Reverb & Delay: MAKE or BREAK Your Worship Guitar Tone

Learn how to use reverb and delay effects to enhance your worship guitar tones.
Download my presets here: www.samwittekm...
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My Gear Essentials:
Guitars:
-Citizen Guitars C2 (Use code SWITTEK for 10% at checkout) - www.citizengui...
-Lambertone Crema Pickups - lambertones.st...
-Fender Telecaster MIM - amzn.to/3SeyEEA
-Porter Tele Custom Pickups - amzn.to/3CKi8Gt
-Emerson 3-Way Wiring Kit - sweetwater.sjv.io/AWJxQR
Board (Signal Chain):
-MONO Pedalboard Rail (Medium) - sweetwater.sjv.io/m5AaAO
-Morningstar MC6 Pro - www.morningsta...
-Pinstripe Pedals MBFR - pinstripepedal...
-Barber Electronics Tone Press - www.barberelect...
-1981 Inventions LVL - 1981inventions...
-Benson Preamp - sweetwater.sjv.io/xkWmWy
-JHS Kilt v2 - sweetwater.sjv.io/QyoGo6
-Tone Ranger Audio Germanium Boost - tonerangeraudi...
-Dunlop Volume X Mini - sweetwater.sjv.io/eK9Q9Q
-TC Electronic Polytune Mini - sweetwater.sjv.io/GmeQe2
-Walrus Audio Julianna - sweetwater.sjv.io/JzGjGv
-Hologram Electronics Chroma Console - www.hologramel...
-Strymon TimeLine - sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQOmOz
-Strymon BigSky - sweetwater.sjv.io/g1jrjX
-IK Multimedia ToneX pedals - sweetwater.sjv.io/oq1G1W
-Tone Factor ToneX captures - www.tonefactor...
-Pinstripe Pedals DISO+ - pinstripepedal...
Miscellaneous:
-EBS Flat Patch Cables - sweetwater.sjv.io/EKmxmD
-3M Dual Lock - amzn.to/3R4wf0q
-KZ ZS10 Pro in ear monitors - amzn.to/3SMCgxD
-MONO power supply large - sweetwater.sjv.io/21EgEA
-MONO power supply medium - sweetwater.sjv.io/R5BLBv
-Pedaltrain Nano+ Pedalboard - sweetwater.sjv.io/daQDQ2
-Herdim grip picks - amzn.to/3eLvOt0
-G7th capo - sweetwater.sjv.io/NkOQk1
-Roland MIDI to USB cable - amzn.to/4dglzoU
-UA Volt 2 interface - sweetwater.sjv.io/y20O0G
-D'Addario strings - sweetwater.sjv.io/Y96j6r

[@LavadoMarkM]

that dog enjoying the reverb sounds..

[@SamWittek]

He just always wants to be the center of attention lol

[@Hamp10h_Inc]

Bro was schlumped lol💀

[@jameslloyd949]

Thank god here's someone finally showing how to apply these pedals to a song/live settings. I have both pedals and I often find myself overwhelmed and drenched in both effects. I really trying to find clarity in how I apply it to my songs this is helpful thank you 🙏

[@SamWittek]

Thanks James! Appreciate the feedback and I'm glad to hear that this was helpful! 🙌🏻

[@jameslloyd949]

@@SamWittek I think it would be a great idea if you did a more in depth course with some live band examples there's nothing much out there.There's pedal demos but little examples of how they're applied to playing live or creating a part for a song. I'd buy something like that plus any more posts on the Big Sky and El Cap would have a wide appeal I'm sure.

[@SamWittek]

@@jameslloyd949 That's super good to know, I'd love to make more content like that. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Packett1364]

This whole series was great. You have some of the best Direct tone out there!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks for the kind words man! 👊🏻

[@1234mikeirving]

Your dog is so cute and loves your music, as do I. I hope he or she is still healthy and still enjoying. Thanks for your videos, Sam. I love your videos.

[@SamWittek]

Thanks so much Mike! He's still alive and thriving, and definitely still enjoying the music, or just being on camera 😂

[@musicman4christjesus]

Came back to watch these awesome Tutorial! Great job brother! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication! People forget how much time and effort truly goes into providing this type of amazing content. ❤❤❤❤

[@SamWittek]

Thanks so much! So glad this has been a helpful resource. I’ve been thinking about making an updated version since this one was made a few years ago. Might have to make that happen!

[@Aevyn]

Wow, super helpful content and great presentation, you deserve more subscribers. I've played electric guitar at church almost every Sunday since 2017 and never really used delay until about a month ago so this video was super informative for me

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Jeremy! Really appreciate it, and so glad this was helpful for you!

[@michaelorzechowski9423]

I know it wasn't the point of the video, but your Doxology in the beginning just brought me so much joy. Needed to tell you. Thank you.

[@SamWittek]

Man thanks for the kind words! So happy to hear it brought you joy!

[@danielgallardo7249]

The comment on how reverb needs to be toned down when playing in a band is to true. I was very excited to bring my Plethora X3 to band cause of all the dynamic effects I can finally bring into Worship. Reverb was one I had on very high setting. What happened is the reverb shook the acoustics in the room and combatted with the keyboard sounds. I had to dial back my settings to a third of what I had originally. Just enough is always best.

[@SamWittek]

Totally agree! It can be surprising sometimes how different things sound in the context of a full band mix compared to at home

[@ShredderCheddar]

Great video Sam! It’s so good to see worship guitarist content that is practical and explanatory. You’ve developed an awesome tone! Great pedal selection too

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Nick! 🙌🏻Hope it was helpful!

[@drixmichaeliroy6390]

I love this content brother. Keep it up!

[@SamWittek]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@PriyanPereraGuitarWorks]

Excellent practical tips. Thanks mate.

[@SamWittek]

Glad this was helpful!

[@countstoneula]

Great video, great playing and your explanations we really well articulated. At 4:50 to me the most iconic part of that line is that it’s a dual delay. You nailed it! 7:15 I wish this video existed 20 years ago! 😂 This is such a great tip for anyone new to reverbs or guitar!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks so much! Appreciate the feedback and glad this was helpful! 🙌🏻

[@caseythoren8318]

As your BigSky says, I went ahead and subscribed 🤘

[@SamWittek]

Haha glad someone caught that 😂 Thanks man!

[@caseythoren8318]

Quick question: what IEMs are you using? If you don’t mind to share!

[@SamWittek]

@@caseythoren8318 Sure thing! I'm using the KZ ZS10 Pros

[@arbeebasilan9021]

Please make more videos like this. Thank you, God bless!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks man! More is on the way 🙌🏻

[@MRxr400]

very nice playing. as an old fart wordship guitarist, my angle is to keep my guitar clean, as in no reverb and occasional delay. mainly due to the churches are usually very full of natural reverb. oh, you just mentioned same idea. but, for all live stuff, whether worship or cover band stuff never gets reverb. does sound good in recordings and i leave it for that.

[@NikosKatsikanis]

your videos are coming up on my feed mode🎉

[@kaoquinn]

Very good explanation on the reverb thank you!

[@SamWittek]

Glad this was helpful!

[@dreamcity7514]

I am honestly in love iwth this tone, I find it hard to find much Christian music with this sound if I'm honest most of it is acoustic heavy

[@Sm00thR0ckS]

Great tone. Also that Strymon is a very nice pedal. I may have to sell a couple of my guitars and buy it.

[@SamWittek]

Thanks man! It really is a great pedal

[@3farruca]

Did i heard it right? 2:36 Delay first in signal chain? Lord, how much i miss good old 70s real music & musicians & tech's who really thougt & invented it all.😎

[@SamWittek]

I probably phrased that pretty poorly. I didn't mean literally first in the signal chain, I just meant it'll typically be before your reverb in your signal chain

[@jimmyjams1974]

Really good advice. Thanks for the video!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Jimmy! Glad this was helpful 🙌🏻

[@bromporke]

Really Great tone all around 👌🏼

[@SamWittek]

Thanks man! 💪🏼

[@mc30052]

