Recommend a Delay and Reverb pedal for 80s metal

[GrimTrigger]

I get my '80s tones, hair metal and more, from my ISP Theta Michael Sweet gear:

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This is the only digital amp model I’m interested in. But even though it sounds awesome for that 80s sound ala Ethan Brosh its a little antiquated in terms of features (no usb).

I emailed ISP and they told me they have something new in the works….

 

[rsm]

This is the only digital amp model I’m interested in. But even though it sounds awesome for that 80s sound ala Ethan Brosh a little antiquated in terms of features (no usb).

I emailed ISP and they told me they have something new in the works….

Yes, it's old school; it reminds me of my old rack gear from back in the day (ADA) in a floorboard format, and programming patches on that little LCD screen was and still is tedious compared to touchscreens and software editors today...but the sounds in the ISP kit are worth it.

Last year I made a computer software rig, and I use that 90%+ of the time, with no plans to get any more hardware gear, amps or cabs. I still have around a dozen tube amps, most 100W no plans to sell, but I've sold / selling my hardware modelers....so I don't plan to get any new ISP hardware gear either.

Nothing like 50W, 100W tube amps with the power amp opened up, but that's because I'm old and nostalgic....my computer plugin rig is really all I need.

 

[Shask]

What about the MLC stereo line mixer? I’m confused how you set individual levels for effects. It only has the Mix 1 and Mix 2 like the old Bradshaw racks. Not sure how it works.

Generally with parallel mixers you control the mix with the output level of your effects unit. Run mix at 100% and control the amount of effect with the output level.

 

[GrimTrigger]

Yeah, that seems to be the number 1 choice if I were to go that route. I just wish it were smaller and simpler.

I was thinking about a RJM Micro Line Mixer, which would work awesome, but then I realized without a way to shut off the loops I would have level issues using the normal bypass switches of the pedals, so I dont think that would work.

@Shask

Here’s an idea to get the RJM Micro Line Mixer to work with bypassing effects (and do so via MIDI).

This ABY pedal by Oscillator Devices has MIDI controlled disconnect for A or B or both.

Oscillator Devices ABY Manual

So you could come out of the Buffer Out sending the output to the input of the ABY pedal and out each A and B channel to the input of your effects pedal. Those would go stereo out from each effects pedal back into the RJM mixer to get mixed in as 100% wet with your dry. The Buffer Out on the RJM is a TRS out so you could come out with a Y cable and send it to another ABY pedal to mix in your third effects pedal since the RJM allows for up to three stereo inputs.

I already got the Samson SM-10 and it works well but I may do this instead.

 

[Jakem]

With a parallel line level mixer you can keep your signal analog and just mix in some of the digital tone on top of it. Way more transparent. The downside is the complexity, and you can't use effects that require 100% signal like gate, eq, and tremolo. It is great for modulation, delay, and Reverb. This is how it was done in the 80s and 90s with all the classic rack units.

Yes, I have said online many times that I find the Fractal units remove punch and blur the low end. Many people always argue with me and say they don't hear it.

The problem with looking at rack units is they are all old at this point and don't have modern convenience like USB and computer editors. I have several of them, and they sound great, but I would question that starting today. However, something like an Intellifex has an analog mixer built in, so it sounds more transparent than something that digitizes the whole signal.

I have never really familiarized myself with mixers in the fx loop. So one is putting a mixer in serial loop and it preserves the tone in case an fx unit is not preserving the original signal well?

 

[Shask]

I have never really familiarized myself with mixers in the fx loop. So one is putting a mixer in serial loop and it preserves the tone in case an fx unit is not preserving the original signal well?

Yeah, it gives you a direct analog signal through the amp and the digital effects are only mixed on top of that. Your signal is never 100% digitized. This is far more transparent and dynamic. You also don't get digital conversion latency.

Pedals with analog dry through are basically doing the same thing.

 

[Jakem]

Yeah, it gives you a direct analog signal through the amp and the digital effects are only mixed on top of that. Your signal is never 100% digitized. This is far more transparent and dynamic. You also don't get digital conversion latency.

Pedals with analog dry through are basically doing the same thing.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Shask]

@Shask

Here’s an idea to get the RJM Micro Line Mixer to work with bypassing effects (and do so via MIDI).

This ABY pedal by Oscillator Devices has MIDI controlled disconnect for A or B or both.

Oscillator Devices ABY Manual

So you could come out of the Buffer Out sending the output to the input of the ABY pedal and out each A and B channel to the input of your effects pedal. Those would go stereo out from each effects pedal back into the RJM mixer to get mixed in as 100% wet with your dry. The Buffer Out on the RJM is a TRS out so you could come out with a Y cable and send it to another ABY pedal to mix in your third effects pedal since the RJM allows for up to three stereo inputs.

I already for the Samson SM-10 and it works well but I may do this instead.

Yeah, even RJM makes the Mini Effects Gizmo to deal with the switching.

Back in the big 80's racks, usually there was some sort of MIDI switcher that went to the inputs of the effects units. Those all came out and went into a line mixer to mix it all back to stereo before the poweramp. The switcher handled the selection of which rack unit you were using, muted the others, and also maintained the analog dry through.

