squarezero Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi, I recently changed amps and seem to have been having problems with my FX chain ever since. Up until now I have just been plugging stuff in that sounds good and that is it, it is time to use some proper knowledge to get it sorted, appologies for any apparent naievity on my part. I have a Rickenbacker 4003, playing through ampeg PF 500 head and SVT-410HE cab In order all plugged direct into front input- Boss OBD-3 bass overdrive 80s EHX Double Muff EHX Mole Artec Big Dots tuner Boss SYB-3 Bass Synth EHX Memory Boy Anybody see anything to watch out for there? The Double Muff is pretty temperamental, but I love the sound. Last night I tapped on the double muff and OBD-3 and warning lights came on in the actual cab?!!! My guitarist says that you should never put two distortion/overdrives on together, is this true? Damn shame if so... Any help/thoughts appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Check your output levels on the pedals it could be you're just boosting too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) What warning light came on? is it number 11 in the manual? If so I would guess you have too much low end going on for the amp to handle. Something like the SFX thumpinator at the end of your chain would be the perfect solution I think Chaining multiple distortion boxes together is highly recommended. Your guitarist hasn't got a clue! Edited January 9, 2013 by cheddatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 [quote name='squarezero' timestamp='1357725981' post='1927167'] My guitarist says that you should never put two distortion/overdrives on together, is this true? Damn shame if so... [/quote] Really? Really? What??? Stacking overdrives and distortions is incredibly common and people do it all the time. I'm amazed that a guitarist could think otherwise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squarezero Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks guys, I will see what I can do and maybe yes get a thumpinator or some other limiter//actunator? Glad to hear about layering distortions! Probably a misunderstanding I'm sure, as he usually has about three gain stages! Looking at what the light may be, seems that ampeg cabs have a light bulb in the back that acts like a slow blow fuse to protect the tweeters, so it may be high frequencies that are the problem, prob the Double Muff in that case, it is old and temperamental, kinda why I like it though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squarezero Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Just realised, probably low frequencies that would damage a tweeter? And thus pretty much what was said! Hopefully all of the teachings on here will sink in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Yeah stacking distortions is very common, but obviously you're adding gain to gain, so you have to be careful of your signal level, you could simply be pushing your amp a bit hard. Pull the levels of the two pedals back a bit. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Stacking distortions tends to create a flubby, muddy and indistinct mess, at least it often (though not always) does for guitar: I'd guess that's why the guitarist said that. OTOH that's the kind of thing some bass players revel in, so if that works for you then enjoy it. I'd have thought that if you're seeing warning lights on the amp then you're just hitting the front end too hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 low frequencies wouldn't touch the tweeter as the tweeter would be wired after a crossover If you're putting enough high frequencies through a tweeter to damage it, I imagine you have hearing difficulties!!! I hope you're using ear plugs? Are you standing too close to the cab to hear the tweeter maybe? Maybe a graphic EQ would be the best so that you can roll off both some highs and any un-needed lows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squarezero Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 It's loud, but I'm not throwing that much at it. The light was only when the double muff and odb were on at the same time, the head isn't really peaking, so that is what was confusing me. With the double muff, it is only two dials and they are only at a point of being just a bit louder than clean, same levels with the obd but has a volume knob, guess the gain is prob turned up quite high though. I guess that is another question, is there an art to getting volume without affecting the effect sound, particularly on the double muff? I will give everything a check over tonight and see if there is any resolution. Thank you for all your comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elephantgrey Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 [quote name='squarezero' timestamp='1357746375' post='1927724']I guess that is another question, is there an art to getting volume without affecting the effect sound, particularly on the double muff?[/quote] I don't know if i can help with anything particular to the double muff, but giving "gain structure" a google might help you. Its the art of balancing levels, usually in the context of sound engineering though, but i think allot of it is transferable to your effects signal chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 do you get feedback when you're not playing? What are your settings on the ODB3? I know it well so may be able to help there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squarezero Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 After having a thorough check today it see,s that the double muff is probably dead. As it was always temperamental I'm going to just replace it with a bass overdrive, I may swap out the odb 3 while I'm at it. Cheers for all your help though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 If it's a slow blow fuse in the cab, turn the treble down, or the cabs tweeter off. I'd stick the tuner in first so it gets the truest signal to tune from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invisible Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I often add a ZVex Wolly Mammut fuzz and the Bassdrive Fulltone overdrive, its an amazing and tremendous sound! Till now my cabs are ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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