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.
Shadows Delays
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
 




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