4 cable method with tube amp

[Aidanism]

Hi,

I have been trying to figure out the 4 cable method with the HX Effects. I have a Laney L5 tube amp which has a drive channel that allows you to overdrive the signal while keeping the volume low. However, using the 4C preset as a template, with an FX loop block, I am unable to overdrive the signal to my amp and can only achieve any sort of overdrive/distortion by adding Helix "pedals" to the chain. Any gain/volume adjustments I make on the amp don't affect the sound in any way. I'm wondering if this is normal or if I'm missing something? I would really like to be able to start with my amp's own overdriven signal before the effects. Unfortunately I am not very technically-minded so if anyone could give me a very basic answer I'd be really grateful. 

[silverhead]

What if you connect the HX FX Send cable (FX Loop Out) to your amp’s drive channel input rather than the normal channel input?

[Schmalle]

1.Check the physical cable connections:

Ensure all 4 cables are plugged into the correct jacks:

• Guitar -> HX Effects IN

• HX Effects Send 1 -> Laney Guitar Input (front panel)

• Laney FX Send -> HX Effects Return 1

• HX Effects Out -> Laney FX Return

2.Turn ON the FX Loop block:

In your HX Effects preset, locate the FX Loop 1 block and make sure it is switched ON (active).

• Verification: Toggle the FX Loop block on/off. When it is OFF, you should hear no sound at all (or a very quiet clean sound). When it is ON, your Laney's preamp control knob should instantly start adding overdrive.

[Aidanism]

Thank you so much. In fact it was that the FX loop block wasn't switched on. It seems so obvious but it just hadn't occurred to me that a non-"pedal" block needed to be switched on. I'm really grateful for the helpful comments.