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what components do I need? (Boner question)

G

garythenuke

Mar 13, 2010
407
2
Paso Robles, Ca
#1
I apologize if this is a boner question that's been asked a thousand times. I couldn't find what I wanted on a search because I didn't know what to type in...

Anyway, what I'd like to do is split my signal out of the bass and then send two lines to the same amp. Is this even possible?

In my mind I need a splitter right after my bass cable. One outlet of the splitter goes to a cord which goes to the pedal board, the other out goes to a cable that goes straight to the amp.
At the amp I'd use some sort of "Y" plug to take both cables. I would select which channel to use at the splitter box.

I can't imagine I'm coming up with this for the first time, but I also don't know the proper terms for these components.

I only have one amplifier, and it has only one input.

Thanks in advance.
GTN
 
#2
What you need is a true bypass switcher pedal.
One can be made using nothing but a DPDT switch, a few jacks and an enclosure. Or, a 3PDT switch if you want to add an LED indicator.

It is important to switch the signal at both the input of the amp, and the output of the bass, because you do not want your impedance dropping if two inputs or outputs are placed parallel to each other.
 
#3
line6man said:
What you need is a true bypass switcher pedal.
One can be made using nothing but a DPDT switch, a few jacks and an enclosure. Or, a 3PDT switch if you want to add an LED indicator.

It is important to switch the signal at both the input of the amp, and the output of the bass, because you do not want your impedance dropping if two inputs or outputs are placed parallel to each other.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information.
I'm glad it's possible. Can the switching at both ends be done on the fly? Or do I have to choose one or the other each time I power up?

Does anyone make such a device commercially?
 
#6
garythenuke said:
That seems close to what I'm looking for. It appears I can have a single input (1 bass cord) and two sends. What's the difference between "line out" and send?
Click to expand...

"Line out" is a line-level signal. This is usually for input into a mixer.

Also, here is a thorough article on making a looper: http://www.singlecoil.com/tb-strip/tbstrip.html Yours will be much simpler, needing only one loop. Since the switch is analog, it will always stay on whatever channel you have it set to use until you switch it to the other.

If you're looking for a premade unit, check out Loooper. (yes, three o's)
 
#8
garythenuke said:
^^Sweet the LOOOPER...
The A/B Loooper looks to me exactly what I'm searching for.
Now what do you put going into the amp to accept two cords? Just a standard 1/4" "Y" jack?
Click to expand...

You don't need two cables or a "Y" cable - that's the beauty of it. Unless you plan to have two signals simultaneously (in which case, you'll need some type of signal mixer like the LS-2 or another blend pedal), the switch determines which signal you're using and you only need one cable into the pedal and one output. This way, engaging the pedal enables an FX loop so that you can use distortions and whatnot. Otherwise, it bypasses all of your effects and runs a direct signal to the amp (or your always-on pedals)
 
#9
Okay, I'm confused. You need two cables at some point don't you?

Either you have two cables at the beginning of your chain (right out of the bass) one leads to your pedals and effects to the Looper, the other goes straight from the bass (somehow) to the looper. Then you choose which input to the looper you use. The looper in this case has only one single output to your amp.

OR you have one cable from your bass to the looper. One output from the looper goes straight to the amp, the other output goes to the effects chain and then to the amp.

I am missing a big picture element here. What is it? I'm really not usually this dense...:confused:
 
#10
Sorry for the confusion, I may have been misinterpreting your question. You will ultimately need multiple cables, but here's a quick and dirty diagram to show where they will go.

IuEKv.png
 
#12
That makes WAY more sense. Thank you.

The Big picture element I was missing is that the signal has to come BACK to the looper and THEN to the amp.

What would it look like if I had no effects in one loop (just my clean bass)? Would I just need a cable going from the send straight to the return of the loop box?
 
#13
garythenuke said:
That makes WAY more sense. Thank you.

The Big picture element I was missing is that the signal has to come BACK to the looper and THEN to the amp.

What would it look like if I had no effects in one loop (just my clean bass)? Would I just need a cable going from the send straight to the return of the loop box?
Click to expand...

That depends on the looper you buy. If you have a one-channel looper, then when the pedal is engaged, it runs through your FX loop, and when it isn't engaged, it bypasses the loop, giving you a completely clean signal.
 
#16
By clean I mean transparent to the amp. Some pedals, probably cheaper ones, give a touch of personality to the tone just by them being in chain. It's not theoretical as I had one some time ago that did that. I can't even remember what it was but it was cheap.
So if the loops are all true bypass then it shouldn't make a difference. I'm looking for small, streamlined, unobtrusive, and durable. I'm not looking for a boutique name. Cheap is good, but quality is better.
Thanks again.

Now that i think of it, If I could find a "Thumpinator" / looper combo with a clean bypass, that would kill all of the birds currently in my sights....
 
#17
Actually your cable colors the sound if your bass is passive.

And if you are using a bunch of "true bypass" pedals, and you don't have one that is a buffer early int he chain, all those cables between the pedals, as well as the foot switches in some cases, will color your tone.

All these things remove the high end and flatten the resonant peak of the pickup, if the bass is passive.

If you are using pedals that have a buffered bypass, like most of the Boss pedals, they actually preserve your tone though all that wire.
 

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