Question about connecting a Twin Jet to a G-System

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jcattell

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Hey, dont know if anyone here has any experience in this area but I figured I would try asking here first. Im considering getting a TC Electronics G-System to be used with my Twin Jet. One of the features of this effects unit that I like is that you supposedly can configure it to operate channel switching of an amp and also control other amp functions like engaging the fx loop. Ive tried doing some research on connecting this unit to the Twin Jet to see if it is in fact possible to control both the channel switching and the turning on and off of the fx loop but havent found much in the way of information and the manual from TC Electronics isnt to helpful either. So does anyone have any experience in this area and could you provide some specific info as to what is necessary for connecting the amp to the effect unit to have control of the channels and loop. I would assume it would simply be a matter of using a 1/4" type cable from the "SW Out 1 & 2" jacks on the G-System to the jacks on the amp... Any help and insight would be awesome prior to me moving forward on buying one of these. Thanks!




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The way channel switching works on an amplifier is very similar to a light switch. When in the off position the circuit is open ie. not compete, when in the on position the circuit is closed completing the circuit and allowing electricity to flow to your lamp or whatever device run in series with the wall socket.

The channel switching function on the G system and G major uses a unbalanced or TS cable 1/4 guitar cable. This stands for Tip/Sleeve. Meaning the ground (Shielding wire) of the cable carries one signal and is attached to sleeve or body of the plug. The hot signal is passed thru the TIP of the cable. So when you bridge the two signals together they make a complete circuit.

TRS, Tip, Ring, Sleeve cables add another wire to filter out noise, carry more than one electrical message depending on its use. Meaning you can control up to 2 functions with one cable or one function like xlr. The ring part of the plug is in between the rig and sleeve. Some amps have a single TRS connecting to the footswitch or amp. Lemme give you some examples.

Clean channel, Relay open.
Dirty channel, Relay closed.
Effects loop active, Relay open
Effects loop bypass, Relay closed

So in order to activate the switching relays you have to shunt or ground the relay using a cable. The switch out 1 connects to the channel relay and the sw out 2 connects to the EFX bypass. Depending on the manufacture's choice is whether the tip or sleeve is active.

Some amps are setup like this.
Ch 1 Tip
Ch 2 Ring
Loop Sleeve

Sorry for the long post but with good fundamentals you shouldn't run into this problem ever again. :thumbsup:

Please let me know if you have any more questions. Always glad to help.

Luke
 
Be carefull - G system and most of these rack digital units are coloring your tone - was very noticable with my axe fx.
 
Trippled":1ikgg4bj said:
Be carefull - G system and most of these rack digital units are coloring your tone - was very noticable with my axe fx.
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That's the function of efx loop bypass.
 
Im currently using a Line6 Floor Pod in the Twin Jet loop for effects (delays, flangers, phasers, reverse delays etc) and while it does color the tone a bit, I can live with it. Do both of you guys have first hand experience with the G-System and if so what are your thoughts on it? Is it a good unit for the price point, is the tone coloring tolerable (keeping in mind that im really looking to use if for the clean channel effects and for delays when i play leads, i will usually keep my rhythm distortion dry so this wont be an issue). If I purchase this unit I am probably going to buy it from GC so that I have a month to really put it through its paces with the option of returning it if its not for me, but if enough less than stellar reviews come my way I wont waste my time at all. I appreciate the feedback thus far and thanks for any additional advice. Also if anyone has suggestions on similar/better effects units for the TJ loop, feel free to chime in with alternatives. Thanks!
 
jcattell":gbb7pz1s said:
Im currently using a Line6 Floor Pod in the Twin Jet loop for effects (delays, flangers, phasers, reverse delays etc) and while it does color the tone a bit, I can live with it. Do both of you guys have first hand experience with the G-System and if so what are your thoughts on it? Is it a good unit for the price point, is the tone coloring tolerable (keeping in mind that im really looking to use if for the clean channel effects and for delays when i play leads, i will usually keep my rhythm distortion dry so this wont be an issue). If I purchase this unit I am probably going to buy it from GC so that I have a month to really put it through its paces with the option of returning it if its not for me, but if enough less than stellar reviews come my way I wont waste my time at all. I appreciate the feedback thus far and thanks for any additional advice. Also if anyone has suggestions on similar/better effects units for the TJ loop, feel free to chime in with alternatives. Thanks!
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Before I give a detailed response I need to know exactly what you plan on spending. The G System goes for $1600 new or $750 used. At either of those price points I personally have some alternatives that I would prefer.

