Boss ME 50 >> Classic 30...direct or effects loop?

[DRPool]

I've been using my Boss for most all my tones. 99% of the time I just run the amp clean and let it go from there. A couple weeks a go I just plugged direct into the amp, sans effects and I re-discovered how good the C30 sounds on it's own, both clean and with some crunch. By going direct through the amp I have so much more control at my fingertips with my volume knob. Imagine that??

 

So, I do still like some of the effects from the ME 50. The chorus and delay are particularly useful.

 

I want the best of both worlds now, would running the ME 50 into the effects loop give me the options I'm looking for?

 

If any effects loop users can describe how they are using it, including set up I would be greatly appreciative.

[SDshirtman]

Its an ultra simple answer but I'd say some experimentation is your best bet here.

[BoneNut]

I have a GT8 and hooked up direct to the front of my C30, it sounds like ass. However, hooked up with the four cable method through the effects loop, it's glorious.

 

The C30 has a full set of JJs and a Weber alnico Silver Bell. With clean settings on the GT8, the amp's and guitar's characters shine through but at the same time I can get some dirt when I want it.

[Neon Soul]

If you're using amp gain - Loop.

 

If your using boss gain - Front.

[Prages]

Yeah, if you're just using the Boss for effects, I'd put it in the loop.

[DRPool]

Anything special I need to know to run it through the loop? That's a new process for me.

[SDshirtman]

 

I have a GT8 and hooked up direct to the front of my C30, it sounds like ass. However, hooked up with the four cable method through the effects loop, it's glorious. The C30 has a full set of JJs and a Weber alnico Silver Bell. With clean settings on the GT8, the amp's and guitar's characters shine through but at the same time I can get some dirt when I want it.

 

 

I've never heard of this 4 cable method. Can you explain and would it work with an ME-50?

[Inazone]

I've used my ME-30 both in front of an amp and in the loop, and unless you need the different overdrive/distortion sounds from the Boss, run it in the loop. I've run mine in front of my amp at a couple of gigs, and people said the tone was pretty good, but definitely not as responsive to my playing.

[BoneNut]

I checked the manual for the ME-50 and it looks like you won't be able to hook it up with the four cable method since it doesn't have a loop.

 

Anyway, here's how to do it with a GT8

 

 

This method is the most complicated (and requires the most cables) but it allows the use of a guitar amplifiers preamp in place of (or in addition to if you really want to) the Preamp Sims in the GT-8. It can also function exactly as method 2, feeding the output of the GT-8 directly to the power amp section of the amplifier. You can also use another MFX instead of a regular amplifier. This is an extremely flexible way to work with the GT-8 (particularly so because you can place any effect you like anywhere in the FX chain - before or after your amp)!

 

With the 4CM, if you have the GT-8 Loop On and the GT-8 Preamp Sim Off, you are using the preamp section of the actual guitar amp and it can be placed wherever you like in the GT-8 FX chain (it is represented by the Lp entry in the chain). If you have the GT-8 Loop Off, you are connected exactly as in method 2 and should use one of the GT-8's preamp/cabinet combinations.

 

Here's how you wire things up for the 4CM:

1.Guitar Out > GT-8 Input Jack.

2.GT-8 FX Loop Send > Amp Input (yes, right up front).

3.Amp FX Loop Send > GT-8 FX Loop Return.

4.GT-8 Left(Mono) Output > Amp FX Loop Return.

?If your guitar amplifier supports stereo FX Loop Return (two Return jacks) you can also connect the GT-8 Right Output > Amp Second FX Loop Return.

?Alternatively - If you have a second amp you can also connect GT-8 Right Output > Second Amp FX Loop Return.

It is generally accepted that the GT-8 Loop is intended for use with a serial effects loop so that 100% of the guitar amplifiers preamp signal is routed through the GT-8. This does not mean it will not function with a parallel effects loop. If you are using a parallel loop set the mix control on the loop to 100% so it

[SDshirtman]

Thanks

[jbandy10]

I preferred direct.

[DRPool]

 

I checked the manual for the ME-50 and it looks like you won't be able to hook it up with the four cable method since it doesn't have a loop.   Anyway, here's how to do it with a GT8     This method is the most complicated (and requires the most cables) but it allows the use of a guitar amplifiers preamp in place of (or in addition to if you really want to) the Preamp Sims in the GT-8. It can also function exactly as method 2, feeding the output of the GT-8 directly to the power amp section of the amplifier. You can also use another MFX instead of a regular amplifier. This is an extremely flexible way to work with the GT-8 (particularly so because you can place any effect you like anywhere in the FX chain - before or after your amp)!   With the 4CM, if you have the GT-8 Loop On and the GT-8 Preamp Sim Off, you are using the preamp section of the actual guitar amp and it can be placed wherever you like in the GT-8 FX chain (it is represented by the Lp entry in the chain). If you have the GT-8 Loop Off, you are connected exactly as in method 2 and should use one of the GT-8's preamp/cabinet combinations.   Here's how you wire things up for the 4CM: 1.Guitar Out > GT-8 Input Jack. 2.GT-8 FX Loop Send > Amp Input (yes, right up front). 3.Amp FX Loop Send > GT-8 FX Loop Return. 4.GT-8 Left(Mono) Output > Amp FX Loop Return. ?If your guitar amplifier supports stereo FX Loop Return (two Return jacks) you can also connect the GT-8 Right Output > Amp Second FX Loop Return. ?Alternatively - If you have a second amp you can also connect GT-8 Right Output > Second Amp FX Loop Return. It is generally accepted that the GT-8 Loop is intended for use with a serial effects loop so that 100% of the guitar amplifiers preamp signal is routed through the GT-8. This does not mean it will not function with a parallel effects loop. If you are using a parallel loop set the mix control on the loop to 100% so it

[prolog]

 

I've been using my Boss for most all my tones. 99% of the time I just run the amp clean and let it go from there. A couple weeks a go I just plugged direct into the amp, sans effects and I re-discovered how good the C30 sounds on it's own, both clean and with some crunch.

