The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Tone degradation with tu-2
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Tone degradation with tu-2
Tim Tweedale

 

From:
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Post  Posted 10 Sep 2004 4:23 pm    
Reply with quote

The saga continues... With my newly re-wound pickup (wound to 17.5k) installed, I plugged into my boss TU-2 and out into the amp... There was so much tone degradation. It started to distort, even at a low volume. I thought it might be a bad battery, so I used the AC adaptor, and still. Same thing. Any ideas why this would be? Would some sort of pre-amp help? I'm at a loss. Thanks...

-Tim
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 10 Sep 2004 5:22 pm    
Reply with quote

There is the possibility that the tuner's defective (I haven't used that model). Until you verify whether or not it's bad, or that tonal change is just a characteristic of the unit, you could use an A/B switch, or...just unplug the tuner when you've finished tuning.

If the pickup is fine without the tuner in-line, then there's nothing wrong with the pickup! A lot of in-line devices may affect the tone, so I always advise trying them out before you buy.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 11 Sep 2004 4:23 am    
Reply with quote

Tim,
If you are using a Goodrich pedal, or any volume pedal with two outputs, you might try running your tuner out of the second out on the pedal so it is not directly in the signal path.
View user's profile Send private message

Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 11 Sep 2004 6:32 am    
Reply with quote

I use a Boss tuner and used to have it in line from my guitar to the volume pedal. It had an in and out jack so that's what I used but there was a definite tone loss. I bought a volume control with two outlets and I use one of the outlets for the tuner. Much better!
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Scott Appleton


From:
Ashland, Oregon
Post  Posted 11 Sep 2004 8:49 am    
Reply with quote

That trick never works. A direct feed to your amp is the best way. Never through a TU 12.
My Peterson seem OK
but still never through a tuner

------------------
Mullen S12 Almost Mooney
71 Tele, Regal 45
Sho Bud S10 NP
Line 6 Flextone 3 + JBL D130
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Tim Tweedale

 

From:
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Post  Posted 11 Sep 2004 9:35 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks for the replies. I guess the solution is to get a v-pedal that has a separate out... What do you guys do for other effects like distortion? Do you have a true bypass for that?

-Tim
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

James Morehead


From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2004 4:49 am    
Reply with quote

I have just tried my rig both ways, with tuner inline, and direct to amp from volume pedal with out tuner and there is no difference in tone---crystal clear. I go from my Shobud that currently has a BL 710 p/u, to my Goodrich 120, to my TU-2 tuner to my ProfexII, to my '71 twin reverb. I use George L cables, except one patch cord between volume pedal and tuner. I want my tuner inline so I can tune silently if I need to. My rig sounds crystal clear, so maybe you have a bad chord, or grounding issue, or bad tuner, ect.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Herb Steiner


From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2004 5:00 am    
Reply with quote

I like no effects... nothing... between my guitar/black box/pedal/amp (in that order). Anything else diminishes the tone, IMHO. If I need effects, my amp has an effects loop.

This is a round-about way of saying I unplug from the amp when using a tuner.

Now, I use a well-adjusted PP most often, so tuning changes are not that much of an issue. When playing a old Sho~Bud or a Bigsby, that is a different ball of twine.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2004 6:12 am    
Reply with quote

Tim,
Before you abandon your current volume pedal, go to Radio Shack and pick up a short "Y" chord with one male end and two female ends, that will give you two outlets. Plug that into your VP and it might take care of your problem.
Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 15 September 2004 at 07:12 AM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2004 6:29 am    
Reply with quote

Folks, you cannot use a TU-12 in line on a steel. It will distort. Thats exactly why they came out with the TU-15. It has a high impedance input to stop signal loss when using the tuner in line. I use the TU-15 and have no distortion or signal loss.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

John Daugherty


From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 15 Sep 2004 9:37 am    
Reply with quote

An old rule of thumb is never leave a tuner in line. I made a switch on my rack case that switches my guitar either to the tuner or to my effects unit. One half of the switch shorts the input to the effects so it won't hum when disconnected.If the tuner and effects is in the same unit I guess you have to keep it in line. I strongly advise that you use a separate tuner with a switch in line or plug and unplug the tuner by hand.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP