We should understand that the original Shadows 'sound' was generated using analog equipment in the early 1960s. This was well before the development of digital electronics of any sort. So those parameters were always going to be pretty basic, given the very limited accuracy of analog dials. Trying to exactly repeat settings using knobs surrounded by engraved lines, or a number scale, is virtually impossible. This is why so many older Shadows tracks have echo delay times that are so very similar. It's likely that it wasn't a deliberate attempt to create a slightly different 'sound' for each song. It was just as near as Hank Marvin could get each time to his regular settings, within the limited accuracy of the equipment he was using in those days.
In reality, a surprisingly small number of delay settings can be used to play Shadows tracks successfully.
The following settings have been gathered from a variety of locations - on the Web and elsewhere. These delay times can be transferred easily to the various programmable effects units on the market.There is nothing magical about any of this. It's just a matter of delay times in milliseconds and the amount of feedback (or repeats). All those shown here have three different delays in operation. Feedback is given on a scale of 0 to 100, a percentage in other words.
Since there are God-knows how many different effects units out there, I've made no attempt to cater for any of them specfically. You can easily judge your own volume and echo-intensity levels, using whatever amp sims, modules etc. your equipment provides. It's all pretty subjective anyway, but basically you don't want to dial back the echo too much or you lose the desired Shadows sound.
The song titles shown here are suggestions only. You will make your own decisions about what sounds best for you.
Enjoy.
In reality, a surprisingly small number of delay settings can be used to play Shadows tracks successfully.
The following settings have been gathered from a variety of locations - on the Web and elsewhere. These delay times can be transferred easily to the various programmable effects units on the market.There is nothing magical about any of this. It's just a matter of delay times in milliseconds and the amount of feedback (or repeats). All those shown here have three different delays in operation. Feedback is given on a scale of 0 to 100, a percentage in other words.
Since there are God-knows how many different effects units out there, I've made no attempt to cater for any of them specfically. You can easily judge your own volume and echo-intensity levels, using whatever amp sims, modules etc. your equipment provides. It's all pretty subjective anyway, but basically you don't want to dial back the echo too much or you lose the desired Shadows sound.
The song titles shown here are suggestions only. You will make your own decisions about what sounds best for you.
Enjoy.
| Suggested Title | Delays in Milliseconds | Feedback (percent) |
| Kon-Tiki, Sleepwalk, Flingel Bunt, Theme for Young Lovers |
100 300 355 |
30 30 35 |
| Atlantis, Peace Pipe, Wonderful Land | 100 285 365 |
20 25 35 |
| Riders in the Sky, Peggy Sue, Alamo | 170 420 610 |
26 32 45 |
| Shindig, Foot Tapper, Dance On |
115 280 365 |
30 30 32 |
| Apache, The Stranger, 1861, Frightened City |
165 85 430 |
0 0 0 |
| Man of Mystery, FBI, Geronimo | 135 170 420 |
0 22 28 |
| Maroc 7, Equinox, Guitar Tango | 85 125 420 |
0 0 40 |
| A Place in the Sun, Pipeline, Deerhunter |
100 265 575 |
25 15 28 |
| Round & Round, Shadoogie, Shazam | 105 285 400 |
30 30 30 |