Luke
 
I had seen them new for $1499, so that is what I was planning on spending. Im ok with this price point and prefer to stay under $1600 after tax and whatnot. If there are better options that are more money ($2000 range) Im open to hearing about them but thats approaching my limit and I'd have to save some more cash up before I made that type of expense. Thanks again for all of the feedback.
 
jcattell":i0cjk8df said:
I had seen them new for $1499, so that is what I was planning on spending. Im ok with this price point and prefer to stay under $1600 after tax and whatnot. If there are better options that are more money ($2000 range) Im open to hearing about them but thats approaching my limit and I'd have to save some more cash up before I made that type of expense. Thanks again for all of the feedback.
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I think the quality of most effect processors are on par with each other sound quality wise. You mostly run into limitations via routing, switching, your effect block matrix, features etc.

From what i picked up on so far your looking for a WET clean sound and a mostly dry Dirt tone and the ability to take the effects out of the signal chain at will. Along with channel switching and easy function ability?
 
Yeah a wet clean sound is important, and even though I usually run the distortion dry I'd like an effects unit that is going to sound good with the drive channel. The most important thing to me is sound quality and minimal coloration to tone with lots of high quality effects and tweaking possibilities. Im not really into the MIDI thing and therefore liked the ability to perform channel switching with the G System. I also liked the effects loops that come with the G System for stomp boxes.

Another option that I considered was going for a GCX Switcher and Voodoo labs MIDI switcher with some type of rack mounted effects unit...

The G System seemed like a good all in one unit for my needs but I still havent committed to anything and quite frankly havent had the chance to try one so if you have other suggestions Im all ears. Im definitely not looking to buy anything tomorrow, I'd rather do the research and get people's feedback so that I can buy once and be happy with the result, so thanks again for the opinions
 
Well to me there is no question and all analog signal path sounds best to my ears. But you will loose some flexibility. Its really up to you. If you want the best of both worlds its going to cost some coin.
 
jcattell":ncl0u0dv said:
Yeah a wet clean sound is important, and even though I usually run the distortion dry I'd like an effects unit that is going to sound good with the drive channel. The most important thing to me is sound quality and minimal coloration to tone with lots of high quality effects and tweaking possibilities. Im not really into the MIDI thing and therefore liked the ability to perform channel switching with the G System. I also liked the effects loops that come with the G System for stomp boxes.

Another option that I considered was going for a GCX Switcher and Voodoo labs MIDI switcher with some type of rack mounted effects unit...

The G System seemed like a good all in one unit for my needs but I still havent committed to anything and quite frankly havent had the chance to try one so if you have other suggestions Im all ears. Im definitely not looking to buy anything tomorrow, I'd rather do the research and get people's feedback so that I can buy once and be happy with the result, so thanks again for the opinions
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Well, you said you can buy from guitar center and have a 30 day trial period, then do that and see if you're happy with it.

I've had a pod hd and now an Axe Fx standard, I can tell you my years didn't survive the tone difference,
it's not like it's super permanent in your tone but it kinda sucks the life out of your amp? Like it's not willing to jive with you anymore? It really ruins the dynamics in my opinion and to be perfectly honest the uber's loop isn't one of the best you'll stumble upon either, I've learned to put up with that.

Are you really into FX? I just figured out that I'll get a few pedals and be done with it. Strymon timeline delay sounds awesome with that amp, this I can tell.
 
Yep, I have a Timeline that sounds great. The TC stuff isn't bad, but it has a certain digital sheen I don't care for. The phaser and flanger especially. I've found the all-in-one stuff is usually a comprise, not an end all. YMMV
 
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