This combinaison sound really, really good ! Great preset name on the big sky ! I did it 😂

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Michael! Haha good catch! 😂

[@DonMPhotography]

Thanks for your videos Sam! I agree ... you deserve more subscribers. You videos are excellent! I'm always looking for ways to dial in my sound and that is a lot of fun in and of itself ... I've been having problems though with getting lost in the mix. I'm going to try those brighter reverb & delay settings. I'm also having trouble hearing my effects and tones that sound so nice at home and then during Sunday morning P&W, I just can't hear what they are doing. I am playing next to the drummer for what it's worth. So maybe you'll have some input on that as well???

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Don! 🙌🏻 When you say that you are having a hard time hearing yourself, is that in your in-ear monitors/floor wedges while you're playing? Or is it if/when you listen back to the service later?

[@DonMPhotography]

@@SamWittek Thanks for asking! .. both actually ... There was a new guy on sound board??? ... I may have been a little too loud at the start of practice but had turned my amp down and set it on a chair beside me as a monitor. I have in ears but they thin out the sound so much that I don't enjoy the sound of my guitar so I end up using them loose to hear the vocalist but was using my amp to monitor the guitar sound. The song leader actually asked the sound guy to turn up my guitar in his monitor, so I don't think I was over powering in the sanctuary. I know in the past my Tele has been very hard to differentiate from the acoustic guitar so I think maybe a brighter sound would help to stand out and for me to hear the effects better. FWiW ... I'm playing a Squire Telecaster through my pedal board into a Fender Blues Jr.

[@SamWittek]

@@DonMPhotography Gotcha that's good to know. Definitely is tough trying to manage stage volume, and deal with the in-ear mix, all with a new sound guy too. If I were in your shoes I'd maybe try to meet up with the sound guy an hour before rehearsal (if they're cool with it) and try to find a good tone that works. That way you can at least ensure that things are sounding ok in the house

[@glaubenshelden6448]

Nicely done. Thanks

[@SamWittek]

Thanks! 🙏🏼

[@williamhawkins69]

Love the Cav. Just like mine

[@SamWittek]

They're great dogs!

[@gzackerman]

Great lesson! I just subscribed!!!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks so much Gene! Glad this was helpful! 🙌🏻

[@JRCHO]

Very helpful and informative. Subscribing to you bro! God bless!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful 🙌🏻

[@chrismillett]

Nice pup

[@SamWittek]

Thanks! He just really wanted to be a part of the video lol

[@xcjfn]

Hmm so my guess of the songs are From whom o blessings flow, and agnus dei. Also great vid :)

[@SamWittek]

You are correct! Haha nice catch. Thanks man! 🙌🏻

[@henrod27]

Awesome advice on this video 👍🏽 Btw what the pickup height measurement on those Tele pickups sounds very balanced ?please and thank you

[@FenderLewis]

Edit: never mind I see it in description lol 😊 Great video! What are you using as far as stereo cables between the Strymon input split 2 cables thing?

[@SamWittek]

Glad I could help! haha 😂 let me know if you have any other questions!

[@NikosKatsikanis]

I played three times in Church. I was in Ukraine this week, but I travel a lot. I’m thinking it’s going to be very expensive to travel with guitar and pedals do you always take your gear with you when you travel ?

[@SamWittek]

I'll take everything with me if I'm traveling somewhat locally. I don't travel often via plane so I may downsize a bit if that becomes more regular.

[@lukea5411]

This is a viddo I keep coming back to. Great content Sam! Can you tell me about your Bigsky presets? How are they setup to use within each type you created? Which do you use for what type of song? Thanks

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Luke! Glad to hear that it's been helpful. So I pretty much have all of them set up in 3 "stages", and each stage gets progressively wetter. For most of them I'll use the 1st preset as a lighter verb, usually when I'm playing rhythm, the 2nd preset is usually my main verb for playing lead, and the 3rd preset is usually for swells and really ambient parts. I use the different algorithms mainly for different flavors, and they vary in how washy they get. For example, the Bloom presets are slightly more "natural" and straightforward, where the Plate presets are dialed more washy and ambient. I like to switch between algorithms depending on what the song calls for. Hope that helps!

