Boost To Fix Singal Loss w/Long Cables

[RAILhead]

Gathering opinions again...

We're about to tweak the way our stage is setup, and when we do, we're going to be introducing some long cable runs. The basic setup will be something like this:

Guitar > Pedal Board > 50ft cable to Amp > Miked Amp

The 50ft is what has me mildly concerned. What type of boost do you guys use or suggest for this situation? Just a basic preamp right after the pedals and before the cable run? Active DI? Hamsters?

Thanks!

[dumeril7]

You don't really need a boost. Just something with a buffer. You could take any Boss pedal, insert it at the beginning of your pedalboard, and just leave it off. The bypassed output is still buffered and will deal with the long cable run. If you want to go the expensive route and get a really high quality buffer, then I'd suggest looking at the VHT Valvulator.

D7

[speed12]

Barber Launch Pad would do the same if you wanted something with an actual boost. You could also use it for the 'amp cooking' method David Barber reccomends.

Look in the 'barber shop' forum on the barber website for details.

VERY good and VERY versatile pedal, so that would be my bet!

[RAILhead]

Sweet, thanks.

[Highway Jones]

got any soldering skills? Buffers are easy and very inexpensive to build. Sounds like you need an "always on" option between board and amp.

www.generalguitargadgets.com

[gtrfinder]

50ft wont make a terrible dent in what you hear live, but I imagine there will be some softening of the high frequencies. Of course whatever / however your pedalboard is designed may compound this.
I second the notion of the Barber Launch Pad, but there are some other good ones out there. Xotic's RC Booster, RGW BadBob, etc...

[Hamer95USA]

Hey RAILhead,

VHT Valvulator tube buffer/power supply. One of the best investments you can make on your pedalboard. It's able to restore your signal even in long cable runs. I have 2 of them on 2 different pedalboards. I would also recommend the Axcess Electronics BS-2 buffer/splitter as well.

Guitar George

[John Phillips]

Boss TU-2 at the end of the pedalboard. I'm not certain, but the TU-2's buffer seems a little better than some other Boss pedals for this job - I don't know why, and I could be wrong, it's just an impression I got when I swapped my board around for 'musical' reasons and ended up with the TU-2 there.

It also makes a handy mute switch for changing guitars and killing all noise from the pedalboard during breaks, and it's even usable as a tuner .

[iggs]

Xotic RC Booster at pedalboard end of chain. Works for me! :AOK

Never tried these but seems like it would be a great option:
http://www.radialeng.com/re-sgi.htm

[funkycam]

what about a wireless?
Tonal issues aside, 50 feet of cable seems like such a headache & my guess is that tonal degradation may be comparible between the two....
Best
Cam

[Chadley]

+1 on the Launch Pad. I use one for this very issue with my set up. Very handy utility pedal to have around.

I use mine at the very end of my chain. Output 1 goes to my rackmount tuner. Output 2 goes to my amp. When I switch the Launch Pad off it mutes whatever is going to my amp and just goes to the tuner. So I can tune silently and not have to have a tuner in my signal chain. Works like a dream.

The buffer sounds really good as well. It also allows you to "cook" the front end of your amp a bit too if desired. If you are happy with your stage volume but want just a bit more hair on your sound, just turn up the intensity knob on the Launch Pad and you are there.

[RAILhead]

The Launch Pad is looking pretty sweet. I wonder how much pulling the strobo out of the chain would help -- I'm liking the idea...

[dosmun]

Why do you need 50'? You won't really be able to hear your rig faithfully at that distance. More info please. Not trying to rag on you but that is a long way even on the biggest pro stages.

[RAILhead]

Church setting, and we're killing stage noise. The amps will be boxed in isolators and moved off stage, and we'll hear them through monitors.

[John Phillips]

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I wonder how much pulling the strobo out of the chain would help

None - and in fact, if you set it to buffered bypass instead of 'true' bypass, it will solve your cable load problem anyway. I would put the buffer at the end of the pedalboard if possible, but it will still work earlier on if that's where you prefer to have the tuner. As long as there is at least one buffer somewhere between the guitar and the 50' cable, you're fine.