MANDO
[ GEAR + GADGETS: FIVE ADVANCED* MANDOLIN EFFECTS | Tyson Bryant ]
*Ok, just typing the words “Advanced Mandolin way. One of the advantages that a mandolin some bite and edge by routing your mando
Effects” makes me laugh at myself. I should has on stage over its guitar cousins is its natural signal through a pre-amp or overdrive. It will
probably provide the disclaimer that you can ability to cut through a mix. Too much reverb cut through a wall of sound that way and make
only take mando effects so far on the worship will wash that advantage away. Try dialing up for fun variety in your set list. Whichever route
stage. It is roughly analogous to discussing a small room reverb and mix it in to your signal you take to heat up your tone, try to stay away
“Advanced Squirt-Gun Techniques”--sure, you so that you just barely notice that it is there. If from outright distortion. Sure, you’ve got the
can do some fun stuff here and there, but you your effects processor gives you this flexibility, effect available to you, but let’s not let ourselves
can only go so far before things start feeling use a patch with slightly less reverb--for more get carried away here! Heavy distortion on a
ridiculous. presence--when you are playing along with the mandolin is always going to sound bad.
full band. Use slightly more reverb--for more
Without further ado:
depth--when you are playing alone or with
DELAY
only one or two other instruments (common
GATE
on intros and outros for some songs when the The second effect in the experimental category
mandolin is being used as a feature). is delay. There are a couple of fun ways to use
Probably not something you’ll need in your
signal chain unless you are using a microphone
this effect. One is to use a long delay along with
PRE-AMPS/AMPS/OVERDRIVE
heavy reverb on your solo patch to give yourself
that is picking up gobs of stage noise when you
an airy, dreamlike sound. Another use of delay is
aren’t playing at all. But if that is happening, These next two effects really start taking us into to dial up a dotted-quarter or eighth-note delay
tossing a gate in will squash that fast. experimental territory. We’ll call it “artistic” and to the BPM of the song. Electric guitar players
try to keep a straight face. In the first category, use this type of delay frequently to play parts
pre-amps, amplifier models, or overdrive with a pulsing, rhythmic feel. Pair up this type of
pedals are really fun because they can let you delay with some moderate overdrive and you’ll
This effect should come with giant, yellow make your mandolin signal more aggressive. get a fresh take on a go-to lead guitar sound. (If
“Caution” signs. When properly dialed-in, a Obviously if you are going to play around with you want to know how to achieve this, ask your
compressor is a valuable tool. When improperly effects like this you have to be very sensitive to lead guitar friends what delay settings they use
set, it will kill the dynamics and energy of your the arrangement of the song you want to use when they want to sound like U2.)
instrument. I use a compressor to try to help them on. If the rest of the song’s arrangement is myself out with fills. On many songs, it is fun light, airy, and acoustic, don’t load up a Marshall There is so much great technology out there
to throw quick three-or-four-note riffs in as stack model to play your mando through. for musicians now. Just because a mandolin
COMPRESSOR
accents while you’re playing rhythm parts. We
is viewed primarily as an acoustic instrument
get in and out of those riffs too fast to justify But if you are playing a loud, beat-driven, rock- doesn’t mean we can’t be creative with the
pedal-dancing to switch to your lead/solo type of song you can give your solo patch tools we have available to us!
patch; but at the same time, the lower-volume
rhythm patch may not be loud enough for the
riff to cut through.
Enter the compressor. You can use it on your
rhythm patch to automagically bring up the
quieter signals that come during your riff, while
simultaneously keeping your louder rhythm
strums from peaking too high.
REVERB
I like to add a hint of reverb to my mandolin
signal to give it a bit of depth and character.
But as the old adage says, a little goes a long
August 2017
WorshipMusician.com
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