Loop Master and Rectoverb

cyber104 · Nov 3, 2012

Hi All:

I just picked up a used Loop Master Clean Dirty Channel Switcher off of CL.

Here it is for reference: http://www.loop-master.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=84

My issue is this: It switches the channels of my rectoverb just fine - BUT - the tone is terrible - very bassy and muffled with a significant volume drop..

I tried putting straight patch cords into the send and receive without any effects in the 2 loops and it still sounds horrible.

If I plug my guitar directly into the amp and simply use the Loop Master to switch channels then all is fine - but the minute I use the input and output jacks of the Loop Master the tone and volume are gone.

I've tested every cable I'm using directly into the amp from my guitar and the cables are all fine.

Any thoughts?

I opened it up and it looks simple enough but something isn't right

Thanks,
Chris

Blaklynx · Nov 4, 2012

Need further information.

Are you using the unit as a stand alone loop? ie. loop 1 and loop 2 not connected to the amp's effects send/return? eg. Guitar>pedal in>effects in loop1/2>pedal out>amp input (amp's effect loop not used). This should be OK i would think.

If you are running the pedal's loop 1 and loop 2 (either one of the loops) thru the amp's effects loop and have the guitar connected to pedal's in and have the pedal's out to the amp's input, I would think that you will end up with problems. You'd be creating some form of feedback/looping of all signals and/or possibly end up with phase issues, too. The preamp side of the amplifier (the amp's send) will be going into the loop(s) (the pedal's return) and going thru to the pedals out, straight into your amp's input. You are looping the signal over and over and over......

Here's a partial connection:
Amp's input>amp's send>pedal's return>pedal's out>amp's input>amp's send>pedal's return>pedal's out>amp's input>etc.

Mixing with the above is your guitar signal as well. Guitar>pedal's in>pedal's loop>pedal's out.

As you can see it's very, very, messy and difficult to visualise what is going on, let alone trying to understand it all.

Try this instead:
Amp's effects loop send to pedal's in. Pedal's out to amp's effects loop return. Connect your effects pedals in the loops. Do not connect overdrives and distortion pedals in the loop/s, they don't belong in this particular setup. Use reverbs, EQ's, choruses etc. in loop1 and 2. ie. Use time based effects. Use OD and distortion pedals out front instead. Plug guitar to amp's input (or to OD pedals first). Effectively, you've converted your amp to have two effect loops; 1 and 2.

If you can let us know what effects you have and what you want to achieve, we can help you more.

cyber104 · Nov 6, 2012

Perhaps this picture will better explain how I have this set up?

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w74/cyber104/photo.jpg

Blaklynx · Nov 6, 2012

The purple cable is to the amp's input?
The black cable on the right side is to your guitar?

If you answer yes to both, it seems to be connected properly.

Have you tried:
-connecting only one loop at a time? The disconnected loop will only disconnect the guitar to the amp when you switch loops.
-checked the connections inside? Solder joints, wires?
-connect the guitar directly to each receive side of each loop? This will determine if the receives are faulty. If they work, it may mean the sends are faulty. Faulty could mean: wired incorrectly or faulty switch or bad solder joint or all three.

A gut photo (clear, multiple photos) of the internals would be beneficial to see if the anyone or myself can determine if the unit is wired correctly.

cyber104 · Nov 6, 2012

Yes - purple goes to amp and black goes to guitar.

I've resoldered all connections in the box and the problem persists.

I have tried only connecting one loop at a time - problem persists

I will try connecting the guitar to the "receive" side of the loops and let you know what happens.

Thanks very much for your help!
Chris

cyber104 · Nov 7, 2012

Well it works now! But I really don't know why LOL

I took your advice and plugged the guitar directly into the "Receive" of each loop and they both worked fine with no loss of tone or signal.

Then, I hooked up 2 known good patch cables to the "Send" and "Receive" of each loop and they both worked fine.

Then I put my Bad Monkey into the clean channel loop and it worked fine.

I have three thoughts on what it MIGHT have been but I can't prove any of it.
1. Bad patch cable(s) to begin with (or maybe just when I bent them into a tight radius)
2. The Deoxit contact cleaner I sprayed into the switch 2 days ago finally did something
3. When I took the back off of the unit I spent a lot of time tracing wires and bending them around to see where they actually went - maybe I have a bad solder joint somewhere?

Either way I'm using it now and I really like it! Now that I'm convinced that it works for me if it starts to misbehave again at least I know I could rebuild it if I have to.

I never did hear back from Customer Support at Loop Master but then again that seems to be par for the course with that company based on internet reading.

If anyone has any idea where I might get another switch like the ones that are in there please let me know - I'd like to have a replacement handy.

The switches are standard push button switches like you'd see on many stomp boxes - but the one that does the channel and loop switching has 12 miniature male spade connectors on the back. The one that handles the tuner out function looks exactly the same but it only has 9 miniature spade terminals on the back.

Thanks for all the help!
Chris