Plugging it all together...

[Lycanthrope]

So... I've this:



And this:


And will be getting this very soon:


My question, maybe a stupid one, I know, is the best way to put it together, particularly the Blue Thunder and LH500.

For instance does one plug the pass into the effects then into the front-panel, or into the effects then into the FX return, or into the head then put the effects through the FX loop

Etc.

Cheers!

[velvetkevorkian]

Any of the three methods should work as long as you have an effects loop. I would probably put the Rocktron in the effects loop- should look tidier that way!

[Stylon Pilson]

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='770669' date='Mar 10 2010, 05:34 PM']I would probably put the Rocktron in the effects loop- should look tidier that way![/quote]

Agreed. All the wiring will be at the back.

S.P.

[stevebasshead]

Usually rack gear is designed to work best at line-level, rather than the lower instrument level, and effects loops are usually line-level too so yes, the best match all round will be to put the Rocktron in the effects loop.

[Lycanthrope]

Won't there be a problem with putting it in the FX loop as the Rocktron is also a pre-amp? I assume the head pre-amps the signal first, no?

And what about the DI feed (from panel), would that then have the effects on it?

[velvetkevorkian]

As long as you keep the gain under control there shouldn't be a problem. There's no reason you can't use two preamps.

I would assume the DI would include the effected sound, but I'm not 100% sure- the manual states that the DI is pre-EQ but doesn't mention the effects loop. Try it and see- you won't damage anything trying these different setups.

[Lycanthrope]

Cheers, I'll try that as a first option.

I must admit that I did try this configuration with a Hartke 2515 and Line 6 Pod and it just overloaded like crazy

Maybe that's because it's more of an instrument 'lower level' effect as opposed to a loop effect?

Damn, playing bass for 28 years and I know jack sh...

[Al Heeley]

generally stompboxes are designed to feed in straight from instrument before pre-amp, rack effects are usually meant to go between pre- and post- gain stages (fx loop send/return), so if it has its own preamp you should make sure its not set on 11.
Digital multi-effects often have a choice of either config so people without fx send/rtn loops can still use them but they say you can lose the character of your preamp stage if you have digital effects before it.