GCX loop volume problem . -NO MORE PROBLEM-

[macostaq]

Hello everyone,

I am using the GCX and the ground control since 2 years and I am really happy with it.

Last week I changed all my rack cables to solve some noise problems, I use the Monorail from Evidence and It works perfect, no more noises....

but I have a volume problem with my preamp "Mesa Boogie V-Twin" ..
When I turn the V-twin's loop on , I have a lower volume even when the V-twin is By-passed.
I tried to plug the V-twin in another loop, I tried with different cables, always the same volume problem.
I tried also the preamp without the GCX, only with the amp and no problem, the V-twin is working just fine (no volume difference) .
When the V-twin is plug to the GCX's loop but the output of the V-Twin is directly plug into the input of the amp, I don't have that lower volume...
It seems that the GCX lower the volume (so change the sound) that it receive from the V-Twin, is that possible ?

I also found that the feed "thru input" have a lower volume than the "guitar in" input, it sound like I put down my guitar volume ( no more drive on my preamp and distortion fx)...
is it normal or is my GCX has a problem ?

I don't understand because It seems that I didn't have that problem with my noisy cables...

Here is my set-up (in order):

Loop 1 : canal change of my Fender Tone Master

Loop 2 : Canal change of my Mesa-Boogie V-Twin

Guitar ----- Fulltone Clyde deluxe WhaWha--- "Guitar In" of the GCX

"Guitar out" GCX ----

Loop 7 : Sola sound Octivider

Loop 3 : Electro Harmonix Tube Zipper

Loop 4 : Mesa Boogie V-Twin

Loop 5 : Electro Harmonix deluxe Memory man

Loop 6 : Fulltone Fat Boost II

Loop 8: Tuner

Out of Loop 8 to Lehle Dual SGoS amp select. - A: Fender Tone Master
B: Fender Vibroverb canal 1
T: Fender Vibroverb canal 2

Sorry for my poor English

Thank you

Macostaq

[JohnClark]

On the GCX, the Guitar In is buffered and the Feedthru is passive. Because this problem is even worse when using the Feedthru I would have to say that you likely have a faulty cable in the signal path that is loading down the signal. The buffer will drive this loaded down cable enough to minimize the problem but the real solution would be to carefully check all your cables and get rid of the one that is loading the signal down so severely. Good luck!

[macostaq]

Thank you John,

I will check all my cables so, and I will tell you if I find the bad one.

Thx

macostaq

[macostaq]

Hello John and the everyone,

After one day of testing my gear, here are the result:

I use only the passive Input ( Feedthru input) to really listen to what really happen...(usually, I am using the Input guitar with the buffered input)

First I change all the cables one by one,.... It didn't change much to my problem but I found a couple of them what decrease the quality of my tone. So I change all the plug with Neutrik's.
Using the Feedthru, I lost a little bit of dynamic but I keep the tone almost as good ( I meen with good treble and etc.)...

But I still have my volume problem with my Mesa Boogie V-Twin and my Electro-Harmonix Tube Zipper....

So I check all my pedal one by one ( only Guitar- pedal- Amp).
All my pedal are working perfect, good tone, good dynamic,.. as It suppose to work....

So when all my fx are plug to the loop, as I describe earlier, and when I turn on the Mesa Boogie V-twin's loop or the Electro-Harmonix's loop ( My two Tubes pedal.!?!?), I loose a lot of dynamic. For the V-Twin even when the pedal is on the Bypass mode ( and it's a true Bypass) and for the Tube Zipper only when the FX is on....
And booth of it are working perfect when I am using it only with my guitar and my amp..

I don't Understand what's wrong with it...

please, I need help..

Thank you

Macostaq

[macostaq]

Hi everybody,

I am still trying to understand what's wrong with my set-up

Here what I try this morning:

First I unplugged all the cables of my GCX..Then I plug my guitar in the feed thru ( on the front panel) plug a cable from the feed thru (rear panel) to loop 1 IN. I plug another cable from the send (loop1) to my V-Twin input, and one from my V-twin output to the return loop 1. Finally a cable from the out (loop1) to the input of my amp. I did it twice with differents cables and differents loop ( only the V-twin is plugged to the GCX, no other FX).. AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
The volume go down when I turn the loop on..

Second test, I plug my guitar in the feed thru ( on the front panel) plug a cable from the feed thru (rear panel) to my V-Twin input and one from my V-Twin output to the input of my amp. AND NO PROBLEM

Third test, I plug my guitar in the feed thru ( on the front panel) plug a cable from the feed thru (rear panel) to loop 1 IN. I plug another cable from the send (loop1) to my V-Twin input, and one from my V-Twin output to the input of my amp. AND NO PROBLEM

So it' seems that the problem appears when The signal go through the return input of a loop ( ??????) using the buffured or the passive input ????

And I have the same problem with my Electro Harmonix Tube Zipper, So it seems to have something wrong with Tube pedal and the return section of the GCX..

S.O.S

Thank you and sorry for that long description...

Macostaq

[macostaq]

I am so stupid !!!!!!!!

I focus on finding "The" bad cable and I didn't imagine that it could have more than one bad cable.

So you were Right John, my problem was a cable problem.

I test all my cables again, one by one, guitar-cable-amp.
And this way I found Three cables what suck my tone.
I did the solderings of the three cables and here is my tone again.

Thank you and sorry for that.

Macostaq

ps: The Monorail from Evidence Cable is fantastic , no hum, no buzz and so pure tone.. You just have to be careful when you do the soldering and test every cable with your guitar and your amp. Because even if you have a good contact, it could suck your tone...
I recommand it....