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where's the beef?

P

pcollin

Dec 22, 2005
156
0
Portland, Maine
#1
I recently picked up an EBS triple envelope filter stomp box and have been using my practice amp while I'm learning how to use it. I like it a lot. Yesterday I brought it with me to rehearsal to play through my real rig but I could hardly hear any effect. I had to turn both knobs all the way up just to hear a little effect (not the sound/effect I was looking for either!) on the High setting.

I was using the effects loop with my LMII and Aguilar DB112s. I was using the same cables at rehearsal as I was using at home with my practice amp. I was using a new power supply (not battery) and it was the only effect connected. I play a passive Fender American Jazz.

It was real disappointing and I'm not sure what to do. Any ideas? Thanks
 
#4
bongomania said:
It does not go in the effects loop, that's the problem. It goes between the bass and the amp. The loop is for line-level processors.
Click to expand...

A question for a newbie here - I don't understand what a line-level processor is - I've got an effects board that I run though my amp's effects loop - now i'm wondering if some of my effects are supposed to go between the bass and the amp. Can anyone explain or suggest reading on this? Thanks so much.
 
#5
Pretty much all stompbox effects are designed to run at instrument level. Rack gear typically runs at line level, and that is primarily what an amp's effect loop is for. This has been covered ad nauseam in this forum, so a quick search should reveal quite a bit to read.
 
#9
Another question to the masses -
So I just got home and wanted to try my pedal board in between my bass and amp instead of through the effects loop. Once i tried it I was reminded of why I tried the effects loop in the first place - I get a pretty good high pitched hiss with the pedalboard between the bass and the amp. When I plug back into the effects loop it is totally quiet. Can anyone explain this? I am using a ampeg b2r / Boss TU-3/ Boss RC-2/ MXR BOD / BBM / Bassballs setup and a passive bass. Thanks so much for any clues!
 
#12
Method: process of elimination. Remove one pedal at a time from the power supply and the chain. Does the hiss go away after removing any particular one of them? Now start with just one pedal between bass and amp. Hiss? Then remove it and start with a different one. If you find one with no hiss, then add a second pedal. Hiss? Remove it and try a different one. Etc. etc.

Remember though that a lot of these hiss problems are not caused by one pedal, but by an interaction between two pedals. So for example one pedal might work perfectly, with no hiss, but if you add the one other pedal that it's incompatible with, you get hiss. But it's not necessarily a problem with the one you just added.

Experiment, then get back to us. :)
 
#13
Thanks alot Bongo, I appreciate it. I did find your FAQ extremely informative as well, thanks for that! Hmm.. just wondering about why between the bass and the amp there's a hiss, but not through the effects loop, seems strange. I will try the process of elimination that you've suggested. Thanks again for the help!
 

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