pre-amp pedal line-level output, how should you plug it into the amp?

[Marill]

was thinking of posting this in the amp forum instead of effects forum, but I thought this is about how you use your pre-amp pedal effect, so I post this here, if any mods think i tshould be in the amp section, please feel free to move it there

for a pre-amp pedal whose output is at line-level 1/4" jack.

I would think it won't be a good idea to plug it into the bass amp as a "passive" signal, am I right?

So should the output be treated like a "active" signal? Some amps have a switch to pad if the signal is active.

Or should it be plug into the effects return jack on the amp instead? (which bypasses the pre-amp in the amp).

But if I still want the color/voicing of the pre-amp in the bass amp, and not bypass it, I should plug it into the input and treat it as an "active" signal (with the pad switch), is that right?

[ShowKing]

when i use my preamp pedal, i plug it in the input required for the bass.

eg. active bass -> preamp pedal -> amp = active input
passive bass -> preamp pedal -> amp = passive input

i find that it works best like this

[niftydog]

Active inputs are designed for signals driven by active electronics. A pedal is a piece of active (read: 'powered') electronics. Hence, logic suggests that you plug it into the active input.

However, if you plug it into the passive input and it doesn't overload the input stage then there's no harm in doing so. The only difference between an active input and a passive input is that the active input attenuates the gain and has a lower input impedance.

[bassman1185]

Generally, an "active" input will just have a lower gain than the passive input, usually 6-15db lower. Some amps will have a different impedance, but really, there isn't much of a difference that you can't achieve by turning the input gain on your amp down.

[RickenBoogie]

What preamp pedal do you have with a line level output. Most stomp box preamps kick out instrument level. no?

[crijan]

Line-level is designed to go into the effects loop, but probably could work in the Active input.

Some pedals (such as my Sansamp PDDI) have a switch that can change the output from line-level to instrument level so you can use it in the instrument input of your amp. You might check if yours has a similar switch.

[Marill]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

What preamp pedal do you have with a line level output. Most stomp box preamps kick out instrument level. no?

the pre-amp pedal, Hartke Bass Attack, output is at line level.

[bongomania]

1) It also has an output level knob, which lowers the output level as low as you want. That means turn it down and it's not at line level.

2) It also has an instrument level output and a mic level output in parallel with the line level output, so use whichever one makes the most sense for whatever you're plugging into.

3) The effects return jack on an amp, also known as the power amp input jack, are often places you can run in an input at line level.

4) Check out the preamps link in my sig.

[Marill]

Originally Posted by bongomania

1) It also has an output level knob, which lowers the output level as low as you want. That means turn it down and it's not at line level.

2) It also has an instrument level output and a mic level output in parallel with the line level output, so use whichever one makes the most sense for whatever you're plugging into.

3) The effects return jack on an amp, also known as the power amp input jack, are often places you can run in an input at line level.

4) Check out the preamps link in my sig.

cool thanks!

except that the 1/4" parallel out (i assume you refer to this as the instrument out) does not send out the effected signal, only the original signal.

So if you want the effected signal, you'll have to use the line-out or the mic xlr out.

but yeah, the level knob can be turned down so
checking out your pre-amp link in your sig as i'm typing this

thanks again!