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My Lil Echo is in my FX loop and when on it's giving the dry guitar signal an overly fuzz-like squished tone, especially in the lower register and when I'm using the neck pickup.

The is otherwise functioning properly, but it's hard to tell if the wet signal also getting a bit fuzzed. But even with Level, Delay and Reps completely turned off, that fuzz is happening to the otherwise dry signal.

Right now I'm using a BYOC analog delay in its place, and there's no issue. I'm assuming the input stage of the Lil Echo is somehow being overloaded?

Has the pedal always done this or is it a recent development? Have you tried running just guitar-->pedal-->amp to check if the problem might be an interaction with another pedal in your chain? Does it act the same out of your effects loop?

_________________
“My favorite programming language is SOLDER” - Bob Pease (RIP)

My Website * My Musical Gear * My DIY Pedals: Pg.1 - Pg.2

It was always an issue, but the fuzz doesn't seem to be happening if I go gtr>pedal>amp OR if I'm using it by itself in my small rig's FX loop.

I think I sort of found the culprit.

I'm running loops within loops, and the signal is getting boosted right before the Lil Echo. In my smaller setup I can nearly eliminate the problem by turning my preamp down and power amp up.

But the real issue is in my live rig, a Laney GH100L. I think that FX loop is on the hotter side, and even with my BYOC Para EQ not engaged as a boost it seems to be hitting the Lil Echo too hard. I can't find documentation on what the actual level from the Laney FX Loop is, but the manual states, "Stomp boxes are normally designed for small signals such as a guitar output whereas rack mount FX are designed for the higher signal level obtained from an FX send." I'll take this as an admission that their FX loop is on the hotter side, although I have a BYOC Analog Delay sitting in its place right now with no major issues. It didn't seem to matter where in the FX loop I put the Lil Echo, or if any other pedals were engaged (everything involved is true bypass).

I'm running the Laney FX loop in "insert" mode as opposed to "side chain," and while there is a level control for the loop itself I'm 99% sure it's post the loop, as it hasn't affected the Lil Echo fuzz at all. I'm willing to admit the Lil Echo might just not work in this loop, or is there a way to increase the headroom of such a pedal?

Did some research today...

can I fix this as easily as just putting something with a volume knob between the FX out of the Laney and the first pedal in the loop? Then I can just lower the signal level before it hits my pedals (and I can compensate with the FX loop volume knob)? I'm guessing something like the JHS Little Black Amp Box, which I'm more than capable of DIYing.

That would certainly seem to be a worthwhile thing to try.

_________________
“My favorite programming language is SOLDER” - Bob Pease (RIP)

My Website * My Musical Gear * My DIY Pedals: Pg.1 - Pg.2

That did it!

I made pedal with one 100K audio taper volume pot, and that's the first thing my FX loop hits. Turned it down to about 2 o'clock.

And actually EVERY pedal in my FX loop is now acting better (less noise, effect of EQ is less attenuated, Lil Reverb is less dark, etc). The makeup loop gain knob on the Laney is more than enough to bring the volume back to where it was before.

I'm surprised the issue of FX loops too hot for certain pedals isn't addressed more often. Anyway, thanks for the help!

Great! Glad to hear that worked, and a good thing to be aware of!

_________________
“My favorite programming language is SOLDER” - Bob Pease (RIP)

My Website * My Musical Gear * My DIY Pedals: Pg.1 - Pg.2