Orange Terror Bass 500 FX Loop problem. Help please!

[cambell360]

Hi all,
I have very recently purchased a second hand Orange terror bass 500 Hybrid class D bass amp. Its condition appears to be pretty much brand new, the guy said he had played it only a few times and not even gigged with it. I met him in person to test it out with my bass, and i had to take my cabinet to test (since he didn't have one) but i didn't take any of my effects pedals, so i didn't test the FX loop.

When testing it, it all sounded amazing, really nice tone and exactly what i wanted with plenty of power. Other than the FX loop problem, i love this amp and strongly recommend!

Cutting to the chase!: as soon as i got it, i took it to the studio and ran my pedals through the FX loop and it was fine until i turned a pedal on, it would go quiet and there would be bad sound quality, for example: my bass big muff is going to input would sound fantastic and volume balanced with dry signal. Then in the FX loop the dry signal would be the same, then it would go really quiet when i had it on but you could still hear the fuzz.

Just Info:I've checked the manual and all it says is FX send "1V sensitivity, Impedance 100 kohm" and FX return "Nominal Level 1V, Impedance 10 kohm" link if you wanna check:http://www.orangeamps.com/images/Ter...l_20100205.pdf

My pedals are Electro Harmonix: Bass Big Muff, Mole, BassBalls, Memory Boy and Jim Dunlop cry baby bass. Also a Korg DTR1 if its any consolation

I've had my effects through other bass amp heads FX loops before i got my OTB and didn't find any problems

Beg for help! Any info/advice is fantastic! if theres anything on the amp or my pedals i should alter? or if i should take it in for a pro exam?
if its hopeless ill just run it to input, i can live with it coz i love this amps sound!

Many thanks for your time and any help!! Adam.

[mattbass6945]

i noticed yrs ago on my svt 3 that the fx loop made everything drop in volume, but it didn't sound bad, just quieter. if the sound quality got worse, than there is a definite problem. that sucks, cuz those amps sound awesome!

[cambell360]

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

i noticed yrs ago on my svt 3 that the fx loop made everything drop in volume, but it didn't sound bad, just quieter. if the sound quality got worse, than there is a definite problem. that sucks, cuz those amps sound awesome!

Yeah there's no sound quality issues! my error i left my cry baby bass wah in the loop which isn't always a good move

but yeah there's a significant drop in volume when i use a pedal, so is there anything i could do to level it? get some form of booster or something? or is it not worth it and i may as well just leave it through input?

And yes it does sound awesome i get moments where i wish i was in the studio playing it every couple of hours

[RickenBoogie]

The loop is line level, for line level effects, like rack mounted effects. Your pedals are instrument level, as in, like your bass, into the main input on the amp.

[mattbass6945]

rickenboogie has it. i liked the way the pedals sounded in the loop of mine, but couldn't deal with drop in volume, so i just put em' in line with the bass (instrument level).
thanx rickenboogie.

[cambell360]

Ahh i understand now. This makes sense of it! Thanks a lot!
That releives me, i thought there may be a problem.
Thanks for the help guys! much appreciated!