More in the 'stories of minimalism' series

[Orvillain]

Wick. That's shit. I've been gassing for one of those for ages. I'd still like to try one, I've never used a real tape delay before.

Please check one out and let me know. Totally possible I got a dud!

Isn't the usual complaint about real tape echos that they sound more pristine than people expect? Because they don't have a worn to shit tape that's been spliced 3 times over.

Maybe something was wrong with the one you tried.

Yeah, this is definitely possible. Was a shop floor unit one. But it was extremely disappointing.

 

[EOengineer]

My minimalist rig keeps shrinking. The phase 90 and carcosa aren’t even in the chain at the moment. Just tuner -> Centura -> space echo -> amp and it’s working for me right now.

 

[la szum]

I was super stoked by T Rex doing those pedalboard friendly Tape Echos,
and then a Binson Echorec, too, right? Nothing minimalist about those.

Seen nothing but mixed reviews on the quality and tone---especially
of the Junior version. Kind of dissuaded me from taking the leap. I do
have a few Tape Echo Machines and they are glorious. Very maximalist!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I was super stoked by T Rex doing those pedalboard friendly Tape Echos,
and then a Binson Echorec, too, right? Nothing minimalist about those.

They're the definition of minimalism. They only do one thing

Seen nothing but mixed reviews on the quality and tone---especially
of the Junior version. Kind of dissuaded me from taking the leap. I do
have a few Tape Echo Machines and they are glorious. Very maximalist!

Ooh really? Pics please.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

yep. Simple board here too. I wasn't even thinking of it as minimalist, it's just what I need

 

[la szum]

They're the definition of minimalism. They only do one thing




Ooh really? Pics please.

Them Preamps do a thing in most Tape Echoes. Hello, Echoplex!

A couple have Reverb, too.

And then the whole Sound-on-Sound thing.

Sorry.

Maestro EP-3, too.....

I rarely use them.

Big fan of the Catalinbread Belle Epoch (Deluxe). A less finicky, unbreakable Tape Echo.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Them Preamps do a thing in most Tape Echoes. Hello, Echoplex!

A couple have Reverb, too.

And then the whole Sound-on-Sound thing.

Sorry.

View attachment 39162

View attachment 39163

Maestro EP-3, too.....

I rarely use them.

Big fan of the Catalinbread Belle Epoch (Deluxe). A less finicky, unbreakable Tape Echo.

Hmm good food, snow AND tape echoes. I just need to ditch my wife and kid then I'll be right over.

 

[la szum]

Haha! It is much nicer in the Summer.


That would be an horrific trade, though. I've seen where you live and what
you have going on.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Haha! It is much nicer in the Summer.


That would be an horrific trade, though. I've seen where you live and what
you have going on.

But. But. Tape echoes

 

[Jarick]

You should probably just get the RV-500 and MD-500

 

[Orvillain]

You should probably just get the RV-500 and MD-500

I do like the RV500, but I feel like the Hall doesn't quite sound as good as the RV-5. But maybe I just need to give it another go! lol.

I've never used the MD500 tbh!

I feel like I should define what I mean by minimalism.

For the last ... 10 years... I was primarily using Helix for effects only. I had a preset per-song. I did whatever I thought the song needed at the time. This resulted in a lot of variation and a lot of different tones, which was cool. But at the same time, I felt like the 'signature' sound I had going on previous albums, was kind of lost.

The whole "one preset per song" with snapshots ... that way of playing... it just got to me after a while. I felt like I wasn't 'me'. I thought it was to do with the effects quality, but it wasn't. I got a GigRig G3 and a bunch of pedals and I had ambitions of making a huge spaceship board... but again... I was just losing something.

I had a few practices over the last year and a bit, where I just went back to an amp footswitch and separate pedals. No effects looper footswitch, no midi, nothing complex.

And every single time I've done it, regardless of what I used, I've had a shit ton of fun.

So for me, it isn't really a case of 'fewer pedals' but more a case of 'simplified workflow'

 

[dbagchee]

@Orvillain Are you wiring this up all in stereo? I keep flip flopping on stereo vs mono as it always a pain to unplug stuff back to mono when you want to plug in to one amp.

 

[Orvillain]

@Orvillain Are you wiring this up all in stereo? I keep flip flopping on stereo vs mono as it always a pain to unplug stuff back to mono when you want to plug in to one amp.

Can't you just plug into the left socket of whatever the last pedal is, for your final mono signal??

I guess it depends on how good each pedal is at doing stereo processing. But that's typically what I've been doing. Didn't think about whether I was losing anything until now.

I've got my MXR running in mono right now, because I don't have the right cables for it to be run in stereo yet. But everything else is stereo.

 

[Orvillain]

For me, this is minimal.

And honestly, it sounds epic as fuck.

I've got room for one, maybe two more pedals. If I get the Cloudburst pedal, then I seriously think that the MercuryX is probably surplus to requirements, as I mostly use it for similar kind of huge pad type tones.

Which means I could consider a 3rd pedal too.

 

[dbagchee]

Can't you just plug into the left socket of whatever the last pedal is, for your final mono signal??

Technically yes but if I have let’s say a Strymon Dig in stereo running only left out to the last pedals left in it’s going to lose the “pong” side of the mix.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

For me, this is minimal.
View attachment 39203

And honestly, it sounds epic as fuck.

I've got room for one, maybe two more pedals. If I get the Cloudburst pedal, then I seriously think that the MercuryX is probably surplus to requirements, as I mostly use it for similar kind of huge pad type tones.

Which means I could consider a 3rd pedal too.

I still think you need some sort of fuzz on there to filth up your filth.

 

[laxu]

For me, this is minimal.
View attachment 39203

And honestly, it sounds epic as fuck.

I've got room for one, maybe two more pedals. If I get the Cloudburst pedal, then I seriously think that the MercuryX is probably surplus to requirements, as I mostly use it for similar kind of huge pad type tones.

Which means I could consider a 3rd pedal too.

Going for that kitchen reverb, eh?

 

[Orvillain]

Going for that kitchen reverb, eh?

Is my backup plan. If it all goes to shit, turn the studio into a rentable studio flat and charge silly arsehole London rents and quit my job!

 

[laxu]

Is my backup plan. If it all goes to shit, turn the studio into a rentable studio flat and charge silly arsehole London rents and quit my job!

Welcome to The Orvillain Heights! The studio flat with a studio! Relax in the spacious 1.2 square meter closet where you can maybe fit right between my amp rig! Enjoy the luxurious Egnater breakfast when available! Marvel at the vastness of the parking lot visible from your room!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Is my backup plan. If it all goes to shit, turn the studio into a rentable studio flat and charge silly arsehole London rents and quit my job!

Some of the London rental ads you see for cupboards or toilets that have been covered into studio flats are terrifying and hilarious.