Line 6 Wireless Question

[Blix]

Not even the Line 6 rep really read the OP

The problem in your case is that all wireless systems presents a low impedance signal to your pedals that only want to see a high impedance signal, they need a high impedance signal to funtion properly.

This is common with many fuzzes, especially Fuzz Faces. This is also why Brian May have his treble booster strapped to his guitar strap, so it's before the wireless transmitter.


So the simple answer is no, you can't use a wireless with your pedals.

The output impedance of the G50 and G90 receivers is about 1.5k ohms which may not be as high as the guitar in some cases but is significantly higher than most opamp buffered devices which will appear to be close to zero ohms. So you could test the loading of the pedal by putting a 1.5 k resistor between tip and sleeve on guitar cable.

Judging by the response from various fuzz users around the net, it's still a no go it seems, unfortunalely.
According to L6 the output impedance on the receiver is 1k. Which is similar to many other wireless systems, and thus too low to work with many fuzzes.

Interestingly, some of the Samson guitar wireless sytems have 5k to 10k output impedances, those might work.
But they may not be as good as the Line 6 units though...

I have a few fuzzes myself and this is keeping me from going wireless so far...

 

[fluff191]

Very interesting. The impedance thing makes total sense though.

 

[sdevino]

Judging by the response from various fuzz users around the net, it's still a no go it seems, unfortunalely.
According to L6 the output impedance on the receiver is 1k. Which is similar to many other wireless systems, and thus too low to work with many fuzzes.

Interestingly, some of the Samson guitar wireless sytems have 5k to 10k output impedances, those might work.
But they may not be as good as the Line 6 units though...

I have a few fuzzes myself and this is keeping me from going wireless so far...

Or you could put a 100k resistor in series with the tip on your cable or make a short inline jumper with the 100k in it for a few cents.

 

[BeZo]

So, in other words, I need an anti-buffer pedal between the wireless and my fuzzes. Hmmmmmmmmm...

 

[sdevino]

So, in other words, I need an anti-buffer pedal between the wireless and my fuzzes. Hmmmmmmmmm...

It works great with a Fuzz Face according to its inventor but yeah the other posters are correct to some extent. People wire guitars all kinds of ways but as you change the volume on your guitar the impedance of the guitar changes as well. The wireless receiver cannot mimmic that functionality. So depending on the combination of volume setting, pedal choice etc you may or may not be able to reproduce the same thing over wireless.

 

[fluff191]

What about using a volume pedal and then the fuzz pedal? that way the volume change is post wireless?

 

[Blix]

What about using a volume pedal and then the fuzz pedal? that way the volume change is post wireless?

That would make it worse.

I think you should see if you can try the wireless out and see if it works for you.

 

[dboomer]

Typically tonal changes only happen if the input impedance of the receiving device is less than the output impedance of the sending device. Typically the output impedance of an electric guitar is in the 20k-40k ohm range (active guitars about 100-1000 ohms) and typically the input impedance of anything that is intended to have a guitar plugged into it has an input impedance of 500K - 1 plus megohm. Ideally you would like the sending units to be at least 1/10th of the impedance of the input to avoid tonal changes.

So rarely does having the output impedance too low cause any changes (too high OTOH would be a problem). I mean it can, but it looks like .000 something of a percent. It is VERY small. To put it in perspective a one degree difference in the temperature of the room changes the tonality of the sound much more than "under-driving" the receiving device because it affects both the way your ears hear and the speed of sound.

In any event, the Relay wireless systems can compensate for all of this by just selecting a different cable model. In practice just go a bit shorter with the cable model.

Don Boomer
Line 6, Inc

 

[headlessdeadguy]

And, there you have it.

 

[Blix]

Or maybe not, a Fuzz Face have a 40k input impedance. Don is speaking in general terms, FF's and similar are exceptions...

 

[BeZo]

I guess the only thing I can do is get one and try it out. I might be able to tolerate the fuzz tone with the wireless. If not, I'm glued to a mic stand for half of the set anyways, so a wireless isn't a huge necessity. It would just be nice to not have to worry about jumping and triping on my cable for a change.

 

[Flump]

So while I use the Relay wireless system and love it I think you are going to have problems with this. There is always a solution though.

So, Matt Bellamy from Muse had a Fuzz factory and Phase 90 built into the first custom guitar he had built for him. Seen below. The reason for the Fuzz Factory being built in was that he wanted to go wireless to go apeshit on stage, but the Fuzz Factory acts all wonky after a buffer (in the guitar). I had one for a while and I know exactly what it's like. So, his solution was to put the fuzz factory before the buffer. If the Mastrotron and bassballs are the same way there's a 99% chance you are going to have a problem going wireless.

That being said there is another solution to this, which is to build a guitar pickup simulator and run it right after the Wireless box. It's a very simple circuit and it basically shows the next pedal in line the impedance as if it was coming from a pickup. My buddy used one when he built a custom fuzz factory with a nice eq and clean signal blend. Link to circuit shown below.

http://www.microcuts.net/gallery/data/m ... lorean.jpg

http://www.muzique.com/lab/pickups.htm

 

[racerevlon]

I use a G30 with an MXR AUTO Q -- no problems.

 

[sdevino]

Or maybe not, a Fuzz Face have a 40k input impedance. Don is speaking in general terms, FF's and similar are exceptions...

Fuzz faces seem to work great according to some of our users including a guy named Ivor.

 

[nevusofota]

This is where GC shines. Buy one, use it for 30 days with your set-up, return it if not happy. No harm done.

 

[d1469d]

Line 6 are good for the money. I gigged with the G 50 for about a year straight and the cable got a short in it from abuse I guess. So you will want to pick up an extra cable and keep it handy. I refused to go wireless for about twenty years and finally gave in. The band I was in all had wireless. I showed up to the audition using cables and they asked me where my wireless was. I told them at the guitar store where they belong. (har,har). So I eventually gave in after a few cable, tangled, drunkin messes. Also, even though I had the floor pedal model, I put it in my rack do too drunk people spilling bevegages at the gigs. Sunday's were usually clean the pedal board/cables day. The line 6 seemed solid and after I got the better cable for the reciever pack it was great. The tone didnt noticably change enough to freak out about. I could not tell much of a difference in tone and response of the amp.