Can someone please explain

[Clive Hugh]

I have a Fender Twin model with the red knobs (the amp, not me).
If I plug the guitar (Strat with 2 H/B's, no effects, into channel 1 which has 2 inputs and plug a short lead into same channel but not connected to anything at the other end, the volume drops considerably. It is a nice sound with plenty of compression. Why is there the volume drop, anyone know?

 

[Track Rat]

Just a guess but I'd say it changes the impedence and there by the load to the input. If one of the input has a resistor on it (for a higher output instrument) that would account for that.

 

[Clive Hugh]

Just a guess but I'd say it changes the impedence and there by the load to the input. If one of the input has a resistor on it (for a higher output instrument) that would account for that.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that, I'll swap inputs and see if there is any difference.
Whilst on the subject of the guitar anmd amp, I have noticed an annoying electrical click when I am playing, especially when I am muting the strings with the right hand at the bridge and chunking RNB style, it seems to be either an earth problem or mybe the positive, but I think more earth.

If I rest my palm on the bridge and tap the pickguard it will make the sound too, but it seems to be when I break hand contact. Any clues? I've checked the soldered joints, they seemed OK, just to be sure I did them again. It is not there immediately when I start playing but after about 15 seconds I start to notice it, like a build up of static.
Clive

 

[Clive Hugh]

Clive if you can read schematics a bit the link below will get you to a site to download a schematic for the Twin. not sure which model you have. I looked at a couple and there are resistors between the input jacks that appear would drop the signal if you plugged into the 2nd jack. Weird sort of way to configure the jacks, but there must have been a reason behind it.


http://www.schematicheaven.com/

Thanks,
I guess there must be a reasoning behind it, I'm going to solve the problem by making up a splitter box so I can feed two amps and jump between channels on the twin. I solved the earthing problem in the guitar, I resoldered everything, including those I hadn't touched, I really went over the earth on the spring block in the back, it took a lot of heat but I got it, don't know where but one of them was the offender. Strat with SH '59's through a Twin is very tasty.
Clive

 

[Dani Pace]

I've been into Fender amps for years so I'm well aware of what you are talking about. The difference in the 2 inputs is like this, the left one is for passive and the right is for active pickups. Also the circuitry allows you to plug your guitar into the left input, then use the right input to line out (slave) to another amp. When using efx units with them you can use either input, sometimes (depending on the efx box) the right input will sound better, especially if the efx unit has a preamp or power boost built in. If you prefer the lower volume simply plug into the right input instead of the left one. Hope this helps.

 

[Clive Hugh]

I've been into Fender amps for years so I'm well aware of what you are talking about. The difference in the 2 inputs is like this, the left one is for passive and the right is for active pickups. Also the circuitry allows you to plug your guitar into the left input, then use the right input to line out (slave) to another amp. When using efx units with them you can use either input, sometimes (depending on the efx box) the right input will sound better, especially if the efx unit has a preamp or power boost built in. If you prefer the lower volume simply plug into the right input instead of the left one. Hope this helps.

Dani, this is exactly what I was wanting to do, use the rt.input to slave out to another amp. Question, when you do this do you just get a guitar signal the same as you are feeding in or is it boosted/coloured by the amp in any way?
I made up a 3 way splitter box today, one lead is thru, the other 2 outputs are switchable, but if I can slave from the 2nd. input thats the way to go.
Clive

 

[Track Rat]

I'm pretty sure that the using that input to drive a slave amp will be a passive parallel split of the guitar and not colored (except for any impedence issues which could color the sound) by the amp. What I mean is if the amp was in driven to distortion, the slave amp would not, etc.

 

[Clive Hugh]

I'm pretty sure that the using that input to drive a slave amp will be a passive parallel split of the guitar and not colored (except for any impedence issues which could color the sound) by the amp. What I mean is if the amp was in driven to distortion, the slave amp would not, etc.

Thanks,
I'll try it out later, I have been gearing up for the first gig with our revamped band and using 2 amps was how I wanted to go.
Clive

 

[turnitdown]

annoying electrical click when I am playing, especially when I am muting the strings with the right hand at the bridge and chunking RNB style, it seems...

Are you sure you're not hitting the polepiece w/ the string??? If your pickup is too high, this will often happen when palm muting.... just a thought....

 

[Clive Hugh]

Clive,
Is it a popping, crackling sort of noise ? It's been a while, but does this old thread sound similiar?

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=112300&highlight=strat+static

No it was an earth sound, I could also get it from tapping on the pickguard, but with resoldering the bugger went.

 

[Dani Pace]

Clive, when you use the right input to slave out to a second amp the sound is NOT colored or affected in any way by the first amp, basically it works just like a splitter. The settings on one amp should not affect the other in any way.

 

[Clive Hugh]

Clive, when you use the right input to slave out to a second amp the sound is NOT colored or affected in any way by the first amp, basically it works just like a splitter. The settings on one amp should not affect the other in any way.

Dani, I tried it and it is what I wanted, thanks, amazing isn't it, I've been playing in bands since I was 16, nearly 61 and I'm still learning all the time.

Clive

 

[ggunn]

Dani, I tried it and it is what I wanted, thanks, amazing isn't it, I've been playing in bands since I was 16, nearly 61 and I'm still learning all the time.

Clive

It's great to hear from someone still out there doing it who is even older than I am! Keep it up, Clive; us old farts gotta stick together!

 

[Clive Hugh]

It's great to hear from someone still out there doing it who is even older than I am! Keep it up, Clive; us old farts gotta stick together!

We have a 3 pce plus singer, guitar, bass and drums. I'm the oldest at 60, the bass player is 54 and the drummer is 48. The singer is my daughter and she's a child being 32.
Still we've paid our dues and were are out simply to have a good time.

 

[Dani Pace]

Three cheers for us older guys!!! OK I'm younger than you are, but not much. The guys I play with (mostly) are all in their late 40s and early 50s, we don't jump around and scream like we did in our 20s but we play better music and still have fun doing it. I've been in and out of bands since age 14 and don't plan to give it up till they pry my guitar out of my cold dead hands. When I get ready for the rocking chair on the poarch...I'll just play sitting down.