second cab for effects/wet signal...

dominic54321 · #1 10-11-2007, 04:03 PM

Ok, I'm just starting to get into the effects realm. I picked up a Boss ME50B to sample some effects and such. The sounds are 'ok' to my ear, at best. My tone was sucked right out, and the low end would suffer each time I kicked in any effects live. So, I recently picked up a second cab to run my dry signal to 75% of the time, and a wet siganl 25%. I play in a rock band that has only ONE guitar player, the way I like it..lol Anyway, I'm looking to spice up a few songs, especially while he's soloing.
Here's my setup so far, I have an Epifani UL502 head going into a Crest CA9 poweramp. I'm using the preamp of the ul502 only. Channel A is running my dry signal from the ul502 into an Epi UL410. Channel B is running my clean signal from the UL502 also, but I put the Boss ME50B between the ul502 and Crest CA9 poweramp, so that I can run a wet signal thru that Channel B as well. Channel B is going into an Epi ul210 that is sitting above the ul410. If I confused you(i think I confused myself), it goes like this...
Bass-->ul502-->CA9 channel A-->ul410 cab =clean signal
Bass-->ul502-->ME50B-->CA9 channel B-->ul210 =wet or clean signal

So far, in my living room, It's a KILLER setup! I have a nice effected signal, with NO bass dropping out AT ALL! The volume stays consistent, as long as I tweak the channel A/channel B volumes to match each other.

I talked to the sound engineer at the club I'm playing this weekend. He said we would send both signals to the board and let him mix and match from there! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Of those of you that have experience running setups like this, I'd be interested in your thoughts, idea's, etc!?

00Funk · #2 10-11-2007, 04:12 PM

Threshhold takes out the Gu. Thats all I know

00Funk · #3 10-11-2007, 05:13 PM

You could try splitting you bass signal with a Boss A B line splitter. Take A to your Epiphani rig for Dry.

Take B into the effects and use it as a preamp. If it has stereo outs, take that to power amp, and go to 2 wet cabs. If not, just bridge it into 1

Multieffects seem to sound better going straight to a power amp.

Just a thought

dominic54321 · #4 10-11-2007, 11:01 PM

I'm actually using the preamp out of the UL502 for the clean channel A/ ul410 cab.. And using the effects send to the ME50B to Channel B/ ul210. This way, I can also have a nice clean tone thru the effects cab, when needed, because the ul502 is acting as a dual preamp of sorts. I see what you are saying, to run a clean/direct signal to the ME50B. The epifani ul502 is a VERY clean sounding amp with NO coloration, so it is almost like plugging up my bass directly to the effects. Thanks for the input. I think the effects sound good in this configuration because the effects cab is on top, you can actually hear the effects kick in, and the bottom cab keeps the clean, strong bass fundamental. But like I said, this is all in my living room. I should know more after this gig coming up.

Niff · #5 10-11-2007, 11:08 PM

you'd probably get an even more killer tone if you selected your favourite effects from the ME50B and ran single effects, but that's just me. interesting experiment you have going on there. also interesting is that your head has two seperate channel inputs and outputs, if i'm reading it right.

dominic54321 · #6 10-11-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niff

you'd probably get an even more killer tone if you selected your favourite effects from the ME50B and ran single effects, but that's just me. interesting experiment you have going on there. also interesting is that your head has two seperate channel inputs and outputs, if i'm reading it right.

I'm still new to the whole effects thing. I've been playing for 18 years without 'em! I gotta say, I'm really looking forward to building a nice pedalboard now. Separate effects is the route I plan to 'eventually' take.

I know it's confusing, but my amp(ul502) doesn't have 2 separate channel outputs. I'm sending the 'preamp out' signal to the Channel A side of the Crest CA9, and sending the 'effects send' signal to the ME50B/Crest Channel B side. The Crest CA9 has TWO poweramps, channel A and channel B, which you can run independently of each other.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #7 10-12-2007, 01:46 AM

I ran a stereo setup similar to this- I split my bass' signal before running it into my amp though. I used two Boss VF-1s as my preamps/multieffects then ran each into a separate side of a stereo power amp. I usually kept one side completely clean and the other would switch between affected and clean, although I could run both channels as different or the same effect as they both used the same multieffects box as a preamp. Splitting the signal pre-amp meant I could also put whatever I wanted in front of each amp, and blend them as I wished (using a Radial ABY box and an Ernie Ball stereo pan pedal), so I had a whole lot of options. Barge Concepts was supposed to come out with a pedal called the X-VFB, which was an expression pedal controlled blender, which potentially could have eliminated my need for a stereo setup and still have allowed me to blend a clean and dirty signal without losing any bass, so I sold off the stereo setup. Unfortunately the pedal was late coming out and still isn't out yet, so I've been waiting a long time. It's an option to think about if you don't want the hassle of lots of extra cables and cabs, etc., in order to be able to mix a pure clean signal simultaneously with a dirty one.

I'd try experimenting with splitting your signal pre-amplification (maybe run one of the inputs into the amp's Effects In input) as it gives you a lot more options as far as running one on one off, both on affected, both on one clean one dirty, blending them both, etc.

ihateusernames · #8 10-12-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

I'd try experimenting with splitting your signal pre-amplification (maybe run one of the inputs into the amp's Effects In input) as it gives you a lot more options as far as running one on one off, both on affected, both on one clean one dirty, blending them both, etc.

Are you suggesting splitting and running one of the splits direct to the amp input, then the second into the effects return - with or without pedals, effects, etc, in either chain. Can you really do that and blend those signals? If so, that's ingenious!

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #9 10-12-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihateusernames

Are you suggesting splitting and running one of the splits direct to the amp input, then the second into the effects return - with or without pedals, effects, etc, in either chain. Can you really do that and blend those signals? If so, that's ingenious!

In theory it should work as you'd be running one input as basically an effect loop- I've not personally tried it with that exact setup though.