Weird Triaxis FX loop problem

[joegold]

Hi

This is sort of hard to describe, but I'll try.

I always have a volume pedal or sim in the FX loop of the Triaxis so that I can get the same amount of preamp-based overdrive at any volume. But sometimes my TA leaks some signal around the FX loop such that after lowering my volume pedal to 0 there is still some audio getting through to the pwer amp/speakers. This can cause several problems for me that I won't go into, but it's a real drag.

It happens for a while and then goes away. The last gig I used the TA on, it lasted half the night before it went back to normal. I suspect that it might only happen in Winter (it's intermittent, and I'm not using the TA all that much these days) after leaving my rack in the trunk for an hour or two, so it might be condensation-based.
It might be one of the preamp tubes getting screwed up by the cold (V3?)?

I've done enough experiments to know for sure that it's not any of the volume pedals I've used. I.e. It's not what goes into the the loop, it's the loop itself.

So, I was wondering if this has happened to anybody else out there, and whether you know how to stop it from happening again?

[Note: I know that I could also put my vol ped and FX after the TA's main outputs and that this has the potential for better overall tone, but I have reasons for not wanting to do this.]

 

[disassembled]

What are your volumes set at? If you master volume on the preset is really high you are probably getting too much bleed over.
Maybe try lowering your patch master volume and turning the knob volume up?


Greg

 

[joegold]

What are your volumes set at? If you master volume on the preset is really high you are probably getting too much bleed over.
Maybe try lowering your patch master volume and turning the knob volume up?


Greg

Thanks. But that's not it.
My problem is, as I said, intermittent, and then it goes away and works fine. And it only happens in the winter.

But since you brought it up.
I've got 5 patches I use on the TA to cover most of the stuff I need to play on the gigs I do.
My Clean bright patch (for R&B/pop chording) has the Master parameter on 5.0. (Channel 1 - Green).
My Clean-Dark patch (for jazz) has the Master slightly higher (5.5 or 6.0) depending on the venue. (Chan 1 Gr or Yellow)
My slightly raunchy patch (for bluesey chording). (Ch 2 - Yel) has the Master at 4.5 or 5.0, I forget which..
My two Hi-gain (for rock soloing) patches have the Master at 3.5 or 4.0.

 

[disassembled]

I assume you are using 1 side of the effects loop return and not both? Try plugging a cable or 1/4" adapter jack into the other return that you are not using. I know there is bleed over in the loop but your intermitent problem could be caused by a dirty return jack.

See how much bleed over is from the loop by taking your effects out of the chain and going from the A output of the TA to your power amp. It doesn't make much sense to isolate a problem with the TA if you have a ton of extra wires in place. Now plug a patch cable from the effects send to the B Return of your effects loop; make sure your wires are of high quality too. Try to play something through your guitar to replicate the problem you had. This should completely mute the TA but it will show any bleed over if there is some. Now, try inserting your volume pedal into the loop of the TA and hook it into Return A and remove the cable from the return jack B. You should have the same result as above when you rock the volume pedal all of the way back.


Greg

 

[joegold]

I assume you are using 1 side of the effects loop return and not both? Try plugging a cable or 1/4" adapter jack into the other return that you are not using. I know there is bleed over in the loop but your intermitent problem could be caused by a dirty return jack.

See how much bleed over is from the loop by taking your effects out of the chain and going from the A output of the TA to your power amp. It doesn't make much sense to isolate a problem with the TA if you have a ton of extra wires in place. Now plug a patch cable from the effects send to the B Return of your effects loop; make sure your wires are of high quality too. Try to play something through your guitar to replicate the problem you had. This should completely mute the TA but it will show any bleed over if there is some. Now, try inserting your volume pedal into the loop of the TA and hook it into Return A and remove the cable from the return jack B. You should have the same result as above when you rock the volume pedal all of the way back.


Greg

Those all sound like fine tests to do when the problem is actually happening. But, like I said, it happens occasionally, it's intermittent when it does happen, and it only seems to happen after my rack has been expoosed to below freezing temperatures for a few hours. And the weather up here is already stating to warm up.
I've only been able to reproduce this problem a couple of times in my home. It only seems to happen on gigs.

Again, my question is really for people who this has also actually happened to. But thanks for your input anyway.