http://swartamps.com/night_light_attenuator.htm

I've heard this thing once and it seemed to work really well. Check it out!

ez wrote:

billionairebum wrote: Funny thing is I have/had a similiar set up. Strat+Fender blues deluxe+line 6 x3 live. I have moved over to analog but I am still struggling with the amp volume. If I put my pedals volume up and my amp volume low or the other way around it is still seriously loud. I play hillsongs/planetshakers type music with some John mayer. Delay and amp volume is something I struggle with. Great thread and I look forward to see what you do!

I don't get how you can have volumes too high with a volume control on your guitar, on your pedal(s) AND on your amp.

The problem is, if you turn down your volume on your guitar, then the amplitude of the signal it sends out is smaller, and so the amplitude of the signal received by amps/pedals is smaller, and so things like distortion effects come across more like gain effects, because the wave is not clipping. So it's a bit of a balancing act between volume and tone.

As for delay pedals,my money is on the T-Rex Replica. It's actually digital, but it's the most analogue delay you'll ever find : http://www.t-rex-effects.com/replica/

Wow I am overwhelmed by all the responses, thanks so much!

I love it when choices boil down to personal preference cause it means I'm asking the right questions ?

In terms of the delay I'm definitely looking for something that makes it dead easy to switch between a dotted eighth delay and an echo-like delay. A tap tempo is also a must. I know the Timefactor is cable of this, so is the Timeline. Are any of the smaller pedals capable of this?

It also makes sense that I'd need to go from clean to overdriven to a lead (louder, more overdriven) sound. Has anyone tried their amp's overdrive channel to achieve something like this, or is another od/distortion pedal the route to take?

Most of your smaller delays give you one sound or bypass. For two or more sounds you need something with patches.

The two big boys are a necessity if you need discrete dual delays or a variety of other effects in the feedback loop. If you don't know what I'm talking about, they're probably overkill for your needs. Both do good jobs of everything, both are ambient soundscape/ shoegazer dream machines. Go Eventide if digital delays are your main thing, go with Strymon if analog and tape are.

Aside from the big boys there are also a few mid-range units that would do the job:

Boss DD-20. Four patches and, as with most Boss stuff, it has a nice balance between usability and functionality. Real nice modulated and reverse delays.

TC Electronic Nova Delay has nine patches and a nice, pristine sound quality. Nice variety of modulation. However it needs it's own dedicated (included) power supply unless you have a pedal multi-power unit capable of 12V, 400 mV.

The smaller Strymon units like the Brigadier and El Capistan can be used with a switch to access one preset (effectively giving you two sounds on tap). If you're chasing analog or tape delay tones, these two are both stellar sounding.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: The smaller Strymon units like the Brigadier and El Capistan can be used with a switch to access one preset (effectively giving you two sounds on tap). If you're chasing analog or tape delay tones, these two are both stellar sounding.

They can also be used with an expression pedal, assignable to any of the knobs or secondary functions - Really cool function this!
Not sure of the Brig, but I can tell you that the El Cap definitely has tap tempo ?
Another bonus of the El Cap is that is has a built in Spring reverb function too, if you ever needed it.

No one has mentioned the Line 6 DL4 or is that old hat?

I do think the timefactor/timeline might be a bit overkill for me.

How about the TC Electronic Flashback X4? The price is very appealing.

I don't know the X4, but yeah, that would do the job.

The L6 DL4 is a pretty good delay too.

naudecruywagen wrote: I do think the timefactor/timeline might be a bit overkill for me.

How about the TC Electronic Flashback X4? The price is very appealing.

Also look at the Vox Delaylab if you're going on price! ?

Here is a FB X4 for sale... though i dont know if he is asking too much?!
It's still available though, so good luck ?

That sounds like a great selection! I think your happiness with those pedal will last! Congrats! It must be a great feeling to buy all those cool things at once!