Hey guys, new here... FX loop question, multiple amps

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gambit
  • Start date Start date
You have a G Major ?

It has stereo inputs / outputs ...... there is no reason you cannot run two amps effects loop with this. One amp left channel, the other amp right channel on the TC. This may not get the results you want.

I think if you really check out the GCX their is not much the Mesa / Radial / etc. does if anything different. If you had a GCX I do not see any reason to have the Mesa / Radial.

Like said above take the time to figure out what you need so you have what you want without buying extra stuff.

I also recommend looking at a bunch of other people rigs .... pro or not. This well let you see what others are doing.

..... and many of us have been where you are now with learning this stuff.
 
EXPcustom":33d9iau5 said:
Gambit":33d9iau5 said:
So much information. I am confused as shit. Your electronic schematic made me feel like I was reading japanese!

To sum up, I am defintely going for the GCP, pedal switchers and possibly a GCX.

For being able to use to amps simultaniously do we like the Mesa Rack piece or the radial more?

Im just not sure where to get the mesa piece b/c its not on ebay and discontinued.

Look into the Radial JD7 It allows you to run multiple amps and have a seperate effects loop that you can turn on and off. Takes care of any phasing issues etc... they show up used often for 5-600 dollars.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JD7/


Another very interesting suggestion, I'd have to read the manual to understand fully.
 
Zachman":2qckwszy said:
Gambit":2qckwszy said:
Oh yeah, forgot the FX issue for a moment. One thing at a time. If I need to have Rack FX on more than one of my amps, I am going to buy a seperate piece. Way too much confusion with power amps, line mixers and things I simply dont understand yet.

Im speaking simply as far as using 2-3 amps at once, without the concern of FX... which would be better?

Recommend you take some time to digest the info, and design and build your rig "right" (Maximum efficiency & maximum versatility, w/ the ability to control EVERYTHING-- so you can concentrate on playing music) and avoid the added redundant expenses, and frustration that rushing WILL bring.

I am purposely NOT answering the which is better question, because when approaching a "Rig" design-- the way you do that "Best" imo-- is with an overall cohesive rig's approach. Whether or not something is "better" depends on how it interacts with ALL of your gear to achieve your goals.

I'm trying to dial in everything I need, I like the idea of the mesa if I can find it.
 
stephen sawall":2h7ix0x0 said:
You have a G Major ?

It has stereo inputs / outputs ...... there is no reason you cannot run two amps effects loop with this. One amp left channel, the other amp right channel on the TC. This may not get the results you want.

I think if you really check out the GCX their is not much the Mesa / Radial / etc. does if anything different. If you had a GCX I do not see any reason to have the Mesa / Radial.

Like said above take the time to figure out what you need so you have what you want without buying extra stuff.

I also recommend looking at a bunch of other people rigs .... pro or not. This well let you see what others are doing.

..... and many of us have been where you are now with learning this stuff.

thanks dude that makes me feel better about trying to grasp all this info.

are you saying the GCX can run multiple amps simultaneously? I didnt think it could.
 
stephen sawall":1v5gcb23 said:
I use it that way.


wow, to be honest I read through the GCX manual and there were a few examples of how it can be used but I didnt see any using multiple amps at once.

would you mind elaborating on how you connect everything. If I'm not mistaken the GCX is loops, so the send goes to the amp input.... where does the return go?

cool man
 
Read pages 5 thru 11 in the manual ..... it is all right there. I could not write it out that clear.
A amp has 2 parts .... the preamp and power amp.
They are separated by the effects loop.
The amp input is also the preamp input.
The effects loop out/send is also the preamp output.
The effects loop in/return is also the poweramp input.

Any place it says preamp / device / effect in the manual for the better part a preamp can be put.



