Pedalboard to amp, efx send + return - too many cables!

[jayj]

Hi all,
I'm going back and forth between running all my effects ahead of my amp (and running the amp clean only), versus using the effects loop in my amp for my delay and reverby stuff.

The way I see it:

With loop:
+ Utilize the amps natural distortion more effectively
- Long signal path to get to and from the pedal board three times.
- Extra cable mess

Without loop:
+ One cable from the pedal board to the amp
- Stuck with the distortion/overdrive from my pedals (not the worst thing)


In my rig setup on stage, I want to have my amp fairly far behind me, but obviously I want my pedalboard right by my feet.

Let's say (conservatively) I need 10 feet of cable to get from the board to my amp. In that case, my signal path goes like this:

guitar -> 30 ft bullet coiley cable (I don't really need the 30 ft part, but I love this cable) ->
preamp effects ->
mxr super comp -> zia drive -> MI Audio Blues pro OD
-> 10 feet of cable -> Preamp -> Efx send -> 10 feet of cable ->
wet effects ->
Volume pedal -> Small Clone Chorus -> DD-20 -> Verbzilla
-> 10 feet of cable -> Efx return.

That's 60 feet of cable, not counting what's between the pedals. I just upgraded to Core X2 cable on my pedal board, so I can use that for the EFX return, but I'm still concerned I've got too much going on.

Opinions? Is this normal?

 

[PraXis]

Buy a buffer and problem solved.

 

[patternrecognition]

I'd run a buffer in the loop and one after that coiled cable

 

[jayj]

Gotcha. I'm assuming a quality non-true bypass pedal acts as a buffer. If that's the case, the Zia drive preamp and the DD-20 I think are already doing the job for me.

Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[patternrecognition]

I couldn't stand the buffer in the DD-20. it's the definition of a tone sucker, made everything in my rig sound dead.

 

[GLP4me]

I couldn't stand the buffer in the DD-20. it's the definition of a tone sucker, made everything in my rig sound dead.

Is that the Boss DD-20 Giga Delay????

 

[jayj]

I'm talking about the DD-20 Giga Delay, not sure if that's what patternrecognition means.

I always had the impression that the Giga Delay was fairly high quality, though I can't say I have a great ear for picking that sort of thing up. I'll setup my bypass looper and see if I can notice a difference with and without it in the signal chain.

 

[patternrecognition]

I'm talking about the DD-20 Giga Delay, not sure if that's what patternrecognition means.

I always had the impression that the Giga Delay was fairly high quality, though I can't say I have a great ear for picking that sort of thing up. I'll setup my bypass looper and see if I can notice a difference with and without it in the signal chain.

Yeah, it is. The DD-20 Giga Delay is fairly well build unit and a fine delay, although it's definitely not my favorite.

The buffer is it's weakest point. The Boss buffers are generally pretty poor, and I don't know if the one in the Giga is the same in other Boss pedals, but IMO it's noticeably worse. If you don't hear (and feel) a difference, then that's what matters, but for me it was a deal breaker.

A TB loop is a good solution, it'll let you use the bypass on the delay to keep the trails going and then use the TB switch to remove it from your signal entirely, but you'll still be without a good buffer.

 

[GLP4me]

Yeah, it is. The DD-20 Giga Delay is fairly well build unit and a fine delay, although it's definitely not my favorite.

The buffer is it's weakest point. The Boss buffers are generally pretty poor, and I don't know if the one in the Giga is the same in other Boss pedals, but IMO it's noticeably worse. If you don't hear (and feel) a difference, then that's what matters, but for me it was a deal breaker.

A TB loop is a good solution, it'll let you use the bypass on the delay to keep the trails going and then use the TB switch to remove it from your signal entirely, but you'll still be without a good buffer.

Guys, I'm looking for your feedback on this unit.(Boss DD-20 Giga Delay) I am interested in purchasing, but would like people's experience with it. The good AND the bad.

 

[jayj]

Guys, I'm looking for your feedback on this unit.(Boss DD-20 Giga Delay) I am interested in purchasing, but would like people's experience with it. The good AND the bad.

I just got it thinking it would be the be-all of my delay needs, but I'm not convinced having had it for a few weeks now.

The good:
+ extra tap tempo pluggable footswitch - not having this as a separate pedal would make this pedal even more difficult to use.
+ tap tempo has different ratios: 1 tap = a triplet of echos, for example.
+ most of the delay modeling seems pretty good
+ 20 second over-dubbing looper
+ 4 presets

The bad:
- To mix the looper and some delay, you have to use a mode for the right pedal that switches between 'manual' mode and a preset. Once you enter that mode, you have to press both footswitches simultaneously to switch presets (and I haven't mastered that yet).
- There's nothing distinguishing the preset modes by sight besides the preset number. As I've been trying to get used to the pedal, I'm finding it hard to remember what settings I used for each present. I wish there was a way to name each preset at least so you can remember what they are.


There's probably a lot more, these are just my impressions after just having gotten it.