Boss DD-20

[John316]

In the past months our P&W Team has been doing a lot of Hillsongs United and Chris Tomlin stuff. Since some of those songs have a "U2/The Edge-type" delay going, on, I took up MF on their 30 trial period and ordered a Boss DD-20. (My DD-3 doesn't have tap tempo capabilities).

While I haven't really given it a good run through yet, I've made up my mind about one thing: Boss owner manuals suck! I mean they're good for telling you the knob functions but fall short operationally.

Sorry for the rant. I hope to have something positive to say about the DD-20. :D

[LesPaulGuy]

"Since some of those songs have a "U2/The Edge-type" delay going.."

As they used to say.. "d' ya think?" This is what everybody sounds like these days! I get the same request from our worship leader, as we do our best to replicate the original recordings of songs. I used to have a real problem with that, most likely it was my pride, because I wanted to put my own stamp on things and not be a copy-cat. I used to think "why is everybody trying to sound like "Edge" (Dave Evans) all the time, and why should I?"

I had a good heart-to-heart discussion with a close friend when I got to air out my feelings on the subject, and he helped put it into a perspective that made me feel better about it. I have a sweet old Boss Analog delay that I try to use to get those sounds, but it just doesn't cut it. Needless to say, I'm also checking out the DD-20's now. Anyone else have a better alternative or recommendation for the same money?

[LesStrat]

The DD-20 is a great unit. The Line 6 Delay Modeler is a great one as well (probably one of the best out there).

That said, my pedalboard won't accommodate either, so I have a DD6.

[RipVanWinkle]

If you can find a digitech XDD, they run around 80... and have tap tempo.

If you can find a good deal on an older DD5, you can make your own tap switch for not many bones...my tap switch was $4. BUT...DD5's are going up in price all the time...if you can find a good deal on craigslist or something local, go for it.

[gotammo]

I had a good heart-to-heart discussion with a close friend when I got to air out my feelings on the subject, and he helped put it into a perspective that made me feel better about it.

So what did he say?

[Ravindave_3600]

One reason I choose not to play much contemporary worship music is that IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE U2! Now, I LIKE U2. Got some U2 on my Ipod. But can't any good songs be written without the STINKIN' echo?

(takes a deep, cleansing breath)

Forgive the rant. To me, it's all just monotonous.

[hotraman]

I found a patch on my POD X3L called "Streets with no Name"
I'm using it all the time, with that U2 feel.
I am playing "Angels we have heard" and "Hark the Herald Angels" with lots of delay.
I tell our choir just to sing it straight. It sounds great!

[Swarty]

I had the Line 6 big green thingy and didn't like the way it added some glitchy artifacts when the input signal was low (when I turned down the guitar). I now have a DD-20 which I don't use very often, but will add it when one of those tap-tempo thingys are required, or when I need some whacked out echo noise. It seems to do a fine job.

I have an old AD-9 that is on almost all the time; like many guys use reverb, I just use it for a big hall effect. About the only time I turn it off when a real tight chunk-a-chunk rhythm is required.

[Crunchyriff]

Boss owners manuals are roughly as bad as Roland manuals because they are written by the same bunch.

The Japanese to American translation is pretty bad. Sometimes I wonder if its intentional... as ambiguous and as incomplete as they are. Really weird.

[John316]

Well I finally found time to tweak this pedal and am happy to report things are much better now. :yeah:

I figured out the DD-20 gives one the ability to store 4 different delay settings. Right now I've only stored three settings: 120, 365 and 500. With 365 bpm I can get "The Edge" type sounds for the Lincoln Brewster, Chris Tomlin and Hillsong stuff we're doing.

Another cool feature I'm playing with is the Sound-on-Sound (SOS) effect. I'd like to be able to use this feature when we do "Mighty to Save". We'll see how it goes.

[stephen]

Cool!

Glad too see you back around here John316!

[John316]

Cool!

Glad too see you back around here John316!

Thanks Stephen. Life's been real hectic but I still manage to lurk every now-and-then.