How To Use The Extra Jacks on Express?

[soundchaser59]

Anybody able to explain how I can use the extra 1/4 inch jacks on the back of my Express? I understand the Send & Return, that's easy.

But how do the channel, reverb and contour jacks work with a remote switcher? What are the possibilities? What can I do with that that I cant already do with the stock footswitch? And what kind of switches do I need? Would it enable me to switch among all 4 modes? The stock footswitch will only switch between the 2 channels.

Never had an amp with that kind of feature before! Interesting.....

 

[hal9000]

The external 1/4" jacks do the same thing your footswitch does, but are easier to patch into for an external controller. For example, I use my G-Major to switch channels on my F-100 through the footswitch jack and a custom cable I made. A G-Major connected to your Express would be as simple as a stereo (TRS) to two mono (TS) cables, with the caveat the you could only control two functions (limitation of the G-Major).

If you want to test out how they work, connect a normal guitar cable up to one of the jacks. Then, use a paper clip or some other conductor and connect the tip and sleeve together. If you patched into the Contour jack, it should now be on. If you disconnect the tip and sleeve, the function should go off.

 

[Newysurfer]

Anybody able to explain how I can use the extra 1/4 inch jacks on the back of my Express? I understand the Send & Return, that's easy.

But how do the channel, reverb and contour jacks work with a remote switcher? What are the possibilities? What can I do with that that I cant already do with the stock footswitch? And what kind of switches do I need? Would it enable me to switch among all 4 modes? The stock footswitch will only switch between the 2 channels.

Never had an amp with that kind of feature before! Interesting.....

Ahh......did you get a Manual with your amp. If not I suggest you download one from the Mesa website ASAP.

 

[EXPRESSLOVER]

well newly surfer or whatever your name is.....they dont show what their used for in detail in the express manual..

 

[Newysurfer]

quote from p9 of the Express Manual. It's clear enuf to me.


EXTERNAL SWITCHING: These four ¼ “ jacks trigger the Channels, REVERB and CONTOUR feature of each Channel when you want to control your Express with a master external switcher. In this way you can call up the sounds on your Express remotely without connecting the Footswitch and have your effects and amp sounds respond to a single button (possibly midi) program change command.
Simply connect standard unshielded (speaker) ¼” phone cables to these four jacks and short the “tip” to “ground” to activate the features. This standard tip-to-ground “latching type” logic is supported on most all master switching devices so all you will have to do is program what ports on your switcher will be grounded under which programs.

 

[EXPRESSLOVER]

For people unaware of midi and switching systems this to me on page 9 is a brief explanation of what their used for. I would have liked to see them use a diagram and an example of a current "switching system" on the market, showing connections etc.


A very kind user on the forum named JDURSO was very kind to explain to me what all this switching and midi thingy majigs is.

I now hope to purchase an amp gizmo thx to him, and control everything via midi. My whole system will change soon.

I dont blame the user who posted this topic, as I too as well as many others Im sure.....felt very briefed on the whole switching jacks.


But anyways you guys are obviously more tech headed then me,


all the best and boogie on!!

 

[soundchaser59]

Ahh......did you get a Manual with your amp. If not I suggest you download one from the Mesa website ASAP.

If the techno speak in the manual expained it well enough even for an idiot like me to grasp, I wouldn't have asked the question.

If the manual doesn't cut it for my feeble mind, then I post a question.

I'm glad that God was wise enough to put people smarter than me on the planet. Thanks for the assist.