hbb@mtx5d.UUCP (H.B.Braude) (05/14/85)
Do guitar amplifier cables differ in construction? With one type
of cable connected to the amplifier the reverb and distortion channel
of the amp worked as expected. With a different cable connected to the
same amplifier, these features did not function. All other functions of
the amp worked the same way with either cable.
The amp is a Crate CR-160C. I have no info on the cable types or
brands used in the experiment.
Thanx for any info.
--
Harlan B. Braude
{most "backbone" sites}!mtx5d!hbbvanhall.WBST@XEROX.ARPA (05/17/85)
Harlan, I would first suspect that the amp had a footswitch that activates the distortion circuitry and this wasn't enabled. I wouldn't suspect the cable since the connection between guitar and amplifier is usually a 1/4 in. plug attached to a coaxial cable. This cord is pretty much a standard for high impedance connections between musical instruments. The tip of the plug is the signal and the sleeve is the return. This plug mates with the jack on either the amp or guitar. It is also possible that the amplifier input jack wasn't mono. If the jack had switches on it to turn on(by grounding) the distortion and reverb sections only when the input plug was inserted and the input plug wasn't a mono plug (maybe a stereo plug with the second channel left unattached?) the circuit would not turn on. Some manufacturers use this arrangement on battery operated products so that the battery is connected only when the input plug is inserted. If the crate amp is controlled by a special cable I'd be interested to hear about it. Don