D
derrek_clay
New member
So I’ve been having some issues with running my volume pedal in the FX Loop since switching to my latest amp – a Bogner Shiva 20th Anniversary (which has a series FX Loop). I’m using a Hilton Electronics Standard Guitar volume pedal (which is an optical pedal – not a pot one).
First issue -
Essentially the signal coming back to the volume pedal seems to bleed through a little even when the pedal is all the way up (muted; silent). This is incredibly annoying, even though it’s relatively quiet. While this doesn’t happen when running the volume pedal to the front of the amp, I still much prefer to run my volume pedal in the effects loop – that way I can attenuate the already EQ’d and distorted signal as opposed to driving the preamp section of the amp. I use the pedal for volume swells, so that’s why. I was thinking that maybe the FX Loop Send signal is coming into the volume pedal too hot, but even still, I would think that with an optical volume pedal, this shouldn’t be an issue – it should just mute the signal regardless. I thought perhaps that it might be another another pedal bringing the signal back up too loudly and attenuating something that should otherwise be inaudible. I isolated the volume pedal just to make sure, and discovered that this was not the case. Additionally the pedal runs on a 24v power supply. Could this possibly be the issue as well?
I’ve even thought that perhaps the tubes in the FX Send and FX Return slots are turning up the signal too much. I haven’t tried switching them out yet, but I suppose I can if necessary. I have Tung-Sol 12AX7 re-issues in those slots at the moment. Perhaps I should try some quieter tubes? Though I feel like that might be reaching with regards to guessing what the issue actually is. While I do suppose a noise gate pedal might somewhat fix this issue, it’s not really the best solution and doesn’t solve my other big issue (continue reading). I’m hoping that I don’t need to get a new volume pedal altogether or that there’s an issue with mine.
Second issue –
The pedal doesn’t run at unity gain. It drives my amp instead, which is not what I want (especially obvious on the clean channel – as it adds distortion). Ideally, when the pedal is all the way down (max volume) I would like for the signal to be back to the unity gain of the amp – not louder. I’m not sure if this is even possible though. And if not, perhaps I should look for another volume pedal that can do this.
Either way, these are two really big issues for me. And I need to resolve them somehow. It’s starting to look like maybe I need a different volume pedal altogether – but that’s always a last resort. Figured I’d ask for some help first before resorting to that. Thanks!
First issue -
Essentially the signal coming back to the volume pedal seems to bleed through a little even when the pedal is all the way up (muted; silent). This is incredibly annoying, even though it’s relatively quiet. While this doesn’t happen when running the volume pedal to the front of the amp, I still much prefer to run my volume pedal in the effects loop – that way I can attenuate the already EQ’d and distorted signal as opposed to driving the preamp section of the amp. I use the pedal for volume swells, so that’s why. I was thinking that maybe the FX Loop Send signal is coming into the volume pedal too hot, but even still, I would think that with an optical volume pedal, this shouldn’t be an issue – it should just mute the signal regardless. I thought perhaps that it might be another another pedal bringing the signal back up too loudly and attenuating something that should otherwise be inaudible. I isolated the volume pedal just to make sure, and discovered that this was not the case. Additionally the pedal runs on a 24v power supply. Could this possibly be the issue as well?
I’ve even thought that perhaps the tubes in the FX Send and FX Return slots are turning up the signal too much. I haven’t tried switching them out yet, but I suppose I can if necessary. I have Tung-Sol 12AX7 re-issues in those slots at the moment. Perhaps I should try some quieter tubes? Though I feel like that might be reaching with regards to guessing what the issue actually is. While I do suppose a noise gate pedal might somewhat fix this issue, it’s not really the best solution and doesn’t solve my other big issue (continue reading). I’m hoping that I don’t need to get a new volume pedal altogether or that there’s an issue with mine.
Second issue –
The pedal doesn’t run at unity gain. It drives my amp instead, which is not what I want (especially obvious on the clean channel – as it adds distortion). Ideally, when the pedal is all the way down (max volume) I would like for the signal to be back to the unity gain of the amp – not louder. I’m not sure if this is even possible though. And if not, perhaps I should look for another volume pedal that can do this.
Either way, these are two really big issues for me. And I need to resolve them somehow. It’s starting to look like maybe I need a different volume pedal altogether – but that’s always a last resort. Figured I’d ask for some help first before resorting to that. Thanks!
