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Post subject: Good tube amp to put Big Muff in effects loop?
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:06 pm
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Hi all.

Yes, I know the effect loop is not where one is "supposed" to put dirt pedals, and I understand that one has to be careful to avoid blowing out the power amp (I always keep gain at 0 and volume stays below 12 o'clock - the amp is plenty loud at those levels anyway). However, I had a cheap solid state Peavey Special 112 lying around, and I figured, "Hey, let's try putting my Tone Wicker Muff in the loop! What's the worst that can happen? I screw up an $80 amp from 1988?" So I tried it out.

It sounded awesome.

On the clean channel, I had volume at 12 o'clock; on the drive channel, I had gain at a minimum, and volume maxed out. This way, I got a little grit on the clean channel, and the distortion channel got a unique, clear, compressed overdrive tone - all from the amount of input signal driving the Muff circuit. (The Sustain knob was set to zero). As cheap as my Peavey solid state amp is, I have to say I like this sound better than any tube drive channel. That being said, I would like to find an amp that will allow me to use my Tone Wicker Muff the way I am on my Peavey, but with a tube power stage that can warm up the signal just a tad.

One thing I've noticed is that this method is fairly hit-or-miss on tube amps: on the Vox models that do have effects loops, I get no output; on Peavey Classics, it's noisy; but the method has worked on a 60-watt Blackstar, a Bugera V22, and some Fender 212 model that cost about $1,500. My only issue is, I don't like the digital reverb on the Blackstars, the Fender was too big and expensive, and the Bugera V22 wasn't cleaning up as well as the other amps when I pulled back on the volume. (That, and chords sounded too fizzy and gainy on the Bugera - need more head room?)

The way I'm setting up my solid state Peavey, I have volume at 12 o'clock on the clean channel, giving me some soft grit through the Muff (which is set to zero gain). On the drive channel, I have the volume maxed out and gain set to minimum - the maxed out volume drives the Muff harder. (Bear in mind that I keep the overall volume manageable by using the volume on the Tone Wicker Muff much like one would use a master volume knob on an amp).

Here's what I'm looking for:
*Grab'n'go capable: ~50 pounds or under, 112 combo
*Two channels (so I set one to moderate volume and one to max volume)
*Effects loop that works with Big Muff, and can handle chords with Muff on and amp set to drive channel
*Analog reverb (bear in mind that the reverb is feeding into the Muff; spring reverb creates a cool cave effect, but digital reverb just sounds mushy)
*$750 or under

Any suggestions?

It doesn't really matter how good the overdrive sound is on the amp, since I won't be using any of the amp's actually distortion. It's all about the clean sound and the loop.


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Post subject: Re: Good tube amp to put Big Muff in effects loop?
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:54 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
iankinzel wrote:
*Effects loop that works with Big Muff, and can handle chords with Muff on and amp set to drive channel

Any suggestions?


Yeah.

Go out and try a bunch of amps to see what works.

I doubt that many people have tried what you did. Its clear that successfully using the Big Muff in an effects loop is pretty random.

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Post subject: Re: Good tube amp to put Big Muff in effects loop?
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:05 pm
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Yeah, that's the most obvious solution. The only problem is, there aren't any shops within an hour and a half, so it's kind of a hassle.


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Post subject: Re: Good tube amp to put Big Muff in effects loop?
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:34 pm
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I use my TCElectronics DARK MATTER DISTORTION in my SuperSonic Twin effects loop and it sounds awesome too, but it does take a lot of fiddling to find the tone you like, as all 2.5 channels (whichever is selected) affects the loop tone and the tone controls from the TC pedal in the loop have minimal affect. Getting the correct loop signal volume is also a factor.

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Post subject: Re: Good tube amp to put Big Muff in effects loop?
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:45 pm
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Location: Gateway to the West
iankinzel wrote:
Here's what I'm looking for:
*Grab'n'go capable: ~50 pounds or under, 112 combo
*Two channels (so I set one to moderate volume and one to max volume)
*Effects loop that works with Big Muff, and can handle chords with Muff on and amp set to drive channel
*Analog reverb (bear in mind that the reverb is feeding into the Muff; spring reverb creates a cool cave effect, but digital reverb just sounds mushy)
*$750 or under

Any suggestions?

It doesn't really matter how good the overdrive sound is on the amp, since I won't be using any of the amp's actually distortion. It's all about the clean sound and the loop.


Might try to find a Concert from the early 80's plenty of them around, and they have a Very good effects loop and the send and return are adjustable.

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: Good tube amp to put Big Muff in effects loop?
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:48 pm
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Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:52 pm
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Location: East Bay Area - California, USA
I have a love / hate relationship with my Big Muff tone wicker. I've used it in the loop and in a chain. Regardless, it is the first pedal on the board. In the loop it is very tame with lots of compression happening. Surprisingly quiet too. In a daisy chain guitar--->effects--->amp input it is very gainy. I keep the sustain all the way down and get a nice overdriven tone. In the loop I'll have to put the sustain around 12 O'clock. Volume up a bit more here too. Compression seems greater here.

The Big Muff is a monster of a pedal. I've almost sold it twice. I have no doubt I would have regretted that. It has a tone all of it's own. It's quite flexible as well. Dialing in just the right sound one is searching for is the trick. Isn't that the way it is with most tones anyhow?

Anyhow, the Hot Rod Deluxe has always taken pedals famously for me weather in the loop or out. So I would recommend that amp for serious pedal aficionados.

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'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
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Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
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