Two different things Jared. When you connect with 4 cables method and run it through amp FX loop, you then insert those jacks between any two pedals and dictate which effects go before or after the amp. FX loop slot is used if you similarly connect your overdrive pedal via the pedal fx loop, you then get to switch that on via the foot-switch. I hope it makes sense.
One thing you didn't mention in the video is how to connect the Plethora X5 to your amp. It is not a simple as connecting the effects loop of the unit to the effects loop of the amp. I have the Plethora X5 run into a Soldano SLO-30. The Soldano has a foot switch for changing between the two channels for more gain on one of them. When I connected them together through both effects loops, my foot switch didn't work properly and the Plethora's effects didn't sound right. So I used the four cable method but it sounded like the Plethora was going into the front of my amp before the amp's preamp section. I believe the effects loop of the Plethora is to run other pedals into the Plethora via its effects loop. My solution is to connect the Plethora's output to the return of the amp's effects loop and the input of the Plethora to the send of the amp's effects loop. NOW it sounds like it's supposed to sound. Everything in the Plethora is after the Soldano's preamp section and before the power section. I plug my guitar into my fuzz pedal out to a buffer out to an overdrive and into the Soldano's input. It sounds AMAZING! The Plethora has tons of pedal TonePrints built in but you can download other players' TonePrints. Players like Andy Summers, Ariel Posen, Bumblefoot, Steve Vai, Brad Whitford, Brian May and Pete Thorn to name a few. Not only THAT but you can download the app to your phone and change tone prints via Bluetooth from your phone to the Plethora X5. It's EASY. The Plethora X5 lists for $579 but I got mine barely used for $400 from a Reverb seller. Since there is no comprehensive manual for the Plethora X5 from TC Electronic (SHAME on you, TCE), I'm assuming the seller probably couldn't figure out how to connect it properly to his amp and sold it. Think about how many pedal TonePrints are in the Plethora and think about having to purchase those pedals individually. They'd cost WAY over $579. The Plethora also has a looper that is easy to use and has a longer sample than my Strymon Timeline (on my other pedal board). It also has a built in tuner which you can access two different ways. The easiest way for me is to simply stand on or hold down the TonePrint Select knob for three seconds. That opens the tuner display. It's HUGE. The signal is muted while you tune your guitar. Then press the button again and you're back where you left off. I have 12 amps run into an amp switcher which is taking the output signal from my other pedal board so they are all using my other pedal board. I bought the Plethora X5 specifically for the SLO-30 to separate it from my other board and take it off the amp switcher.
This is a robust and flexible pedalboard for quickly change your guitarsound on the fly. The quality of the toneprints are great and easy to change them to your taste. My overdrive pedals goes directly to the input of the amp and the TC in the effects send and return. What a sound!
Dude you totally missed some of the best features of this pedal. Putting your drive pedals in the loop or the pedal, then you can put effects in front of the drives or behind them. Also, program your knobs to be “Hot Knobz”. This allows you to adjust settings as you need vs having to go into edit every time to tweak levels or feedback or whatever. Then you can assign Expression pedal to control this parameters if you want. And we aren’t talking yet about the midi control, or putting the pedal into FX loop of an amp, or……..setting up your own Toneprints. There is so much more to this pedal. Love mine. This is the base of me entire board build. And you can check the sound in edit mode vs going back to play. You can toggle the slot on and off with the footswitch while still in edit mode.
Note that you don’t need to take up a space for the FX loop, you can insert it in between any effect.
Two different things Jared. When you connect with 4 cables method and run it through amp FX loop, you then insert those jacks between any two pedals and dictate which effects go before or after the amp. FX loop slot is used if you similarly connect your overdrive pedal via the pedal fx loop, you then get to switch that on via the foot-switch. I hope it makes sense.
This is by far the best instruction video i’ve ever seen on this pedal!! Thank you so much man! Keep up the good work 😊👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you so much! We appreciate you supporting the channel.
One thing you didn't mention in the video is how to connect the Plethora X5 to your amp. It is not a simple as connecting the effects loop of the unit to the effects loop of the amp.
I have the Plethora X5 run into a Soldano SLO-30. The Soldano has a foot switch for changing between the two channels for more gain on one of them. When I connected them together through both effects loops, my foot switch didn't work properly and the Plethora's effects didn't sound right. So I used the four cable method but it sounded like the Plethora was going into the front of my amp before the amp's preamp section.
I believe the effects loop of the Plethora is to run other pedals into the Plethora via its effects loop.
My solution is to connect the Plethora's output to the return of the amp's effects loop and the input of the Plethora to the send of the amp's effects loop. NOW it sounds like it's supposed to sound. Everything in the Plethora is after the Soldano's preamp section and before the power section. I plug my guitar into my fuzz pedal out to a buffer out to an overdrive and into the Soldano's input.
It sounds AMAZING! The Plethora has tons of pedal TonePrints built in but you can download other players' TonePrints. Players like Andy Summers, Ariel Posen, Bumblefoot, Steve Vai, Brad Whitford, Brian May and Pete Thorn to name a few. Not only THAT but you can download the app to your phone and change tone prints via Bluetooth from your phone to the Plethora X5. It's EASY.
The Plethora X5 lists for $579 but I got mine barely used for $400 from a Reverb seller. Since there is no comprehensive manual for the Plethora X5 from TC Electronic (SHAME on you, TCE), I'm assuming the seller probably couldn't figure out how to connect it properly to his amp and sold it. Think about how many pedal TonePrints are in the Plethora and think about having to purchase those pedals individually. They'd cost WAY over $579.
The Plethora also has a looper that is easy to use and has a longer sample than my Strymon Timeline (on my other pedal board). It also has a built in tuner which you can access two different ways. The easiest way for me is to simply stand on or hold down the TonePrint Select knob for three seconds. That opens the tuner display. It's HUGE. The signal is muted while you tune your guitar. Then press the button again and you're back where you left off.
I have 12 amps run into an amp switcher which is taking the output signal from my other pedal board so they are all using my other pedal board. I bought the Plethora X5 specifically for the SLO-30 to separate it from my other board and take it off the amp switcher.
This is a robust and flexible pedalboard for quickly change your guitarsound on the fly. The quality of the toneprints are great and easy to change them to your taste. My overdrive pedals goes directly to the input of the amp and the TC in the effects send and return. What a sound!
Dude you totally missed some of the best features of this pedal. Putting your drive pedals in the loop or the pedal, then you can put effects in front of the drives or behind them. Also, program your knobs to be “Hot Knobz”. This allows you to adjust settings as you need vs having to go into edit every time to tweak levels or feedback or whatever. Then you can assign Expression pedal to control this parameters if you want. And we aren’t talking yet about the midi control, or putting the pedal into FX loop of an amp, or……..setting up your own Toneprints. There is so much more to this pedal. Love mine. This is the base of me entire board build.
And you can check the sound in edit mode vs going back to play. You can toggle the slot on and off with the footswitch while still in edit mode.
How much???
$579 new or around $400 used from Reverb.