Using studio outboard gear with guitars

[Dave Eason]

Hi there,

I was just wondering, as a better version and follow up to my previous question about the mofx, what you'd recomend to do to run studio outboard in a guitar amp effects loop, or to plug the guitar into, then the unit into the amp.  I have the mofx, and I'm thinking of getting a Line 6 EchoPro and graphic equaliser to go with it, which will sit inside the effects loop of the Fender hotrod deluxe.  As it is, any outboard gear just sounds horrifically noisy and terrible when placed in the effects loop.  I need some kind of box I believe, much like a DI, but more of a preamp to create the signal compatability between gear types.  Any ideas would be hugely appreciated,

Dave

[MartyMart]

I guess it depends on the setup of the "send/return" on your amp.
I use a Boss SE70 in my loop, set at +4Db on the SE70 and it works very well
and is "Uber-quiet" ( as far as noise goes that is! )
Could be that your send/return is at -10Db, so you'd need a rack FX with this switchable to
match the required levels.
Otherwise a gain boost front and back would be required to lift up and match the FX rack.
The Line6 racks work at either +4 or -10 so they shouldn't be a problem

MM.

[Dave Eason]

aha, cheers, yeah, the Electrix mofx unit runs at +4 dBu, but is noisy as hell.  I am guessing it needs a boost (as in the preamp output of the fender)?

Would impedance create problems?  I'm guessing the send of the amp (preamp out) is relatively low impedance anway, although saying that, we're not dealing with internal op amps, it's all tubes, and I'm not sure what the output impedance of a tube is like;  relatively high I'd think?  It's more of a voltage controlled thing than a current one like a bipolar tranny etc right?