Pigtronix EP-1 Chain Placement

[paulygonemad]

I am curious where I "should" place my EP-1 within my pedal chain. I am still sorting out my chain, but here is what I have so far.

Loopmaster 4 way with master bypass
I use a rack mount tuner, otherwise I could put my TU-2 at the front If I need a "Buffer"


Loop 1 Crybaby Wah, Russian Bassballs, *EP-1*

Loop 2 BBE Optostomp Compression (alone in chain)
- Other compressors will go here, forcing me to remember to use one at a time. Only planned purchase is an Analogman Bicomp which is at least a year out. BBE is my simple compressor for now.

Loop 3 Distortion/OD/Fuzz Pedals (I have a few) + EQ
-Here I run all my fuzzy pedals pre eq. Eq is a simple Boss GE-7B (old-school brown) at the end of this chain as needed for some pedals.
* I will add a Disnortion here eventually, which I suppose could change things in regards to the EP-1 *

Loop 4 Flange/Chorus (Boss pedals)

I may introduce a LPB-2 at the end of the chain if needed.

Does that look like a good spot for my EP-1? I also do plan on introducing a side chain with that unit, but that is not 100% needed if it screws my chain.

*I am of course assuming that each loop in the loopmaster (1-4) runs in "Series". I really hope I am right *

 

[paulygonemad]

I should add my bass/amp set up.

MIM Fender P Bass + Bugera BVP5500 + Ampeg SVT-410HLF (MIA)

 

[newbold]

Bass>loopmaster>

loop 1: EQ>Optostomp(?)LPB-2
loop 2: Fuzz>drive>Crybaby
loop 3: Distortion>Bassballs>Chorus
loop 4: Flanger>EP-1>optostomp(?)
Loopmaster tuner out: Tu-2>Trigger in on EP-1

>amp



Definitely put your LPB-2 on your board.
they're awesome.
If ever you were to want a preamp that's a great one that would really facilitate any number of acoustic instruments through your rig if you were to get into a hybrid setup down the line.

I suggest the EQ going in the front, because you can cut out some tone before sending it down the rest of your signal path. This way any issues you have with a 'less than awesome' tone coming from your bass (if that ever happens in the future after you play other basses, god forbid) can quickly leave your mind.

Rremember to CUT frequencies and only then boost volume. Adding volume with EQ will only in rare instances work better for you (of course, you might like what you hear, but less as a tool and more as an effect, which you'll think about later on and go 'oh yeah...that WOULD work better) ...and those rare instances more often than not involve high end studio grade EQ.
...you can trim out any unwanted mud and confusing harmonic interplay well before you run it through that awesome preamp and all of those fuzzy boxes you have.

Do you use your compressor to fatten up grit?
Yes? then put it in loop 1.

Do you use your compressor to even out peaks?
Yes? Then put it at the end.

If you ever get into the habit of turning your passive bass' volume and tone down, be forewarned that the EF response on the EP-1 will follow suit. I suggest that you look into buying a really cheap buffer/line booster, or making one. BYOC ships out boost kits with some of their effects if you're into going that route. You'll be glad to have the extra sidechain headroom. I find myself playing with a wide open sensitivity most of the time, and then turning it down when I roll my volume/tone all the way up.

It's the one and only reason I want an active signal before my OFO Disnortion.

I run bass>oc-2>disnortion>bassballs>ep-1>amp with my tuner in the clean out from my disnortion.

 

[paulygonemad]

Putting that LPB-2 in front of any of my od/distortion/fuzz boxes works very well. Thanks for that suggestion.
I just started dancing that EP-1 around in my chain and keeping it in the mod loop does seem to work best. I am getting some sick tones with that thing. I do think it is the best box I have picked up thus far.

 

[newbold]

Here's my rationale: that thing is a great preamp. Sending great tone through gear that adds tweakable dirty sweetness can only sound better...instead of trying to make a less sweet tone sound better with a 'fix'.

Phaser at the end. Use your sidechain.
Save one distortion/drive/fuzz for another loop...this gives you the added benefit of having versatile FX banks.

These aren't eggs and you're not stepping on a basket but I think you get the picture.

 

[paulygonemad]

I did not get a tuner out on my loopmaster.
What I ended up doing was splitting the signal via my TU-2. I put that TU-2 in front for a buffer and sent one signal through my effects, the other into the Trigger of the EP-1.

Seems to be working well, sounds better using that clean signal to trigger.
Found related info here....
Invalid Link Removed
#3 has the tip.

Thanks again for the advice, I put it to use.

 

[newbold]

did the buffer help with your trigger volume?

As for my 'issue' with volume to the trigger, I have found that I can set my sensitivity a lot lower now that I'm not looking to just get my EP-1 to 'quack'. I'm using it more as a tool than an effect and to my ears it's way better that way.

With a lower sensitivity the sweep returns a lot faster and is more responsive to the low end of the scale (or high end as I have the up/down switch mod)

What I find to be great is that I've been setting the resonance and intensity a lot lower and now I can use the EP-1 and come ahead with lower peaks to the front end of my amp. What this means to me is now I can dial in my amp even louder and still use every part of my signal path without worry.

Not that it's been a concern, but I can keep unity and hear everything a lot better and use everything more efficiently.

If I want more quack now I just ramp up the sens. If I want to make sure that i don't get a boosted low end in negative phase (or add more) I can just make a small adjustment to the sweep and voila! Versatile as all heck.

So glad that I'm not trying to use this just as a funky effect anymore. I was thinking that I should try to trade up to an EP-2. Now I don't mind carrying around that second wall wart (powerall is DC only)

And now that I'm dialing my amp a lot hotter I have found that I don't need the Disnortion as a boost/pre to get the sound I'm looking for anymore and I've been playing more distorted.

.wow.

Maybe I'll just want to get an EBS TremoLo and a pedaltrain mini and stop there.

Only time will tell if I even need that microbassII