tone trouble with effects pedals

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 9 Dec 2002 8:45 pm

I recently got a Boss CE-5 Chorus ensemble to enhance my sound, or give me something different on the bandstand. But I found when I plugged it in, the tone totally changed on my amp, even with the pedal off. I hated it. I have found the same problem with my tuner, and have taken to tuning the guitar at the beginning of the set & then removing it while I am playing. I play a Mullen through a Fender Twin. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this, and if there is a solution other than twisting the knobs on my amp to try to get the purer tone I get without the tuning or effect pedals. Sometimes the band doesn't give me time to add those pedals in between songs.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 9 Dec 2002 9:19 pm

Tom, about 25 years ago I saw a diagram in one of the old steel guitar magazines for a bypass switch using a Radio Shack project
box, a toggle switch and 3 or maybe 4 female jacks. I built one and it will allow you to switch an effects pedal, tuner or whatever you wish completely out of your system. If I can find it I could open mine up and try to draw it for you or perhaps Jay, Ken or another of the electronics guys on this forum may have or draw you a schematic for this simple device.
Jerry[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 09 December 2002 at 09:21 PM.][This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 09 December 2002 at 09:24 PM.]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 9 Dec 2002 9:37 pm

Moved to Electronics section

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 10 Dec 2002 4:32 am

Tom, about 25 years ago I saw a diagram in one of the old steel guitar magazines for a bypass switch using a Radio Shack project box, a toggle switch and 3 or maybe 4 female jacks

I wrote that article, which appeard in Scotty's Steel Guitar Enquirer. (It was closer to 15 years ago.) I still have the file in my computer.

I can't post it here because I don't know how to post graphics, and besides it's a little long, but I'll gladly E-mail copy to anybody who wants one.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 10 Dec 2002 6:31 am

I'll post it for you Mike if you want.. if it's self contained like the E9 Reading document I can post a link to it... the same way.

let me know....

Bob Miano · Post by **Bob Miano** » 10 Dec 2002 7:37 am

Tom,
Is that chorus before or after your volume
pedal? I had some trouble with tone but I was running my effects before the vol pedal.
I changed it so the guitar goes directly
into the vol. pedal and then from the vol.
pedal into the effects and then into the amp
and got a cleaner signal.

Bob

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Dec 2002 7:38 am

You can solve the tuner problem by using a volume pedal with two outputs. One for the amp and the other for the tuner. I used to have the same problem as you until I set it up as above. No change in tone whatsoever.
Erv

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 10 Dec 2002 6:15 pm

I wrote that article, which appeard in Scotty's Steel Guitar Enquirer. (It was closer to 15 years ago.) I still have the file in my computer.-mike perlowin

A link to Mike's article in MS Word ".doc" format is here

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 10 Dec 2002 9:30 pm

Thanks for all the reply's on this issue.I have a couple of things to try now that should solve the problem. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this tone change. Whenever I plug one of these boxes in, my guitar player looks at me & says "doesn't sound like a steel anymore!"

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 Dec 2002 12:25 am

To help "keep" your tone, keep your connecting cables as short a possible! Every few feet of cable between the guitar and the amp reduces the highs, due to the inherent capacitance of the cable itself.

Tim Hurst · Post by **Tim Hurst** » 11 Dec 2002 7:16 pm

Years ago I had this problem till I added a Lil' Izzy, later replaced by a Goodrich Matchbox, to my setup. I use a Hilton volume pedal now and don't seem to notice a change in tone with effects boxes.