| Author | Message | ||
| groovelines
Senior Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 675 Registered: 4-2003 |
I'm in the process of organizing my first "real" pedal board and am looking for some insight from those that have gone before. Simple signal chain - Boss TU tuner > Boss Chorus > BBE Green Screamer > Electro Hoarmonix Bass Balls out to a Tech 21 SansAmp DI > sound board. At home the signal path is quiet (pedal board > F1X > SWR pwramp > cab). I wish I could say the same when used at church. I get a distressingly loud "pop" from the BBE and EH pedals whenever I switch 'em on/off. Its too much to gloss over. The Boss Chorus pedal is dead quiet. Stupid question, but could it have anything to do with the type of switch the devices use? Grounding issues? I read in the Tech 21 manual that the SansAmp prefers some effects before/after the DI, but I want to use the SansAmp at the end of the chain as a DI! I could be grossly ignorant, but I don't see what that would have to do with the popping noise. The pic shows the type of "switch" the EH and BBE use. Constructive help is appreciated, thanks in advance. Mike  | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 847 Registered: 6-2004 |
Maybe some contact cleaner/lube will help. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 909 Registered: 1-2005 |
Might be an issue with some pedals not being true bypass? Like the Boss for example? When I ran my Z Vex Woolly Mammoth with my Moogerfoogers it made a popping noise (the Mammoth) when I switched it on and off - I thought it was the Mammoth so I emailed Zachary Vex - he said it was because the Moogerfoogers aren't true bypass. I wish I could help more, but that's all I've got! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1664 Registered: 9-2002 |
Arranging pedals for the best results/lowest noise is a black art; but if it were me, I'd take the BOSS tuner out of the chain (I mean, honestly, how often do you have to retune in the middle of a song). If I'm understanding this right, you may be boosting gain THREE times (BB into GS into T21): IF that's right, and it then goes up the snake to a board where it's maybe not trimmed correctly in the channel (more heat!), it's a wonder you don't hear the hinge in the pedals squeaking! Even if these things are providing only a moderate gain, several in series adds up quick. A painless check for this would be to switch everything in, and if you can hear the chrous sweeping with no notes being played . . . well, I'd think about doing some swapping out to find what you can do without. And like hieronymous said above, there's no telling what is/isn't bypassing, maybe there's a bogus switch or jack, etc. You'll just have to swap stuff in and out, change the order, etc., till you figure it out. Generally, you distort first, then add the delay/modulation effect afterward. This way you're only boosting the noise 'up front' and not boosting all the random buildup that's in front of it. I prefer to leave tuners out of the chain to eliminate any more noise or one more modifier of my original tone (for me, I'd NEVER play thru a tuner). Good Luck, J o e y | ||
| groovelines
Senior Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 676 Registered: 4-2003 |
Looks like I've got some monkeying around to do. I can say that the BBalls used by itself "popped" the only time I used at church (wonderful effects for "Carol of the Bells"). It's not a necessary device, but the MD liked it and has asked for it since. I do use the tuner as much for "mute" as for tuning - I guess I could spring for a volume pedal. Hmmm, things to do, thanks. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 656 Registered: 9-2008 |
Harry, I simply love Wooly Mammoth's tone but thought it couldn't match active electronics, do you use it with Alembic? (sorry hijacking post) | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 441 Registered: 5-2007 |
Although sequencing pedals is a "black art" since there is no right and wrong, common wisdom (is that an oxymoron?) is to put wahs and envelope filters at the front of the chain, and the BassBalls is one. Hopefully yours has true bypass switching or doesn't otherwise suck tone, which mine did (suck tone). But mine didn't make a popping noise, either. Some tuners are true bypass; I have a Boss TU-3 in my signal chain and it doesn't seem to affect the tone. I like the muting feature it provides. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 918 Registered: 1-2005 |
Mario, I don't use the Mammoth with my Alembic - I bought a Mastrotron, but it's not quite the same. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 658 Registered: 9-2008 |
Oh what a pity, thanks for answering Harry. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 974 Registered: 3-2004 |
I was curious what this response would be. I built a mammoth clone for our bass player recently, which he loves. He doesn't play an Alembic, not that I wouldn't encourage him to do so (despite the pedal). |