 

 

I hear you. I was fiddling around with my OD/fuzz pedals for a riff I've been playing around with. I then decided just to try direct into the lead channel on my C30, and wow, that's the sound I was searching for!

[Spike Li]

I plug my ME70 into the front of my JC-120. I prefer it that way because I can tweak the amp settings, doesnt sound as good through the effects loop.

[koen77]

get rid of the me-50 and look for a secondhand boss delay and chorus. The bypass on the me-50 takes away a lot of natural tone from the amp. Much less with the pedals. I tried to like the me-50 but in the end it just isn't worth it. Sorry if I'm the bearer of bad news.

[schiz]

get rid of the me-50 and look for a secondhand boss delay and chorus. The bypass on the me-50 takes away a lot of natural tone from the amp. Much less with the pedals. I tried to like the me-50 but in the end it just isn't worth it. Sorry if I'm the bearer of bad news.

IMO any pedal in front of your amp takes away from its natural tone.

[DRPool]

 

get rid of the me-50 and look for a secondhand boss delay and chorus. The bypass on the me-50 takes away a lot of natural tone from the amp. Much less with the pedals. I tried to like the me-50 but in the end it just isn't worth it. Sorry if I'm the bearer of bad news.

 

 

Meh, it's not necessarily bad news. I've learned that the amp is far superior for clean and drive/crunch tones that the boss. Shouldn't have been a surprise really, I think I may have just gotten lazy.

 

The goal now is to continue to use the boss but only for some of the effects. I don't like having to haul numerous pedals and all the accompanying crap to band practice and then re-building everything when I get home. If I can figure it out with what I have, that would be a win. Ultimately you may likely be correct about the pedals but I'd like to make what I have work.

[newbuilder]

I just got a GT-8 and am also using the four cable method and it is pretty frikkin rad. I would say do this and see how you like it. My amp's natural tone is too good to completely dismiss it for a solid state modeler and this is the answer. I am blown away by some of the sounds I am getting and the control function works as a channel sellect, sounds like it gives you a pure boss tone and one using your amp. So for every preset it is like having two different presets-your amp or boss through clean.

[tele0507]

IMO any pedal in front of your amp takes away from its natural tone.

 

does this include a dirt pedal ?

 

Benifits of this pedal are a nice practice tool. ME-70, 50 , 20 AND similar pedals. Any pedal that has a dirt section should be run in front, the delays sound good in front also. As far as the modulation effect, it will always sound better in the loop. This pedal is for people using an amp without an effects loop option. Or with no amp at all.

 

If you have a amp with an effects loop, you probably would have a better modulation pedal to use anyway. For the bedroom player its perfect and if you have a big amp and still dont want to drag out the efx board this pedal is cool, with the volume knob you can get a good Kranked up tone at a low volume.

 

The dirt section on these pedals are usable at low volumes and you dont want to run it threw an efx. loop, any dirt pedal. I would not gig with any of these pedals, unless it were a little party with 10/15 people and I am playing solo or with a CD player.

 

I have the ME-70 and its great. I can get a good tone at a nice bedroom level maybe alittle louder. The delays sound great, it has a decent looper and a nice boost feature. I can use headphones. Etc. I like it. IMO

[RollEasy]

http://www.alloutput.com/audio_analysis/comparison.html

I suggest reading this article. This guy did some great work testing multi-effects pedals, true bypass pedals and effects chains.

Basically he is saying that the ME-50 is the best of the multi-effects pedals with regard to cutoff frequency, with a cutoff frequency above 20 kHz.

Also, "it's generally accepted that the upper limit of human hearing is about 20 kHz and this lowers with older subjects".

There is a difference in the phase freq response chart when you compare pedals and multi-effects pedals, but that part is explained in another part of the article, and is considered "unnoticeable".

http://www.alloutput.com/audio_analysis/setup.html

 

If you read it ALL, you will realize that your ME-50 is just fine between your guitar and your amp, and it's easy to get obsessive about this stuff. In my opinion, pedal makers are taking advantage of the "tone addicts". I say, just play the guitar and stop thinking about it, unless you enjoy worrying about it.

 

But look on the bright side, you can still try every pedal known to man and compare the different sounds until you go crazy or go broke.

[ten56gibby]

If you dig the ME-50's amp modeling - fx loop

If you dig the C30's gain and primarily use the ME-50's Overdrive/Distortion modeling - straight in the front

[DRPool]

Wow, lots of good stuff here. I'm going to try the ME-50 in the loop and do some experimenting. I'm trying to make it easy without having to reconfigure a ton of stuff and still take advantage of the C30's tone.