New Member & new amp

[scotty]

Hello,
I am newbie here, although I have been a lurker for some time now. I finally bought my first RM100 a couple of weeks ago off the bay. I have a few questions regarding the serial effects loop and my XTC module.

I am running a G-Major though the serial loop. I noticed a drop in volume, so according to what I have read on the forum I lowered my modules master volume to about 10:30. This seemed to work for me but my concern is I may not be running my modules hot enough. Any suggestions on this?

Second is my XTC module, since the amp and modules are slightly used I question the integrity of the module. The bright switch dos not make a noticeable difference and the module is very noisy. I know the XTC is a higher gain module than my Plexi but it is really noisy. The XTC module was one of the modules I really wanted in my RM100. What experience do you guys have with the XTC.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

 

[evhwolfie]

The bright switch usually dosent make too much of a diffrence at all in most of the modules. Make sure you ajust the levels on the G Major properly, the output level should match the level of the amp is it were bypassed. I always run my modules at about 12:00 for the volume and it worked fine. Your G major also has a noise gate you can ajust to make your amp silent (or close to it) if its set up right.

 

[TheAbomb12]

Second is my XTC module, since the amp and modules are slightly used I question the integrity of the module. The bright switch dos not make a noticeable difference and the module is very noisy. I know the XTC is a higher gain module than my Plexi but it is really noisy. The XTC module was one of the modules I really wanted in my RM100. What experience do you guys have with the XTC.

First, you should try flipping the Ground Switch ( I think RM100's have it); that should get rid of most of the hum. If that doesn't work, I would replace the tubes on the XTC with JJ Hi-Gain 12AX7s (or some other preamp tube designed for high gain). My XTC is much quieter since I put in new tubes.

 

[Chad]

I like running the amp master at around 3 o'clock, then I adjust the module masters to taste. Several people have commented that the bright switch doesn't do a whole lot with some modules...and especially with high gain settings.

 

[evhwolfie]

wow with your master up that high the modules must be running pretty low eh? Ill have to give that a try when I get home, bet it sounds pretty sweet.

 

[3 Mile Stone]

Scotty,

To elaborate on what evhwolfie is saying, the best way to set your effects unit is to act like it's not there. Try this ... don't plug anything into the loop. Play with the amp volumes, Pre/Master & Amp Master, until you get what you want. A good place to start is obviously to place all knobs at 12 O'clock "in the middle". Then twist them and make it sound the way YOU want it to sound. Then plug in your effects through the loop. If it doesn't sound right then go from there. Alternate between pluged in and unpluged by physically grabing the cables and disconnect the effects unit from the loop until you achive unity gain by adjusting the loop level on the amp and/or the input and output levels on the effects unit. Unity Gain means there is no difference in volume with or without your effects unit in line. Change parameters, volumes, effect levels, etc within the effects realm until you hear what you want. I think it's silly to change the way you want to run your amp to accomodate an effects unit. If you can't get the effects unit to sound right by doing this, it's not worth having IMO.

My XTC is not that noisy. I agree with Abomb, check the ground lift and replace the tubes. My bright switch on my XTC is very effective.

 

[Chad]

wow with your master up that high the modules must be running pretty low eh? Ill have to give that a try when I get home, bet it sounds pretty sweet.

Yeah, at home I run the module masters around 8:00 to 9:30 and that's getting pretty loud. The advantage to this setup is that running the amp master high saturates the power tubes. This makes the amp sound better IMO (especially my Blackface module). Also, I have an RM50B and the factory reverb sounded like garbage until I ran the amp master high and module masters low. Bruce has commented that the module masters affect the loop levels and having the module masters too high can overpower the input of some effects.....I'm guessing that's what was happening with my reverb. I'm currently running the reverb solely through the parallel loop and several stomp boxes through the serial loop and it all sounds great.

 

[scotty]

Thanks for all the info guys. I will play with some more this weekend.
Scotty

 

[StrangeLand]

I'm running the master at about 3:00 and the modules between 9:00 - 10:00.

 

[evhwolfie]

there is also a bypass button you can press on the g major which allows you to hear the true volume of your amp, then go back with the effects not bypassed and ajust the input to where it is not clipping on the input meter and the output till it matches the bypassed level.

 

[jmgman70]

Welcome Scotty,I run my module levels about 9:30 10:30ish and the master volume anything over 12:00 and it is plenty.If I run the module level to high it clips the input of my effects.But with the higher master it sounds insanely better all around.

 

[evhwolfie]

I just messed around with this today and it sounds killer, much more defined with the master at like 3:00 and the modules to where i could handle it around 10:00, sounds killer!

 

[Chad]

Glad to hear that's working out for ya, wolfie.

 

[strato62]

Hi guys !

I own a XTC module and the bright switch really works !!! As long as the gain pot is not set too high.

The bright switch connects a capacitor between the wiper (moving part) of the gain pot and the end that receives the full signal allowing some high frequencies to be passed more or less (depending on cap value and pot setting) directly to the next stage. Higher is the gain pot set, less high frequencies emphasis.

So, with most of the modules, flipping the bright switch on will have more effects if you set your gain lower.

Hope that helps