Have an idea, but need some input......

[axeman323]

:idea:
alright, coming back form deployment im splurging some and getting a Marcshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 head with an AVT412 celestion cab....

i have a GT-6 and love the clean effects i can get out of it, but im wanting that marshall for its raw tube power....

is there a way to be using the GT-6 while on the amps clean channel, but to bypass the GT-6 completely when i use the marshall's footswitch to go to the overdrive channel, so that its only the marshall im hearing??

dont know much about effects loops or anyhting like that, always just plugged in and enjoyed playing. but it seems that im going to have to learn some to optimize my sound here.

can somebody help me out? guide me in the right direction and tell me what i need to do???

[DIRTEEMONKEE]

Sup axe welcome back....here is an excellent article 4leja.......wrote should answer all your questions.....I ve found the search feature at the top of the page an excellent resource........and you get your info quicker......


here ya go:

What is the 4 cable method?

The four cable method (FCM for future reference) is a way of connecting your GT-6 to a Head or a Combo amp. It’s recommended for situations such as when you are satisfied with the tone you are getting with your current amplifier, and only wish to add effects and be able to control the effects placing in your setup. For example: You want to add Delay and Chorus to your sound and also some compression, and you wish to add the time based effects (Delay and Chorus) in between the Preamp and Power amp sections (in the Effects Loop of the amplifier), but you want the compressor to be the first effect in the chain (just after the guitar and before the amp, same applies with WAH or any other effect). Normally this would not be possible by simply connecting the GT-6 left out (mono) to the amps input (the traditional way of hooking things up). But with the FCM your Head/combo preamp’s tone goes into the effects loop of the GT-6, making it another element in the chain, therefore giving you the capabilities of placing other effects before or after it. So you will be able to use your amp’s tone and the GT-6 for effects. The preamp simulators of the GT-6 can be used also, bypassing your Amp/head’s preamp too (just like if you connected your GT-6 directly to the effects return or the power amp in, which bypasses your Amp’s preamp and it’s controls, letting the Power amp run wide open, which I’ll address as the Effects Return Method). So the FCM is a mix between the traditional method and the Effects Return Method, offering the best of both for better control of your sound.

OK, I understand now, but how do I actually set it up?

Well, it’s really easy once you understand the concept.

1. Turn ON your OD/DS and set it to EXTERNAL (this will engage the GT-6’s Effects Loop).
2. Connect your Guitar to the GT-6’s INPUT.
3. Connect a cable from the GT-6’s EXTERNAL SEND to your amps INPUT.
4. Connect a cable from your amp’s EFFECTS SEND to the GT-6’s EXTERNAL RETURN.
5. Connect a cable from the GT-6’s LEFT OUT (mono) to your amp’s EFFECTS RETURN.

Once you are set remember that:

· The controls of your amp will respond as they do normally, you will control the overall volume with your amp’s Master Volume.
· Your amp’s controls will be bypassed when you are NOT using the OD/DS (EXTERNAL). That is why you have to match the levels on both your amp and gt-6 to be able to switch between channels and using the GT-6’s preamps too without a difference in volume (even between patches).
· The DRIVE and LEVEL controls on the OD/DS module act as SEND LEVEL and RETURN LEVEL for EXTERNAL (GT-6’s effects loop) purposes, so a good starting point would be setting them both to 50.
· Start slowly with all the levels and be patient, the tone is there somewhere.
· If you are going to use your amp’s tone I suggest that you turn the PREAMP/SPEAKER SIM OFF. This is done pressing the Preamp/Speaker button once until the light is OFF.

So, to do what was suggested in the first example, you should:

· Follow all the steps and set all your levels.
· Dial in the sound you want in your amp.
· Activate chorus and delay, and also compressor.
· Press the NAME/NS/MAASTER button 5 times, you will reach the FX Chain setup. There simply move the little dude to the leftmost part of the screen and check if the CS (compressor) is there, if not, press the FX-1 button to locate it there, same with Delay and Chorus, which you will have to situate AFTER the OD/DS in the chain (therefore in your amps effects loop).
· Set up your tones now that you have the desired effects placing.
· Remember that you won’t be able to use any OD/DS on the GT-6 when you are using the EXTERNAL on the GT-6, this is a bit of a bummer. A preamp sim can be used as a OD/DS if desired, just remember to switch the Speaker sim OFF and see If you like the sound better.

On the other hand, if you wish to use a Preamp sim on the GT-6 (say, on another patch) just set the patch normally but remember to have your OD/DS either OFF or set to a simulation (Distortion for example), not to External. And obviously have a Preamp sim ON.

Also, some amps have SERIAL effects loops and some have PARALLEL effects loops, the SERIAL is the most common, and the PARALLEL is included on some higher end (not always) amps, this kind of effects loop lets you control the MIX of your Dry (unaffected) and Wet (effected) signal, for FCM purposes I would recommend you set it anywhere from 75% to 100%, as 100% acts the same as a serial effects loop.

[axeman323]

thanks alot man, heard alot about the four cable method, but that is the best that i have seen ti explained. you have really helped me out alot. just went from just pluging in and playing to getting into a technical aspect of it. too bad it took me 8 yearts to do so. thanks alot again.

[Anonymous]

Glad to help Axe........thats what this forum is all about :D

[DIRTEEMONKEE]

damn I hate when that happens.......( :lol: log in :lol: )