Examples 4/9 on the bottom of this page are related...

http://www.voodoolab.com/gcx.htm
 
Gambit":e7mfy6mv said:
stephen sawall":e7mfy6mv said:
I use it that way.


wow, to be honest I read through the GCX manual and there were a few examples of how it can be used but I didnt see any using multiple amps at once.

would you mind elaborating on how you connect everything. If I'm not mistaken the GCX is loops, so the send goes to the amp input.... where does the return go?

cool man

The GCX is a patch bay so think of it like this:

Guitar to GCX input
GCX individual loops-- pedals--to amp inputs
Amps line level sends to GCX
GCX sends to fx inputs and effects outs to line mixer to power amp
 
stephen sawall":3thpbf7m said:
Read pages 5 thru 11 in the manual ..... it is all right there. I could not write it out that clear.
A amp has 2 parts .... the preamp and power amp.
They are separated by the effects loop.
The amp input is also the preamp input.
The effects loop out/send is also the preamp output.
The effects loop in/return is also the poweramp input.

Any place it says preamp / device / effect in the manual for the better part a preamp can be put.



Examples 4/9 on the bottom of this page are related...

http://www.voodoolab.com/gcx.htm


Oh ok, I understand the pre amp and power amp now. I think. The guitar goes into the PREAMP input and the FX LOOP Send is also the PREAMP output... this is what creates a gap between the preamp and poweramp allowing you to put FX in between the two. The FX return is also the POWER AMP input. I think I have this all down pretty good right now which is beginning to make things a bit more clear.

Whats the Power amp output..... the cable that goes to the speakers?
 
Zachman":3afhyn2k said:
Gambit":3afhyn2k said:
stephen sawall":3afhyn2k said:
I use it that way.


wow, to be honest I read through the GCX manual and there were a few examples of how it can be used but I didnt see any using multiple amps at once.

would you mind elaborating on how you connect everything. If I'm not mistaken the GCX is loops, so the send goes to the amp input.... where does the return go?

cool man

The GCX is a patch bay so think of it like this:

Guitar to GCX input
GCX individual loops-- pedals--to amp inputs
Amps line level sends to GCX
GCX sends to fx inputs and effects outs to line mixer to power amp

I think I understand the difference between preamp and poweramp now, how an FX loop seperates them and how they interact. I'm not 100% on the line path.

Guitar to GCX input. Check.

GCX individual loops-- pedals-- to amp inputs. Question. I understand how to run the pedals through the GCX loops from the examples. How do I then connect the pedals to the amps inputs? Does the last pedals output on the GCX go to the first amps input?

Amps line level sends to GCX. Are these the FX sends? I dont know what line level sends are.

Trying to figure this out.
 
Gambit":1yjy92h8 said:
stephen sawall":1yjy92h8 said:
Read pages 5 thru 11 in the manual ..... it is all right there. I could not write it out that clear.
A amp has 2 parts .... the preamp and power amp.
They are separated by the effects loop.
The amp input is also the preamp input.
The effects loop out/send is also the preamp output.
The effects loop in/return is also the poweramp input.

Any place it says preamp / device / effect in the manual for the better part a preamp can be put.



Examples 4/9 on the bottom of this page are related...

http://www.voodoolab.com/gcx.htm


Oh ok, I understand the pre amp and power amp now. I think. The guitar goes into the PREAMP input and the FX LOOP Send is also the PREAMP output... this is what creates a gap between the preamp and poweramp allowing you to put FX in between the two. The FX return is also the POWER AMP input. I think I have this all down pretty good right now which is beginning to make things a bit more clear.

Whats the Power amp output..... the cable that goes to the speakers?

Correct
 
Gambit":1n2x5qge said:
Whats the Power amp output..... the cable that goes to the speakers?

That is it.

Does the last pedals output on the GCX go to the first amps input?

Yes ..... the last pedal out of the "front effects" goes to all amp inputs. You can use y chords or a splitter to do this.
 
Gambit":1143hdmb said:
Zachman":1143hdmb said:
Gambit":1143hdmb said:
stephen sawall":1143hdmb said:
I use it that way.


wow, to be honest I read through the GCX manual and there were a few examples of how it can be used but I didnt see any using multiple amps at once.

would you mind elaborating on how you connect everything. If I'm not mistaken the GCX is loops, so the send goes to the amp input.... where does the return go?

cool man

The GCX is a patch bay so think of it like this:

Guitar to GCX input
GCX individual loops-- pedals--to amp inputs
Amps line level sends to GCX
GCX sends to fx inputs and effects outs to line mixer to power amp

I think I understand the difference between preamp and poweramp now, how an FX loop seperates them and how they interact. I'm not 100% on the line path.

