So I’m still confused on something about the ps-2a. I don’t have an amp right now so I’m using my pedal board into the ps-2a as a power amp. I run my guitar>bufferd splitter>overdrive pedal>distortion pedal>eq pedal>noise gate pedal>into fx loop return of the power amp. I tried using the line in but my sound is dark and muddy. And a lot of my distortion pedals are preamps so I was advice they work best in the fx loop return only.
So my question is, do I use the fx loop on H and my volume input on “h”? Because when I set my fx loop on “l” with the input volume on either low or high, the sound is choked. So to use it as pedal format do I stick with the fx loop on h? And the volume input on h?
The front panel input level allows the PS-2A to work well with a range of low- and high-wattage amps going into AMP IN. But you are not using that input. So for you this should have no effect. You want to just pay attention to the back panel. Typically, guitar amp pedals are low-level devices, so LO would be the best option here. If you are working with a preamp or a line-level signal, then you would select high-level. It all comes down to the level the final device is putting out. I think you should experiment. First no pedal; just put your guitar into the FX return with LO setting level. Now add one pedal at a time…
So I’m a little confused by your reply. I run my overdrive/distortion/eq pedal>noise gate into the fx loop return of of the ps-2a. When I put in “lo” the pedals and the sound is really muddy and mono sounding. But when I put the “hi” on then it sounds a little bit better but the loudness comes crashing hard. I’m using a fortin overdrive>boss metal zone or Airis effects 51-filthy pedal>eq pedal>fortin zuul>into the fx loop return. I’m using no amp modelers.
Is this the right way? Because like I said when I turn it on “lo” is very muddy and mono.
Yes, it is a little confusing! On the back panel LO should be used for “guitar level” signals and HI should be used for line-level signals.
The odd thing here is that the tone changes. I would normally expect things to sound the same on both HI/LO settings, just one will be best in terms of levels.
So there is something going on we don’t understand.
I think you need to simplify the setup and debug this.
Connect your guitar to FX RETURN
Connect SPKR OUT to cab.
Turn on PS-2A
How is the sound? It should sound very clean, maybe a bit mellow jazzy (depending on guitar).
Now add one pedal:
Guitar connects to pedal
Pedal to FX RETURN
(Other connections the same)
How does this sound?
Keep on going until you discover the muddy sounds you don’t like.
Thank you for your continued patience. So I did try your recommendations and I still feel I’m getting that mono muddy sound out of the fx loop return in the lo settings on the back. Do you think running pedals in the fx loop on hi is making them too hot? Almost unsafe?
So my question is still, running my pedal chain into the back on the fx loop return, is the fryette made for that for pedals? Or em I overloading it? Because like I said prior the line in for my pedals sound dark but the fx loop on hi is ear blistering, but on lo is still sound dark and mono.
Again thank you for replies. I really want this to work out.
Yes, it does sound like your pedal signal is quite hot. HI setting on the back panel is intended for hot sources (line level), so that should be a good match. Can you get the HI setting to work at a reasonable volume level? If so, can you turn down the output from the last pedal in the chain to compensate?
But with such huge change when you go to LO I am now wondering if there is a problem with the switch.
Can you capture the LO (bad sound) and the HI (good sound) just with your guitar going into FX RETURN? And maybe one preamp pedal?
If the LO is clearly unusable then we need to arrange a service.
I can try to make a video through my iPhone to show you this request. I’m not sure if it does much justice but I can give it a try. Do I post it on here? Or send an email?
IMO I think the lo seems to work properly. I just think it’s doing its job by cutting the sound down.