- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,500
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A bass player who sings will get the gig over a bass player who doesn't sing, so I'm told.
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The Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
I'll let you know. Supposedly Sting said that singing while playing made him a better bassist. I tend to agree but it's not easy. Certain basslines give themselves easier to singing than others. For example I love singing while playing Under Pressure or I Want You to Want Me. and I have discovered that when I sing while playing Policy of Truth my rhythm takes on a certain (positive) quality that just doesn't exist when I am only playing. It's hard to explain.
On the other hand I could never sing while playing something like Brown Eyed Girl or even Cheap Sunglasses. The notes just have to be too precise.
My understanding of the signal path is that the FX loop comes after baking in that Legacy preamp section:
You could be right, iago. Our buddy Tele, definitely is bypassing his Rocket's preamp if he doesn’t take the FX Send to whatever is plugged into the FX Return! What both of you overlooked in that schematic is the cutoff switch in the FX Return loop. Any plug into the FX Return loop cuts off the signal from the preamp so that the power amp gets the full signal from that alone. If the FX box(es) in the Loop is taking the FX Send signal, then it can blend two preamps, or whatever. But, anything plugged into the FX Return without taking the FX Send is bypassing the combo's preamp.
This is a very commonly overlooked feature of FX Loops, as well as a commonly corroded part that makes it seem like the amp is going out! But it can be easily cleaned to fix that problem.
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Oh my now this is some serious combo club talk!You're right, iago. Our buddy Tele, definitely is bypassing his Rocket's preamp! What both of you overlooked in that schematic is the cutoff switch in the FX Return loop. Any plug into the FX Return loop cuts off the signal from the preamp so that the power amp gets the full signal from that alone, and not some mix of the preamp and the FX. This is a very commonly overlooked feature of FX Loops, as well as a commonly corroded part that makes it seem like the amp is going out! But it can be easily cleaned to fix that problem.
Perish the thought! No such thing as looking too kooky! Besides, if he was holding a Mini P, he could claim to be 8' 8"!
I’ll just get a solid-body UBass. 10’10”!!!
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,500
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
You're right, iago. Our buddy Tele, definitely is bypassing his Rocket's preamp! What both of you overlooked in that schematic is the cutoff switch in the FX Return loop. Any plug into the FX Return loop cuts off the signal from the preamp so that the power amp gets the full signal from that alone, and not some mix of the preamp and the FX. This is a very commonly overlooked feature of FX Loops, as well as a commonly corroded part that makes it seem like the amp is going out! But it can be easily cleaned to fix that problem.
But the amp's master should still work, yes?
Wait. So if I put the Broughton HPF in the effects loop I would be cutting out the EQ section of the amp? I am not understanding this am I?
.
My apologies! I left out a very important part in my previous explanation above. It now reads:
"You could be right, iago. Our buddy Tele, definitely is bypassing his Rocket's preamp if he doesn’t take the FX Send to whatever is plugged into the FX Return! What both of you overlooked in that schematic is the cutoff switch in the FX Return loop. Any plug into the FX Return loop cuts off the signal from the preamp so that the power amp gets the full signal from that alone. If the FX box(es) in the Loop is taking the FX Send signal, then it can blend two preamps, or whatever. But, anything plugged into the FX Return without taking the FX Send is bypassing the combo's preamp."
There's no mention of a Master in the Rocket manual, but the Volume is a part of the preamp and does not affect the power amp directly. Therefore, if the preamp is bypassed, by not taking the FX Send signal, then whatever the signal level going into the FX Return goes to the Power amp!
That's why the FX Send of one amp to the FX Return of another, with no plug in the other's FX Send, makes the first one the master, tone and volume-wise, of the other.
That's why the FX Send of one amp to the FX Return of another, with no plug in the other's FX Send, makes the first one the master, tone and volume-wise, of the other.
I apologize, Michael, my original explanation was badly worded and easily confusing.
If you plug the FX Send into the HPF's input and the HPF's output in the FX Return, then you're doing just fine and not bypassing the preamp. Only if nothing is plugged into the FX Send is the preamp bypassed.
