Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

[man-in-moon]

I just picked up a boss DD-3. I hooked it up to the effects loop of my dsl40c and it just sounds bad. With the level set around 8-9 o'clock it washes out my sound. I have had good luck using DD-3's in the past but for some reason I can't get a decent sound out of it.
When I just use the amps gain it's a little better. But as soon as I turn on my sd-1 it gets worse.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

What level is the loop set at, Boss pedals want to see instrument level (-10dB), not line level (+4dB).

*EDIT* Just went and looked, apparently the loops on those aren't adjustable. Some Marshalls have a level switch.

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I'm going to try running it in the front of my amp. I had an EQ pedal in the loop at one time and it sounded fine.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I only say this because I’ve made this mistake....are you sure your send and return at the amp are going into the right jacks in the pedal?

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

You could try placing a buffered pedal (non true bypass) before the DD-3.

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I've checked all of my cables and everything is hooked up right. I thought about a buffer pedal in the loop. But wondered if it would make a difference since boss pedals are already buffered.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

What else is in the chain? Got a clip by chance?

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

You could try placing a buffered pedal (non true bypass) before the DD-3.

Boss pedals are apolitical and already buffered.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I'm going to try running it in the front of my amp. I had an EQ pedal in the loop at one time and it sounded fine.

Not all pedals are created equal, what kind of EQ pedal? Does the DD-3 clip the signal when it is in the loop whether it is on or off? It's easiest to check that on the clean channel, with the pedal in the loop, try playing clean, if the volume is lower with the pedal in the loop and there is some clipping (bad distortion) going on, the loop level is too hot for the pedal.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I’d also recommend unplugging everything and ONLY run the delay in the loop. If it is fine that way you know the issue lies somewhere else.

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

It clips pretty bad I ran it through the front end. And it sounded good the repeats were nice and clear like it should be. So I guess that's where it will stay.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

It clips pretty bad I ran it through the front end. And it sounded good the repeats were nice and clear like it should be. So I guess that's where it will stay.

Boss pedals don't like seeing very hot signals, I'm pretty sure the TC Flashback can handle line levels a lot better, same with the Digitech Digidelay (that can be picked up cheap now) and Hardware delays.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

Boss pedals are apolitical and already buffered.

Obviously, you are not...

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

Not going there (it was a joke), but yes Boss pedals are already buffered.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

Not going there (it was a joke), but yes Boss pedals are already buffered.

Yes, but would not placing another buffered pedal also have an effect?

To the OP... You have used DD3's in the past, with successful results. Obviously, this one has an issue.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

Yes, but would not placing another buffered pedal also have an effect?

To the OP... You have used DD3's in the past, with successful results. Obviously, this one has an issue.

1) Depends on the quality of the buffer I guess, but it won't fix the problem if the level is too hot, and of course, could make it worse if the buffer can't handle line levels.

2) Not necessarily, depends on where he has used DD-3s before, as I mentioned 3 or more times so far in this thread alone, Boss pedals don't like levels above instrument levels, a lot of effects loops are line level or close. Since it works fine in front of the amp, this would seem to be the case.

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I have used dd3's with other amps before. But on alot of those I could adjust the level on the effects loop.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

1) Depends on the quality of the buffer I guess, but it won't fix the problem if the level is too hot, and of course, could make it worse if the buffer can't handle line levels.

2) Not necessarily, depends on where he has used DD-3s before, as I mentioned 3 or more times so far in this thread alone, Boss pedals don't like levels above instrument levels, a lot of effects loops are line level or close. Since it works fine in front of the amp, this would seem to be the case.

Interesting. Check this out... I tried running a Rockman stereo echo module in the loop of a Ampeg GVT15 yesterday. The volume is cut by at least 5O% when the module is engaged. I have two of these modules, same issue with both. Now, if I place a Rockman EQ module before the stereo echo, the levels are fine. WTF?

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

If the level of the loop is too hot for the Rockman, you will also notice clipping if you play clean, that is what is reducing the signal. If the signal comes through clean, just at a lower level, something is attenuating it in the module. I don't know much about the Rockman stuff, haven't messed with any of that in decades.

 

[Guitaryellow]

Re: Boss dd-3 sounds bad in my effects loop

I have a DD7 and wish I still had my DD3 doh!

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