Question Concerning FX Loops

GuitarLunatic · #1 05-07-2002, 02:10 PM

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this is the forum to ask this, but it seemed like the best place.

I have a little confusion about effects loops and I'm trying to build a really good effects setup so any help would be appreciated.

I'm going to put most of my effects through the main input of my amp. This includes wah, vibe, distortion, overdrive, clean boost.

I'm also going to have a chain that goes through the amp's effects loop. I've been told that delay and reverb work well through the loop.

My main question revolves around the tuner. I'm worried that I'm spending all this money on true-bypass effects and high-quality cables only to lose tone through my tuner (BOSS TU-12H). Can the tuner go through the amp's effects loop and still be effective? Does it even matter (noise- and tone-wise) whether or not it goes into the effects loop versus the main input?

The other option is to use some sort of A/B switch, with the main effects chain hanging off of "A" and the tuner hanging off of "B". I hate to spend more money just to move the tuner off of my effects chains.

The best A/B switch that I've found on the net seems to be the Lehle, but it's over $200. BOSS makes a unit called the LS-2 that can be had for under $90 but the Harmony Central reviews seem to indicate that it's a little noisy in and of itself. I could get another tuner I suppose but I hate to bag my working tuner. BOSS makes a unit called the TU-2 that seems really nice, but again I'd have to spend almost $90. The nice thing about that one is you can put it to sleep when it's not in use and you can tune up silently.

Any opinions or neat alternatives out there? Am I just being too anal and the tuner noise/tone impact won't be noticeable?

Thanks,
G

vaijem777 · #2 05-07-2002, 02:19 PM

I'd definitely invest in a TU-2. I was running a TU-12H in my FX chain, along with all true-bypass pedals, and definitely had tone degradation. I got the TU-2 and the problem has been solved.

GuitarLunatic · #3 05-07-2002, 02:26 PM

Yeah, I was leaning in that direction and you pretty much nailed it for me. Oh well, it's only money.

Thanks man,
G

vaijem777 · #4 05-07-2002, 03:55 PM

No problem, man!

LOL Only money...yeah, that's a scary mindset to get into. Everytime I say that, I end up with another "toy"!

GuitarLunatic · #5 05-07-2002, 04:57 PM

Yeah, 20 guitars later...I think I've finally found the root of my problem! ;-)

bammbamm · #6 05-07-2002, 05:03 PM

Another thing you can do to remove the tuner from the signal path is if you have a direct out from your amp, run a line from the direct out to the tuner in and now you have an active tuner all the time and no signal loss.
Bamm

GuitarLunatic · #7 05-07-2002, 05:13 PM

Thanks Bamm, unfortunately no direct out. This is a Dr. Z MAZ 18. Kind of a boutique class A tube amp that's very retro. I'm lucky to have an effects loop!

G

vaijem777 · #8 05-07-2002, 06:04 PM

Another option might be if to run the tuner directly out of the "Tuner" jack on your volume pedal....if it has one. I've done that with the TU-2 as well, and it seems to work just as well. When I use that setup, I just leave the TU-2 on all the time. I've got an Ernie Ball mono volume pedal which has a dedicated Tuner Out jack

GuitarLunatic · #9 05-07-2002, 10:45 PM

Definitely another good idea, I think I read an H-C review that mentioned that as well. I don't have a volume pedal in this rig and didn't have plans to get one. Besides easy volume swells and adjustments, is there a reason to use one instead of just using the volume control on the guitar?

G