Roadster FX loop quiet

[CM_X5]

I just got a used Roadster head yesterday and I'm loving it so far. Only thing is the effects loop is giving me grief. I don't know if it's something I'm doing wrong or what but when I turn the switch in the back from bypass to "loop in" then the amp gets really quiet. It's to the point where to get to a useable level both the channel and master amp volumes need to be pretty close to 12 o' clock. If the switch is off that would be ear splitting volume.

When the volumes are up high it also seems like the sound is a lot thinner but the effects plugged into the loop work fine. Is this normal or a known issue with some amps? I hope I didn't get something defective.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Try removing all the effects and jumping the FX send to the FX return with a patch cable. If it works fine then the problem isn't the amp.

Also, double check that the send level knob in the back is somewhere around 12:00.

 

[CM_X5]

Just used a patch cable between send and return like you said and it works fine, level was at 12:00.

I noticed turning that send level knob helped with the volume a bit but still turning the bypass switch on results in a huge volume spike.


EDIT: I should also mention when I turned the send level all the way up the volume fluctuated a bit, went quiet and came back, then it was fine and didn't do it again. That was kinda weird though.

 

[CM_X5]

Actually now I feel like an idiot. I just noticed that switch bypasses that master volume as well (I thought otherwise) so I just need to turn it up and use the channel volume like I did with the switch in bypass. Just tested it out again and messed with things a bit and all is well. I think the thinner sound might have been more paranoia than anything. :lol:

I just got this yesterday upgrading from a Rect-O-Verb combo so I'm really not used to having all these switches and knobs everywhere. The volume fluctuating was kinda odd but hasn't done it again so I guess if it happens another time I'll be sure to post.

 

[BostonRedSox]

No worries, this will represent just one of the growing pains you'll have while owning this complex amp. It is even more interesting when you absolutely know, inside and out, how your amp operates and play a show where you are rushed on stage - for whatever the reason. As you are frantically getting your gear ready because of the promoter's f-up (or another band's tardiness), looking at the sea of (what was once) familiar input jacks and buttons, will soon appear to be an ocean without landmarks -- dim lit stages just help magnify the slight confusion that ensues. Perhaps you hook a wrong cable up, or you meant to flip an individual power setting but instead flipped the effects loop off. It's the price you pay for good tone and lots of options.

Hopefully you can figure everything out in the knick of time before the soundman calls on you for your individual soundcheck. There is nothing more embarrassing than not being able to figure out your own amp. Most people are like, what the f, it's just an amp! Then they see the Roadster and go, "what the ... !" I let a different band borrow my head once for a gig where they were on the same bill. In return, I used his cab. I tried to give the guy a quick tutorial on the amp, but he blew off my help, in favor of past knowledge. As you can imagine, he was pretty intimidated as soon as he pulled out the footswitch. The only thing he said was, "it has FOUR channels?!"

It's also fun to get the soundman's reaction when he says, "can i hear your clean channel." After some playing and level eq'ing on his/her part, you move on to your rhythm and lead channels. Then he says, "anything else?"

My response was typically, "Yes, I also have a crunchy tweed channel, and an effects loop engaged for two of my channels. I need to know if my effects level settings are coming through at a comparable volume."

Enjoy you Roadster.

 

[formisano]

Wow, sounds like someone really loves their Roadster, huh Boston?

 

[BostonRedSox]

Wow, sounds like someone really loves their Roadster, huh Boston?

I am not sure what you are jivin' at? So, let's take it from both angles. Let's say you are inferring that I dislike the Roadster. Where, specifically, do I imply such a notion? Do you have a quote from my last message that you could use to point out to me my negative preference, so I could defend it properly?

Now, let's say you are inferring that I like the Roadster. Yes, you are correct, I do like the amp. The poster was charging that he made a mistake and was seemingly embarrassed by it. I am applying contextual knowledge to help the poster in a sympathetic way. He owns an amp that will leave him making quite a few mistakes, even if he is careful in his approach to it. Nothing to be ashamed of, just the truth. When I used to gig with my Roadster before my love affair with my TK Metropolitan, I would gig in some interesting situations. I thought I knew my amp inside and out. I did, but the complexity of setting up all the wires, modes, switches, etc. proved to be too much at times of increased swiftness and stress. I detailed those fun situations at length in my response.

I also carefully detailed what I feel about the Roadster. I wrote specifically that I enjoy the amp very much. While it is complex, that is the price you pay for tone. Either you like it or don't. Perhaps, you just wanted to peruse bits and pieces of my post and make another quick, assumptive judgment of what I was stating. No worries either way, just thought I should find out what you were getting at by your last message. :lol:

 

[BostonRedSox]

Alas, enjoy your amp, poster.

 

[talltxguy]

My hard bypass was off. The FX loop on the foot controller was engaged as was the switch on the back. All the knobs were at suitable volume. I could barely hear anything. As it turns out, the Mesa 12AX7 was bad because after replacing it with a Groove Tubes 12AX7c, things worked perfectly.