| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
stomper
Copper Member
USA
37 Posts |
 Posted - 11/01/2008 : 19:48:20
|
Hi. I read a thread here about a mixer to tone down the PH-1r. Nice idea, but is there also an internal mod to bring down the volume and fatness when the effect is on?
I love the sound of the pedal, but sometimes it's too much. I'm using it for bass, and it really boosts the lows.
Thanks for any info. Here's the other thread I was reading:
http://www.bossarea.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5002
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 20:21:44
|
| An erxternal mixer is about the only viable option... |
 |
|
|
verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 20:23:17
|
Or a Ge-6/7 or PQ-4 right after it..
I'd advise against modding a PH-1r. |
|
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 22:35:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by verivorax
Or a Ge-6/7 or PQ-4 right after it..
I'd advise against modding a PH-1r.
I second that. and you all know how much i like my modded pedalsit is just to rare to mess with. |
|
|
|
stomper
Copper Member
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 23:41:43
|
Guys, thanks for the info and your wisdom. I think I might need to try a different phaser. I was in the studio today giving the PH-1r a spin, and it is impossible for me to record with it. I think the problem is lack of headroom. Notes in the low and mid ranges just fuzz out no matter what I do with EQ and levels.
The problem is much more pronounced during recording. Live through the amp, it's somewhat noticeable but not bad enough to bother me. As soon as I ran a line into the board, I heard the problem magnified.
This is too bad, because I really love the sound and character of this phaser. My bass has 18-volt active electronics, and they are hotter than your average pickups. Just a challenge I have to work around. For this reason, I also cannot use a Phase 90 or any number of other phasers. It's hard to find a phaser with enough headroom.
So how does the PH-2 compare with the PH-1r? I had a PH-2 many years ago and always used it in Mode II. I remember it as very noisy and thin. I never used Mode I. Does Mode I sound anything like a PH-1r, possibly with more headroom?
Then there's the PH-3. I tried one in a store recently and liked it on only one of its settings (I think the 10-stage setting). All the other modes sounded very digital to me. Hmm, back to the drawing board.
Thanks again.
|
|
|
|
ChristoMephisto
Platinum Member
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 23:46:19
|
The only mod to date I would do on the PH-1r is the CE-2's version of a Hi-fidilaty mod, basically replacing the old caps with newer and better caps.
Off the top of my head tho...
The schems at geofex are the only one I now of, and it has no referece designators. If you were follow the same as the CE-2 and BF-2's mod for adding a Effect level pot to a resistor. On the CE2 its R22(47k) on the BF2 its a R29(27k)
Looking at the PH1r, it looks like it maybe the 22k to the right of IC1A
As the resistance increases, the wet signal is turned down, try a 100k pot |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 02:52:05
|
Hi stomper
Welcome to the forum from Australia.
The first thought I had was, I'll bet he's using active or REALLY Hot pickups.
And I think a lot of people missed that you are using it with an ACTIVE BASS.
You could try doubling all the values of the Input-Output & Inter-stage caps,
as thew PH-1r was not really designed pass the the low frequencies of a bass.
Essentially, that's what Boss did with the CE-2B Bass Chorus.
I know they also added a mix control.
The Fuzz-Dist. Fizzing is most likely from excessive input into the PH-1r, from your 18V active bass signal.
You will have similar problems with other Phasers that are specifically designed for 6 string guitar.
Good Luck
Regards Dr. Bob
|
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 11/02/2008 02:52:23 |
|
|
|
stomper
Copper Member
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 03:08:25
|
Dr. Bob, yes, you're right, very hot pickups. The MXR Phase 100 is among the few phasers that will handle my output. It's a great phaser, but I prefer the sound of the PH-1r -- when it's not fuzzing out. I also prefer the Boss pedal design with silent switching, etc.
My active electronics have trim pots inside, and I might experiment with turning them down. I like a hot signal, but maybe I can compromise a little. I'm also going to try a used PH-3 since they are so easy to find. When I tried one at a music shop, I noticed there was no fuzzing out. Soundwise, I did not like it as much as the PH-1r, but again, I might have to compromise somewhere.
Any comments on the PH-2? I know it's also an analog phaser. Does it have any more headroom than the PH-1r?
Thanks to everyone for all the good info. Glad I happened upon this nice forum!
|
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 12:34:48
|
Hi stomper
I was just reading your reply in the DD-7 thread.
