Blending Clean with Distortion

[DeiseBassman]

Ok I'm a complete noob at all this as I'm just delving into the effects world. But I'm thinking about picking up a Tech 21 XXLB and I was wondering about blending some clean in with it. I've read that it's possible to do this with a Boss LS2 pedal? How does it work exactly?

[bigchiefbc]

It's very simple. Just plug your bass into the input of the LS-2, run a cable from the "send A" jack of the LS-2 to the input of the XXLB, then a cable from the out of the XXLB to the "return A" of the LS-2, and then from the output of the LS-2 to your amp. Put the LS-2 in mode "A+B Mix/Bypass". The A level knob is the volume of the XXLB, and the B level knob is your dry signal.

[RNV]

Great question and great answer. When the LS-2 is switched off, will the dry signal still be usable? I'm sure the answer is yes, but I too am just getting into effects. The only reason I haven't added fuzz/OD/distortion is because I don't want to lose the deepness of the dry signal. Mixing them would be awesome though.

[DeiseBassman]

Cheers bigchief I'm following most of it so far. The only question I have is about when you say when the LS-2 is on the A+B mix mode, if I'm plugging straight into the input of the LS-2 and nothing is running through channel B, how does B become my clean signal? When I looked at the modes of the LS-2 I kinda thought the "A - Bypass" mode would be the one, like the more I turned up the A knob the more the distortion pedal would mix in? Or am I way off in thinking that?

[vegas532]

Actually to pull this trick off everything is right, however, you have to put a patch cable in the loop of B to make it work.

[DeiseBassman]

So where does the patch cable come into play in the loop?

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by vegas532

Actually to pull this trick off everything is right, however, you have to put a patch cable in the loop of B to make it work.

Don't recall this ever being the case with my LS-2 blend loop.

[DeiseBassman]

So I just setup the way bigchief described and use A as the distorted effect level and B as the clean level? I don't have to do anything with the B loop?

[Fuff24]

I have what is probably a stupid question for this thread... is it possible to blend clean/disto on a crate amp? I love the synth fuzz I get out of my digitech but it's a tad harsh for what I play.

[cheapbasslovin]

RNV: When the LS-2 is in 'A/B Mix -> Bypass' mode hitting the foot switch toggles between those two modes. Bypass means your clean signal passes.

DieseBassman: The LS-2 has some internal switching so if there is nothing plugged into the loop send or return it will automatically keep that loop internal to the pedal. Vegas532 has filled you with false information. EDIT::: Your last post is correct. You don't need to touch the B loop.

[DeiseBassman]

Cheers for the advice guys, much appreciated

[Hutzbordello]

or just get a blender pedal

wounded paw blender for 120 seems legit

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by DeiseBassman

So I just setup the way bigchief described and use A as the distorted effect level and B as the clean level? I don't have to do anything with the B loop?

Correct, you do not need to connect anything to loop B. The LS-2 is smart enough to use your dry signal as the B loop when nothing is plugged into it.

And yes, when it is bypassed, you get your clean dry signal.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Hutzbordello

or just get a blender pedal

wounded paw blender for 120 seems legit

The LS-2 is a legit blender, plus it will do other things the Wounded Paw won't (as far as I can tell) and it's 30 bucks cheaper than the Wounded Paw.

[BassBrass]

First blend I ever tried I tried XXLB/LS2, didn't seem to work too well, but now that I use an Xotix with the phase switch (the XXLB is long gone, looses too much low end) I wonder if it's a phase inverting pedal like many distortions are... the only way to find out is to try it with the switch in both positions. Correct phase is a lot louder with more low end.

[DeiseBassman]

Originally Posted by BassBrass

First blend I ever tried I tried XXLB/LS2, didn't seem to work too well, but now that I use an Xotix with the phase switch (the XXLB is long gone, looses too much low end) I wonder if it's a phase inverting pedal like many distortions are... the only way to find out is to try it with the switch in both positions. Correct phase is a lot louder with more low end.

I like the amount of distortion the XXLB gives though. Does the Xotic(I presume it's the BB pre-amp you're referring to) give that much distortion?

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by DeiseBassman

I like the amount of distortion the XXLB gives though. Does the Xotic(I presume it's the BB pre-amp you're referring to) give that much distortion?

I actually think he is referring to the Xotic X-Blender.