dont know what to say

[jlynnb1]

that metal zone is a pretty noisy pedal....is the hiss there when it isn't active??

[gtrdave]

you guys are a lot of fun . ok here it is in from guitar- ernie ball volume-crybaby wah- eq ge 7- metal zone mt2-chorus ce5- digital delay dd6- chromatic tuner tu2- 100/watt fender twin (tube) guitar is 57 strat reissue  all pedals are boss

The wah could add a little noise, the eq could add noise depending on how it's set, the metal zone DEFINITELY adds noise (sorry, but I hate those pedals...have Jay make you or mod you something better, please), and the chorus could add noise.
A power supply could add noise if it's unregulated.
Low-quality interconnect cables can add noise as well.

The way to really determine what's going on is to start with one pedal in the chain and then add pedals and see where the noise (hum, hiss, crackle, whatever) gets introduced.

[JayP5150]

Thanks, Dave! 

I'd play around with pedal order.

As a rule (although there are no hard and fast rules in this thing), you want your modulation devices before gain-inducing devices.

The EQ is a matter of taste, but usually work well AFTER distortions.

Volume is a preference, too, it can go at the beginning or the end. If it's at the beginning, and it's driving your distortion, then it will also affect your gain, if it's after the dist, then it will affect volume more.

I would try wah>chorus>delay>metal zone>EQ>volume. The tuner placement is pretty much irrelevant.

You also have a lot of buffered bypass pedals there, and while a buffered bypass is a good idea, when you start stacking a lot of them, it can add noise, even in bypass.

Maybe look into a bypass box, or something, too.

But, as said above, start with one pedal, and see if there is hiss, then add a pedal at a time--bypassed--and see if it adds up.

[Sonar]

NO!

I spin my vinyl collection...

Not playing on that one lol.

I just purchased a whole pile of Philly Sould and New Orleans Funk 45 RPM records for my RockOla juke box from an estste sale.

Somehow I get by without the latest audio reference studio monitor headphones. 

I also remember when 8-Tracks were touted as "the future" ala amp modeling. Yet, strangely, those obsolete Thorens turntables seem to hold their value to me...rather like my antiquated blackface Fender tube amplifiers. Meanwhile, 8-track gear seemed to take on the same devaluation process as the LINE 6 Spyder amps that fill local pawnshops. It's a strange world, huh?

I am interested in the "amp modeling" world with the Fractal Axe-FX. And a friend just gave me an extended loan of a Line 6 plywood modeling guitar...so I had to borrow a LINE 6 XT Live to interface to the computer and load patches on this guitar. They get you coming AND going. 

[jlynnb1]

I just purchased a whole pile of Philly Sould and New Orleans Funk 45 RPM records for my RockOla juke box from an estste sale.

Somehow I get by without the latest audio reference studio monitor headphones. 

I also remember when 8-Tracks were touted as "the future" ala amp modeling. Yet, strangely, those obsolete Thorens turntables seem to hold their value to me...rather like my antiquated blackface Fender tube amplifiers. Meanwhile, 8-track gear seemed to take on the same devaluation process as the LINE 6 Spyder amps that fill local pawnshops. It's a strange world, huh?

I am interested in the "amp modeling" world with the Fractal Axe-FX. And a friend just gave me an extended loan of a Line 6 plywood modeling guitar...so I had to borrow a LINE 6 XT Live to interface to the computer and load patches on this guitar. They get you coming AND going. 

you only have to have the xt if you want to do custom things with the variax...you can use it str8 into an amp otherwise.

[Sonar]

you only have to have the xt if you want to do custom things with the variax...you can use it str8 into an amp otherwise.

I'd only consider using a Variax for the ability to do custom things like DADGAD, virtual capo and weird tuning stuff on the fly.

I don't know if this guitar will ever go out live because the electronics are of such low quality that I don't trust the gutar. I'm starting a project to clean or replace the 5-way selector with one of better quailty and dependability. Also the volume knob cuts out unexpectedly and kills all sound, so I'll reflow solder joints first (assuming this is a board mount component) and then clean, repair or replace it too as needed. This improvement project starts next week.

A polished bone nut will be added and sharp fret edges addressed during dressing/leveling. Not a bad neck...it could have been worse.

This, I believe, it the 600 model...and I can't imagine what the cheaper model would have been like.