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Post by colin on Jun 25, 2009 22:07:00 GMT
Hello Charlie,and everyone else....
I am new to the site,and would like to ask a question regarding my EFTP Q2, I play my japanese 57 strat through a fender hot-rod deluxe amp, but I struggle time after time to get a good acceptable( to my ears ) tone out of the Q2....I have the left&right channel knobs on the input- lined up together, what I would like to know is...what is the ideal position of the input & output control knobs,when the meter shows the signal,at its best I only get the bottom 2 leds(green) light up ,and only if I play really hard ,turn the output as high as possible--or dampen the strings do I occasionally get it to rise up to the next level ..never goes up to the red, ok- so I am playing at home as most of us do, I belong the Scarborough shadows guitar club,and most of our members have the same Q2s,as well as the one we use at club meetings..yet no one seems to be experiencing similar dilema....or is it me
Cheers Colin
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jun 25, 2009 22:27:59 GMT
Hi Colin,
The tone doesn't really change with different input and output settings but they do need to be set correctly. First, adjusting the output control makes no difference to the indicated level on the lights. The input level control is monitored with the LED indicators and only the guitar level (including the way you play) and the input level can change it.
Set the output control to between 12 and 1 o' clock (just over halfway). This setting is to ensure that your amp input isn't overloaded.
If you play The Savage, just play the final chords and adjust the input level control so that it is just short of lighting the red light(s). The level you set depends on your guitar and playing style but I usually set it to 1 o' clock. A few very early Q2 units with very low serial numbers have a less sensitive input circuit and the input level control needs setting quite a bit higher on those.
Regards,
Charlie
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Post by colin on Jun 25, 2009 22:45:40 GMT
Hi Charlie, that sounds spot on ,and I do have an early model..........will give it try tomorrow ,again thanks........colin
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Post by colin on Jun 30, 2009 17:01:05 GMT
Hi Charlie, I have tried your settings as suggested and although it has improved things I'am still not experiencing quite what you say...let me try and explain, my input setting at the moment is at 3 -4'o' clock,and my output is barely on,just a slight tweek off the bottom,thats with my guitar volume at 8, and my amp at 3. As I'am only in my studio its plenty loud enough...yet I still have to play it hard to get any way up to the top of the L.E.Ds let alone in the red, and if I increase the output on the Q2- the noise from my amp is unbareable...hissing etc, if I turn it back down to just off the bottom and increase the amp volume ,its not so noisey...added to all this,when I have my guitar not plugged in,and just the Q2 and amp on,you can hear a crackle and a repeat of an echo in the back ground,its not there all the time,but when I just sit and listen its strange ? Now my Hot rod deluxe is brand new,but I had a Rivera amp previously, and changed it because it kept on breaking up on me,The question in my head now is....could there be a circuit fault with the Q2...I have it connected as follows......Right mono input to--preamp out...and Right output to Power amp in.............maybe after all these years I've been getting it wrong,in your original link up ,it was the guitar into the rear of the Q2, the serial number of the unit is - 007535 I think I bought from you in 2001-2, if you could give your advice,it would be most appreciated............isnt frustration funny Cheers Colin
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Post by fenderbullits on Jun 30, 2009 17:41:18 GMT
Hi Charlie
I found the same with my Q2 I have my input at between 3 o'clock and 4'clock and output barely on, I don't know what the serial number is but I'll check to see if it's a low one.Changing the thread slightly it's plain to see that most of the echo units we all seem to use Q2,Q20'S,Magic-Stomp and RFX2000 are obsolete although you can still supply us with your wonderful patches.I just wondered if you have been looking at any up to date units that you might be able to work your magic on.
cheers
Martin
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jun 30, 2009 17:50:03 GMT
Hi Colin,
If you are currently using the R input and R output, try the L output instead. One of two patches won't work properly with this but most will. See if it improves anything. If, so, there is a problem with the R output. If so, a soft reset might help. Don't try this without checking with me first.
Hi Martin,
I haven't yet found a suitable newer unit.
Regards,
Charlie
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Post by colin on Jul 1, 2009 20:16:56 GMT
Hi Charlie, Well I tried the left output to no avail, there is no change in the situation,I've just had 30mins playing through half a dozen tunes,and I can't believe that the background noise which I mentioned,appears to be worst,ok so I am listening out for it , but even in bypass mode there is the sound of hissing,crackling,and kind of distant gunshot,I hope my amp isnt in any danger ,if you can think of anything,or if I was to post it to you ----and then you can investigate it for me,what ever cost incured...I have lost all confidence in the sound Ive had so much pleasure with,...Cheers Colin
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jul 1, 2009 23:00:21 GMT
Hi Colin,
OK, you need to try a soft reset. A soft reset will remove any MIDI settings you may have made, and in any case, certain settings will need to be put back in afterwards, this is best done over the phone.
Switch off the unit at the power button.
Press the PROGRAM and COMPARE buttons and hold them both in. Do not press any other buttons or you could lose the programs.
While holding in the 2 buttons power up the unit and wait for the Concert Hall program Preset-00 to appear.
Release the 2 buttons.
Select any program and test the unit for noise. Try more than one program, including some echo programs.
Let us know if there is any improvement. If yes, phone me 01353 666414 evenings to take instructions to put some settings back in. You will need the Q2 in front of you and switched on.
If not, it would then be best to send the unit to me. Please arrange that by email.
Regards,
Charlie
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Post by colin on Jul 2, 2009 22:19:24 GMT
Hi Charlie, Well youre not going to believe this..and I'am totally frustrated and really p---ed off,let me explain I took your advice and tried the reset you described..and it was worse ? So I thought ok, I will try my old Zoom 508 after disconnecting the cables from the amp loop, guess what----- the noise was coming from the amp,high hissing,crackles, like it was on a distortion channel. Now here's the dilema for me now.......... my previous amp a Rivera clubster 45--lovely amp had it for 3 yrs,but in that time I had it repaired 4 times for this problem we are discusing,so... fed up after this, I changed it for the fender hot-rod,which I've had only for 2mths, and here we are. The big question is this charlie,can the Q2 breakdown-damage- valves-resistors-capacitors..etc ,all this seems so coincidental
Cheers Colin
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jul 3, 2009 1:39:44 GMT
Hi Colin,
I have never known a Q2 to damage an amp. The only way I could imagine it to be possible might be if it was putting out a high level high frequency signal, perhaps the 48KHz clock signal.
I can test it for this if you send it to me, and in any case check it through and get it working right if I find anything wrong, although this might be done by changing the main board.
Please email me for my address.
charliehallATntlworld.com (replacing AT with @)
Regards,
Charlie
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