Looking at the various electronics setups over the years, I am not sure I am fully grasping the OBEL or why I would want to install one. I see it as two pieces.
1) The guitar signal goes through a "blaster" or buffer to lower impedance which allows it to drive long cables and allows the volume to be adjusted without losing highs. Later, with the introduction of the OBEL in the TB500 and all guitars after, the buffer is before volume control so the full and consistent output level hits effects, especially the Mutron. (I completely understand this!)
2) After the effects, it runs back to the guitar, through a volume pot, and then out to the amp. (Hmmmm?)
For the first part, it seems the gain varied throughout several iterations from positive gain with the Stratoblaster, to unity gain and the the -1.7 db gain. Was this simply to balance out the levels between the pickup levels? More gain for the vintage Strat, negative gain for the hot Dimarzios? Or was there some other reason the buffer output level evolved?
The second part is what I don't fully grasp. Why run the signal back in to the guitar, through a volume pot and back out? Wouldn't it be easier to use a volume pedal after the effects? That seems like it would achieve the same thing without needing a second jack and two cables to the guitar. Volume pedals existed well before the OBEL, and even if they didn't, it seems the Dead had plenty of electronics expertise to make one. So, it seems running the signal back through the guitar was a definite choice and not due to necessity or lack of knowledge. The only reason I can think of is Jerry really preferred finger control to foot control. Is there something else besides personal preference that I am missing?
Thanks for any insight!
1) The guitar signal goes through a "blaster" or buffer to lower impedance which allows it to drive long cables and allows the volume to be adjusted without losing highs. Later, with the introduction of the OBEL in the TB500 and all guitars after, the buffer is before volume control so the full and consistent output level hits effects, especially the Mutron. (I completely understand this!)
2) After the effects, it runs back to the guitar, through a volume pot, and then out to the amp. (Hmmmm?)
For the first part, it seems the gain varied throughout several iterations from positive gain with the Stratoblaster, to unity gain and the the -1.7 db gain. Was this simply to balance out the levels between the pickup levels? More gain for the vintage Strat, negative gain for the hot Dimarzios? Or was there some other reason the buffer output level evolved?
The second part is what I don't fully grasp. Why run the signal back in to the guitar, through a volume pot and back out? Wouldn't it be easier to use a volume pedal after the effects? That seems like it would achieve the same thing without needing a second jack and two cables to the guitar. Volume pedals existed well before the OBEL, and even if they didn't, it seems the Dead had plenty of electronics expertise to make one. So, it seems running the signal back through the guitar was a definite choice and not due to necessity or lack of knowledge. The only reason I can think of is Jerry really preferred finger control to foot control. Is there something else besides personal preference that I am missing?
Thanks for any insight!