[Harp-L] Re: Why use a delay pedal?



I own a delay pedal. The only time I've ever used it is in an acoustically dead room. And I add just a tad, at that. It's been out of the bag then about 3 times in the last 5 years.

The reason I don't use it is because most venues I've played in provide enough natural "bounce" to the sound. Even with a crowd. An amp with provided delay may sound great sitting next to you, but ever wonder what it sounds to the crowd with all the extra natural delay mixed in? Might be mush.

I attended a Harmonica Blowoff in Portland about 6 months ago, where some of the Pac NW's best blew big time. They all sounded great, but I wondered what some of the guys were thinking who insisted on using their vintage or reissued Fender Reverb tanks in the Melody Ballroom:

http://www.themelodyballroom.com/Mbhome.html

That photo is the view from the stage.

The guys who used delay or reverb were very difficult to hear. Little distinction between notes. Two-hole shakes? Forget about it.

Perhaps those who rely on delay or reverb everywhere, all the time, seem to be attempting to replicate sounds from old recordings... sounds that were achieved in controlled studio environments. Search the archives, where you can read about the huge reverb plates used in some old recordings.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, just cuz you can don't mean you should. Before you use any effect, ask yourself if it is indeed helping your sound, or detracting from it, as heard out on the dance floor and not from the stage, where the amp is, relatively speaking, right next to you.

Ray.
--
My Music – www.resgraphics.com/music




On Aug 6, 2005, at 10:51 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:


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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2005 10:51:16 -0700
From: "Robert Gaustad" <robertgaustad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Why use a delay pedal?
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <200508061751.j76HpJfe030166@xxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

I've been playing for years without any effects using my beautiful '65
Fender Deluxe (alas, no reverb) but recently I've been thinking a lot about
gear and ways in which I can make my amplified sound better. I'm pretty
happy with my acoustic sound so when I amp up I'm not unhappy with what I
hear. However, it could be better.


So after reading Richard Hunter's information about how to create a Chicago
blues sound on a budget, I got to thinking. Why do we need delay? I've
never used it and I don't think I've ever missed it. But it begs the
question...did the old time Chicago blues guys use delay in their amps?


I'm guessing (and I may be way wrong) that they didn't. But maybe they got
natural delay by playing in clubs with hard walls that the sound bounced off
and echoed what they had just played. So is that what we're trying to
achieve here? I'd love to hear some thoughts from all you gear heads, sound
experts, and historians.


That all said, I can't wait for my first delay pedal to come to my door so I
can start messing around with it.


This is a fantastic list and I'm proud to be part of the community.

Robert G.



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