Hi guys,
This may be old news to some of you but here's something to try if you have a Rec Pre or other Mesa preamp and an all-in-one multifx (like a Boss ME- or GT- series), and are having trouble getting it to work well in an FX loop or haven't tried.
I've just been experimenting with putting my Rec Pre in the FX loop of my old ME-10 and a Roland and it's surprisingly useful-- more so than the other way around. Signal chain is guitar -> ME-10 line in -> ME-10 fx send -> Rec Pre in ->Rec Pre record out -> ME-10 fx return -> ME-10 fx out -> DI line or 20/20.
The ME-10's fx loop is fixed between the od/dist effect and the EQ, but it actually works out quite well because I can use the OD effect properly, hitting the Rec Pre's preamp stage, and then the time-based FX are after the Rec Pre, where they generally sound better. (I have to say I'm not real happy with the RP's FX loop--judging from the manual, I don't think Mesa's entirely thrilled with it either. The only things I have found that sound really good in there are phase and tremolo.)
The ME-10 is pretty transparent for its age (though a little noisy), and while I don't think I'd record like this it would definitely increase the Rec Pre's flexibility live (not a problem for you Triaxis guys.)
Anyway, if you have another preamp-like fx unit with its own loop, it's definitely worth trying.
This may be old news to some of you but here's something to try if you have a Rec Pre or other Mesa preamp and an all-in-one multifx (like a Boss ME- or GT- series), and are having trouble getting it to work well in an FX loop or haven't tried.
I've just been experimenting with putting my Rec Pre in the FX loop of my old ME-10 and a Roland and it's surprisingly useful-- more so than the other way around. Signal chain is guitar -> ME-10 line in -> ME-10 fx send -> Rec Pre in ->Rec Pre record out -> ME-10 fx return -> ME-10 fx out -> DI line or 20/20.
The ME-10's fx loop is fixed between the od/dist effect and the EQ, but it actually works out quite well because I can use the OD effect properly, hitting the Rec Pre's preamp stage, and then the time-based FX are after the Rec Pre, where they generally sound better. (I have to say I'm not real happy with the RP's FX loop--judging from the manual, I don't think Mesa's entirely thrilled with it either. The only things I have found that sound really good in there are phase and tremolo.)
The ME-10 is pretty transparent for its age (though a little noisy), and while I don't think I'd record like this it would definitely increase the Rec Pre's flexibility live (not a problem for you Triaxis guys.)
Anyway, if you have another preamp-like fx unit with its own loop, it's definitely worth trying.
