Add a distressor for my mesa bass 400+

nepee · #1 03-08-2011, 07:38 AM

Hi TB,
I want to know if it is possible to plug a empirical lab distressor in my bass 400+ for live sound ?

KsPiNeSh · #2 03-08-2011, 10:30 AM

At what point in the signal chain? Through the effects loop (possibly your best bet if you want to compress EVERYTHING), before the amp, or in the DI signal? Yes. Between the amp and the cab? No.

Great compressor BTW. Expensive, but very nice.

naturalkinds · #3 03-08-2011, 10:42 AM

Hmm. Good question. You'd presumably want it not in your effects loop, but before the amp. Putting it in the effects loop would give you parallel compression (essentially a blend of wet and dry), which might give your sound a very strange color. Certainly not the 'typical' compressed bass sound.

It's not as easy as I think it would be. I've just read the manual, I can't see what level the 1/4" unbalanced output is. I can't imagine for the life of me that it's an instrument-level signal.

My guess is to do this you would need to get a reamping box, like the Radial X-amp or the Little Labs Red Eye, and put your line-level output through there. That way, you get an instrument level coming out, which you can interface into your amp.

Pretty ridiculous cost for a compression feature in live settings, but it's doable.

IanAllison · #4 03-08-2011, 10:44 AM

Diamond Bass Comp.

naturalkinds · #5 03-08-2011, 10:46 AM

Oh... if you buy a Distressor, and it doesn't suit your fancy, PM me.

: )

johnk_10 · #6 03-08-2011, 10:53 AM

i have a couple of distressors and IMO, they're one of the best comps available (for anything, including bass).

naturalkinds · #7 03-08-2011, 11:21 AM

Are you using them in a live setting, JK? If you, how are you inputting them into the amp?

Alex1984 · #8 03-08-2011, 11:24 AM

IIRC, aren't there mentions that compressors before a tube can be a bad thing since tube amps already provides some natural compression too.

oddgrowth · #9 03-08-2011, 11:42 AM

I used to use one side of an alesis 3630 stereo compressor w/ my 400+. It sounded f**king phenominal, I had comments after every gig, even from national/touring artists.

I never used the effects loop to chain it in.

johnk_10 · #10 03-08-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalkinds

Are you using them in a live setting, JK? If you, how are you inputting them into the amp?

yes. when i used my EL8 live, i ran it with a demeter hpb1-j and i ran it in the effects loop. i also ran it with other preamps, either in the loop, or between the preamp and the power amp.

BTW, EL8's also work great with tube amps too.

JimmyM · #11 03-08-2011, 04:03 PM

why wouldn't it work in-line? i've so far found zero effects that work better in a loop than in-line. as for tubes after a comp, that's a judgment call. some like it, some don't. i'm one who doesn't, but it's less because of a tube amp's natural compression and more i just don't like screwing with my dynamic range anymore.

johnk_10 · #12 03-08-2011, 04:15 PM

the reason that they work so well with any amp (including tube amps) is because they are so adjustable. believe it or not, it even was able to fatten up my SVT-VR (i ran it in the loop), especially at lower volumes.

i agree about running most effects/comps in front of an amp, but on a distressor, you really need to run them in a loop because it has a 20K input impedance and is designed to operate at line level rather than instrument level.

nepee · #13 03-09-2011, 08:34 PM

I went to the local music store and the guy told me that I will need to buy little box call "peavey interface amplifier IA 10/4" . The guy told me that I will need to plug the effect loop send to an input of the ia10/4, plug the output of the ia10/4 to the input of the distressor. that way the distressor will have the right current. Then, wire the output distressor to an input of the ia and the output of the ia to the effect loop return. I think I will call Mesa and Empirical lab to have the right information !

Calaverasgrande · #14 03-09-2011, 09:54 PM

Using a peavey anything in between a mesa anything and an Emprical Labs anything is a travesty and crime against humanity.

nepee · #15 03-10-2011, 07:16 AM

lol You're right ! I am looking for something that will made the same as the peavey something like radial engineering ?

nepee · #16 03-10-2011, 09:11 AM

Here the answer from the sale Empirical labs distributor:

"Your Mesa-Boogie should have an effects loop Send and Return on the back.

The Distressor can accomodate -10dB signals via 1/4" jack, or +4dB via XLR connectors. Typically, guitar and bass amps would use 1/4" jacks.

Simply 'Send' the signal from the Mesa Boogie to the Input of the Distressor, and then connect the Output of the Distressor to the 'Return' of the Mesa Boogie.

The Distressor manual has sample settings for Bass guitar, start with those and blend to taste."

.... will it sound good in the blend ...
Someone has a video of bass in distressor ?

johnk_10 · #17 03-10-2011, 09:50 AM

that's correct. on a mesa (or an SVT) you don't need any line amps or direct boxes. you'd just use the EL8's 1/4" jacks from the send/receive jacks on the head.

Rumblefisher · #18 03-10-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanAllison

Diamond Bass Comp.

+1

Amazing pedal.