Follow Up On Delay

Some time ago Matt wrote a post about how to get a similar delay tone as Ian Luxton of Mimicking Birds. This weekend I thought I’d give it a try. Now I only have one digital delay around the apartment (The BOSS DD-6), but luckily it has the quintessential reverse function. Since I only have analog delays otherwise, I decided to use my MXR Carbon Copy. As suggested, I put the DD-6 last set in the reverse mode.

By adding the DD-6 after the Carbon Copy, there is a real interesting warping effect as both the trails and the dry signal pass through the reverse delay. For a cleaner sound, I’d suggest reducing the number of repeats on the digital delay. My favorite setting is a little longer than a slap back. As far as the first delay in the chain, really that can be set to what ever your favorite settings are. On the Carbon Copy, I like to keep a lesser regen (around 9 o’clock), the mix slightly wetter than 50/50 (about 1 o’clock), and the delay time around 11 o’clock.

Ian uses an interesting twist on a common pedal. I highly suggest giving a similar set up a try. It is a fun new way to use a classic effect.

Mimicking Delays

A few months back, a friend got me into a new band — Mimicking Birds. So much so, I caught a show they did in the basement of a small restaurant in Cambridge, Ma. It just so happens, at the time, I was revising my delay tone and I just absolutely loved guitarist Ian Luxton’s tone. So, after their set, I asked Ian how he got his delay sound.

Sadly, the band is so new (and ever changing) — which makes it harder to find videos of them online. But, I think this is pretty close to what I experienced in that Cambridge basement.

So what Ian does is pretty clever. At least, I never thought of it — so it’s clever to me. He has multiple delay pedals. The key of which is his BOSS DD-7, which he keeps in reverse mode. I was so fascinated by this that I went home and pulled out my DD-6 (discontinued), popped it in reverse, and through my MXR Carbon Copy in front of it. Flawless. The DD-6 warped the trails of the Carbon Copy adding an extra layer of trance-y delay.

If you want an exact of Ian’s tone, if my memory serves me right, use a DD-3 into a DD-7. But, at the same time, I feel like he may have also mentioned the Carbon Copy. Regardless, use a regular delay into a reverse, and you’ll have a time-gasm.