Electronic Tech Question

Harold Bullard · Post by **Harold Bullard** » 5 Oct 2015 3:52 pm

I have a question for an electronics tech. I want to add a second output on my steel. Is it ok to just splice into the first input, or do I need to install a capacitor or something as a filter or for feedback? Will the second output reduce the signal of the first?

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 5 Oct 2015 4:02 pm

You could use something like this.
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-YPP111-inch- ... y+splitter

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 5 Oct 2015 7:42 pm

I would use an active volume pedal with two outputs. Easy to avoid tone trouble that way

Alan W. Black · Post by **Alan W. Black** » 6 Oct 2015 3:55 am

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... oCwTPw_wcB

This, after the volume pedal. It will be a nice buffer too. It would effectively be a 2-output active volume pedal. A passive splitter cable wouldn't be good.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 6 Oct 2015 8:41 am

Wouldn't something like this work?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 6 Oct 2015 9:11 am

Alan's recommendation sounds good. A little pricey though.

Erv... I tried sticking one of those in my ear. Couldn't tell any difference.

You never said WHY you want a second output.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 6 Oct 2015 9:32 am

Maybe you should try the other ear!

Alan W. Black · Post by **Alan W. Black** » 6 Oct 2015 9:36 am

If you use that passive splitter and go to two devices, you lose a good bit of signal, and not spectrally flat, frequency wise, starting at the high end. Will the loss be in the audio range? Maybe. You get two loads in parallel, for a much lower input impedance. A single booster before the volume pedal might allow you to use a passive splitter like that. The booster will have a lower output impedance than the guitar which is good. The input impedance of the next device should generally be at least 10x the output impedance of the previous device. With a passive splitter that impedance is generally cut in half. That can be a problem for a guitar's output to "look into", but a buffer can handle it. Then there's the volume pedal's impedance, which is why I think the splitter, or maybe a good buffer and a y cable after the vol pedal would be best.

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 6 Oct 2015 11:29 am

https://www.jhspedals.com/products/guit ... -splitter/

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 6 Oct 2015 4:24 pm

To repeat what Richard said:

You never said WHY you want a second output.

Trying to explain all of the electronics theory behind this can get complicated, especially if you don't have a reasonable electronics background.

But providing a solution to your problem may be simple.

Mark Fowler · Post by **Mark Fowler** » 7 Oct 2015 6:09 am

A cheap mixer unit or if you like to build your own devices this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ktjePhEvg

The video is for 3 inputs to one output to guitar amp but you can use in reverse as well, either have 3 separate in's or 3 out's whatever you need.

Harold Bullard · Post by **Harold Bullard** » 7 Oct 2015 3:29 pm

Right now I have a Peterson rack tuner in the "string". I want the tuner out of the string, but always connected. Since it is always on (it's in a rack box and the on/off switch is in the back), will that be putting a load on that second output? What about when it is in bypass mode, is there still a load?

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 7 Oct 2015 3:54 pm

Harold, have you looked at the Tuner Out Mod thread at the top of this section? It might be just what you are looking for. Also, FWIW, it would have helped if you had put the info in your last post in your first one. Good Luck with your project.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 7 Oct 2015 4:12 pm

The "Tuner Out Mod" thread is four pages long. It may be tough to fish out all of the important info there.

"The string": Exactly what is in the string, from guitar all the way to the amp? I'm thinking that there may be an unused buffered output somewhere that can drive the tuner.

Just curious: Why do you want to drive the tuner separately? Is there a real problem (like loading) somewhere?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 7 Oct 2015 4:20 pm

Many tuners pass along some digital artifacts when used in line. I don't need a running commentary from R2-D2 as I play.

Harold Bullard · Post by **Harold Bullard** » 7 Oct 2015 5:29 pm

I guess I should have started out with this from the start.

What I'm looking to do is simplify all the connections from guitar to amp. And maybe improve the sound in the process. What my rig has looked like for a lot of years is: Steel - Matchbro - Peterson rack tuner - Hilton pedal - Peavey transtubefex - Nashville 400. I've run it like this for ages and not had any real problems. Minor ones from time to time, but nothing serious enough to worry about.

I think I'm going through an experimenting phase.

I'm thinking about something like Steel - pedal - TTF - amp. Change the matchbro to a Tom Bradshaw pedal and running it through the effects loop on the amp. Going back to a Goodrich L120 instead of the Hilton. Give the tuner it's own output. Or I might try something else. But I do want to give the tuner it's own isolated output.

I went back and reread the Randy Beavers idea for connecting the tuner to the volume pedal and I am going to try that. That might just be my answer.

In a nutshell, that's what this was all about.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 8 Oct 2015 8:14 am

I have a small box on the end of my guitar that's called the "Jerry Rig". It has a switch on it for either the guitar or a tuner along with two outputs.
I don't know if the unit is still made but it gives you a output for a tuner separate from the line going to an amp.

Harold Bullard · Post by **Harold Bullard** » 8 Oct 2015 3:01 pm

Erv, can you remember where you got yours. I'll check to see if it is still made.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 8 Oct 2015 10:30 pm

We are in the final stages of developing a new pedal at Goodrich that will have 2 outs as well as a tuner out that should solve your problem. Also it will have the ability to allow the user to use either side of the pedal for any of the ins and outs (plus a bunch of other cool features!!!).

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 9 Oct 2015 7:32 am

Harold,
I'll check into it and let you know.
It works for me.

PS:This is what I'm talking about:

This unit was made by a Texas steeler by the name of Jerry Harkins. You can do a search here on the Forum to contact him and see if the Jerry Rig is still available.