Tranwreck Express with effectsloop?

[hotrodstephan]

Hi guys, I'm new here and just starting embarking on the Trainwreck Express planning and getting all the parts together.
I was wondering if any of you guys have implemented an effectsloop (passiv) into the Express and is it a viable idea to do that at all?
Cheers for any hints!

[Jana]

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=18412

[hotrodstephan]

Thanks again for te quick reply to a newbie to this forum, looks like I better don't mess with the idea of effectsloop I guess...

[hotrodstephan]

Hi there, me again, just found this schematic of a Ruby amp which seems pretty close to TW Express with effectsloop implementation.... unfortunately the schematic isn't very high resolution, a bit scribbled etc, just wondering if someone can make more sense out of this, what do you guys think and maybe enlighten the sligtly unclear values? Cheers

[Structo]

The truth is, you can put a passive effects look in just about any amp that has a preamp and power amp.

Whether or not it will work good or more importantly, sound right is another thing.

Most of the Wreck guys are rather defensive of Ken's designs, with good reason.

They sound good as is.

[jjman]

Hi there, me again, just found this schematic of a Ruby amp which seems pretty close to TW Express with effectsloop implementation.... unfortunately the schematic isn't very high resolution, a bit scribbled etc, just wondering if someone can make more sense out of this, what do you guys think and maybe enlighten the sligtly unclear values? Cheers

Looks to me that scheme would send the full strength of the signal, off the 3rd stage, to the loop device(s.) I can't imaging that being good.

[Reeltarded]

If'um honest, I tack in passive loops from either side of the master on most everything, I just don't talk about it. Oops.

[surfsup]

hotrod, I've already installed the jacks to do sometihng similar in a Liverpool-ish clone. But I'm building a buffered effects loop (D-lator) and will report on it eventually once my stuff gets here. Mouser was out of one item, they quoted 8 days to ship, its been 4 weeks and still no email...

I agree with jjman, you'll be sending a lot of signal out into your pedals if you just stuck effects on the send jack.

[Tyrannocaster]

Well, yeah - if you insist on using font end pedals in the loop. Rack units with line level signals are a different ballpark entirely. I just stuck my first passive FX loop into a high gain amp - it's not as high gain as a TW, but it's pretty strong. Honestly, I expected it to suck and it doesn't. But the effects unit is set for +4 dB. The only downside I have found so far is that at low amp volumes there is more noise than there is without the unit in the loop. At actual playing volume that is not the case; the unit is just before the PI and if you turn up the volume it has no effect on the effects unit, just the preamp. You have to set the level in the effects unit to agree with the level inside the amp but the Digitech has manual controls and a digital meter for that and it isn't hard at all.

I wanted the rack unit in there just for the nice tremolo but I quickly realized that the noise gate and delay also work well; I didn't expect the delay to sound as good as it does. But I only use it for that county Albert Lee "repeat-a-note" kind of thing, not for ambient trails of wash. Pretty sure THAT wouldn't sound too good.

Try it and see if it works for you - just don't try it with a guitar level pedal and expect anything useful. It's not like it's major surgery on the amp and it can be easily removed.

[hotrodstephan]

Thanks for all the replies, I'll let you know how I get, my build is still awhile away and only in planning stage. Might do a simpler single ended amp (Dave Hunter's 'two stroke') beforehand to get back into the swing of things, been awhile since I built an amp. Cheers