|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 16, 2017 19:24:42 GMT -5
This is a good thread... haven't been able to get back to my Street Rod to do some tonal analysis lately, but I'm thinking about thinning the pedal herd. Was initially thinking about just my Zoom G3 which could be deadening things somewhat, we'll see... but now I'm thinking a more in depth look is warranted.
Here's what I have now:
Guitar->Banshee->Hardwire Tuner->95Q wah->MXR EVH 5150 OD->Phase 90->Amp
Send->Zoom G3->MXR 10 band EQ->TC Spark Boost->Return
I like the Spark boost as a clean boost but really don't need it since the solo boost on the Splawn works great.
The Banshee can be pulled out for most of the songs we do, had tone issues with it in the past but it's true bypass (something was up with it at one point... dodgy power supply I think).
Again the Zoom is suspect, see how that affects things
The rest are true bypass, shouldn't be causing issues but would be good to start from scratch (like when I test drove the amp!) and build up, checking each effect for tone impact along the way.
Thanks guys, good stuff to think about. I test drove the amp, bought it, and then loaded my whole effects arsenal up with it and didn't look back. Time to look back!
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 16, 2017 19:47:00 GMT -5
Cvogue...you might want to double check that wah. I'm fairly certain that it's NOT true bypass....
For me, I originally had the switchless one (I forget the model number) but it was causing a kind of "grainy" upper mids thingy. It's tough to explain. But as soon as I took it out of the signal path it was all different. It was the reason I started this thread really.
Even your MXR pedals may not be true bypass. I have a phase 90 and an MXR flanger and both aren't TB. And iirc the newer reissues can't be modded to TB either. A good quality buffer placed before these pedals can often remedy the situation however.
|
|
|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 16, 2017 19:53:18 GMT -5
Sorry, yeah 95Q is definitely buffered. And, now I've come to find out that MXR pedals are generally *not* true bypass, they've got some half baked "hardwired" bypass. That is actually probably too harsh, I've never noticed major tone suck with my MXR pedals but they probably aren't true bypass.
More to test out!
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 16, 2017 19:54:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 16, 2017 19:58:06 GMT -5
Sorry, yeah 95Q is definitely buffered. And, now I've come to find out that MXR pedals are generally *not* true bypass, they've got some half baked "hardwired" bypass. That is actually probably too harsh, I've never noticed major tone suck with my MXR pedals but they probably aren't true bypass. More to test out! The problem with dunlop's wah pedals is that even though they are buffered, the buffer sucks. The hardware bypass and true bypass, while I don't think they are identical I believe they both will give you the desired result. When I was shopping for my replacement wah I remember googling the difference and read a crap load of forum posts about it. The general consensus is that hardwire is essentially true bypass. |
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 16, 2017 19:59:02 GMT -5
I ended up replacing my old wah with the cry baby classic...no tone suck and it sounds killer.
|
|
|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 16, 2017 20:21:09 GMT -5
Yeah you had a 95Q at one time... did you notice tone suck with it?
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 16, 2017 20:24:56 GMT -5
Absolutely
Edit: more than tone suck, it was causing the grainy type tone I was hearing. I, at first attributed it to just the "Splawn sound". But as soon as I plugged straight in I was completely blown away.
|
|
|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 16, 2017 22:35:38 GMT -5
Great so I'm probably ruining the tone of a great amp with some crappy effects! I actually have been worried about the 95Q for a while, the Blackstar sounded OK with it, passable, but I definitely feel that I'm not getting the best out of my Street Rod. Gonna pull everything from the loop and plug straight in next time and start the triage of pedals! Bandmates will have to be patient as I bring pedals back into the fold... heh-heh!
|
|
|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 16, 2017 23:07:31 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 17, 2017 6:26:10 GMT -5
I put my 95q on my Blackstar board as well. On that board the previous pedal is a Korg tuner which has a really good buffer in the circuit so the tone suck isn't there in that situation. So, on that board it will stay....
I had an original cry baby from the early 90's. It was my first ever wah pedal. It still works but the pots and jacks are scratchy and need replacing. I then had a Morley Bad Horsie II. Sounded good, also not true bypass but damn that's a HUGE pedal. Then I got the 95q and then the Classic...if you're thinking about getting a different wah I highly encourage you to check out the classic.... I was leaning toward the switchless wah because my old crybaby was really difficult to switch on/off. I had to really step hard on it. But to my surprise the new Classic I bought switches on/off really easy. And it sounds really good.
|
|
|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 17, 2017 11:48:10 GMT -5
Have to do the triage and see how things sound as I add pedals back in but I'm thinking the 95Q may have to go. If so I'll probably get the Classic. If so I'll have to look at how thing sound with no buffers in the chain (Zoom G3 is buffered but it's in the loop, and may have to go as well, lots of tone suck hate for the G3 but some good reviews of it too).
Just gonna go back to basics first. Less is more with Splawns and pedals I think...
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 17, 2017 12:01:23 GMT -5
I could be wrong but I don't think the Splawn fx loop is buffered. It's possible that the zoom's buffer isn't all that good especially if the general consensus feel that there is tone suck from it. I'm not familiar with exactly what the zoom is, I'm assuming a multi Fx unit. If you're getting what you need from it Fx wise, you may consider getting a high quality buffer pedal to put before it in the chain. (Talk to RyanNo3 ...he is selling one).
|
|
|
|
Post by cvogue on Jun 17, 2017 15:30:50 GMT -5
Yup, the Zoom G3 is a multi effect unit. Feature-wise I really like it, you can have up to 6 effects at once and each one can be turned on/off like a stomp box (three visible at once). All I really use it for is chorus, reverb and delays. But I like being able to have delay settings dialed in for different songs and just scroll to them vice having to mess with dials on a single delay (like a Boss) to approximate what I need for the settings (time, feedback, mix etc...) We'll see how the G3 fares in and out of the picture.
Edit: There is some G3 hate here on the Splawn Fans boards, not sure if it's the transparency or the quality of the effects...
|
|
|
|
Post by gtrjunior on Jun 19, 2017 12:46:54 GMT -5
I just bought 2 12ax7 tubes from a brand called PM tubes. Apparently they have been around a while and their tubes are relabeled Chinese tubes but from what I hear they have a higher standard that they demand from the manufacturer. $19 a piece. I got 2. 1 high gain and 1 Trustworthy.
The plan is the high gain in V2 and the Trustworthy in the PI.
|
|
