Adding delay and reverb (no effects loop)

[ScotGormley]

I have several amps without effects loops, and I would like to add
reverb and delay to my sound. I do not like the sound of reverb and
delay before the preamp, generally.

Several companies offer external effects loops--would this be a good
solution? For example, the Xotic Blender can be used as an external
effects loop and allows a mix of wet and dry signals, processed
separately, to feed a preamp. Also, T Rex has a reverb pedal that
includes an external effects loop.

Any experience with either of the above pedals, or any other
suggestions?

Thanks,
Scot

[sheetsofsound]

the only reason to use time based effect in a loop is if you are
generating distortion in the amp. Most amps that do not have loops do
not generate significant overdrive in the amp so running those effects
in front works fine.

[ScotGormley]

Jack, the main amp I'm referring to is a Fargen Mini Plex Mk. II, so
it's a hardcore distortion machine, It has no reverb and no effects
loop. The amp sounds great; I just want to add some very subtle
ambient effects.

[sheetsofsound]

an external loop is not going to help you. The problem is that time
based effects need to be *AFTER* the generated distortion. The only
thing that'll help you is to add time based effects between the power
amp and the speaker which is a pretty tough problem. Another option
would be to add a 2nd small amp like a roland cube something-or-other
and use it as a "wet" amp for the reverb and delay. That works pretty
well. You could get the amp modified to add an effect loop but on an
EL84 based amp, you're probably getting power tube overdrive so the
effect loop will not solve the problem.

[ScotGormley]

> effect loop will not solve the problem.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks, Jack. I've tried using a mic on the Fargen and running that
sound through my JazzAmp, with reverb and delay added after the mic.
It seems to work okay, but it's cumbersome.

[Marc Why]

The Skreddy "Echo" may be what you're looking for. Long build time,
but pretty cool sounds.

http://www.skreddypedals.com

[Tim McNamara]

In article
<5ee84e4e-d586-4ca2...@l35g2000vba.googlegroups.com>,
ScotGormley <scot.g...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I have several amps without effects loops, and I would like to add
> reverb and delay to my sound. I do not like the sound of reverb and
> delay before the preamp, generally.

I realize this is a bit of topic drift, but what's the difference that
you hear? I've never had amps with effects loops to compare.

[ScotGormley]

On Nov 11, 9:38 pm, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote:
> In article
> <5ee84e4e-d586-4ca2-b546-eaf3f3644...@l35g2000vba.googlegroups.com>,

>
>  ScotGormley <scot.gorm...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I have several amps without effects loops, and I would like to add
> > reverb and delay to my sound. I do not like the sound of reverb and
> > delay before the preamp, generally.
>
> I realize this is a bit of topic drift, but what's the difference that
> you hear?  I've never had amps with effects loops to compare.

Well, as Jack mentioned, it's only really an issue when using a high
gain sound, but here's what happens: the original signal hits the
delay, then all those repeats go into the preamp. So instead of
echoing a distortion sound, the repeats get distortion added. It
really makes the tone detoriate, and usually the time-based effect is
too pronounced.

Some players feel that even effects loops cause the signal to degrade,
and that's why John Suhr makes a mixer for use in effects loops.

That's why a lot of players, like Larry Carlton with his Dumble amp,
only add effects in the mix. He uses a mic, and send his dry amp's
sound through a mixer. He has a small PA just for his effects and uses
two PA speakers on each side of his regular guitar speaker. I'm hoping
that maybe, with all the new technology out there, there might be less
cumbersome solution.

If you check out Scott Henderson's discussion board (it's really
voluminous), he talks about issues like this in extreme detail.

[ScotGormley]

Thanks, Marc. I'll give it a look.

[sheetsofsound]

by the way, supposedly the empress vintage super delay is the king of
all echos, surpassing the skreddy. I'm currently using an eventide
timefactor but looking forward to trying the empress.

[sheetsofsound]

On Nov 11, 9:37 pm, ScotGormley <scot.gorm...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> Thanks, Jack. I've tried using a mic on the Fargen and running that
> sound through my JazzAmp, with reverb and delay added after the mic.
> It seems to work okay, but it's cumbersome.

Try just running in parallel with both amps and using the jazzamp as
the "wet" amp. IMO, that's the way to go.

[Derek]

sheetsofsound wrote:

>by the way, supposedly the empress vintage super delay is the king of
>all echos, surpassing the skreddy. I'm currently using an eventide
>timefactor but looking forward to trying the empress.

I have been using the Timefactor ever since you and I discussed
various delays on TGP.

I have been very happy with it. The only thing I have yet to figure
out is how to get the dotted eight note thing going.

Suggestions?

[sheetsofsound]

no, never tried that but make sure you grab the latest beta update.
It's outstanding.

[Derek]

sheetsofsound wrote:
>
> no, never tried that but make sure you grab the latest beta update.
> It's outstanding.

Okie dokie, thanks for the heads up.