Guitar to GCX input. Check.

GCX individual loops-- pedals-- to amp inputs. Question. I understand how to run the pedals through the GCX loops from the examples. How do I then connect the pedals to the amps inputs?

Just an example

Guitar to GCX Input
GCX Loop 1 Input
GCX Loop 1 Send- pedal 1's Input
GCX Loop 1 Return-pedal 1's Output
GCX Loop 1 Output- GCX Loop 2 Input

GCX Loop 2 Input
GCX Loop 2 Send- pedal 2's Input
GCX Loop 2 Return-pedal 2's Output
GCX Loop 2 Output- GCX Loop 3 Input

GCX Loop 3 Input
GCX Loop 3 Send- Amp 1's Input
GCX Loop 3 Return- Load box out from AMP 1
GCX Loop 3 Output- GCX Loop 4 Input

GCX Loop 4 Input
GCX Loop 4 Send- Amp 2's Input
GCX Loop 4 Return- Load box out from AMP 2
GCX Loop 4 Output- GCX Loop 5 Input

GCX Loop 5 Input
GCX Loop 5 Send- Amp 3's Input
GCX Loop 5 Return- Load box out from AMP 3
GCX Loop 5 Output-- GCX Loop 6 Input

GCX Loop 6 Input
GCX Loop 6 Send- Y cable-- FX Processor A's L/R Inputs to mixer channel 1 and 2 Inputs
GCX Loop 6 Return-
GCX Loop 6 Output- GCX Loop 7 Input

GCX Loop 7 Input
GCX Loop 7 Send- Y cable-- FX Processor B's L/R Inputs to mixer channel 3 and 4 Inputs
GCX Loop 7 Return-
GCX Loop 7 Output- GCX Loop 8 Input

GCX Loop 8 Input
GCX Loop 8 Send- Y cable-- FX Processor C's L/R Inputs to mixer channel 5 and 6 Inputs
GCX Loop 8 Return-
GCX Loop 8 Output-

Mixer L/R outputs to stereo power amp to L/R "Wet" cabinets

Gambit":1143hdmb said:
Does the last pedals output on the GCX go to the first amps input?

Amps line level sends to GCX. Are these the FX sends? I dont know what line level sends are.

Trying to figure this out.

They can be, BUT by doing that you only use the pedal with the 1st amp. My way you can use the pedals with ANY of the 3 amps simultaneously, or individually.

A Line out/load box will give you NOT just your preamp tone-- BUT your entire preamp and poweramp sections tone, running your effects. translation-- It will sound bigger and better.

A Line out box which takes your preamp and power amp section and bumps that down to a line level signal that you can feed your processors with, and send those to the appropriate inputs on your GCX, and then from there go to the mixer and to the power amp-- as another example.

Wheew... That's it, I'm charging for anymore. ;) :thumbsup:
 
OldSkoolNJ":3kb9hyvs said:
Can you guys repeat that a again I didnt get it.. :confused: :lol: :LOL:

I am plugging strait into one amp tonight.

Zachman .... I think you could right manuals. You certainly seem to be developing the skills.
 
stephen sawall":2tlncs2i said:
OldSkoolNJ":2tlncs2i said:
Can you guys repeat that a again I didnt get it.. :confused: :lol: :LOL:

I am plugging strait into one amp tonight.

Zachman .... I think you could right manuals. You certainly seem to be developing the skills.

After this, I may not touch my gear all week. ;)

Thanks... I think, since manuals do tend to be boring for most. :lol: :LOL: I think to get really in the zone, I'd have to brush up on my Mandarin to Japanese to Spanish to French back to English skills to be like the REAL pro manual writers. :lol: :LOL:

I actually have a degree in Electronic Engineering and technical writing was a part of it. BUT-- I'd rather play and program cool tones. ;)
 
Zachman":1qe6pkzh said:
stephen sawall":1qe6pkzh said:
Zachman":1qe6pkzh said:
Wheew... That's it, I'm charging for anymore. ;) :thumbsup:

LOL

:lol: :LOL: At least no one can truthfully say I didn't try to be helpful. :rock:

i gave up a while back :lol: :LOL:

even the 12 space rack i was designing wasnt this complicated :lol: :LOL:
 

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