FEEDBACK LOOPS, and the pedals in them

Thunderscreech · #1 11-15-2010, 06:29 PM

FEEDBACK LOOPS EVERYWHERE!

I recently discovered the benefits of putting gain pedals in a feedback loop, although some would say "benefits" is a strong word. I am one of those nerds who creams over weird tones, as it were.

But, what else sounds good in a feedback loop? What do phasers sound like? what about synths? What about a compressor?

Guitar Center is reluctant to let me put random things in a feedback loop on their amps and see what happens, something about litigations and the "you-break-it-you-buy-it" policy.

But what are fun things to put in feedback loops?

rratajski · #2 11-15-2010, 07:46 PM

Chorus is drippy and trippy.

A Boss PS-3 tempts breakers to tear.

Robertron · #3 11-15-2010, 07:49 PM

Delays will provide you the necessary noise to cream up.

tigerbass · #4 11-15-2010, 07:58 PM

I can make my Boss BF-3 flanger chirp like a bird!!

moggieman · #5 11-15-2010, 08:06 PM

maybe some timed feedback...

http://ohnoho.com/utter-stutter/

:O

bigblondeafro87 · #6 11-15-2010, 08:33 PM

The Boss SYB-5 can do some nice tones!

Green Mind · #7 11-15-2010, 10:06 PM

I only recently starting using (pedal) feedback loops and so far I've gotten some awesome sounds out of filters (m9), a pitchshifter (whammy), fuzz and a ring mod. Going to do some more experimenting and see what kind of sounds I can squeeze out of my GR and BSW.

M0ses · #8 11-15-2010, 10:09 PM

Something tells me that a compressor would be pretty......unexciting.

Thunderscreech · #9 11-16-2010, 03:01 PM

I want to put a Kaoss Pad (the effect controller, like the Mini-KP) in a feedback loop and see what happens

OH MANNN I WANT ONE SO BAD!!!!

fu22ba55 · #10 11-16-2010, 03:21 PM

Full disclosure, I'm NOT a pedal guy... the only pedals I have are on my bike, but don't feedback loops have the potential to cause some serious damage to speakers?

I know ANY pedal can damage speakers in the wrong hands, but I only ask since a guitarist pal of mine blew three different amps' speakers (including my Fender Twin's) by using a feedback looper before he realized that was the problem.

He was using the Catalinbread Teaser Stallion. He'd use it for pretty extended periods of time (like 5 or 10 minutes at a time) and it blew the speakers in three different amps.

I know part of it was user error, but is there something inherent in feedback loops that brings drivers to their knees?

(I only ask because I'm actually interested in getting one if I do start messing around with pedals.)

Thunderscreech · #11 11-16-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

Full disclosure, I'm NOT a pedal guy... the only pedals I have are on my bike, but don't feedback loops have the potential to cause some serious damage to speakers?

I know ANY pedal can damage speakers in the wrong hands, but I only ask since a guitarist pal of mine blew three different amps' speakers (including my Fender Twin's) by using a feedback looper before he realized that was the problem.

He was using the Catalinbread Teaser Stallion. He'd use it for pretty extended periods of time (like 5 or 10 minutes at a time) and it blew the speakers in three different amps.

I know part of it was user error, but is there something inherent in feedback loops that brings drivers to their knees?

(I only ask because I'm actually interested in getting one if I do start messing around with pedals.)

Wild, out-of-control oscillations can blow speakers. So can volume spikes caused by envelope filters. So can accidentally touching the jack to the side of your bass when you are plugging the cord in. If the amp is being run at near full volume, and you start a feedback loop, you're kinda asking for it.

I haven't had any issues, but I'm not even using an amp. I'm using a pair of circa 1999-2000 computer speakers (made of that "ice blue" transparent plastic), so if they blow, they're easy to replace. And they're plugged into the headphone out of my mixer, so I can rapidly decrease the volume in the event of an overload.

heavyfunkmachin · #12 11-18-2010, 04:04 AM

my strugle with my feedback loop is:

1 - Crazy high pitched noises squealing out of the amp at near-deafness volume if the feedback loop suddenly decides it.

2 - Once awesomeness is achieved, i'll never be able to reproduce it. I can enjoy it, record it but not "make it" when desired, plus the deafness threat (see point 1) makes it hard to use it live, of with people around at all!!!!

fu22ba55 · #13 11-18-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

Wild, out-of-control oscillations can blow speakers.

MMmmmmm..... wild, out-of-control oscilaltions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

2 - Once awesomeness is achieved, i'll never be able to reproduce it.

I gather that's part of the appeal of feedback loops... the chaos, the madness, the unpredictability. You can predict their unpredictability.

Thunderscreech · #14 11-21-2010, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

my strugle with my feedback loop is:

1 - Crazy high pitched noises squealing out of the amp at near-deafness volume if the feedback loop suddenly decides it.

2 - Once awesomeness is achieved, i'll never be able to reproduce it. I can enjoy it, record it but not "make it" when desired, plus the deafness threat (see point 1) makes it hard to use it live, of with people around at all!!!!

LIES. All of these variables are controllable. I will make an instructional video later to show you all how to do it.

Swimming Bird · #15 11-21-2010, 10:32 AM

I really enjoy fuzz and envelope filters in a feedback loop. Phasers, delays, pitchshifters... almost everything will be fun, even boring pedals (like compressors) may turn into pretty radical tone shapers if you have other pedals in the loop.

I will say you should be mindful of the bypass on pedals you have in the loop -- the BSW for instance may stop all feedback in bypass. I don't know what the issue is specifically (perhaps buffer impedance..?) but you'll get best results if you're choosy on what goes in the loop.

heavyfunkmachin · #16 11-22-2010, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

LIES. All of these variables are controllable. I will make an instructional video later to show you all how to do it.

PLEASE

Thunderscreech · #17 12-09-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

PLEASE

Ask and ye shall recieve

Gozu · #18 12-10-2010, 10:31 AM

what's that you're feed everything in/out of?

NateS · #19 12-19-2010, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

Ask and ye shall recieve

*sigh* you're so geeky.

and half of those pedals are mine :P

i need to go to sleeeeeeeepppppp

Silent Fly · #20 12-19-2010, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

(...) but don't feedback loops have the potential to cause some serious damage to speakers?

(...) but is there something inherent in feedback loops that brings drivers to their knees? (...)

The reason why feedback pedals can potentially damage the speakers is that they produce a fixed frequency. This causes a constant amount of energy to be delivered to the speakers. If the speakers work close to their maximum power, the may not be able to get rid of all the heat generated. As a consequence, the temperature of the speaker coil increases until it breaks.

As far as the volume is not too high and the feedback is not switched on for extended periods of time, there shouldn't be any problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

(...) I know ANY pedal can damage speakers in the wrong hands,(...)

I don't think a chorus or a phaser can increase the chances of damaging the speakers.

There are circumstances where some pedals may damage some speakers but in the vast majority of cases pedals do not cause any damage even if all knobs are set to 11.