Advice on My Rig

[dbetters]

Hey All, was wondering if you'd all be willing to take a look at my rig and offer any advice on changes that you'd make?

[JohnClark]

I can't make out what some of this is. Can you re-post at a slightly higher resolution?

I suppose before we go too far into this, is there something you don't like about this setup?


What is in GCX #2 Loops 1 and 6 and why not run these in GCX #1 and move the pedals that are behind them in the series chain down to GCX #2?

Is that a Y Cable feeding the input of the Prophesy 2?

Do you ever you use the Digitech and the Prophesy as preamps?

Are you running all this into the instrument inputs of the two amplifiers?

[dbetters]

I have a really hi-res picture of the set up but it wouldn't let me upload it due to size. I had to shrink it way down. Is there any other way to post/send it?

I suppose before we go too far into this, is there something you don't like about this setup?
Well, I hear A LOT about tone degradation. I am trying to get the truest sound from my guitar to my two AC30's. I also get some undesired hum. I have it down to where it is bearable, but I am finding that the set up is making it difficult for me to keep every power and midi cable away from every audio cable. I am sure the problem is somewhere with a cable crossing over. The amps are very quiet until I plug in the rig. I have learned to live with it. So I am looking to get the best and truest tone out of my amps and to quiet down the set up a little bit. Also, was looking to see if anyone had advice on the order of the various distortion pedals.

What is in GCX #2 Loops 1 and 6 and why not run these in GCX #1 and move the pedals that are behind them in the series chain down to GCX #2?
I am running a Korg A3 out of the GCX #2 loop and a Sansamp PSA out of the number 6. The reason why I have it set up like this is because I had already programmed my Ground Control Pro and didn't want to have to change things up all that much. I plan to clean this up and reprogram. GCX #2 is actually the newest GCX and is numbered 3 in the programming even though it is number 2 in order. I know--a bit of a mess.

Is that a Y Cable feeding the input of the Prophesy 2?
The Y Cable is feeding the input of the Prophesy 2 in order to get stereo from the 2120 as well as the Prophesy. It seems to have worked in that all of the panning effects work for both boxes.

Do you ever you use the Digitech and the Prophesy as preamps?
I have both set up not to emulate any cabinets as I really want the AC30 sound. So I mostly use them for the effects and distortions. To be honest, I am not sure if that qualifies as using them as preamps. I use the Boss GT Pro as a midi-switchable distortion pedal emulator. I use the OD-1, OD-2, RAT and a few others. The GT Pro basically functions as a midi-switching pedal. Same with the sansamp.

Are you running all this into the instrument inputs of the two amplifiers?
I am running all of this into a stereo Boss Volume Pedal (the big hefty one) and straight into the VOX AC30 inputs--no effects loop. I used to use an effects loop on each one for the delays, reverbs, G-Major etc but stopped doing that. The Heritage AC30 doesn't have an effects loop and so I had to use an outboard effects loop.

[JohnClark]

You can certainly send the diagram via email to info@voodoolab.com. Be sure to mention this forum thread.

The concern about cabling causing the hum is certainly possible and jumping around the rack as you have done in order to not have to re-program Ground Control Pro presets can be compounding this. What sort of audio cable are you using?

I don't see how a Y Cable feeding the mono input of the Prophesy from the stereo outputs of the Digitech can possibly work to still provide the stereo image from the Digitech... I'm sure you hear sound from both speakers, however I have to doubt that you actually hear the Digitech effects panning between the left and right speakers. Is it possible that the Prophesy has a TRS stereo input and you are actually using an Insert Cable here?