Loss of volume with a Barber Tone Press

[Steven Latch]

Hi,

I am using this pedal inserted in one of the loops. I have three other pedals that work just fine. But the tone press has an issue. When I engage the loop and the effect is off, things are fine. But as soon as the effect if switched on, there is a sudden loss of volume.

I have tried inserting the tone press in another loop with the same results

I have tried with a maxon compressor in the same setting and it worked fine

I have tried using the Tone Press before the GCX and there it worked fine. So there is really something about it being in the loop, causing that drop of volume.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

[JohnClark]

It's possible that the Tone Press is reacting to the low impedance buffer... are you using the Guitar In on the GCX before going to the first GCX Loop? If so, try routing your guitar through the Feedtru or connect your guitar directly to the In of the first GCX Loop in the signal path.

[Steven Latch]

Well I have just tried going with the feed thru and no difference.

Something interesting though...

The first 3 loops of the GCX are dedicated to pre-gain pedals

When I hit the compressor, I have the volume drop. But.... if I switch on a pedal that is in a loop AFTER the compressor, the issue goes away....

So: Compressor on it's own = volume drop
Compressor + another loop engaged = fine

I have tried putting a chorus and an overdrive after the compressor and the same thing happened.

Weird...

[JohnClark]

That is interesting.

Lets go full simple and run the guitar directly to the In of the GCX Loop with the Tone Press, then run the Out of the same GCX Loop to the instrument input of your amp.

[Steven Latch]

I will try this tomorrow. Too late in Europe for such tests!

However I forgot to say that between the GCX and the first loop, the signal goes int and out of an ISP decimator. However, I will try a straight test tomorrow.

[Steven Latch]

Well... When the signal goes from the output of the loop straight into the amp, no issue anymore. So the issue is what is happening.No idea what is going on but rather than spending hours testing, I will accept not to know and just use the maxon compressor instead since it is immune to the issue at hand.

[JohnClark]

If you do decide to try to find the cause, try this... run your guitar through the Decimator, then into the GCX Loop with the Tone Press, then run the GCX Loop directly to your amp.