Hydra Questions

[joelorigo]

I have had a chance to play with this pedal some more. When it is guitar - Hydra - amp, with the Mix knob full CCW and all the switches off, there is a slight bit of high end loss, maybe wouldn’t even have noticed it.
When it is put in a chain of effects I’ve been using lately (guitar - Scream Honey - Honeysuckle - Tube Drive -GE7 - Hydra - Radial ABY - amp(s)) the high end loss is significant.
I know that’s a lot of variables but wouldn’t all those variables effect the signal whether or not the Hydra is on or off? It becomes “darker” when the Hydra is activated.
Btw I can easily raise the highs and lower the lows a bit on the GE7 to compensate.

 

[MichaelW]

Do you have a pedal with a buffered bypass? (Like any Klon clone) Put that between the GE and the Hydra and see if it helps.

I had the same issue and that's why I built this.

Definitely helped in my case.

 

[joelorigo]

Interesting. I built the Aion Refractor which is a Klon that I chose the option to hardwire the buffer. I have other Boss pedals.

 

[Robert]

When it is guitar - Hydra - amp, with the Mix knob full CCW and all the switches off, there is a slight bit of high end loss, maybe wouldn’t even have noticed it.

There is a bit of lowpass filtering on the output to reduce noise from the FV-1.

This isn't a Binson clone, it wasn't really intended to be used as a clean preamp.

 

[MichaelW]

Interesting. I built the Aion Refractor which is a Klon that I chose the option to hardwire the buffer. I have other Boss pedals.

That'll work. Having said that, referring back to @PedalPCB's comment, this isn't supposed to be a pristine digital delay. It does add some color.

 

[joelorigo]

Cool thanks! Just to be clear I'm not complaining about anything. I'm trying to figure out if the change in tone when in a chain of pedals is normal. Like does more noise in make the FV-1 filter more? Or if there is something wrong that I did while building. I have an old, old Morley wah wah and just plugging it in the chain darkens the sound. This is only happening when the Hydra is turned on.

 

[Robert]

When you have the Mix control at full CCW the FV-1 is essentially out of the circuit.

Any loss of highs is happening in the lowpass filter on the output of the circuit.

You could try lowering the values of C12 and/or C13.

 

[joelorigo]

When you have the Mix control at full CCW the FV-1 is essentially out of the circuit.

Any loss of highs is happening in the lowpass filter on the output of the circuit.

You could try lowering the values of C12 and/or C13.

I see. But why would the loss of highs be happening with several pedals in front but not with the guitar directly into the Hydra?

 

[joelorigo]

Do you have a pedal with a buffered bypass? (Like any Klon clone) Put that between the GE and the Hydra and see if it helps.

I had the same issue and that's why I built this.

Definitely helped in my case.

Oh! I just remembered I have a TC Electronic Bonafide Buffer. would that also work?

 

[MichaelW]

Oh! I just remembered I have a TC Electronic Bonafide Buffer. would that also work?

Yup that will work. Worth a try to see if it helps.

 

[Robert]

I see. But why would the loss of highs be happening with several pedals in front but not with the guitar directly into the Hydra?

Can't say I can explain that. The input stage of the Hydra is a buffer so it should be offering essentially the same benefit as any external buffer.

 

[joelorigo]

Thanks. I’ll mess around with it some more.

Does the Effecrode Tube Drive have any output weird thing that might cause it?

 

[joelorigo]

When you have the Mix control at full CCW the FV-1 is essentially out of the circuit.

Any loss of highs is happening in the lowpass filter on the output of the circuit.

You could try lowering the values of C12 and/or C13.

Okaaaaay, I don't know what was goin on with my ears before (I did get Covid the next day), but now it is showing the same amount high end loss whether directly into the Hydra or through a number of other pedals. Which makes more sense. I even had my son listen and we made a recording

What value would you suggest for C12 and/or C13 to try? C12 is 220p and C13 is 470p.