Just getting a dry signal through effects loop. Help?

mjolnir · #1 02-19-2008, 12:09 PM

I've got a carvin R1000 head and I just got a small multi effects unit to compliment it, but when I plugged it in, all it would give me is a dry signal no matter how much I tweaked the effects. The only things that would work are input and output volumes.

Anybody ever experience this before? If so, how'd you fix it?

meev992 · #2 02-19-2008, 12:40 PM

bump.

Christ, it sounds like you got a lemon

Bob C · #3 02-19-2008, 12:45 PM

Is there an "effects level" knob on the back of the head? The only other things I can think of are:

1 bad cords

2 short or dirt in the effects loop

3 hooked up backwards.

As a side note, your multi-effects might work as well or better placed between your bass and the amp input.

mjolnir · #4 02-19-2008, 12:46 PM

I think it might be, but I really really don't want it to be that... Thanks for the bump, meev, this thing is driving me CRAZY...

mjolnir · #5 02-19-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

Is there an "effects level" knob on the back of the head? The only other things I can think of are:

1 bad cords

2 short or dirt in the effects loop

3 hooked up backwards.

As a side note, your multi-effects might work as well or better placed between your bass and the amp input.

Nosir, no effects level knob on the back.

I'll switch out all the cords whenever I get home, see if that's the issue, though I'm pretty sure it's not because I'm still getting a clean, clear signal through the processor. It's just the effects that aren't coming through, and the processor is basically working as a volume boost.

I'm going to open up the processor and see if anything's shorted or disconnected. That seems more likely at this point.

Though putting the effects processor between amp and bass is something I really don't want to do, it would be a good way to check if the processor is working at all.

Thanks for the input, good sir.

nad · #6 02-19-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjolnir

Though putting the effects processor between amp and bass is something I really don't want to do

Why? Unless the multi-fx in question is a rackmount unit, I don't understand why not. Clarification is key.

Out of the many many many effects I've owned over the years, the only one I've ever used in an effects loop was a Moog, and even then only as an experiment. Everything else has been:

bass -> whatever -> amp

I've never used line-level or rackmount effects though, if that is your case, then I understand.

mjolnir · #7 02-19-2008, 01:01 PM

Ah... Thanks nad, I forgot to mention that it is in fact a rackmounted effects processor. It only has reverb, chorus, delay, and flanger, but I wouldn't use anything more, and I was looking for something to throw into my rack to color my sound a little. Now it's basically just a volume booster. And it's annoying.

Bob C · #8 02-19-2008, 01:06 PM

mjolnir,

I agree with nad. As a general rule, stomp bozxes go right after the instrument, and rack stuff goes in the effects loop. The reason has to do with input sensitivities and so on. But there are exceptions to every rule.

Anyway, before you open up that unit, try different cords and combinations - maybe another effect pedal, if you have one. See if you cna nail the source of the problem.

Again, I hate to suggest the obvious, but make sure the unit isn't hooked up backwards. It should go: send > effect in and effect out > return. Or bass > in and out > amp.

Bob C · #9 02-19-2008, 01:09 PM

Oh, I just found out it is a rack mount unit. Well, keep plugging away at it. I'd like to know how things turn out.

mjolnir · #10 02-19-2008, 01:16 PM

Well, I'm much obliged for all the input, guys. I've got some ideas for what to try when I get home now. I also got some input from a guy I work with that the fact that the gain on my amp is set almost to 0 might have something to do with it.

I'll let y'all know how things turn out. Thanks again!

mjolnir · #11 02-20-2008, 12:50 PM

...Ok, that was odd. I went home yesterday and started fiddling with it again, and eventually I gave up and powered it down to take it out of the rack, but then I got the urge to give it one last ditch effort. So I plugged it all back in and turned it on, and it worked! It's almost as if the problem was that the effects just didn't power on the first time and all it needed was a reboot.

I'm ashamed I missed that, considering I'm an IT guy and we practically live by the phrase "Have you tried rebooting it yet?"

nad · #12 02-20-2008, 01:02 PM

Have you read any Douglas Adams? Dirk Gently and the Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul might explain why Thor was being screwed with yesterday.

mjolnir · #13 02-20-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nad

Have you read any Douglas Adams? Dirk Gently and the Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul might explain why Thor was being screwed with yesterday.

Douglas Adams was incredible. I love all his books.

Bob C · #14 02-20-2008, 01:32 PM

O-din! It has been a long time since I read "Long Dark Tea Time". Didn't Adams write "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Universe" too?

Anyway, does your effects unit sort of work now, or does it work all the time, or what?

Sean S · #15 02-20-2008, 01:37 PM

What effect unit is it?

JanusZarate · #16 02-20-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean S

What effect unit is it?

Whatever it is, it apparently runs on Microsoft Windows.

mjolnir · #17 02-20-2008, 02:00 PM

Douglas Adams did write The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, some of my favorite books ever written.

The unit is a Carvin FX2, one of those stereo effects things that can be plugged into a mixer or an amp or whatever, basically. I bought it on a whim while I was buying my new 810 cab because I'd never used effects before and wanted to try out some simple stuff, chorus, reverb, that kind of thing.

Works great now too. It hasn't screwed up on me again and I took it to practice last night with no problems for the whole time. We'll see if that keeps up though...