Fuzz pedal

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Member Since: Jan 24, 2007

I recently bought a Handmade Plum Crazy Fuzzy Lady fuzz pedal. Its sounds great straight to the amp, but when i try to add to one of the loops of My TC electronic G system, its sounds horrible. Very Tinny and weak.

Does anyone know why this is? Any Solutions or ideas?

Thanks

Anthony

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Abomb Muchbaby
Member
Since: Jul 02, 2009


Jul 30, 2009 08:29 pm

Actually I have a distortion pedal that is pretty much the same, sounds great but when you try to record it or anything, it gets too much treble and just hissing white noise. The only thing that seems to help me (and it only helps a little) is if you can reduce the drive/distortion/fuzz or whatever it's called. It probably won't sound as good coming out of the amp, but when you record it it should sound a bit less "noisy"....


I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 30, 2009 11:34 pm

What strength of signal is delivered to the pedal's input when it's run through the G-System? When you plug it in between your guitar and amp, it's receiving an instrument-level signal, which is pretty weak. Feeding it a line-level signal may make some difference in how it sounds.

Also make sure it's receiving the same voltage when its in your pedalboard/G-System loop as it receives when using its own power supply (like maybe you have a power supply built into your pedalboard or something...not sure if the G-System has power distribution itself).

Also, where does your G-System plug into your amp? Does it go into the front of the amp, or do you have it looped into your amp's effects loop?

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Jul 31, 2009 01:59 am

Does ur G-System run an amp sim or some kind of pre-amp of its own? that could be the problem, most analog distortion/fuzz pedals sound good coming out of an amp but do not play well going into the digital realm where they are converted beyond recognition. If ur g-system loop adds the effect into some kind of amplification system of its own that is digital it would be the reason, especially since ur saying its hissy and thin.

Even plugging in a nice analog pedal into a something like a high-end digital interface usually does not result in great tone, the conversion of that kind of dirt just isnt a reality yet

Member
Since: Jul 26, 2009


Jul 31, 2009 02:38 am

When my really old band started off recording with myself at the helm I was left scratching my head at the same situation (different pedal, and we were using 'Saw Studio' at the time... and different software...I guess it's similar, not same).

In the end, if you want a round, warm sound, I like to stick a mic right in front of a driver and put that pedal where it should be. By your toseys (by the way, you can vary the amount of bass/treble you pick up by the placement of the mic in front of said speaker). Putting guitar pedals into interface loops just isn't good. Not sound-wise, and probably not impedance-wise either.

I liked the idea of bypassing speakers in a box, but if you want depth.... you kinda need them. Even software cabinet emulators and preamps don't cut it for me... personally.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 31, 2009 09:00 am

The G-system is an effects processor, not an interface. It has lots of routing options that let you loop in pedals and activate them through footswitches:

www.tcelectronic.com/G-System.asp

Member
Since: Jan 24, 2007


Jul 31, 2009 09:22 am

Thanks Tadpui.

So far ive only ran the pedal with a 9volt battery when testing. The pedal has a reverse polarity so i need to buy/make a special cable to run to my pedal power 2.

I think part of the problem might be the impedance level not matcing up.

Right now im running the Gsys in the rack, so all the pedals are in the rack as well.

I was reading some other forums and heard that some fuzz pedal actually sound better with a lover voltage...6-7v.

Im not really sure how to try this.

I have the G system plugged into the effects loop. I just bought a Dual rectifier and found out after that the g system did not work well with the stock parallel loop, so i had it modified to a series. I am using the Gsys's 4 cable connection to the amp.

From what ive been reading, Fuzz pedals tend to be a problem when not being ran directly between the guitar and amp.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 31, 2009 10:15 am

I'm surprised to hear that fuzz pedals would be a problem between the guitar and amp. Usually distortion, overdrive and fuzz boxes are put there. I would have never thought to try any sort of distortion pedal in the effects loop. I'd still suggest keeping it in front of the amp, especially since you're seeing the problems of putting it elsewhere in your rig.

The obvious problem with putting it anywhere other than in your G-System loop is switching it without doing a tapdance routine if you want to switch other effects at the same time. I'm using a G-Sharp in my effects loop and a few stomp boxes in front of my amp and it gets tricky when I want to switch multiple things at once.

I hate it when stomp boxes use different plugs! Drives me nuts. There needs to be a standard plug across the board.

The voltage sag can be simulated by a couple of the pedal power supply units. I think that Voodoo Labs makes one that has variable voltages on a few on the power supply outlets. Or, you can just leave the battery plugged in and let it wear down...of course that leaves only a small window of operation before it dies altogether.

Anyways, not sure how much help I'm being here. Impedance could be an issue, so could the different signal strength the box is designed to receive versus what it receives when looped in to the effects loop.

Member
Since: Jul 26, 2009


Jul 31, 2009 12:28 pm

Oh, I see. For some reason I misread this thread as recording, when there's not even any recording involved.

Either way, I bet the impedance from this effects processor is the same as impedance on effects loops of interfaces.

If you were really hot, you could check online to find the impedances, and then actually make your own impedance matching circuit. It's not hard with ac sound waves... best case scenario, just a transformer (worst case, you'd have to get some inductors and caps, etc). But that's the EE side of me talking :)

And I bet it would sound just right.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 01, 2009 06:23 pm

9 times out of 10 it can be related to the more boutique type boxes not wanting to play nice in an effects loop. But indeed check your power supply to the unit and if it was reversed that as well will cause problems.

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