Bright Analog Delay pedals?

JezWynd

I’m looking for tips for a good analog delay with a bright treble response, preferably with delay time of >600ms.  Mostly playing bass now and while I love the analog delay sound, they often sound too dark for my taste. Previously I had the Echoplex, which I loved but it was just a bit too murky at longer delay times.

Anyone with experience of the carbon copy deluxe? I’d be keen to hear thoughts on it, esp using the bright switch at longer repeat times. Anything else I should try? Currently using a DD-7 which is fine but I’d ideally like to find something a bit less vanilla sounding. Thanks.

DarnWeight

Not tried the CC Deluxe, but the WH Echo Puss is one of the brighter analog delays I've tried.  I think it tops out at 600ms though.  Not sure if the Supa Puss is similarly voiced, but that definitely goes longer.

If you don't mind digital analog-voiced delay, then the Brigadier is really, really good.

noisepolluter

MXR Carbon Copy Bright? Or the Mini which has switchable bright and normal modes.

joetele

I think the DOD Rubberneck has a tone dial...

UnclePsychosis

DOD Rubberneck has a fairly flexible tone control, it's also definitely not "vanilla" thanks to its other features.

Might also be worth checking out the Boss RE-20 which again has EQ controls and is a lot of fun. Its analog "sounding" rather than true analog though.

Also is this not why the Carbon Copy Bright exists? 

monquixote

Way Huge Aqua Puss.or Echo Puss

Seymour Duncan Vapour Trail.

Keefy

If you look on page 7 of the Carbon Copy Deluxe manual it it describes what happens when you engage the Bright switch:
+4.5dB @ 1.5kHz
-3dB @ 200Hz
- i.e a boost in the upper mids and a cut in the lower mids.
Analog delays are rarely 'trebly' bright.

Way Huge Super Puss has a tone control - I think someone was selling one on here.

I do this sort of thing with my EHX Memory Man 1100TT but using an MXR 6-band graphic in the loop - this should give you an idea of how EQ affects analog delay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjh_rnylAJ0

monquixote

The darkness of analog delays isn't because they are intrinsically dark it's because they tend to create high frequency noise so shelving a bit off makes them sound less noisy.

A brighter delay will tend to be hissy.

JezWynd

UnclePsychosis said:

DOD Rubberneck has a fairly flexible tone control, it's also definitely not "vanilla" thanks to its other features.

Might also be worth checking out the Boss RE-20 which again has EQ controls and is a lot of fun. Its analog "sounding" rather than true analog though.

Also is this not why the Carbon Copy Bright exists? 

I’ve tried the Rubberneck a couple of times (with guitar) and never jelled with it. Definitely not vanilla as you say but the tone, although bright, didn’t appeal and I couldn’t find any use for the rubberneck effect even used mildly. Perhaps I should give it another try with 4 string, it def has the required brightness.

Prior to falling for the Echoplex, the RE20 was my favourite delay but I couldn’t get the repeats to stand out enough, something the Echoplex has no problem with.

The Carbon Copy Bright has been finished I believe but is still available. The max 600ms is slightly under what would be ideal - hence enquiring about the Deluxe, which has the bright switch and longer repeat time.

JezWynd

monquixote said:

Way Huge Aqua Puss.or Echo Puss

Seymour Duncan Vapour Trail.

Thanks for the recommendations, the Way Huge pedals seem a popular choice, I’ll look at some vids.

Keefy

Just remembered the Boss DM-2w - that's pretty bright in Custom mode, and goes to about 800ms. You do get some hiss, but there's always that trade-off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjaQvYvuAQk

JezWynd

monquixote said:

The darkness of analog delays isn't because they are intrinsically dark it's because they tend to create high frequency noise so shelving a bit off makes them sound less noisy.

A brighter delay will tend to be hissy.

Yeah, something I’ve noticed in the past. I had the Memery Man 550 for a while and while the repeats were gorgeously lush, I couldn’t get past the noise it added.

Keefy said:

If you look on page 7 of the Carbon Copy Deluxe manual it it describes what happens when you engage the Bright switch:
+4.5dB @ 1.5kHz
-3dB @ 200Hz
- i.e a boost in the upper mids and a cut in the lower mids.
Analog delays are rarely 'trebly' bright.

Way Huge Super Puss has a tone control - I think someone was selling one on here.

I do this sort of thing with my EHX Memory Man 1100TT but using an MXR 6-band graphic in the loop - this should give you an idea of how EQ affects analog delay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjh_rnylAJ0

Thanks for this, very helpful, I’ll check out the video.

noisepolluter

Keefy said:

Just remembered the Boss DM-2w - that's pretty bright in Custom mode, and goes to about 800ms. You do get some hiss, but there's always that trade-off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjaQvYvuAQk

I have one of these - I’d say it’s still definitely on the warm side of things, but it’s less dark than some analogue delays I’ve tried. I also find it pretty quiet as analogue delays go. It’s still slightly darker than a Deluxe Memory Man for instance 

DarnWeight

JezWynd said:

monquixote said:

The darkness of analog delays isn't because they are intrinsically dark it's because they tend to create high frequency noise so shelving a bit off makes them sound less noisy.

A brighter delay will tend to be hissy.

Yeah, something I’ve noticed in the past. I had the Memery Man 550 for a while and while the repeats were gorgeously lush, I couldn’t get past the noise it added.

<snipped>

Yeah, I've had an Echo Puss and a Rubberneck, and both got hissy for me when running the tone control brighter.  The Echo Puss was voiced brighter in general, so easier to find a happy medium, but the Rubberneck sounded far happier when in murkier territory.

That's where the Brig excels...you can dial down the bucket loss, and brighten the repeats without adding any extra hiss.

lukemark

Maxon AD999 is great for this - as far as I understand it uses 8 chips to get its 900ms of delay so doesn't need as much filtering of the treble to reduce noise.

joetele

Embrace the hiss!

JezWynd

joetele said:

Embrace the hiss!

I really should and if I was playing lead guitar the trade off would be worthwhile but I find hiss really annoying.

Perhaps I should add that max budget is 200ish (but would prefer not to get into ish territory if possible).

noisepolluter

JezWynd said:

joetele said:

Embrace the hiss!

I really should and if I was playing lead guitar the trade off would be worthwhile but I find hiss really annoying.

Perhaps I should add that max budget is 200ish (but would prefer not to get into ish territory if possible).

Maybe try a TC Flashback 2 and make your own analogue-style preset(s)

monquixote

The deep blue isn't actually analog but sounds very much like it is.

ICBM

JezWynd said:

Anything else I should try?

A DD-2 or earlier DD-3.

Really. Although it's a digital delay, only the delay line itself is digital (and only 12-bit as well) - the whole feedback loop and mixing section is analogue - and it sounds more like a very clean analogue delay than it does like a modern digital. Delay time is up to 800mS.

Modern DD-3s don't sound quite as good to me, but still less bland than the later versions.

GavRichList

Chase Bliss Tonal Recall Red Knob Mod fits the bill perfectly, but be prepared to pay for it