Schertler question

[MNDOLNR]

Hey everyone,
Quick question. I've been struggling to get my Ernie Ball volume pedal to work with my current configuration. I've got a Schertler DYN and a Unico amp (unbelievable amp by the way), but I haven't had success getting the volume pedal to work between the DYN and the amp. Is it possible to switch from XLR to 1/4" to go into the pedal, then switch back to XLR to go into the amp? I've tried using a standard 1/4" cable from the pedal to the amp and it sounds lousy.

any advice would be stellar.

[wsm]

I think you can buy a hi z to lo z (impedance) converter at radio shack.

They generally run about $10 and it sounds like you need two..

[MNDOLNR]

I have one that is XLR female to 1/4", but I guess I need a 1/4" to XLR male? Is there such thing?

by the way, I meant to post this in the equipment section, but I'm dumb. sorry.

[wsm]

I have one that is XLR female to 1/4", but I guess I need a 1/4" to XLR male? #Is there such thing? #

by the way, I meant to post this in the equipment section, but I'm dumb. #sorry.
If you can't find one you can build a custom cable to fit the converter.

[mandroid]

Yea XLR M to 1/4" f would mean the instrument TR cable can plug into that , both ends and bulk cable and a soldering iron project possible?

I'd think, alternatively, if you rewire the volume pedal to use stereo/TRS jacks in and out then the balanced [+/-/ground] signal may be preserved, [volume pot just effecting the (+),
other than that, it would be a impedance match tramsformer XLR>1/4" TR into the pedal at HiZ,then a TR 1/4"> DI to go back to the low impedance balanced XLR> input that the Unico is designed for their pickup..
the long way home.. but off the shelf stuff.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Yellowmandolin]

I have a very similar setup: Schertler -> XLR (female) to 1/4" (male) cable -> Ernie Ball VP Jr. -> 1/4" -> Genz Benz Shen. 100. The EB Jr. pedal is 25K ohms, I don't know if that is different than the full size version though.

I have never had any trouble at all with this setup, but if you wanted to go back to XLR into the amp, it shouldn't be too hard to find a decent cable to do that.

[siren_20]

The only solution I've seen to this problem so far is what the folks above said... using an XLR-to-1/4" adapter (with a matching transformer), through the volume pedal, then another 1/4"-to-XLR adapter to get back to a balanced signal. This is a far from optimal solution in my opinion.
To get around this, I'm designing a low-gain tube preamp with a buffered effects loop so that I can use a tuner, volume pedal, etc without having to resort to the dreaded matching transformers (this is my senior project for my electrical engineering degree). I might even try to work in some specialized EQ of some sort to make the thing sound a little more natural.
Don't want to hijack the thread, here, but I was wondering if any schertler users out there have any ideas/thoughts/wishes as to whether or not this might seem like a good idea.

[Klaus Wutscher]

I experimented with Volume pedals but ended up using a Seymour Duncan booster. It is a linear booster so it does not affect the tone. I use a parametric EQ also. The booster works well for my purpose because I only need solo and backup levels.

[wsm]

The only solution I've seen to this problem so far is what the folks above said... using an XLR-to-1/4" adapter (with a matching transformer), through the volume pedal, then another 1/4"-to-XLR adapter to get back to a balanced signal. This is a far from optimal solution in my opinion.
To get around this, I'm designing a low-gain tube preamp with a buffered effects loop so that I can use a tuner, volume pedal, etc without having to resort to the dreaded matching transformers (this is my senior project for my electrical engineering degree). I might even try to work in some specialized EQ of some sort to make the thing sound a little more natural.
Don't want to hijack the thread, here, but I was wondering if any schertler users out there have any ideas/thoughts/wishes as to whether or not this might seem like a good idea.
This sounds like a great idea. I think the main problem of running through the transformers and volume pedal is the loss of signal in the chain.

If you can develop a preamp loop without signal loss, you have a winner. Good luck..

[Larry Albert]

Hello,
I don't have the answer to your question about the specific pedal you're using, but here's some information that might help.
I use a schertler unico for my mando and guitar. On stage I like to use a boss tuning pedal connected to the amp so I can spot check the tuning of either instrument. So instead of plugging them into the pedal first and then the amp, I plug the pedal into the "insert" loop, which lets me use the pedal for both instruments with minimal cabling. To do that I have a cable with a 1/4 inch stereo plug on one end that splits into two cables with a 1/4 inch mono plug on each end. The stereo plug goes into the insert and one mono plug goes into the tuner pedal input and the other goes into the tuner pedal output. On the stereo the tip is for the "send" cable and the ring is for the "return." Page 6 of my unico's manual has an exact drawing of the cable I am describing. This loop cable obviously works for other effects besides the tuning pedal. It's not hard to make the cable, though I took the easy route and ordered a really stout one from a cable builder.
I hope this helps.
LA

[MNDOLNR]

Hey Larry,
Thanks for the suggestion...this is actually the configuration that I'm using right now, but I don't seem to get any dynamic control out of the pedal...as you said, it's probably just the pedal that I'm using, but there's very little swell. the Ernie Ball works great for tuning purpose, but I really need to be able to back off a tiny bit, and this setup just aint workin. Schertler makes a pedal too, so I may just bite the bullet and get that one...they seem to make stuff that goes well together. How do you like your Unico?
a

[Larry Albert]

The schertler unico is terrific. It has plenty of range, power, and sound quality. I just need to come up with a stand to raise it up from the floor since I depend on it to be my monitor sometimes.
I use the schertler dyn-m pickup, which I bought used from someone on this site. I was disappointed at first, but then I finally realized it probably was damaged, so I sent it to the factory and when it returned some weeks and $100 later it was great.
I have the unico volume pedal and it works fine.
Larry

[Yellowmandolin]

Oh! I just remembered seeing somewhere that the EB volume pedal has a volume swell control that goes from (I think) 0 -> 80 -> 100% volume. I never found it on mine, but yours may have it and it may be set wrong. I just can't imagine that something is wrong with the pedal or your setup... Good luck!