Signal loss?

andtur · #1 10-18-2008, 03:37 PM

Do you have any problems with signal loss? Especially with all those effect pedals in the chain. Do you lose the "bottom"? I have that problem with my Ibanez Tubescreamer.

/Andreas

jmjbassplayer · #2 10-18-2008, 05:04 PM

Sure...but it helps somewhat when you route them like how I do: through either a GCX or through a pedalboards.com (or other) true bypass effects switcher. I have something at the end of my chain that helps me with signal loss a little bit, and in fact my tech will be installing some buffer devices soon to help me tighten it all up. Tubescreamer's do not have much bottom, so you will lose out on that. Look for TS clones that have bass & treble control.

andtur · #3 10-18-2008, 05:41 PM

Ok! Have you tried pedals like: Xotic´s "X-Blender"? Do you think that can help the TS?

JimmyM · #4 10-18-2008, 11:59 PM

Any blender will help out a guitar OD pedal not sound so thin. That's not a cheap one, though, is it? The Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, however, is a TS clone with a blend built into it. Might want to check one of them out if you're into the TS. But to use practically every guitar OD/dist. pedal, you pretty much have to blend clean and dirty signals to not lose low end. That's why dedicated bass OD/distortion pedals are so much more popular for bass these days.

andtur · #5 10-19-2008, 05:35 AM

Ok. Thanks. I want to get that "John Wetton Sound", on the song: "Starless".

vegas532 · #6 10-19-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andtur

Ok. Thanks. I want to get that "John Wetton Sound", on the song: "Starless".

I can give you some suggestions that can dial in that tone fairly easily:

Sansamp VT
MXR M-80
Fulltone Bassdrive
Keely TS-9 Baked Mod

There's more out there, but these are the ones I've tried. Yeah, I love the Wetton tone myself.