I'm sorry to all I may have confused.
.If you plug the FX Send into the HPF's input and the HPF's output in the FX Return, then you're doing just fine and not bypassing the preamp. Only if nothing is plugged into the FX Send is the preamp bypassed.
I'm sorry to all I may have confused.
Btw that’s a lot of work you had to put in to that explanation and I want you to know appreciate that.
Yep ‘Dog, thanks for trying to make the answer more tolerable. If Tele jumps on here I’m sure he’ll tell us his separate preamp is between the Send and Return loop of his combo, but my question is more of a purist asking whether it’s degrading his Ampeg Legacy preamp if it’s running in series or not? Personally, I didn’t even see the cutoff switch!
I’m wondering if you’re better off bypassing the first preamp in order for the “looped” preamp to do its job, or the first preamp is acting more like a normal pedal in front of the combo’s preamp?
Okay everyone, who confused you more, G’Dog or me? First right answer gets a half-eaten Schmackeroon! Vote now...
I know as long as Tele likes his tone that’s all that matters, but my sensors are saying, “Noooo, don’t add or replace your brand new and expensive preamp with an admittedly low-cost Amazon multi-FX box? I’m not disrespecting either because I’ve seriously looked at one myself. It comes down to what your ears like, but does make for an interesting discussion.
And you’re right, WBB...every now and then we can get down right serious and sound like a bunch of MIT grads! Well, this scholar is hitting it so that he may replace preamps with the Law of Conservation tomorrow. Adios!
ML1, I’m so sorry for mentioning this so late, but being you posted a terrific pic of your Eden combo and as far as I know, you are currently not a member, to the best of my knowledge, say the word and I’ll speak to the boss to make you one.
That’s a unique combo around these parts and it would be cool to add you to our esteemed list of members. Let me know!
Wadda you doin' up at 0100, teach? Ya gotta be alert for the little bast...er, kiddies, ya know.ML1, I’m so sorry for mentioning this so late, but being you posted a terrific pic of your Eden combo and as far as I know, you are currently not a member, to the best of my knowledge, say the word and I’ll speak to the boss to make you one.
That’s a unique combo around these parts and it would be cool to add you to our esteemed list of members. Let me know!
You could be right, iago. Our buddy Tele, definitely is bypassing his Rocket's preamp if he doesn’t take the FX Send to whatever is plugged into the FX Return! What both of you overlooked in that schematic is the cutoff switch in the FX Return loop. Any plug into the FX Return loop cuts off the signal from the preamp so that the power amp gets the full signal from that alone. If the FX box(es) in the Loop is taking the FX Send signal, then it can blend two preamps, or whatever. But, anything plugged into the FX Return without taking the FX Send is bypassing the combo's preamp.
This is a very commonly overlooked feature of FX Loops, as well as a commonly corroded part that makes it seem like the amp is going out! But it can be easily cleaned to fix that problem.
No- Not bypassing Ampeg preamp. Send AND return used. I can assure you the legacy preamp bus still highly functioning…
Not if you ONLY use the FX “return” to employ the cabinet as a powered slave cab to another combo/head…
My master still operates because the effects loop send AND return both used.
No- if you use Send to input if HPF and use output to Return if RB effects loop you will be fine- EQ and preamp still operable…
Sorry for any Alarm/Confusion- again- the Legacy preamp fully functions when the effects loop is used. It’s bypassed when only taking in a slave signal into return port only.
So the diagram that was posted earlier is correct? This is all just explanation?No- Not bypassing Ampeg preamp. Send AND return used. I can assure you the legacy preamp bus still highly functioning…
Not if you ONLY use the FX “return” to employ the cabinet as a powered slave cab to another combo/head…
My master still operates because the effects loop send AND return both used.
No- if you use Send to input if HPF and use output to Return if RB effects loop you will be fine- EQ and preamp still operable…
Sorry for any Alarm/Confusion- again- the Legacy preamp fully functions when the effects loop is used. It’s bypassed when only taking in a slave signal into return port only.
