Using Effects In Weird Ways

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Shadoweclipse13
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Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:16 pm

A year or so ago I discovered some really cool sounds using things in strange ways, or weird combinations of pedals, and it always excites the hell out of me. Sure, I could just buy a pedal for every sound I want, but where's the fun in that?!

I've always wanted a Uni-Vibe type pedal (Dry Bell Vibe Machine mostly), but then I discovered I could get close enough for my ears with a tremolo and a delay. I set the tremolo (EQD Hummingbird V3) for a slow trem (trem type 1) and a bit higher than 12:00 for the depth, and an analog/analog-sounding delay with low repeats and medium delay time.

What kinds of things have you found that are weird, useful, or just plain cool as hell?
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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by julius2790 » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:34 pm

I have a pedal that does a harmonic tremolo and I've been feeding that into a Magnatone style vibrato. They sound really, really, really good together. I've been trying to learn finger picking with a Jazzmaster and just light use of the trem bar with that setup and it has been very inspiring and hours of fun.

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Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:37 pm

That's cool! Is the Magnatone trem a repeat percussion style tremolo? I've never thought of running two trems like that together. I've got an EQD Night Wire for my bass rig, I should really try that!!
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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by fuzzjunkie » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:44 pm

Ring Modulators can make interesting tremolo sounds.

The Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe can make an oil can delay sound and a convincing Vibratone.

The Yamaha E-1010 analog delay can make all sorts of crazy modulated vibrato sounds, plus whales and seagulls.

A/DA Flanger is a nice all around flanger, but also does a really nice Leslie sim and maybe the best chorus ever.

The Roland DEP-5 has an inverse reverb that doesn't sound like Kevin Shields, but like an 80s arcade game malfunctioning instead. Put a Big Muff in front and it goes on for hours by itself.

My op amp Big Muff, if you don't plug the out jack in all the way, will feedback on itself and sustain for days, put a delay or flanger after that and go get a beer, it will play without you.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by julius2790 » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:50 pm

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:37 pm
That's cool! Is the Magnatone trem a repeat percussion style tremolo? I've never thought of running two trems like that together. I've got an EQD Night Wire for my bass rig, I should really try that!!

The vibrato is a "Maggie" and it's suppose to be as close to the real thing as you can get. I take the harmonic trem and set it at a slower rate into the Maggie so they are sort of rubbing against each other. It's like an ocean with jazz chords and spring reverb.

I just realized I do have a friend that has a repeat percussion! Might have to try that out soon. I nerd out so hard on different kinds of tremolo! My favorite effect by far.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:56 pm

fuzzjunkie wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:44 pm
My op amp Big Muff, if you don't plug the out jack in all the way, will feedback on itself and sustain for days, put a delay or flanger after that and go get a beer, it will play without you.
That's amazing!! I know a couple guys who do that with a jack "slug" (unsoldered cord plug, and connected to nothing) to create insane feedback from the input jack, but I might have to try that with the output jack!!

I also LOVE the trick using a ring modulator as a tremolo. Mark Engles (Dredg) uses a Moog ring modulator (one of the big ones) and I always wondered how he got his trem sound!
julius2790 wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:50 pm
The vibrato is a "Maggie" and it's suppose to be as close to the real thing as you can get. I take the harmonic trem and set it at a slower rate into the Maggie so they are sort of rubbing against each other. It's like an ocean with jazz chords and spring reverb.

I just realized I do have a friend that has a repeat percussion! Might have to try that out soon. I nerd out so hard on different kinds of tremolo! My favorite effect by far.
Dude, me too. I'm THIS close to pulling the trigger on the Walrus Audio Monument just for the momentary mode ( Walrus Audio Monument ; link set RIGHT at spot in video). I've always liked tremolo after my Keeley-modded Boss TR-2, but I eventually settled on my EQD Hummingbird (repeat percussion), since it can also do the super fast, almost ring modulated sounds. Killer sounding trem.

I'm definitely gonna have to try that trick with two trems!!
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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by marqueemoon » Wed Jan 10, 2018 12:11 am

Layering swells with a volume pedal and a looper is really fun. You can just use the guitar's volume if you don't have a pedal.

I like it because the concept of playing in time goes out the window.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:54 am

marqueemoon wrote:
Wed Jan 10, 2018 12:11 am
I like it because the concept of playing in time goes out the window.
Totally agree. I love playing against time, or having really weird time signatures.
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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by FightingPlankton » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:00 am

Phaser+vibe for Leslie
my favorite trick is turning trem depth to full then tap in notes in tempo with it, sounds similar to a cello.
Also reverb+ehx pitchfork=shimmer...if you're into that
What is acoustic? Oh, you means a grandpa's guitars? A grandpa's guitars? That's for pussies and grandpas. I think you know it.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:17 am

FightingPlankton wrote:
Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:00 am
Phaser+vibe for Leslie
my favorite trick is turning trem depth to full then tap in notes in tempo with it, sounds similar to a cello.
Also reverb+ehx pitchfork=shimmer...if you're into that
Now I'm wondering if I could add a phaser to my trem+delay trick to get a decent Leslie... Haha
I have to try that with the tremolo!!!!
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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by FightingPlankton » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:25 am

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:17 am


Now I'm wondering if I could add a phaser to my trem+delay trick to get a decent Leslie... Haha
I have to try that with the tremolo!!!!
That's basically what the dod vibrothang is, phaser+trem. So it could get close...not that the vibrothang is a substitute for leslie, but it's similar
What is acoustic? Oh, you means a grandpa's guitars? A grandpa's guitars? That's for pussies and grandpas. I think you know it.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by borntohang » Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:46 am

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:56 pm
I also LOVE the trick using a ring modulator as a tremolo. Mark Engles (Dredg) uses a Moog ring modulator (one of the big ones) and I always wondered how he got his trem sound!
The EHX Ring Thing covers a huge amount of RM sounds, but because it's a digital one you can slow it right down so it also works as a chorus, a trem, a pitch-shifter, and a flanger depending on how you set the LFO and depth. Fun little toy and I use it on analog synth a lot for texture.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by MechaBulletBill » Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:24 am

I have an orhpeum fuzz clone (like a Ge fuzzrite) and if you back the attack off to about 2/3 o'clock, use the bridge pickup and pick hard near the bridge, it does a great sitar impression.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by Mike S » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:20 am

I've found some pretty bizarre Chorus and Flanger settings on my Polychorus. I ran that with my DM-2w Delay into my clean Blues Junior III. I added my Tone Machine clone set to minimum Fuzz, maximum Brite with the Octave switch on and my Super Fuzz on Tone 1 with the Balance all the way up, all plugged into my Mustang. I then just leaned the guitar at a 45 degree angle, strings up on the amp and played around with the controls for instant broken Astromech Droid sounds.

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Re: Using Effects In Weird Ways

Post by SansRegret » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:41 am

On my DD5, I will crank the feedback and set the delay time very short, it creates a weird harmonic overtone thing instead of an actual delay sound.
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