Mark V fx loop question

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stevemorse

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Hey everyone, hoping you could help out with some questions:

i have a mark v head and a recto 2x12. I plug straight into the amp. I have a boss TU2 and DD7 in the fx loop. Things seem to work fine, including the delay in the loop.

1. I have read that the DD7 is an instrument level device as opposed to line level and that the Mark V operates better (or was intended to operate) with a line level delay in the loop. Is this true? Will I potentially damage my amp by running an instrument level effect in the loop?

2. Those who use a tuner, do you put it in front of the amp or in the loop? Or is it best to use the tuner out, and if so how do i set that up?

3. I currently use instrument cables to run to and from my loop... is this appropriate?

Thank you very much in advance for your responses.
 
bump... i know there are some knowledgeable heads on this board
 
I don't have this specific amp, but just generally I can answer it.

1. It won't damage your amp. If it's not distorting, then it's a good loop...some loops can handle stomp boxes well. That's the only caveat, so if it sounds good it's ok. Test it at gig volumes if you are gigging, to be sure.

2. If there's a tuner out then use it, that way it's not in the audio path when it's not needed. Just a cable from the tune output to the tuner should do it.

3. Yes, instrument cables for everything audio bar the speaker cable.
 
Using a unit that runs at -10dB instrument level won't wreck your amp- it just won't sound that good.

Line level is +4dB. Some amps have a switch to change the level. I don't think the MarkV has such a switch, and so runs at +4dB.

You can get devices that will lower the output from the effects loop from +4dB to -10dB, then after the effects pedal boost it back up to +4dB for the effects loop return jack/s.

Or you can just use a unit that can run at either line level or instrument level.
 
hey thanks for all the info so far. I'm now having issues with my mark V and hope somebody can help:

when i have the loop hard bypassed, everything seems fine. Once I engage the loop on the back of the head, all of the channels go pretty much silent. Even when i max the output and master volumes, there is barely any sound. All of the tubes are pretty new (couple weeks) but i guess one of the preamp tubes may be dead (V6?) I had been running a DD7 in the loop which had iffy connections and was causing volume drops and cut outs. That dd7 has been iffy for years; im going to replace it with a line level delay.

any ideas?

thanks
 
oops... i had nothing in the loop. If I have nothing in the loop, but the FX loop is on, should I get basically no sound? thats what im getting now. If i want to run out to a tuner, the FX loop cant be hard bypassed... does that mean that if i want to run out to a tuner, i also need to have something in the loop? otherwise i get no sound?

thank you
 
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