Another FX Loop Question

[polishcomedy]

In the manual it says turning the FX loop off gives you a slightly better tone. I've noticed this to definitely be true, but I have a chorus pedal and delay pedal that I want to run in there. Should I just run them in the front? Also, here's a bigger problem...I have the T.C. Electronic Stereo Chorus pedal, and the overload light is always flashing on me, meaning too hot of a signal...if I turn the Master volume down pretty low (this is what's getting sent to the loop) it helps, but then I lose serious volume and tone. If I run it in front it seems to do fine on my Tele, but when I plug in my high output Hamer Californian it starts clipping again. I've emailed T.C., but they have yet to get back to me. I don't want to lower the volume knob on my Hamer cuz that produces garbage tone. Also, the delay pedal I have running through the loop is a Boss DD-3...how do you guys feel about this pedal? I think it's okay, but I'm wondering if I should switch to an analog pedal like the Memory Man. Is it worth the trade? Will I notice a difference, will it suck tone? Would it be a good idea to run it in front, if so, what is the best stomp box order?

My pedals right now are: Boss DD-6 & T.C. Electronic in the FX loop. Visual Sound Visual Volume with a Boss TU-2 Tuner plugged into the tuner output of the Visual Volume. Digitech Whammy IV, Morley Bad Horsie 2, Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor. I may pick up a Barber Tone Press soon, too. Anyways, what do you think of the setup, the pedals I have, and what would be the best order? Most importantly, how do I keep that T.C. Electronic from clipping...and will clipping it constantly do damage?? THANKS!!!

 

[Old BF Shred]

What amp is this in?
From your description it sounds like maybe a Recto or Stilleto? or Lone Star.....guess this may apply to most amps and maybe other than Mesa, but......

I have always felt that distortion, compression and wah go in front of an amp and all others go in the loop...this, of course is IMHO only.

Others feel differently...
What I can tell you is that I have run a DD3 in the loop of my Ace and I am very pleased with the results. I also, usually, run a POD XT in the loop and this works well, too. The XT has a "clip" indicator, too and I also have to watch the level of the master volume. I still get a great tone from it.
It does come through a bit more compressed, but I do not find it objectionable, at all.
But that's what I find with the Ace. You likely will need to do some experimenting...
Good luck!

 

[MrMarkIII]

The occasionally flashing overload light is OK, but if it stays on continuously, that's a problem. How it sounds (bad distortion?) is the thing to listen for.
A compressor will help give the T.C. a more consistent level. It may help to run the Channel Masters lower and the Output higher to compensate.

 

[polishcomedy]

What amp is this in?

umm...it's a Lonestar, which is why I posted this in the Lonestar forum. You didn't really touch on my main issues, but thanks I guess.

 

[plan-x]

What amp is this in?

umm...it's a Lonestar, which is why I posted this in the Lonestar forum. You didn't really touch on my main issues, but thanks I guess.

So many questions. :shock:
I'm not sure what kind of delay you have, DD-3 or DD6. Anywho, You can get high cut mods for those pedals that make them sound analog. I did my own with my DD-3 through a Monte Allums mod Kit. Sounds great. For a DD-6, you got to send it to Analogman. Either way , I think they're better than analog delays cuz they can still do digital, or mimic analog with the flip of a switch.

TC overload? As long as it sounds alright, (no distortion) let it clip. Run your loop vol at 12:00-2:00. If it ain't going to work, dump the TC. Obviously your best pedal. Or, keep it out of the loop at the end of the chain. I just googled it, it has an input gain button. 0db or +15db. Make sure your running 0db.

Do you need a noise suppressor? If not get it out. One less thing to suck tone. BTW, You have alot of non true bypass pedals and those will suck tone. I am running mostly true bypass, with an occasional Boss for the Buffer.

Running the Ch & Dly in front is ok. It's your call. And your ear's call.

Chain order: Comp(when you get it), wah, OD(FYI), Vol, Ch, Dly
This is not set in stone and others might have a different take. As for that whammy...I have no idea where to insert it and maybe someone else can chime in.
I like the vol. at the end or in the loop. That way your pedals get full signal.

 

[polishcomedy]

What amp is this in?

umm...it's a Lonestar, which is why I posted this in the Lonestar forum. You didn't really touch on my main issues, but thanks I guess.

Actually your post did help a bit, don't know why I wrote that.

 

[polishcomedy]

What amp is this in?

umm...it's a Lonestar, which is why I posted this in the Lonestar forum. You didn't really touch on my main issues, but thanks I guess.

So many questions. :shock:
I'm not sure what kind of delay you have, DD-3 or DD6. Anywho, You can get high cut mods for those pedals that make them sound analog. I did my own with my DD-3 through a Monte Allums mod Kit. Sounds great. For a DD-6, you got to send it to Analogman. Either way , I think they're better than analog delays cuz they can still do digital, or mimic analog with the flip of a switch.

