Monte Allums, Boss GE7 in loop of MOD 50!!!

[richedie]

Wow!

I finally got my Boss GE7 modified with the Monte Allums Plus mod and tried it in the loop of the MOD 50.

I was worried I would have problems because it is not line level like my Nova delay, but it is dead silent on or off and does what it should....so that is odd...but I am not arguing.

Anyway, this is amazing! I finally found the lead tone I want! I wanted a very thick, midrange heavy, almost dark lead tone and this gives me it! I can't get over how quiet this is and how natural and warm the single notes sound. I love the sound before but for leads this is even better!

Now I can have channel A of SL2 set for classic rock tones and channel B set for 80s to modern hard rock and now it is like having a third(lead) channel when I kick in the EQ for leads! Only thing is, it does not add gain, just changes the EQ(plus volume boost) so you are still using the gain of the channel. So, if I am playing Led Zep on channel A and kick in the EQ, I am only kicking in mucho mids, etc. This is fine because I didn't want any added gain when using this for my higfh gain tones.

I tried it up front before the preamp but it added too much boost and compression, expecially before channel B.....and it sounds so much better in the loop.

Great find!

Rich

 

[Buckeyedog]

Sweet. Do you think a standard GE7 will work in the loop? Did the mod do anything to the line level?? Did you try it before the mod?? I figured none of the standard pedals would work through the loop.

 

[jkdsteve]

I got one of those...it's fun for a while until you take the GE-7 out of the loop and realize it's not that transparent when off. It's not true bypass and if it was there's a very noticeable change in tone that occurs which is not just EQ related...try it with the EQ set flat both in and out of the loop.

I don't know if the tone robbing is level related or purely just the circuit in the GE-7...it's much better with the mod than stock though

 

[jkdsteve]

Sweet. Do you think a standard GE7 will work in the loop? Did the mod do anything to the line level?? Did you try it before the mod?? I figured none of the standard pedals would work through the loop.

Pedals work but with varying degrees of success....

 

[mentoneman]

have you guys tried a bb preamp in front of the amp?

it works really well in front of my TOL 100

 

[richedie]

Sweet. Do you think a standard GE7 will work in the loop? Did the mod do anything to the line level?? Did you try it before the mod?? I figured none of the standard pedals would work through the loop.

I never tried it in the loop till after the mod. Nothing done to make it Line level I know of.

I don't notice much tone robbing but really I can't live without it because I like A LOT of mids for solos and I can't do that with a shared EQ on the amp.

ON a side note.....anyone know of a good line level EQ that is true bypass? TC Electronics? Maxon? Anyone?

I have a Jaques chorus, Nova delay, Tuner, ISP, and now the EQ. None are true bypass but I don't notice much.

 

[richedie]

I am only using the EQ for leads anyway and it sounds way better than what I get without the EQ for lead tones. The other tihng is...I was ocncerned about it not being line level. If that was a problem it should cause noise, and this thing is dead silent on or off. And when it is off, the loop is out of the picture anyway. I am assuming the line level concern is only an issue when the unit is on.

Is there a true bypass EQ that works line level? I'll look around.

 

[richedie]

Has anyone found a better EQ in general or a better EQ for the MOD 50?

I have been having a weird problem. If I use just the Boss EQ in the loop...after about 3-5 minutes, I lose gain and it sounds whimpy. I then unplug the cable from guitar to pedalboard and the cable from pedalboard to amp. I plug it all back in and the gain is back. Could this be an issue with the lack of line level support with the Boss GE7? Maybe I should grab an MXR EQ.

Now, this problem goes away if I also have the Nova delay in the loop which can do as high as +12, so it does do line level. Maybe the Boss is losing signal due to it not being line level....then it goes right to the Nova delay and is able to carry the signal back through the loop? This is my only thought.

So, does this mean I should sell the Boss GE7 and get something that is line level, hence an MXR for example? Honestly I was thinking of getting an MXR EQ and MXR Carbon Copy delay. All Dunlop stuff will do line level. All are about +5.

Rich

 

[richedie]

I still have my Monte Allums modded GE7.
So, I was messing around with that Boss pedal again. You know, I actually like what it does in certain scenarios. I wanted to boost mids a bit and it actually works really well out front hitting the amp I think because it adds a tiny bit of compression since I am boosting frequencies. I don't notice a big difference in tone other than EQ. I may end up keeping it. I'd try the MXR but it doesn't have an on/off. The Dunlop ones do though.
Apparently the MXR is supposed to sound better but I don't know. have you tried the MXR EQ or the Dunlop? My buddy tried this pedal in his Marshall's loop and felt it made him sound like he was running through a Boss pedal. Personally, I just think running it in front of my amp it just makes it sound more middy and slightly boosted which is kind of what I want for leads. I know it should be int he loop but then I won't get that tiny bit of compression. I am only changing EQ, not level however..but it is enough I think to be heard above the band.
Maybe I won't need an expensive boost pedal which might boost too much! I thikn what I like a lot is ability to change EQ. My channels share EQ and this is a nice change for leads. I can't do this with a compressor or boost. Maybe I'll try to find an MXR to try as well since that can also go in the loop.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Hey Richie, why don't you just keep a boost (or EQ) pedal on all the time when you are on the SL2? You can get a really hard crunch on channel A with a boost or even your EQ, then just kick on B with the master up. I don't think a good boost will mess with the basic amp tone, then you would have your serious crunch on A and your volume boost for B.