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Originally posted by silvertone6120

It seems that here lately I've been going around and around with my effects setup. In the last year or so my regular setup has been my guitar running to a Core pedalboard with the following effects:

TU-2 tuner
BD-2 Blues Driver(Keeley modded)
CE-2 Chorus
RE-20 Space Echo

Keep in mind I love the Space Echo, especially with the input volume cranked...which is great unless I try to use a hollowbody because it tends to howl instead of growl! Oh well...I ordinarily play semi-solids on stage anyway. But it seems that if I have a good short delay setting(on mode 1), I don't have a satisfying long delay for ballads, etc.(on mode 2)
So, at times when I've wanted to move away from the RE-20 for something smaller(and go back to using the ultra compact BCB-3 pedalboard...love the size and weight of this board!) I've tried sticking the following pedals into my BCB-3:

TU-2 tuner
BD-2 Blues Driver
and either a DD-3 Digital Delay(Keeley modded) or a Danelectro BLT Slap Echo

Both of these delays are good. I used to use the DD-3 for a few years, alternating between a short and a long delay depending on the song(easy as a flick of the switch). But all of a sudden it's not cutting it for me anymore either. The BLT is a one-trick pony. It only has one setting time-wise, probably around 75ms or so. Nice, but I need a little more than that.

So this afternoon I started playing around with some other toys in the music room. I started with an old Danelectro Reel Echo...I bought it a few years ago(before the RE-20) and to this day it's all right but that's about it...don't want to use "all right" onstage(I guess I'm a little picky that way). The BLT works better for me tonally than the Reel Echo. The BLT sounds nice, but again I need more control over repeat rate, so I can't go with that.

So just for the heck of it, I dug in the cabinet where I keep pedals, strings, other miscellaneous paraphernalia, and pulled out one of my DM-2s(dated Feb 1983). I have three of 'em, along with a nice DM-3. Haven't plugged in a DM-2, much lessed gigged with one, in ages. I'd forgotten what a sweet sound I could coax outa one of these! I usually keep the rate set at about 2:30...I estimate a 100ms setting. Great for upbeat tunes, pseudo-slapback type things, etc. And one thing I was too lazy to do in the past...I twist the rate knob all the way counterclockwise to the longest setting(300ms?) and get the long delay sound I would get off the DD-3 or the RE-20...a very nice long setting for ballads...except with the DM-2 it seems a lot warmer. And I'm a doofus when it comes to too many knobs on a pedal...the DM-2 is a very basic piece of equipment with only three knobs...keep it simple, that's always the best IMO!

I know I've been spoiled over the years using an analog delay. But in the same token I've really became enthralled with the RE-20's sound. But again I found I can work with the DM-2 and be just as happy with my tone as I can with the RE-20, but it's actually analog warmth I'm working with instead of a "simulation"(let me state here and now that the RE-20 is a wonderful simulation that I really enjoy using).
I'm not an analog MIJ purist by any means, nor do I need tape to get my echo. It just seems that for years I searched for a more modern effect that wouldn't sacrifice the tone I would get out of an analog unit. Thus the Keeley DD-3 and the RE-20, the Dan-o units etc. to keep from carrying a valuable vintage effect pedal on the road. But this afternoon I came to realize that to get the DM-2 sound...I'm gonna have to go with a DM-2!

It's amazing how far ahead one tries to move he sometimes comes right back to where it all started. All these years I've tried so many different delays and invariably I seem to regularly return to the tried and true DM-2.

Sorry for the long post...just wanted to share my "revelation" with other Boss fans. I've known for years how good an analog delay sounds...seems easy to forget analog in a digital world!

Cheers

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