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[JohnClark]

Wait, so plugging your guitar directly to this pedal, and connecting this pedal directly to the Triaxis Input works differently than when the GCX is present?

Can you tell me exactly how you are now routing thru the GCX?

[bettsaj]

I don't think it's the gcx that's the problem... It's the fact that it's overloading the the g-major input. I didn't plug it into the gcx, I plugged it in between the Gcx and the triaxis...

[JohnClark]

John, I couldn't wait.... I tried it, and although it did work it's not ideal The input level meters of the G_Force are red lining, and I can't turn the pedal up to full volume. Also when it's at full gain the distortion isn't right..... Nothing like it sounds going straight into an amp... It's a power boost and the output of this pedal is crazy loud, not like a normal overdrive.

I don't think it's the gcx that's the problem... It's the fact that it's overloading the the g-major input. I didn't plug it into the gcx, I plugged it in between the Gcx and the triaxis...

I suppose I'm chasing what I thought were two different parts of the problem here. With this pedal in front of the preamp, I would think that the solution to slamming the G-Force would be to turn the Triaxis Output level down. When you say the pedal sounds different than going straight into the amp, did you mean straight into the Triaxis but without the G-Force after the Triaxis?

[bettsaj]

Correct.... just going straight into the pre-amp with no G-Force in the signal chain it sounds good. bring in the G-Force and on high gain it sounds awful.

I have to say that this pedal even when on the lowest volume setting add around 25db to the output signal. If I adjust the output of the Triaxis to compensate and turn the pedal off the overall output is too low.

This boost has to go before the pre-amp, and after the G-Force

[bettsaj]

I have my G-Force going through the Triaxis fx loop, and there's an issue. John Clark might be able to help with this as I know he has a Triaxis.

With the fx loop engaged on the Triaxis one channel is quieter than the other. It's significant enough to cause me to think there's something wrong. Could changing tube V5 maybe help (this is the tube that is for the fx loop)? Could this indicate that the tubes need replacing?

I bought the Triaxis used, and when i use my G-Force in series with the Triaxis, i.e i wire the G-Force after the Triaxis in the signal chain it works and sounds excellent. i want to use the fx loop as I have a boost pedal that I want to use before the triaxis and if i leave the G-Force in series the output level of the power boost pedal slams the G-Force too much causing the input levels to overload. putting the G-Force in the fx loop seems to be the only solution.... that's when i discovered the issue with the volume issue.

[JohnClark]

Heh but I don't have a Triaxis. To be honest, I've really only ever messed with one in person a couple times

If you suspect a tube is at fault, simply swap it with any of the other same type tubes in the preamp to see if the problem persists, or a new problem occurs. The Triaxis should have all 5 positions with 12AX7 / 7025 tubes.

I thought we've talked about your trouble with your Triaxis loop before (maybe another thread?) so forgive me if I'm asking all the same questions again. When you do use the FX Loop...
Are you using a standard Mono Instrument Cable to go from the FX Send to the G-Force Left (Mono) Input? (It's worth testing by cabling it up directly rather than thru any GCX Loops, Patch Panels, or other boxes) And if so, on the G-Force are you setting the I/O Setup for Audio to Analog Source and Left Only Input?
Also, when using the loop, the Master becomes the FX Loop Send level control and the Output knobs independently control the A and B Output Level to the power amp.
Alternatively, do you have any other Stereo effects device (even a pedal) with a Mono In and Stereo Outs that you can try out in the Triaxis FX Loop?

When you have the G-Force after the Triaxis like it is now with Outputs A and B feeding the G-Force Left and Right Inputs, you will need to go to the G-Force I/O Setting for Audio to Analog and Stereo Input.
Also, when running the G-Force after the Triaxis, the Master will act as a preset level control that you may want to use to drop the levels whenever you use the your boost pedal.

Let us know what you try out and how it goes!

[bettsaj]

Hi John, forgive me.... but for some reason I thought you had a Triaxis. i know you have a G-Force.....

You are absolutely correct, we did discuss this in a previous thread, however with the issue around the boost pedal i thought I'd give the loop another go and also so that I could try the boost pedal with the G-Force going through the loop of the Triaxis.

The result of that test is excellent..... The Boost pedal doesn't affect the G-Force at all now where before it was when it was all wired in series. So now I have a quandary, I have to use the FX loop in the Triaxis for my rig to work as i'll be also adding a fuzz face and later on a big Muff to the GCX so want to get the cleanest signal possible. However I have this issue with one channel being lower in output volume than the other when using the Triaxis FX loop.

All my cables are hand wired mono cables, made with Van Damme cable and Neutrik jacks. All cables have been tested with a multimeter for continuity.

Now you have mentioned it, I haven't altered the setting in the G-Force for just the Left (Mono) input signal, it's still set to stereo from when i had it set up between the pre-amp and the power amp in series. I'll have to change that when I get home.

Also, when using the loop, the Master becomes the FX Loop Send level control and the Output knobs independently control the A and B Output Level to the power amp.

are you saying that when you use the FX Loop in the Triaxis it stops acting like a master volume parameter, and then only works as a FX Loop output level?? If that's true, then you are the only person that has explained that with any sense John..... And it's not in the manual.

I can balance the audio using the A & B output level controls, so all's not lost...... However I don't think I should have to do that. Both channels should be the same when both output knobs are at 12 O Clock for example.

I'll check the settings in the G-Force, and ensure that they're correct for a mono input. I'll also swap over 2 of the tubes, just to see if that makes any difference to the output balance. i suspect it won't have anything to do with it to be honest.... but we'll see.

[JohnClark]

What you've quoted is my interpretation of what it says in the Triaxis manual about the Master in "The Controls" section...

"SECOND: It acts as an effects send control for each mode in the Effects Loop. As with many of the controls in TriAxis, the best results for balance and tone are usually found in the middle range of this control."

The "for each mode" thing is a little a little strange to me but probably makes more sense if I had a Triaxis here with me


As for V5, the "Effects Return Stage" tube, it most certainly could cause this sort of thing if one half of the tube is failing. A 12AX7 is a Dual Triode type tube... think of it as two tubes in one bottle. In this case you have a Stereo signal going to this 12AX7. This means that it has to have the Left and Right signals hitting opposite halves of this tube. One half can certainly start to die before the other.

[bettsaj]

As for V5, the "Effects Return Stage" tube, it most certainly could cause this sort of thing if one half of the tube is failing. A 12AX7 is a Dual Triode type tube... think of it as two tubes in one bottle. In this case you have a Stereo signal going to this 12AX7. This means that it has to have the Left and Right signals hitting opposite halves of this tube. One half can certainly start to die before the other.

That being the case, I'll swap some tubes around and see what happens. These tubes look like the originals that were in it from new, they're mesa tubes so could be very old.
I may just buy a new set of tubes and be done with it, after that I may send it for a service.

[bettsaj]

I've swapped some tubes around with no significant change at all in the volume of channel A.

I have however noticed something odd. The stacked output knob that controls both channels A & B seems to be a bit iffy. let me explain.

When I turn the smaller knob for channel B the volume increases and decreases as is expected. However when I turn the knob for channel A, the volume goes from nothing, to a particular volume level but doesn't go any further.... as if the wiper on the knob is not turning fully around on the track. Maybe I need to just replace the volume knob which isn't expensive (about £12 or $15). However it seems to work when wired in series and not through the loop.

any thoughts or ideas?