This has become something I'm interested in since I've been playing around with my HZD driver pedal at higher boost levels (much waffling in another thread).
I've found that the Boss chorus pedals particularly do not like anything over about one volt peak-to-peak or they distort. I was running a CH-5 as the stereo split and it was the worst. CE-3 a little better, and CH-1 the best.
But I put an EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress in place of the Boss chorus and it opened the pedal chain up by allowing full boost (several volts peak-to-peak) with no distortion. Presumably this is because the EHX power adapter is about 24 volts giving the pedal lots of headroom.
It is becoming an interesting exploration - what is the pedal chain that works best with very high signal levels? High signal level sounds great into a tube amp.... I'm starting to understand how some guys get such solid tone for their clean sound.
So far it looks like the DD-2 is OK with high signal levels. As is the EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress. Does anyone have experience with other modulation pedals that work OK with high signal levels?
If you go back to your pro-audio sound gear/guy days, you will remember that most pro audio gear is running +/- 15VDC power rails. this is defiantly to for the headroom that you talk about.
Some bigger desks, even run higher rails. most of the stuff i see for repair is running typically +/-15VDC.
Just looking at the specs on the JRC4558 it can handle split rail voltages of +/-22 to +/-36VDC (depending on the supplier). and the inputs can handle Vin of +/-15VDC.
in Boss pedals the main limitation is the 9 volt battery. if you check the new Digitech range of pedals thay have a DC to DC step-up converter built in, so the pedal can run hotter signals.
if you have the EHX DEM sch. it would be interesting to see.
Great topic Laurie. Trying really hard to use the shift key again.
i wouldn't do it that long of espceially vintage ones you might burn it out.But what you are saying does work
Hi zerksies! It won't burn anythng out - this is really about how hot can the input signal be before the pedal distorts. Some pedals have a much higher signal capability than others...
The Boss pedals like the Ce-2/3 seem to have the least headroom with 9v. I think this is because they use a brute force pre-emphasis/de-emphasis type of noise reduction. The other problem is that the dry signal is alway passing thru the boost/cut even when the effect is bypassed. The EM uses a 15 regulator so there is a split rail of 7.5/7.5 vDC. there are a couple of things you can do to help. 1. Run your pedals on 12vDC. Not quite as good as 15 but better than crappy 9V. I know, I know somebody will say " you can't do that kid, you'll burn yor pedal out!". The fact is you CAN run most Boss pedals on 12 volts with no problems. I have run my CE-2 and CS-1 pedals on a 12vdc regulated supply for years. Most of the caps are rated 16-25v and the IC's are rated much higher. If your not sure look at the schematic or open the pedal and check. BTW if you have a ACA type pedal there is an 11 volt zener diode in the power supply circuit. Take it out.. 2. use an effects loop with variable send and return levels. Most quality guitar amps and preamps use this kind of loop that allows you to knock down the signal going to the effects and then boost it back up to the original level. You can build one of these types of loops for your pedal board from a standard IC. RG Keen has a design for one on his site. There are also some commercial units available, I think VOX used to make one.
High signal level pedals...anyone have experience?
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 04:08:36
