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About Tim Reynolds Effects

Tim Reynolds is a multi-instrumentalist known primarily for his work with the Dave Matthews Band. A particularly experimental and progressive artist, Tim's guitar playing often makes use of unusual effects and techniques to produce distinctive sounds. They often draw from Tim's interest in exotic ethnic music and instruments.
  1. Samplers, Delays, Loopers

    • Tim uses a Line 6 Delay Modeler, a Boss DD-5 Digital Delay and a Boss Dr. Sample 202 and 303. These are all used as phrase samplers. A phrase sampler records a brief clip of audio and continually loops it. More and more sound can be added to the repeating loop, or it can be used as a backing track. In an interview on his official website Tim describes the settings he uses for the delay unit in detail. He turns the digital delay feedback all the way up, causing the sound to repeat indefinitely until the pedal is switched off. He also mentions using the "Reverse" function for "spacier stuff."

    Volume Pedal

    • Tim uses a mono Ernie Ball model, but most volume pedals are essentially the same. They use a simple rocker mechanism which fades the volume of the guitar signal. Tim uses his as an easier way to perform the popular "violin" effect that many guitarists create using the volume control. The volume is cut off, the note is played then the volume is turned back up while the note is still ringing. Removing the attack of the string completely changes its characteristics. It can be heard in conjunction with the phrase sampler during the breakdown section of "Stream," where it mimics the sound of a sitar.

    Synths & Ring Modulators

    • In his live setup when working with TR3, the Tim Reynolds trio, Tim uses a pair of synthesizer pedals -- a "Mooger Fooger" Ring Modulator pedal from Moog subsidiary, Big Briar. It generates an analog synth tone and controls the pitch using the guitar input signal. It can produce anything from fuzzy analog lead sounds to expansive resonant pads. It can be heard in the background throughout the song "Weight Of The World."

    Additional Effects and Gear

    • According to Tim's page on the official Dave Matthews Band website, Tim's effect setup also includes a Dunlop Univibe and a Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere, vibrato and tremolo pedals respectively. Individually these pedals create a rhythmic pulsing effect, but layered over one another they sound far more chaotic and erratic as their signals overlap with one another.

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