Playing Without Delay Effects

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 14 Oct 2004 12:13 pm

For many years I have been playing with some delay (or echo) effect and a little reverb. On slow ballads I would use long delays and on fast songs a short delay. Usually mixed at about 50% dry 50% wet. I must admit that I am an avid Jeff Newman student and as a new impressionable steel player I emulated his sound. About a month ago my SGE Mach II effects unit blew a fuse. I continued to practice without the delay effect but did use some amp reverb. At first I found that I was having difficulty maintaining true notes and chords. I sounded horrible. It was the delay! The delay always compensated somehow and made me sound better than I actually was! I have been playing now a month without delay and finally getting my bar position right on and bar rolling for sustain. My playing has improved by not using the delay effect. Anybody else have this experience?

t

Larry Hamilton · Post by **Larry Hamilton** » 14 Oct 2004 12:46 pm

Yes I have. Cutting down on the reverb also helps, at least for me. Even when everything is working I will shut it all off to practice. something else is kicking the volume pedal aside. Get a volume you want then take your foot off. Helps me with touch wheather i need a soft touch or gouge a little for a little more attack.
Have fun.

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Keep pickin', Larry

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 14 Oct 2004 2:05 pm

Yes, I have.
Even a little bit covers intonation problems. I find it can help when I know my steel has a string or two slightly out of tune, and no time to correct the problem. At the end of a set, I'll correct the tuning. Thank goodness for a little "lipstick and makeup" to make the real thing sound a little better, when needed.

I agree that practice with no effects is a good habit.

Ron

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 14 Oct 2004 2:13 pm

moved to "Electronics" section

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 14 Oct 2004 2:14 pm

Thank goodness for a little "lipstick and makeup"

Now Ron, I don't believe you need to be sharing these feelings with the guys on this forum!

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 14 Oct 2004 2:21 pm

I mentioned this very subject recently on the forum. I very seldom practice with any effects at all. When I play a gig with my regular setup usually a little reverb & delay it seems to nullify some of the bar movement necessary to get a good tone without the effects. In other words the effects cover up both bad and good playing IMHO.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 14 Oct 2004 3:06 pm

"Lipstick and Makeup"... what an excellent analogy... Does that mean that we hear when playing "dry" is comparable to what one sees when the lights go up after last call?

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 14 October 2004 at 04:07 PM.]

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 18 Oct 2004 1:05 pm

That's the reason we started to use that stuff in the beginning? I still remember the first time I heard an amp with reverb built in. Couldn't believe it.