Fender Deluxe 112 Plus _Send/Return problem

[kiboo]

hello everyone, as you can see this is first post here..

I just got a second-hand Fender Deluxe 112 Plus
I like it a lot so far -even though I was really surprised of how loud it was for a small apartment- I guess I'll have to plug in the headphones all the time

Anyway, when I use the Send (called Preamp Out in this model)/ Return (Power Amp in) to insert effects, it doesn't sound right. It's as if the sound is overloading on the return channel.



I tried to insert a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, and it sounded as if I was playing something extremely loud through a cheap PC speaker..
However everything sounds ok when I plug the DS-1 between the guitar and the amp.

Is there something wrong with the amp?
any ideas?

thanks

[Fragger]

Nothing wrong with amp; thing like overdrive/boost/distortion/wah sound good to the ear before the input.

Things like chorus, flange, echo, sound good between send/return.

Experiment.

[Robert M. Martinelli]

+1.
Just to elaborate a little on the matter:
The primary purpose of any preamp ( neglecting sound shaping for a moment ) is to carry the signal level to a point it can properly drive the output stage. For a "perfect signal transfer", the output impedance of the preceding stage has to match the one of the following stage. So it' s all about sensitivity and impedance matching. This is one of the reasons why, on some amps, you find a sensitivity adjustment on "return", "send" or both of them.

Injecting the "send" into a distortion/OD pedal sends a signal with an already significant level ( clipping the O/D's input stages ) to something which is designed to "clip" the signal as well by design, so you end up with ugly distortions and with an improperly driven amp's output stage.

Hope this helps

Best regards

Bob

[kiboo]

that's a relief!
thanks guys.