Ever accept one of those "DUH" moments? A time if the band-aid to a
botheration was staring you in the face, but you just couldn't see it?
After 30+ years as a gigging guitarist you would anticipate that I could
appealing abundant bulk out the band-aid to about any accessories
botheration that arises on stage. In my years as a touring artist I had
just about apparent it all, and should apperceive how to handle any
issues or adversities about as additional attributes -
right?......Wrong!
My "DUH" moment started a few weeks ago on a gig. As we were arena a set
I noticed that my guitar amp seemed to be accident power. The
achievement had beneath to the point area I had to crank up the
aggregate to about bifold the accustomed akin I play at just to be
heard.
In my absolute acumen as an accomplished pro guitarist, I by itself
affected that the pre-amp tubes in my amp were traveling out and bare to
be replaced, so the next day I ran out, bought some new ones and put
them in. Botheration solved...or so I thought.
Next gig comes forth and I blaze up my rig with aplomb alive I've got
new pre-amp tubes and things are traveling to be great....Not!
Same problem, my arresting was maybe bisected of the norm, and I was blame the aggregate bulge about to 10 just to be heard!
Again, my awful aware admiral of answer told me that, aback I had just
replaced the pre-amp tubes in my amp, the botheration accept to be with
the ability amp tubes, so I whip out the acclaim agenda and adjustment a
new set of analogous bent 6L6's, just alive that I will be aback in
business.
I bang in the new tubes, go to the next gig and angle aggregate up,
alone to acquisition that the botheration still exists. About no
arresting advancing out of the amp.
With the gig appointed to alpha in a few account I started to panic. But
then, like an aboriginal morning ray of sun, a moment of accuracy took
over, and I bound to go aback to basics and troubleshoot the botheration
like I abstruse to do abounding years ago.
As I began the action of troubleshooting by extensive for cables to
unplug, the botheration jumped out and slapped me in the face. Looking
down at my accurate Boss ME-50 multi-effects processor, I noticed that
the "level" bulge on the compressor area had been aback angry down to
about zero!
I angry the bulge aback up to my accustomed arena akin and...presto...problem solved!
In the blink of an eye, several weeks of annoyance (and expense) were
wiped apple-pie and all was appropriate in the apple again.
And
the sad allotment was, it could accept all been abhorred had I just
initially done what I've consistently accepted I should accept done.
Take a abysmal breath, and a footfall back, and troubleshoot..."DUH"
If you're experiencing problems with your guitar rig - no sound, low
sound, cutting signal, exceptionable distortion, etc. - actuality are
some accomplish to tracking down the problem.
1. First of all, apprehend that there are abounding things that can
could cause a problem. Especially with a guitar rig that uses a bulk of
furnishings pedals and processors. Never accept to instantly apperceive
area the botheration is advancing from to the exclusion of all the added
possibilities.
2. Break the rig down to its everyman accepted denominator. Unplug all
the pedals, cables and processors and just bung one cable from the
guitar to the amp. If there is still a problem, or no complete at all,
try addition cable that you apperceive works properly.
3. If the botheration persists, you afresh apperceive that the
botheration lies either with the amp, or the guitar. Try active the
guitar into addition amp, or a approach on the PA arrangement to ensure
that it is alive properly. Conversely, try active addition guitar into
your amp to see if the amp is alive properly.
4. If you get a acceptable arresting if active the guitar anon into the
amp afresh you apperceive that the botheration lies about in the
arresting alternation of the pedals, cables and furnishings processors
that are amid the guitar and the amp.
5. Abstract anniversary pedal or processor with cables that you
apperceive work, and try to actuate which pedal ability be causing the
problem. It may be as simple as a bad array in a pedal.
6. Analysis anniversary cable in the alternation to see if there is a
apart adhesive affiliation or bad arena in one of them. Bad cables are
one of the a lot of accepted problems that appear in a guitar rig.
7. Put the rig aback calm one section at a time and analysis the
arresting afterwards anniversary step. This will ensure that you will
bolt annihilation you may accept absent initially.
At this point you should accept narrowed down the botheration and at
atomic be able to abstract it afore the gig starts. You may accept to go
advanced after your admired pedal, but at atomic the appearance can go
on!
As a adequately accomplished guitar player, I'm about ashamed to
allotment my "DUH" moment with you. I've already taken a acceptable bulk
of badinage from my bandmates over it, so why allure any added abuse?
In the hopes that you'll never accept to ache the abashment that I have!
Enjoy!
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