SFX-09 Double Back Compressor problem

[Sparrows78]

I just recieved the Seymour Duncan SFX-09 Double Back Compressor and I really like the sound it gives me.
However, when turning the "double back" knob past one o'clock I get distortion.
It happens with both my passive bass and my passive guitar, feeding the signal straight into my daw and also when feeding it to my amp.
I've checked the inputs of my daw and amp to ensure there is no clipping going on.

Is anyone else having this issue with the SFX-09?

 

[J Moose]

Re: SFX-09 Double Back Compressor problem

If you turn the "master" volume down does the distortion go away?

The doubleback puts the uncompressed signal in parallel with the compressed signal... its VERY easy to clip/overdrive/distort an amp or other effects in the chain if things are cranked up since there's I dunno, like 70dB of gain there. Way too much for a guitar amp if everything is wide open.

Its a great trick I've used to great effect myself... put it in front a distorting amp as a mid boost & tone shaper/tone maker. Matter of fact, its used on the right side guitar of circus massacre here; pushing a little tube amp into meltdown.


http://driftrocks.bandcamp.com/album/autonomy

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: SFX-09 Double Back Compressor problem

Anything will clip if you hit it hard enough, but there is a reason we put those tachometer marks on the right half of the double back and sustain knobs. We wanted to give you enough range on tap to accommodate the weakest of single coils, knowing that loud humbuckers or active pickups could drive the pedal or like Moose said, drive the next thing in the chain harder.

The sustain circuit won't drive but the Double Back circuit can. If you need more balance between the sustain sound and the double back, it's probably time to raise the volume setting on the pedal and back off the sustain and double back. Driving the double back means there's a lot of signal coming in, which also means the sustain doesn't have to be cranked because that is basically setting the input gain to the compressor.

But it does make a killer drive/boost for a tube amp that way, too.

 

[phil_104]

Re: SFX-09 Double Back Compressor problem

Frank, I'd just like to say that this pedal is one of the best compressors I have had the chance to mess around with. Well done.

Sorry for the jack. Carry on.

 

[Sparrows78]

Re: SFX-09 Double Back Compressor problem

Thanks for the fast replies guys!
Just to be clear: there is NO clipping going on after the signal has left the pedal. I have checked that on both my DAW input and on my Markbass amp input. I get the same distortion even though I lower the master volume knob of the SFX-09 all the way down.
frankfalbo: great explanation of how the pedal works!
As I said, I really like this pedal - it's probably the best compressor i've used to date - it's great to hear that the distortion is normal and not caused by a faulty circuit!