[@eng.eletrica.concursos]

06:00 - By Your Side, Tenth Avenue North

[@SamWittek]

It's funny because 06:00 is actually Christ be Magnified, but it totally sounds like Your Side too. Great song!

[@fireworx_925]

Hey brother! Any tips or upcoming videos on dialling Mod pedals? I'm pretty good at getting good tones out of delays and reverbs, but REALLY struggle to dial in modulation without it sounding like a bunch of mush.

[@SamWittek]

Hey man! For sure, I've found that if I'm using a thick reverb, it can quickly turn to mush if the depth is dialed too high on a chorus or vibrato. Typically I'll dial a less intense chorus/vibrato with a lot of verb, and I can get away with a more intense chorus/vibrato with less verb. Regardless though, a little bit goes a long way with mod effects. Hope that helps!

[@bretkirtley8113]

Which tape head do you find yourself using most for the El Cap? Trying to find what will sound best for me with mode B (which I’m assuming is dotted 8th).

[@JohnnyAllen_]

Wow such a helpful, straight forward video! I got a question about the big sky. Is it jarring at all to switch presets during a song? Like does the last reverb keep ringing a bit after you switch presets? Or would a person need to let it decay out before they switch if they wanted to switch at a quieter part of the song

[@SamWittek]

Thank you! So glad you found this helpful. Yeah so that’s actually one of my favorite functions of the BigSky! You can turn on “spillover”, which will let your reverb trails persist when switching presets. Super helpful to avoid any jarring transitions between verbs

[@JohnnyAllen_]

@@SamWittek woooww that's legit. The big sky continues to impress and tempt me

[@SamWittek]

@@JohnnyAllen_ It's seriously a great option!

[@danielmiller2886]

I see you have the infamous "subscribe" setting chosen on the big sky. Good choice ;) Great info too! By the way, what the heck is that pick?

[@SamWittek]

Hah I thought it’d be a fun little Easter egg 😂 and I’m using the Herdim grip pick that the edge famously uses. Gets that chime on the attack of the note

[@metal_helm]

this might sound unusual because it's out of my wheelhouse, but I really like this music. It's so hypnotic and peaceful. Is it your own composition or a cover? -Helm

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Helm, great to hear from you! It's based off the Doxology hymn but it's an original arrangement. Glad you like it! 🙌🏻

[@FINDYHARMON]

Thanks for the videos Sam! Curious how you set up the ElCap to quickly get to different sounds live. Looks like you adjust the mix with your foot, but what about repeats and subdivisions? Do you usually just leave them where they are for most of the set and only play with the mix?

[@SamWittek]

Thanks man! Yeah 99% of the time I’ve found that I’m on .8th for the subdivision and I don’t really ever touch the repeats unless it’s for a very specific part. So really I just dial the mix with my foot from song to song when I’m playing live. If I need to change the subdivision usually I have enough time to just bend down real quick and make that change. Thinking about moving to a timeline though sometime down the road!

[@jim5140]

Love the opening line, is that from a song or just running up the G string an B as the sort of pedal point? ACtually what are some of the songs you played in this? :)

[@SamWittek]

Thank you! It's a bit of a combination of two hymns, the Doxology and Agnus Dei

[@bradykeeling]

What song are you playing at 12:05? Sounds familiar (The Edge?) but can't put my finger on it... Also, your tone sounds great!

[@SamWittek]

Thanks man! It's a little snippet from the bridge section of All Hail King Jesus

[@jumptiu]

Too much reverb drowns ur sound in the mix like Sam said. At least if u dial down ur reverb (especially the decay knob) the front of house guy can have more room/options to add more reverb/effects for u in the final mix while ur still being heard

[@GabeReelLA]

I really like the oversize knob on your El Cap. What kind is it and where can I find one? Thank you for the video!

[@SamWittek]

It really is so useful! I wish I knew haha, the friend I bought it from had already installed the bigger knob. Sorry I can't be of more help!

