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Topic: Too Many Line Drivers? |
Mitch Druckman
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 6:03 am |
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Is there a problem with running too many line drivers in the signal chain?
I use a Hilton pedal and have a Black Box on the way. That's two stages of line drivers. Yesterday I discovered that the Carl Martin Parametric EQ pedal that I am interested in is also a line driver. What would happen to the signal to have 3 stages of line drivers in the signal chain? |
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Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 6:24 am
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My guess is, that you wouldn't have any major problems running that setup.
Ofcourse, as a rule of thumb, you might say that you should have as little electronics in the signal-chain as you're able to, but take a listen. You are in the genesis-phase of your tone, so any alteration of the tone to good or worse is highly subjective.
Any kind of electric guitar end hi-fi are two entirily different animals.
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Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 11:43 am
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| Everthing powered, including battery power, increases signal strength. The only problem is getting the signal so strong it causes distortion at the amp. Everything is OK until you hear distortion at the amp. Then it is time to turn down stuff in the signal chain. |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 3:29 pm
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Running preamps into preamps can amplify the noise in the line. Personally, I think the Hilton pedal provides a good match to the pickup and provides a small amount of gain. The only thing I use, other than the Hilton, is an effects unit between the Hilton pedal and the amp input.
You can learn from experience if you can afford to keep buying and trying. It would be great if you could try without buying. |
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Mitch Druckman
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2006 9:17 pm
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First, let me say that I love what the Hilton pedal does for the sound of my steel. I have no intension of replacing it.
Next, in my quest for the "perfect" tone I decided to buy a Black Box with Brad's 30 day return guarantee. I haven't received it yet so I can't say if it will improve my tone or not. I do know that many players are using a Hilton and Black Box in their rig.
Lastly, after establishing the sweetest tone possible I want an EQ to create a second tone that I can switch on and off. I've been using a Boss GE-7 equalizer for this and while I like using the eq, the Boss is a little harsh sounding. This is why I'm looking at the Carl Martin 3 Band Parametric. It is versatile and should be much smoother overall. I just hope it is a good match with the Hilton and Black Box.
Regarding Keith's observation that I might need to turn down some devices if I hear distortion, the volume pedal and Black Box have no adjustments for this. Would it help to turn down the pre-gain control on my amp or would it be too late in the signal chain?[This message was edited by Mitch Druckman on 09 October 2006 at 10:25 PM.] |
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Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 3:21 am
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Most of these units without gain or volume controles are designed to amplify 1:1, which means that they basically are supposed to do nothing to the sound, apart from desired alterations, i.e. as an example, you choose to boost the low band 6 db on you parametric.
Ofcourse this added gain will improve the overall gain/level of the signal into the amp, so you'd need to turn down your amplifiers input (as opposed to master) volume to avoid overloading the input, if you do not desire distortion.
BTW The Carl Martin products are manufactured by East Sound in Denmark 
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Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
[This message was edited by Klaus Caprani on 10 October 2006 at 04:22 AM.] |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 5:03 am
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Mitch, the Hilton pedal does have a gain adjustment on the bottom. You can adjust the "full on" "full off" levels, and the tone.
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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2006 5:32 am
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| Every stage increases the potential for adding noticeable noise, but those are all pretty high-grade boxes so you can probably get away with three. Each stage can also potentially increase your chances of changing the signal in a desirable or undesirable way; it could add an pleasant or unpleasant peak, unintentionally compress it, there's no rule except what sounds good. I often use a little compressor or graphic EQ to match up signal levels, and as long as it's there, well, I tweak away. I have one of those little Boss graphic EQs that's pretty nasty, and an old DOD one that's really musical and transparent. So I use the DOD where it counts and run a fuzztone into the Boss into a Morley wah into an exploding tube amp for six-string delinquency, beauty is in the ear of the beholder after all. |
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