[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by Nate

One thing I've seen done for folks who use the same or similar setup all the time and are frequently setting up/tearing down is:

Set your gear up and then run all the cables as neatly as you can, in line. Then, where you can, take wire ties and tie neighboring cables together every 18 inches or so. That way, when you tear down, you've just got this one monster cable and all the "sub-cables" are set up so that they join and leave the "monster" at the right place. I've found that this cuts my set up time by about a third.

Thanks for the advice. That sounds like it could help a lot. I'll try it out.

Originally Posted by Brent

Well I just read all of this and it looks to me that the only thing you have that's really a "hassle" is your effects (but you only have ONE friggin' pedal that's in your posession right now from how you talk!). That's still something you could solve by building an effects board like Lee said. Not even anything fancy... Heck, a piece of plywood and some of the 2 inch velcro would work. Get one of these for 25 bucks and mount it to the board and you can leave the cables plugged into your pedals (and controller) all the time.

Honestly, it sounds to me more like you're just kind of lazy with it. Maybe that's why your dorm's a mess, too? I dunno, I'm not here to give life lessons.... But two effects and a pre-amp/power amp/cab setup is a very SMALL rig and if you're not willing to set that up every time then maybe you should ask yourself why you're doing it at all.

Whoah, easy man. Yes, I am lazy. So what? It's my rig.

A lot of my problems were what I saw in the future, in that when I get more effects, which I definitly will, then it might be a little tougher. I have no problems with effects as of now because I dont even use the loop yet. Also, I've managed to narrow my problem down to the way my rack is set up. The itty bitty door on the back of my roto rack can be a pain to get in to, especially with a lack of light. The reason this is more complicated to me than probably you is because I'm the kinda guy that likes to plug in and go. I cant do that with my set up. While it is not in the least bit as complicated as a larger rig that you might have, it is a lot more complicated than a simple head/cab setup. But I'm starting to work with my rig to make it a little more efficient. So give me a break.

Originally Posted by LWatford

Does the JMP-1 have an effects loop that can be switched in and out per patch? If it does, I might try putting your chorus and delay in it and programing your patches so that they are only on when you want them to be. Then you could keep the pedals in the back of the rack, and only have to plug in one cable from your guitar to the JMP.

I dont believe it does. It's a pretty simple straightforward effects loop. I can change the level of the wet/dry signal for each patch though. Is that what you meant? I think I am familiar with what you're talking about though. Are you talking about changing stompbox effects via MIDI? I think i'm gonna need a seperate device for that. Oh, and bad news about the delay. The guy couldnt fix it . So I'll have to look into getting a different one. Thanks for the help though man.

[Brent]

Chill out, dude... Wasn't trying to be mean, just trying to point out that there's really not much to your rig to complain about. The only difference between your rig and a head/cab setup is ONE cable from your pre-amp to the power amp. That should stay plugged in the way it is in the first place.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by Brent

Chill out, dude... Wasn't trying to be mean, just trying to point out that there's really not much to your rig to complain about. The only difference between your rig and a head/cab setup is ONE cable from your pre-amp to the power amp. That should stay plugged in the way it is in the first place.

If that were true, I would understand. But there's the presence of the power chord for the preamp and the power amp, where in a head there would be just one. Plus theres the MIDI cable and power supply that goes to my footswitch where there would normally be just a chord for a normal amp footswitch. So I've already managed to double the norm. Add the rack factor thats harder to get into and see in the back (if you've used a roto rack, you would understand), the inherent complication involved in MIDI gear (100 presets, 4 channels to choose from - Clean 1, Clean 2, OD1, OD2 -, 128 different patches I can put them on, add MIDI effects and you exponentiate the complication with CC#s and the effects loop with it, and the wet signal level), and it makes things a little bit more difficult when things are already complicated. Compare it to a head/rack.... one power chord, one footswitch chord, a back panel that cant get any easier to access, and at the most 3 to 4 channels, no MIDI, and thats it. One cable difference? Hardly.

Maybe people (especially me I guess, since it seems like the second time this has happened) wouldnt think you're being mean if you were more careful with your words..... I dunno, I'm not here to give life lessons......

[Brent]

I say one cable difference because you'd only save having the cable from pre-amp to power amp if you went the head/combo route. Why? I *have* a roto rack...I have a bass head, a pre-amp, AND effects pedals. They all stay plugged in to a power conditioner...which is no different than you putting a surge protector (that you probably have lying around somewhere) in your roto rack. It's not a problem. You're just making it harder on yourself. Your midi patches aren't things you have to change constantly...set them before you leave. A MIDI cable for a footswitch cable...that's an even swap so I'm not sure why that factors into your arguing. A piece of plywood (and some black paint if you don't like the wood color) that you've probably got lying around makes an easy way to mount effects...less than 5 bucks worth of velcro...25 bucks for the power supply for multiple pedals. I'm just trying to point out how hard you're making it on yourself when you'd have nothing to complain about if you spent 30 to 40 bucks.