HX Effects pedal no signal to Vox Amp

[redhawkseve]

Just took my HX effects box to a rehearsal where they let me use their Vox amp.  For some reason, I could not get any sound through the amp which is odd since it worked on my home amp (a Quilter) only 30 mins earlier.  I have since returned home and again it works fine on both the Quilter and my Marshall amp.

We tried different cables, we tried various input/outputs but no signal seemed to be going through to the Vox amp.  Admittedly, I am not a hardware expert nor am I an electrician.  I'm sort of a plug it in and it should work kind of player but I need to get this fixed as I don't want to ahve to bring my amp to rehearsals.

Any thoughts on trouble shooting?

[datacommando]

On 1/26/2024 at 11:19 PM, redhawkseve said:

Just took my HX effects box to a rehearsal where they let me use their Vox amp.

 

Hi,

 

O.K. a few points require clarification. 

 

First up, as noted by @MGW-Alberta in the post above - did the amp work by simply connecting your guitar to the front of the amp?

 

Secondly, what model Vox amp? There are a few variations.

 

Also, you didn't say how you were hooking up to this amp? Guitar > HXFX > Amp input (all at Inst Level), or Guitar > HXFX in Amp FX Loop. I mention the FX loop because IIRC there is a bypass switch on a couple of models at the side of the Send/Return sockets, and if it is set to bypass then you will get no sound at all out of the amp.

 

From the manual

AC30C2(X)/AC30CH
BYPASS ON/OFF: This is a true bypass effects loop which means if this is set in the “BYPASS” position, absolutely none of your original signal will be running through until it’s switched “ON”.

 

I realise most of this sound obvious, but your post isn't very clear about some this, and when seeking assistance from other users it's advisable to supply as much relevant information as possible.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[redhawkseve]

On 1/27/2024 at 6:57 AM, datacommando said:

 

Hi,

 

O.K. a few points require clarification. 

 

First up, as noted by @MGW-Alberta in the post above - did the amp work by simply connecting your guitar to the front of the amp?

 

Secondly, what model Vox amp? There are a few variations.

 

Also, you didn't say how you were hooking up to this amp? Guitar > HXFX > Amp input (all at Inst Level), or Guitar > HXFX in Amp FX Loop. I mention the FX loop because IIRC there is a bypass switch on a couple of models at the side of the Send/Return sockets, and if it is set to bypass then you will get no sound at all out of the amp.

 

From the manual

AC30C2(X)/AC30CH
BYPASS ON/OFF: This is a true bypass effects loop which means if this is set in the “BYPASS” position, absolutely none of your original signal will be running through until it’s switched “ON”.

 

I realise most of this sound obvious, but your post isn't very clear about some this, and when seeking assistance from other users it's advisable to supply as much relevant information as possible.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

I am not sure off the top of my head which model VOX it was.  Apologies.  We didn't literally plug the cable into my guitar but the cable coming off the amp was live and buzzed when we touched the 1/4" plug.  I then used a borrowed pedal board into the VOX and it worked for rehearsal so clearly there is some issue between the HX Effects and the Vox.
I went guitar to HXFX to VOX amp.  no amp loop that I am aware off.
I do not see any bypass switch on my model of HXFX but I will endeavor to understand if there is a bypass effect loop some how turned on.  As I said, however, what is odd to me is it works just fine on my two amps at home (Quilter and a Marshall).  No different settings.  No switches of different FX loops employed.  Just odd.
This is a new pedal board to me.  My old Line 6 did not have this issue which is why it caught me off guard when it happened this week.

any thoughts on how to insure some sort of bypass if off?

 

[datacommando]

On 1/27/2024 at 10:09 PM, redhawkseve said:

I am not sure off the top of my head which model VOX it was.  Apologies.  We didn't literally plug the cable into my guitar but the cable coming off the amp was live and buzzed when we touched the 1/4" plug.  I then used a borrowed pedal board into the VOX and it worked for rehearsal so clearly there is some issue between the HX Effects and the Vox.
I went guitar to HXFX to VOX amp.  no amp loop that I am aware off.
I do not see any bypass switch on my model of HXFX but I will endeavor to understand if there is a bypass effect loop some how turned on.  As I said, however, what is odd to me is it works just fine on my two amps at home (Quilter and a Marshall).  No different settings.  No switches of different FX loops employed.  Just odd.
This is a new pedal board to me.  My old Line 6 did not have this issue which is why it caught me off guard when it happened this week.

any thoughts on how to insure some sort of bypass if off?

 

Hi, again,

 

First off - we seem to have some confusion here. When I mentioned a “bypass switch”, I was referring to the possibility that there was one on the rear of the Vox amp, AFAIK, a couple of Vox amps have that option (custom combo and head -AC30C2(X)/AC30CH)

 

Second, and more concerning is the fact that you say that - “the cable coming off the amp was live and buzzed when we touched the 1/4" plug.” Well, that would seem to indicate to me that the cable wasn’t grounded properly (bad earth).
 

Further to that, you say that you ”didn't literally plug the cable into my guitar”.  Huh? When trouble shooting situations like this it is advisable to start with the very basics.

 

For example, start with your guitar, then connect to a cable which is known to be good, attach the other end to the input of the front of the amp. If that provides audio from the speakers then you can progress to add in the HX Effects between the guitar and amp by adding another known good cable. If sound comes out - success, if not check by using another cable. Still nothing? O.K. The HXFX may be the issue, although you say that it works at home with your other gear, that would be weird.

 

Even more weirdness. You also say you were using a borrowed pedal board that does work with the Vox, which didn’t get a mention in the original post. You then say that - “This is a new pedal board to me.”. Curiouser and curiouser! Does this mean that you were trying to chain the HXFX to the other pedals to this “new” pedal board, because if you are, that could be another contributing factor here.

 

As I stated earlier, you need to start by isolating various items in the audio chain to find the issue. Also, when there are strange anomalies like this; when your hardware functions as it should in your home environment, but doesn’t in your rehearsal space, you should ask one simple question. “What changed?”. 

Without being psychic, it’s quite difficult to figure out what is happening between your home and rehearsal space. It doesn’t make any sense to me.

Hope this helps/makes sense to you!