory man, will a deluxe memory man be able to replace my small clone too or does the chorus and vibrato only affect the delayed signal? Sorry if its a daft question.