Help with Effects Loop on Aguilar DB659

When I get home, I will try to take a picture of my DB659 and DBX 166xl for you.

 

I have been running mine with send at 2 'o clock and return at 5 'o clock... both pulled out.

 

I just scored one of these; it arrived last night. I thought that I would play around with it today and try to answer shriekback's questions, but ended up with a question of my own.

The only question that I can answer is regarding the use of a compressor - yes, it would be better to use the series setting. No sense blending a wet and dry signal if the effect is a compressor; that would defeat the purpose of the compressor.

So here is my question - to shriekback, bothroysnvts, or anyone else that has a DB659. I expected that when I pull out the send knob, that the signal would be attenuated by 20 dB. However, on my unit, the sound is louder in the "pulled" position than in the "pushed" position. I tested this with a cable going straight from the send to the receive, so it is not a function of any effects box. Are your 659's the same as this, or is mine wired backwards?

Thanks.

 

Shriekback,

Yeah I think your analysis of the send and receive controls is right on.

The only effect I use (depending on the amp) is an Ashdown bass overdrive. However, I could not get it to sound good in the FX loop of the 659. In fact it sounded really bad, as if the front end of the Ashdown was being overloaded, even with the send level turned way down and the knob pushed in (or out). But in line between the bass and input to the preamp the Ashdown sounded good. I'm not going to worry about it, because the Aguilar can get a nice gritty sound by itself, so I probably wouldn't bother with the overdrive pedal anyway (although being able to footswitch between clean and crunchy is nice).

Yeah I'm pretty happy with the sound. I was looking to put together a relatively lightweight rig (with a Crest CA-4) that would give me more or less the Aguilar sound, as my Aguilar DB680/DB728 rig is pretty heavy and only gets used on easy load-in gigs. I plan on using the DB659 on at least one of next weekend's gigs, so we'll see.

BTW, I like your avatar. I used to have an early model L2.

Thanks.

 

When I get confused about knobs and switches (and I often do), I just start turning them until I get a combination that sounds really good to my ears. Hasn't failed me in 30 years.

 

Jimmy: that usually works, but in this case there was no combination that sounded good.

Shriekback: Good idea. I will try the FX loop in the DB680 as a comparison. I have not yet used the Ashdown overdrive with that amp, because I get such a nice gritty sound with that rig by itself. Will also try the FX loop of my other amps (but none of them have the send/receive level controls).

The DB680/DB728 indeed is a bitch to haul. With an 8-space Calzone rack case and a Furman glorified power strip, it weighs about 120 lbs.

If I had unlimited funds, I would have kept the Steinberger, but needed to fund another acquisition. I did make a pretty good profit on it, however. Can't look back!

 

From the manual;

Effects Loop:
The Send pot is push/pull for line or instrument level. This allows you to use a studio effects unit (line level) or a stomp box (requires instrument level) in the FX loop. Adjust the amount of send so as to get maximum performance from your effects unit. Don’t give the FX so much level as to overdrive it.
The parallel/series pot is push/pull for parallel or series operation. In the parallel mode affected signals are mixed to the dry sound. In series mode the entire sound of your bass is processed by the effects in the loop. The amount of effects can be adjusted with the return pot. If you pull the return pot out for series operation without any effects plugged in the loop, the loop will be open and no sound will result.

 

Once you get used to this setup, I think you'll really love it. The effects loop setup on the 659 is both elegant, and super useful. It's probably my favorite 'effects loop' (wow, who would have thought that one could actually have a 'favorite effects loop'?), as it lets me use either rack gear or pedals, and I can dial in just how much I want from either.

Great preamp, IMHO, and yes, it kills with the DB 728!!!

 

OK I did not try the Ashdown OD in the FX loop of the DB680, because I keep the DB680/DB728 rig upstairs close to the garage door rather than downstairs in my music room (that rig is just too heavy to carry up and down stairs). However, I did try it in the FX loop of two SWR amps, and it sounded just as crappy as it did in the DB659. In fact, even worse, since the DB659's send level control allowed some improvement in sound. Bottom line is that in all three amps, the Ashdown OD sounds much better before the amp input than in the FX loop. So whatever the problem is, it is clearly with the stompbox and not the DB659.

When I use the Ashdown OD, I had been placing it in line between a Raven Labs MDB mixer (so I can plug in two basses and adjust the gain controls on the MDB for equal volume on the two basses) and whatever amp I am using. So I guess I will continue to do so.

 

Sorry for the off-track comments, but why not just rack the amp & preamp separately? And just lose the glorified power strip, or put a cheapie inside the case? A 120 lb. amp case is crazy heavy.

BTW, to the OP, I saw Shriekback two or three times in their heyday, they rocked. I think it was upon seeing and hearing Shriekback and Talk Talk that I realized wanking guitarist's days were coming to an end (guilty as charged).

 

Regarding the weight of my DB680/DB728 rig, yeah in retrospect it might have been better to rack 'em separately. But I didn't realize just how much of a bitch it is until I had already scored the 8U case. The Furman glorified power strip doesn't add that much weight, and the pull-out lights and voltage meter are useful.

I could sell the 8U case and get separate cases for the 680 and 728, but I decided to keep them in a single case. I already have a3U shallow "auxiliary" case that I take to every gig that houses my tuner, wireless unit, and Raven Labs MDB (and a nice power strip mounted in the back), so if I split up the 680 and 728, I would be stacking three cases on top of the cabs.

I have a cart that I always take to the gigs, so the only part I need help with is getting the case on top of the cabs (if I use two), and the other guys in the band always help. The basic criterion is lack of stairs. If I can wheel my equipment cart right up to the spot where I set up, I might use the big rig. If there are stairs or a high stage, I will likely use another amp. I have several amps that I use (and like), so keeping the Aguilar for easy load-ins isn't that big of a deal. In addition to the new Aguilar DB659/Crest-CA4 rig, I have an Alembic F1-X/SF-2/Crest CA-9 rig (about 75 lbs), a Mesa 400+, and an SWR 350. So I do have some choices.