TC overload? As long as it sounds alright, (no distortion) let it clip. Run your loop vol at 12:00-2:00. If it ain't going to work, dump the TC. Obviously your best pedal. Or, keep it out of the loop at the end of the chain. I just googled it, it has an input gain button. 0db or +15db. Make sure your running 0db.

Do you need a noise suppressor? If not get it out. One less thing to suck tone. BTW, You have alot of non true bypass pedals and those will suck tone. I am running mostly true bypass, with an occasional Boss for the Buffer.

Running the Ch & Dly in front is ok. It's your call. And your ear's call.

Chain order: Comp(when you get it), wah, OD(FYI), Vol, Ch, Dly
This is not set in stone and others might have a different take. As for that whammy...I have no idea where to insert it and maybe someone else can chime in.
I like the vol. at the end or in the loop. That way your pedals get full signal.

Hey, thanks for the help. I have the input gain on zero for sure. I have a DD-6 temporarily, but I've basically got a DD-3. If I run my loop at 12-2 the T.C. is going to have a solid red overload light for sure. I read somewhere that this can damage the circuitry. I do need the noise suppressor because I like a really clean sound...the Hamer with distortion is noisy, and the Telecaster's single coils are noisy. Would you say the NS-2 or the MXR smartgate are better? I have both, but I haven't hooked up the MXR yet because I am waiting on my 1-Spot to arrive to power it. I'll be selling the one I don't keep. I like your idea about volume at the end so pedals get full signal, however, I have it in front because I read the Visual Sound pedals have a great buffer/line driver to drive the rest of the chain.

 

[ja22y]

Since you mentioned you want clean signal (who doesn't) the less stuff in the chain the better. Since it's a serial loop, the chain is short so IMO it's best to use true-bypass pedals here. You might have too many boss in the chain. First get that tuner out of there. When use pedals in front it's a good idea to have a buffer in there so like a boss in front is actually good if your cable is long (over 20 ft from guitar to amp).
Just IMHO, I don't like use digital fx in a serial loop. Digital fx just have that fizzy 'digital after taste' that can't be dialed out. Yes EQ can tame it but it still there and EQ also takes away the tone if you cut too much. For digital fx I prefer parallel loop or use 2 amps, one for dry and one for fx and mix them to taste.
Last point, if you need a noise suppressor in the chain then either you have too many pedals or you should try out better quality ones.
btw, Memory Man is a fine analog delay, you should try it out.

 

[polishcomedy]

Since you mentioned you want clean signal (who doesn't) the less stuff in the chain the better. Since it's a serial loop, the chain is short so IMO it's best to use true-bypass pedals here. You might have too many boss in the chain. First get that tuner out of there. When use pedals in front it's a good idea to have a buffer in there so like a boss in front is actually good if your cable is long (over 20 ft from guitar to amp).
Just IMHO, I don't like use digital fx in a serial loop. Digital fx just have that fizzy 'digital after taste' that can't be dialed out. Yes EQ can tame it but it still there and EQ also takes away the tone if you cut too much. For digital fx I prefer parallel loop or use 2 amps, one for dry and one for fx and mix them to taste.
Last point, if you need a noise suppressor in the chain then either you have too many pedals or you should try out better quality ones.
btw, Memory Man is a fine analog delay, you should try it out.

I don't have the option of buying multiple amps. I have limited space and budget. The tuner is NOT in the line, it's coming out of the tuner out jack of the Visual Volume pedal...so it's a totally separate line. The only other Boss pedal besides the Tuner is the Digital Delay. A lot of pro's use the DD-3, so I think I'm okay there. I need the noise suppressor, especially considering how noisy the Barber Tone Press I just got is. If you're telling me Visual Sound Visual Volume, Barber Tone Press, T.C. Electronic Stereo Chorus are bad quality pedals, then I'm not sure what you consider a good pedal. The Morley Wah is great quality, cuz it has a great buffering system, unlike the Crybabies. It also uses optical circuitry as opposed to those ghastly potentiometers and strings. All true bypass in the loop is a terrible idea...20 feet of cable from amp to front of stage, cable between two pedals, 20 feet back to amp...that's 40-41 feet of cable. The DD-3 gives me a good buffer, and the T.C. has a good line driver. The volume pedal in front is great because from what I've read Visual Sound makes the best buffers in their pedals.

**My main objective with this thread was to discuss the fact that my T.C. Electronic Stereo Chorus "overload" light is always flashing or steady with the red light. The only way to get rid of it is to drastically reduce a bunch of levels (guitar volume, master amp vol, fx loop vol). This kills my overall volume and tone. I'm wondering if overloading the pedal is doing any damage. I'm also still trying to figure out if the amp is distorting when the overload light is on. Also, why is the overload light flashing when I have the pedal clicked off? I'm highly confused there.**

BTW, I tested the MXR smartgate and Boss NS-2 back to back and the MXR destroys it. I'm ditching the NS-2, but I may later opt for an ISP Decimator.