A SM-10, MLC, Suhr Mini Mix II, etc.... all these newer units kind of combine all that into one unit that is simpler to work with if you dont need all the complexity and switching.

 

[jbru91]

Boss SDE-3. The perfect one pedal solution for 80s grease.

That sounds killer! Just the SDE-3 running there or anything else? Great playing by the way

 

[SoooRad]

That sounds killer! Just the SDE-3 running there or anything else? Great playing by the way

Nothing else, just guitar, amp, SDE-3 and Cab. And thanks!

 

[jchrisf]

Musician's Friend finally got the TC Hall of Fame 2 back in stock and I used some MF points from a recent guitar purchase to get it. I was thinking I'd probably send it back because my SDE3 delay pedal would probably be enough but much to my surprise I actually like the HOF even more than delay. I'm glad I went ahead and got it. I've used built in reverb with amps before but this is a whole new level and I've just been using basic settngs so far.

This is a great addition to me tone.

 

[Shask]

Musician's Friend finally got the TC Hall of Fame 2 back in stock and I used some MF points from a recent guitar purchase to get it. I was thinking I'd probably send it back because my SDE3 delay pedal would probably be enough but much to my surprise I actually like the HOF even more than delay. I'm glad I went ahead and got it. I've used built in reverb with amps before but this is a whole new level and I've just been using basic settngs so far.

This is a great addition to me tone.

I love the Toneprint pedals. I know people think they can sound boring, but I find that is what you need most of the time if you just want some ambience in the background.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

My favorite is the TC 2290P, I can always find useful, musical sounds from TC gear. And after all, they made some of the mightiest rack gear of all time in the '80s, including the G-Force (I have one of these) and the original 2290 rack. Has chorus, flanger as well. Plus, what looks more '80s (in the best possible way) than this??

Very honorable mention to my Boss DD-500. Very clean and lots of options, although I don't find myself as inspired by it on the same level as the 2290.

I still want to try something from Eventide and have no doubt I will dig bigly.......maybe this Black Friday?

 

[jchrisf]

My favorite is the TC 2290P, I can always find useful, musical sounds from TC gear. And after all, they made some of the mightest rack gear of all time in the '80s, including the G-Force (I have one of these) and the original 2290 rack. Has chorus, flanger as well. Plus, what looks more '80s (in the best possible way) than this??

Very honorable mention to my Boss DD-500. Very clean and lots of options, although I don't find myself as inspired by it on the same level as the 2290.

I still want to try something from Eventide and have no doubt I will dig bigly.......maybe this Black Friday?

The TC is less money than the Boss too.. and with the Flanger and Chorus included, that is not a bad price at all. My SDE3 is doing a good job now and does have modulation but this might be something to consider.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

The TC is less money than the Boss too.. and with the Flanger and Chorus included, that is not a bad price at all. My SDE3 is doing a good job now and does have modulation but this might be something to consider.

In the end, my ultimate choice in gear is based on "what makes ME sound best, recorded and live". For delay, it's the 2290.

And it's easy enough to access the options.

 

[jchrisf]

In the end, my ultimate choice in gear is based on "what makes ME sound best, recorded and live". For delay, it's the 2290.

And it's easy enough to access the options.

I didn't mean to insinuate that you were a cheap-skate.. LOL.. I just thought it was cool that it was affordable. And I have to agree with you, it looks like the 80s which is cool and the options look easier to access than the Boss, just like they were in the 80s.

 

[Geo]

When I think 80's I think Lexicon.

 

[Shask]

My favorite is the TC 2290P, I can always find useful, musical sounds from TC gear. And after all, they made some of the mightiest rack gear of all time in the '80s, including the G-Force (I have one of these) and the original 2290 rack. Has chorus, flanger as well. Plus, what looks more '80s (in the best possible way) than this??

Very honorable mention to my Boss DD-500. Very clean and lots of options, although I don't find myself as inspired by it on the same level as the 2290.

I still want to try something from Eventide and have no doubt I will dig bigly.......maybe this Black Friday?

I love the 2290p also. Something about the TC delay and modulation just sits well with high gain. It sits behind the gain and doesnt get in the way. I struggle with the Boss SDE-3000D because it sounds good, but it seems like the repeats always wants to sit on top of the tone. It clashes more with the main tone, and the modulation gets phasey. The TC Modulation always sounds wide.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I love the 2290p also. Something about the TC delay and modulation just sits well with high gain. It sits behind the gain and doesnt get in the way. I struggle with the Boss SDE-3000D because it sounds good, but it seems like the repeats always wants to sit on top of the tone. It clashes more with the main tone, and the modulation gets phasey. The TC Modulation always sounds wide.

Absolutely. I had a Boss DD-20 (also excellent) and hoped upgrading to the DD-500 would work better with hi gain. It does, but the 2290 is even better. And there is nothing I love more than shred tone with cavernous delay.

 

[Bloodrock]

NUX ATLANTIC delay/reverb...