It seems you are having a few problems with how hot your 18V active bass signal is.
I didn't want to go off topic over there.
So I will post my questions here.
Just how hot is the signal out of your active bass?
And what is the output Impedance of your Bass?
Do you have some ACTUAL Spec. on it, maybe from the owner manual,
or maybe their web page?
Boss & most other pedals are designed for low level signals,
from Hi-Z (Z = Impedance) source like pickups.
From my experience with active electronics, Active pickups are usually,
a Lo-Z source, just how Lo-Z, I don't know?
Low-Z signals will go much further along longer guitar cables, & definitely suffer (Less High frequency Loss's) than what we get with our Hi-Z unbuffered pickups.
This is one of the reasons you see a lot of pro muso's using FET or
Transistor buffer pedals, typically FET type buffers.
I myself use a Hi-Z to Lo-Z FET buffer, that I designed some years Back, It's one of my secret weapons, when I was playing live, or recording.
Although I designed it for "Unity Gain 1-in-1-out signal level", with an
internal option to trim it a fraction higher, for really long cable runs.
I'll bet even money, that your active Bass Kicks some Serious Butt tone wise.
I know Laurie is an exponent of active bass systems.
Regards Dr. Bob
|
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 12:34:59
|
Hi stomper
I was just reading your reply in the DD-7 thread.
It seems you are having a few problems with how hot your 18V active bass signal is.
I didn't want to go off topic over there.
So I will post my questions here.
Just how hot is the signal out of your active bass?
And what is the output Impedance of your Bass?
Do you have some ACTUAL Spec. on it, maybe from the owner manual,
or maybe their web page?
Boss & most other pedals are designed for low level signals,
from Hi-Z (Z = Impedance) source like pickups.
From my experience with active electronics, Active pickups are usually,
a Lo-Z source, just how Lo-Z, I don't know?
Low-Z signals will go much further along longer guitar cables, & definitely suffer (Less High frequency Loss's) than what we get with our Hi-Z unbuffered pickups.
This is one of the reasons you see a lot of pro muso's using FET or
Transistor buffer pedals, typically FET type buffers.
I myself use a Hi-Z to Lo-Z FET buffer, that I designed some years Back, It's one of my secret weapons, when I was playing live, or recording.
Although I designed it for "Unity Gain 1-in-1-out signal level", with an
internal option to trim it a fraction higher, for really long cable runs.
I'll bet even money, that your active Bass Kicks some Serious Butt tone wise.
I know Laurie is an exponent of active bass systems.
Regards Dr. Bob
|
|
|
|
stomper
Copper Member
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 14:52:54
|
Hi, Dr. Bob.
Thanks for all the good info. Yes, I am aware of these things, and I've had different experiences with active pups.
My previous axe had 9v EMG guts, and they were actually very weak, weaker than standard passive guitar pups. For this reason, I had trouble getting the tone I wanted. I use all-tube amps, hand-built custom. They are designed for clean, high-headroom tone, so a hot signal helps them come alive.
My new axe has 18v pups, and last night I messed around with the trim pots inside. It was a nice breakthrough. I am now able to use the PH-1r with no clipping in the highs and mids. Only the extreme lows (down to low B) are somewhat distorted if I hit them hard.
So this is good news. I am still curious about the PH-2 and PH-3, and I plan to try one or both just for comparison. However, even if I stick with the PH-1r in the end, I think it's going to work out.
The compromise is a little loss in output volume from the instrument. The good news is that the tone is not affected. I just have to turn the amps up a notch. No big deal.
What I have found is that Boss pedals in general can handle hotter signals than boutiques and other mass-produced pedals. There are exceptions, of course, but I mean in general. I have owned dozens of high-end boutique pedals, and they are great. But Boss pedals have some advantages, and I am enjoying exploring them again after not having owned any for a long time.
I started out on Boss pedals when I was a kid in the early 1980s (DM-2 was my first pedal ever). Funny how things cycle around and eventually "bring us home."
Sorry, I don't know the exact specs on my pickups. I would have to ask the builder. It's a custom, handmade instrument.
Thanks again for all the help and info. For now, I've solved most of the problem, and if I can improve things a little more in the future, then all the better. Now I'm off to try some more Boss pedals!
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
PH-1r mods?