[@JimRivers1179]

What’s the pickup height towards the strings (measure). Tone’s amazing. What picks do you use? I used to want the time line. Now I want El Capistan 🙏🏽

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Jim! Honestly I'm not sure about the pickup height 😂 the pickups are Porter Tele Customs though, I love em! And yes can't go wrong with the el cap 🔥

[@nojyeloot]

Killer, tyvm

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Jon!

[@cassonwen]

Hi Sam, do you have a video or sound samples demo'ing your Big Sky reverb presets packs for sale? I've been interested in picking one up, but having a hard time deciding on which one. Thanks!

[@SamWittek]

I actually don't at the moment! Up until now I've mainly just used them in all of my videos on the channel, but I'll be making a dedicated video walking through all of them sometime in the near future 😁

[@dancrowell2933]

Hi Sam, how do you handle bpm changes in a setlist when using the El Capistan - do you use tap tempo or just leave it on a favorite setting?

[@SamWittek]

Hey Dan! Yeah I usually just tap in the BPM for each song. Although since making this video I've moved to the TimeLine so now I just program it :)

[@dancrowell2933]

Thank you, Sam! I appreciate what you do on KZbin.@@SamWittek

[@tpbeatty]

I would love to replicate that sound in the opening of the video…what are your settings on those two pedals to replicate that?…thanks

[@SamWittek]

Hey Timothy! For the intro I’m using my Float presets on the BigSky for a pretty wet verb, and on the El Cap I’m running a pretty warm .8th sound with the mix dialed back a tad so the repeats aren’t poking out too much. Hope that helps!

[@tpbeatty]

@@SamWittek absolutely beautiful!

[@SamWittek]

@@tpbeatty Thanks man! 🙌🏻

[@aacmusicalvaroabraham7660]

you know what's crazy? that i thought i had already subscribed to you but turns out i didn't 😅

[@Tk_player]

what type of sound did you use on the amp

[@SamWittek]

I had it set to the AC30 setting of the strymon iridium for this clip!

[@keyofjhay9175]

Ive just seen your dog scratches your guitar😁

[@SamWittek]

Haha he really wanted to be involved 😂

[@MononeRocks]

What's the name of the song at 4:50 ? 👀

[@SamWittek]

This is Amazing Grace! One of the coolest parts out there imo 🔥

[@kidkong637]

Are you taxed heavily on these?

[@SamWittek]

Hi! I don’t think I understand the question, do you mean like when I bought the BigSky and El Cap?

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

what iems

[@SamWittek]

I'm using the KZ ZS10s

[@sseltrek1a2b]

he's not wrong, here...

[@toneseeker87]

Stayed for doggo 🐕‍🦺

[@SamWittek]

🐶❤

[@everythingtakin]

If I was to get into worship music I feel like a could make a ton of money off the backs of Jesus god and all the saints since . Where do I sign up . It seems kind of a no brainer

[@TheStrataminor]

No you wouldn't because there's not a lot of money in worship music and there are much more talented and humble committed people rather than fools like you! Why bring negativity here, it's not needed?

[@mr.d.572]

Yeah I think "no brain" is a really good description for your comment 😆

[@ajh.7]

I feel like the Big Sky is so overrated and overpriced

[@SamWittek]

Good thing there’s lots of other reverb pedals out there! 😉

[@S0UNDC1TY]

lololololololololololololololololol

[@Ubi-o]

Begins with; the biggest problem is ppl use to much reverb. Proceeds to use the most reverb possible.

[@SamWittek]

LOL 😅

[@henrod27]

Awesome advice on this video 👍🏽 Btw what the pickup height measurement on those Tele pickups sounds very balanced ?please and thank you

[@henrod27]

Awesome advice on this video 👍🏽 Btw what the pickup height measurement on those Tele pickups sounds very balanced ?please and thank you

[@SamWittek]

Thanks Henri! 🙌🏻 Man tbh I’m not sure about the pickup height. A little while back I had to make some adjustments and I wasn’t measuring (def wouldn’t recommend that lol 😂). I just kinda felt it out until it sounded good to me!