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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

982.0. "Advice on equipment needs" by BUSY::JMINVILLE (I'm mobile) Tue Nov 15 1988 13:19

I have an early 70's Fender Twin that I like a lot.  The only thing is,
I'd like to start adding rack-type devices to my system.  I'm not really
"up" on how these sort of things work, so I have a couple of questions.
Is the normal signal "flow" guitar ---> amp ---> effects ---> speaker(s)?

What I'd like to do is add Equalization and a signal processor, such as
an ADA MP-1 or a Roland ME-5.  Could I do this with my Twin as is?  Or,
would it require modification (such as adding an effects loop)?

Would a better approach be to sell the Twin and rebuild my equipment from
the ground up (like a seperate power amp, speaker cab's., etc)?

I really hate to sell the Twin, but I've *got* to move into the modern world
and I don't want a bunch of noisy foot pedals.

	joe.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
982.1MARKER::BUCKLEYTake me down to the Paradise CityTue Nov 15 1988 13:229
    
    The best is the fx in a loop, post gain-pre poweramp.
    
    guit--amp--fx--amp--spks
    
    NEVER plug speaker outputs into effects!!!  Spk outputs should only
    go to speakers or a load box.
    
    Buck
982.2PELKEY::PELKEYHead for the Mountains, Bush is pres !Tue Nov 15 1988 14:0418
    The question on dumping your twin :
    
    I don't think you should if you like the amp.  But, if you do
    want to sell it, I'm sure with todays rampage for fender twins,
    you'd sell it in a few heart beats, and then get ready for a 
    lambasting if you want to go out and buy an amp tp replace it.

    Depending on how old the twin is, I don't know wether or not you
    could actullay install an effects loop in there.  If not, your best
    bet maybe to buy some real good patch cables, small as possible, and
    get some good guitar cables to run from your guitar to the effects
    rack, then out from your last effect to the amp.
    
    and just some insight on speakers and amps.  If you turn your amp
    on, put the volume up, and have nothing plugged into the speaker
    output to absorb the load, you'll have some serious damage to
    the amp...  (something I learned about 15 years ago when I stir-fried
    my first power head....)
982.3DNEAST::BOTTOM_DAVIDEveryday I got the bluesTue Nov 15 1988 15:506
    The ADA MP-1 has been highly recommended to my by several users
    but none of them are using it as a front end to a regular guitar
    amp, rather, they plug it directly into a power amp that drives
    their speakers...
    
    dbii
982.4You know, sometimes it only takes one person...MARKER::BUCKLEYTake me down to the Paradise CityTue Nov 15 1988 15:584
    Paul Gilbert was seen on tour recently using an MP-1 as his only
    sound source, now everyone wants one!
    
    Buck
982.5A drastic option - But, I love that sound...TYFYS::MOLLERHolloween the 13th on Elm Street #7Tue Nov 15 1988 15:5915
    I had the benifit of buying my Twin Reverb from someone who dropped it
    off the back of a pickup truck, out in the parking lot where they were
    playing that evening. In otherwords, I got mine cheap, but the case
    was literally destroyed (it has 2 approx 30 lbs each Altec 12's in it).
    I used marine plywood & added space for a 3 high rack over top of the
    amplifier. I'm glad that I did. Most people wonder where I got the
    Twin from. It is totally stock otherwise (Yes, I got the honor of
    replacing all of the Tubes in it also). Currently there is a Graphics
    Equalizer installed & a blank 1 high plate waiting for other goodies.
    I wish that I had made it 6 high, but, it works just fine as it is.
    I also changed the angle that the speakers sit at, so they sit in a
    more tilted position (I play lots of small clubs & this seems to help
    quite a bit).

							Jens
982.6the old reliable!VIDEO::BUSENBARKTue Nov 15 1988 16:435
    I would keep the twin,and use your effects on the front end
    matter of fact I do that now and A/b to the effects and to the
    amp. There are even foot pedal effects loops on the market. 
    	Ibanez has a dual effects loop pedal and Dod has a single
    loop pedal with a noise gate.
982.7you get there faster on a FenderRICKS::CALCAGNITue Nov 15 1988 17:295
    or if you really won't feel good till you spend some money, have
    an amp shop install an effects loop.  I don't think there's any
    reason this can't be done to any Twin.  Does anyone know differently?
    
    /rick
982.8keep the twin,get an ME5ANT::JACQUESWed Nov 16 1988 08:3521
    	I wouldn't bother to install an effects loop on the Twin
    unless you are planning to run your guitar through a long
    chain of effects. Simply using something like an ME5 wouldn't
    require an effects loop, in fact the ME5 and GP8 both are
    not really designed to be used in effects loops. Their input
    stages are not designed to recieve 1v line levels, especially
    the compressor. Both the ME5 and GP8 have effects loops of
    their own which are programmable. If you wanted to use extra
    effects with them you simply hook them into the effects loop
    and program their on/off status for each patch. I would
    suggest you check out EU Wurlitzers, they carry ME5's and Twins.
    You could plug the ME5 into a new Twin, (use the clean channel
    on the new Twin, it's no differant than your Twin's reverb channel).
    This would give you a very good idea what it would sound like
    with your amp. There is a note on the ME5 and GP8 back a ways
    that covers every feature of both units. I may be buying an
    ME5 myself eventually, but probably not till after the holidays.
                         
    Mark Jacques