How do you get a rig like this?

[Ricman]

I love the sounds that Steve is getting here;

[nomedia="http://youtube.com/watch?v=vCtw0EG0O4E&feature=related"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

I need some help - I would like to try to assemble something like it.

I take it I need 2 or 3 amps? SM says that the guitar goes straight into one amp - so how do you get the signal into your chorus pedal? Also where do the Volume pedals go?? If someone could explain it, or draw me a picture (!) I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[beej]

It's like a D/W setup (dry/wet).

Basically, use the FX loop of your amp (the "dry" amp) to run signal to your time based effects (chorus, delay, verb, etc.). But rather then running their output back through the FX return of your amp, you run them to a separate amp- the "wet" amp. Then your dry amp is all unprocessed guitar signal, and the wet amp just adds in the effects. You can do it with a tiny amp; you don't need much power for your effects usually.

Steve does this all in parallel, so he's got the signal split to separate delays, etc. The level of each is controlled with a volume pedal and blended together. In this way he can blend in the amount of each effect he wants into the mix. (If you have a small mixer you can do the same.)

I like this approach but only use one amp. Mine has a parallel FX loop, so I set it to blend (40% or so) and run the loop to my chorus, delay, verb and then a volume pedal. I can then back off the VP for a fully dry tone or turn it up to blend my effects back into the mix. In a pinch I can run that output into a separate amp the way Steve does. Works like a charm.

Hope that helps.

 

[fbecir]

Hello

The theory of Steve is :

• your signal go straight in an amp (the dry sound)
• you add the effects in another amp (the wet sound)
• with a volume pedal (or several volume pedal if you want to control each effect) you add the amount of effect you want

Personally, I try to achieve the same ...

Like Beej, in order to do that just with an amp, I use an amp with a PARALLEL effect loop (in my case a Marshall DSL401).
My "preamp" pedals (distortion, Wah ...) are before the amp but my Chorus / Delay are in the effect loop. My volume pedal is after the Delay so I can control the amount of effect I send back to the amp.
This is a good solution. It allows also to have a good control on your volume. I have a short delay so when I add it completely, I have an increase of my volume level. Thus I can have a rhythm volume and a solo volume.

 

[Ricman]

Thanks very much both of you, much appreciated. What is the difference between parallel and series loops - is it essential to have a parallel loop to make this work?

 

[mr.b]

yes it is essential.

if you only have a series effects loop, you won't be able to maintain a dry sound as any effects added will colour your sound. whereas if you have a parallel effects loop, it means you can leave your sound untouched to the main amp and run that 'dry'.

 

[beej]

Series means your output is going to be 100% from the return of your FX loop.

Parallel means you're mixing the dry signal and the FX loop signal together. Basically it's a mixer for your FX loop.

You can turn a series loop into a parallel one with a mixer. (John Suhr sells a gadget called the "minimix" that will do this, as will any small mixer.)

As to whether this will work with a series loop- depends on your amp. If you can plug a cable into your "FX send" jack but not your "FX return" jack and still get output from your amp, then it'll work. If you get no signal until you plug back into the FX return, then you'll need a mixer in line.

 

[Ricman]

Understood all that - Ebay here I come!!

Thanks very much for the help.

 

[roburado]

It's like a D/W setup (dry/wet).

Basically, use the FX loop of your amp (the "dry" amp) to run signal to your time based effects (chorus, delay, verb, etc.). But rather then running their output back through the FX return of your amp, you run them to a separate amp- the "wet" amp. Then your dry amp is all unprocessed guitar signal, and the wet amp just adds in the effects. You can do it with a tiny amp; you don't need much power for your effects usually.

Steve does this all in parallel, so he's got the signal split to separate delays, etc. The level of each is controlled with a volume pedal and blended together. In this way he can blend in the amount of each effect he wants into the mix. (If you have a small mixer you can do the same.)

I like this approach but only use one amp. Mine has a parallel FX loop, so I set it to blend (40% or so) and run the loop to my chorus, delay, verb and then a volume pedal. I can then back off the VP for a fully dry tone or turn it up to blend my effects back into the mix. In a pinch I can run that output into a separate amp the way Steve does. Works like a charm.

Hope that helps.

beej, is there no problem with ground-loop hum when doing something like what Steve does?

 

[beej]

That's a great question. I've been lucky and don't generally get them this way (a lot will depend on your amp and it's loop), but you are connecting two amps together so it's a possibility.

If it's an issue, you need to break the ground loop. On my board I have an Axess Electronics buffer/splitter that has an isolated output. You can use something like this to fix the problem if there's noise.

 

[Larry]

How do you get a rig like this?

Be Steve Morse




But what Beej said sounds good too

 

[Ricman]

Sure does - Beej is the man!!

I have to say that I am digging More more with every passing month. He is such an intelligent, aritculate expressive player, and his right hand technique is staggering.
This is awesome...

[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=y-CC2jOVNSI"]YouTube - Steve Morse 8 1/2 Minute Unnamed Solo[/ame]

The first two bars just slay me...and then he starts with the swell thing....just stunning.

What I also like is that he makes mistakes....you can see that every so often he pushes himself out of his comfort zone and trys something astonishing. He usually pulls it off but you very occasionally you hear a "glitch" when he is really going for it. I love this - Luke has the same trait....to me it shows they are giving it their all and are improvising and thinking.