Proper clean blending techniques

[spargo]

I'm looking to add a blender to an effect so I can mix the Wet/Dry signals.  Would it be most elegant to have the volume pot control the OVERALL volume, after the signal has had its blend knob set?  Or would it be nicer to take the clean signal and blend it with the effect AFTER the effect's volume adjustment?

I'm having a go at the b.blender (the minimal blender) and utilizing an unused half of an op-amp.  But when I wire it up, it acts funny, I get big variations in volume from one end to the other, and there's some very odd crackling/ticking on one end of the blend pot that isn't there without the blender.  Any ideas?  Or suggestions for another blend option?  A low parts count is very important.

[Mike Burgundy]

Might be a good idea to include a total schem (say fuzz+blend). I think the bblender is positive phase, right? Weird volume behaviour on the blend pot can be caused by the main signal and clean blend being out of phase, so if the blend circuit has no phase difference, but the main circuit ends up with a 180 degree phase shift.... Crackle could indicate DC - does it crackle when you turn the pot, but not when you leave it alone? DC on the pot. If it crackles even when you don't twiddle the pot something else is wrong, and the whole debugging routine comes into play.

[R.G.]

Panning for Fun, Geofex.

[spargo]

It doesn't crackle when turning, just when set at specific locations.  I'll take a look at that on Geofex.

[runmikeyrun]

I can't solve your technical problem, but I use a clean blend on my bass.  I run my distortion pedal and clean signal via direct box into a Y adapter, then to the preamp, which controls overall volume to the power amp.  So in essence, two independent channels ultimately controlled by one "volume knob" of sorts.  You can do it either way, I don't think it makes much difference, whatever you find most convenient.

[spargo]

Not a bad idea, but I want it to be part of the effect in the same box.

[tyronethebig]

I've just started bass for some guys and have been looking at lots of blending articles. No offense to anyone, but I pretty much scrap any ideas until I understand RG's take on the matter. Heck even if I don't understand at first I just take his word for it! For that I thank you sir

[erikb1971]

something like this: http://www.guitarpcb.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1320462?

[runmikeyrun]

I've just started bass for some guys and have been looking at lots of blending articles. No offense to anyone, but I pretty much scrap any ideas until I understand RG's take on the matter. Heck even if I don't understand at first I just take his word for it! For that I thank you sir

R.G. is the man but there's lot of good advice on here, so don't discredit the rest of us