| Does linking the Pre/Main with a short lead improve the sound |
| Yes |
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9% |
[ 1 ] |
| No |
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18% |
[ 2 ] |
| Only if the link removes dirt etc. from the socket |
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72% |
[ 8 ] |
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| Total Votes : 11 |
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| Author |
Topic: Linking Pre amp out Power amp in breakpoints |
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 13 Mar 2008 7:10 am |
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This is an extract from a post on another forum
| Quote: |
| i was merely pointing out that some musicicians i know of , link these two inputs/outputs with a short link lead, in order to obtain a better sound from their amp if they are not using a processor in the amp fx loop, im not trying to out tech anyone, merely pointing out what i know from my 30 years experience in playing/gigging, regards eddie |
Is this an urban myth initiated by playful pro's to confound lesser mortals or is there a grain of truth to be found therein ? |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 13 Mar 2008 1:00 pm
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My selection is C as being the closest to my understanding of the situation. Without a jumper cable, this connection between pre and power amp is the normal setting. The jacks break this connection with a switching lug. Dirt in this system could cause weak or intermittent signal. The jumper cable could bypass the funk. But exercising these jacks with some good old in & out and some contact cleaner or alcohol would serve the purpose. In other words, if this jumper cable actual does improve the sound it indicates that the jacks are dirty and need cleaning, thus obviating the need for a jumper cable.
Or such is my understanding and experience.
However I would be happy to sell anyone a monster cable that is guaranteed to make their amp sound like ******'s rig (fill in the blank) for a nominal fee (nominal = triple digits$$$). |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 14 Mar 2008 9:10 am
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Unless you're using a cable with a very small diameter core which adds resistance, which is unlikely on a professionally-made cable, I vote for C.
Of course, if you're going to use a mile-long cable I might rethink the answer ! (Sorry, Basil, I forgot that you folks have decimalized since I left.  I'll change that to a kilometre-long cable.)   |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 14 Mar 2008 1:07 pm
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| Alan, we are still using miles in the UK. |
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Ulf Edlund
From:
Umeå, Sweden
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Posted 14 Mar 2008 3:04 pm
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Doesn't that quote refer to cross-linking the inputs as you do on, for instance a Vox, combining the sound caracteristics of the inputs?
_________________
1983 Emmons D10 SKH, Carter SD10, Nashville 112, Session 500, ProfexII, Lapsteels, GT-Beard reso, guitars of all kinds...
http://www.myspace.com/ulfedlund |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 14 Mar 2008 7:13 pm
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Ulf, the quote may be a little out of context But my topic heading IS correct the original post I was quoting from is referring to the pre out power amp in sockets, or 'Breakpoints' This is the original post with the senders name omited as I wouldn't like to embarass him.. !!
| Quote: |
| Hi Basil, so the fx loop IS actually situated between the pre amp and power amp stages? which would explain why the fx loop on fender amps[to name one] are marked pre amp in and power amp out, i was merely pointing out that some musicicians i know of , link these two inputs/outputs with a short link lead, in order to obtain a better sound from their amp if they are not using a processor in the amp fx loop, im not trying to out tech anyone, merely pointing out what i know from my 30 years experience in playing/gigging, |
Of course he's also wrong as to where the FX send and return points are usually, they're WITHIN the pre amp circuit not after it..Aren't they ? |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2008 11:24 pm
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I'm an amp tech and don't understand the question!
Let me know if I have it right - Are you asking if running a guitar cable from a preamp output to a power amp input...on an amp that is otherwise already doing essentially the same thing internally...would improve the sound of the guitar/amp somehow?
If yes, then my answer is yes. Or no.
It's totally dependent on the amp design; whether or not you can adjust levels and/or tone at that "jumper" point, whether the impedances are OK with just a cable or if they want to see some buffering, whether it would cause a voltage (signal) drop in the main circuit, *where* the preamp out is located (pre tonestack or post tonestack), where the reverb and/or other built-in effects fall in the preamp (see previous sentence), and lastly whether it creates any parasitic oscillation or phase cancellation running both circuits concurrently.
In other words - check with the manufacturer and make sure it won' *hurt* anything...then try it. It's probably the only way to find out.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 15 Mar 2008 4:20 am
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Jim, thanks for you help, as an amp techie you should know.
The question in it's unadulterated form is, taking a combo amp as the subject, will linking the BREAKPOINTS "Pre-out Main-in" with a short jack to jack patch cable improve the sound ?
This is where the insertion of a plug in either socket BREAKS the signal path. |
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