Tone Jones A/B 2-Looper User manual

A/B 2-Looper
Owners Manual
Tone Jones
Allen, TX
Email: [e-mail]
web: www.tonejones.com

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Congratulations on your purchase of a Tone Jones A/B 2
Looper!
This pedal was designed to exceed or equal the best
equipment available. It is engineered with the highest quality
components available and should last a lifetime with normal
use.
Please review this manual before using your new Looper. As
always, you can contact us at www.tonejones.com with any
questions or concerns regarding the use of this pedal.
At Tone Jones, it’s all about the tone!

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Table of Contents
Fast Start - Connecting the A/B 2 Looper _______ 4
Modes of Operation _____________________________________________________ 5
Dual Looped Effects __________________________________________________ 6
A/B/C Amp Switcher _________________________________________________ 8
Triple Instrument Switcher ____________________________________________ 9
Switch Between Amp Inputs __________________________________________ 10
Tuner Mute – Or not Mute ___________________________________________ 11
Compare Two Effects, Weed Out Tone Degrading Effects _________________ 12
Tone Jones 5 Year Limited Warranty ____________ 13
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) _______________________________________ 14

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Fast Start - Connecting the A/B 2 Looper
The Looper consists of two switches and a number of
input/output jacks to achieve its signal routing functions. Figure
1 shows typical connections for the A/B Looper.
Figure 1: Connecting the A/B 2-Looper
 Input – This is the main instrument input and the start of the
signal chain. Plugging a mono ¼” cable into this jack
turns on the battery.
 Output – Main output and the last jack in the signal chain.
 Send – The output for the Loop. Connect this jack to the
input of your effects, amplifier, etc. Stepping on the
associated switch toggles the signal between the loop
and the Output jack.
 Return – The input for the Loop. Connect this jack to the
output of your effects or use as a separate input (see
Triple Instrument Switcher Mode).
 9Vdc Input – Plugging a DC power supply into this jack
disconnects the battery from the circuit. Any NEGATIVE
TIP, DC power supply from 6-18V may be used. The higher
the voltage the brighter the LED’s.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper
9Vdc
Input

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Modes of Operation
The A/B 2-Looper has many uses including:
 Dual Loop Switcher – True bypass those tone sucking
effects and switch multiple effects with a single click.
 A/B/C Amp Switcher - Hard-wire route your guitar signal to
one of three footswitch-able outputs.
 Triple Instrument Switcher - Connect three instruments and
one amp to the A/B Looper and switch between them
with a click.
 Switch Between Amp Inputs – Connect one output to your
normal channel and one to your vibrato channel (for
example).
 Tuner Mute - Simply connect the send of either loop to
your tuner and leave the return open – click on the switch
and your signal is routed to the tuner.
 Compare Two Looped Effects – Switch each effect in or
out or step on both switches at once to switch between
loops!
 Weed Out Signal Degrading Effects – There’s no easier
way to determine which of your effects is sucking your
tone.

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Dual Looped Effects
The A/B 2-Looper can be used as a dual loop, true bypass
switcher. It was designed to allow the guitar player to go
directly from guitar to amp without suffering signal degradation
from non-true bypass pedals.
Figure 2: Dual Loop Switcher
With the two switches close enough to hit both at the same
time, this configuration allows selection of 4 different modes
with a single movement (click of the foot). Once you master
this simple pedal you can easily jump between your best tones
as demonstrated in table 1.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper

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Dual Loop Switcher Mode continued -
Left
Loop
Right
Loop
Tone Variation
Tone 1 OFF OFF Pure guitar to amplifier
Tone 2 OFF ON Drive effects, other analog…
Tone 3 ON OFF Time domain effects, Multi, etc.
Tone 4 ON ON Combined effects
Table 1: 2 Looper Tone Variations
Any one of the 4 tone variations can be selected with a
single down stroke!
These four variations allow you to switch from completely
different effected sounds with just this pedal.
Example: (reference Figure 2)
Left loop: Chorus, Compressor and Delay ON
Right Loop: Tube Distortion and Phase ON
Clicking both switches at the same time allows you to alternate
between the two loops with a single click! Switching
between these two tonal variations would normally require tap
dancing on four different pedals.

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A/B/C Amp Switcher
Hard-wire route your guitar signal to one of three footswitch-
able outputs. Figure 3 shows the A/B Looper connected to 2
amplifiers and 2 effects using the left loop to switch between
amplifiers.
Figure 3: A/B/C Amp Switcher
Just substitute an amplifier in the right loop to switch between
three amplifiers.
NOTE: Switching between amplifiers using this common method
can cause noise and even HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES in certain
conditions. Special care should be taken to ensure there is no
dangerous voltage present. Always consult a qualified
technician when in doubt. See the FAQ for recommendations
on reducing noise/hum inherent to some amplifiers.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper

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Triple Instrument Switcher
Connect three instruments and one amp to the A/B Looper
and switch between them with a click.
Figure 4: Triple Instrument Switcher
This configuration allows you to very quickly switch between
instruments without fumbling around with cables on stage.
Note that effects could be used in the left loop and would then
work with whichever guitar is selected.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper
No fumbling with
cables on stage!

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Switch Between Amp Inputs
Connect one output to your normal channel and one to your
vibrato channel (for example).
Figure 5: Switch Between Amp Inputs
This simple yet powerful setup gives you access to a second
amp channel! This application works with any non-switching
two channel amplifier – of any make!
Example:
Normal Channel - Moderate volume
Vibrato Channel - LEAD volume
Right Loop – Distortion On
Use the Left Loop switch to select either your rhythm or lead
high gain volume. Remember you can step on both switches
at once - the possibilities are endless…
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper
Take advantage of both
channels on your vintage
or Re-Issue amp!

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Tuner Mute – Or not Mute
Simply connect the send of either loop to your tuner and leave
the return open – click on the switch and your signal is routed to
the tuner.
Figure 6: Tuner Mute
The return cable from the tuner is optional. If you do connect it
you can tune while you play, not connected your signal will be
muted while you tune.
As noted with the dashed lines above, other effects may also
be used in the tuner loop.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper

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Compare Two Effects, Weed Out Tone Degrading Effects
Switch each effect in or out separately or step on both switches
at once to switch between them.
Figure 7: Compare 2 Looped Effects
When you’re choosing an effect for your board, there’s no
better way determine how it compares to others! By the time
you’ve moved the cables around you’ll have already lost the
subtleties that separate one pedal from another.
Using the method outlined in figure 7 allows you to switch
between effects quickly enough that you’ll definitely hear the
differences! This method will really allow you directly compare
and make your decision wisely – Its very revealing when you
compare in an instant.
You can weed out signal degrading effects using this same
method – compare your tone before and after switching the
effect into your signal path with the effect OFF.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper

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Tone Jones 5 Year Limited Warranty
Tone Jones warrants this product to be free from defects in material and
workmanship to the original owner and will remedy any such defects free
off charge according to the terms of this warranty.
Tone Jones will repair or replace at its option any defective component(s)
of this product, excluding the finish, wear and tear on components under
normal use, and the footswitch (which is warranted for 90 days), for a
period of five (5) years from the original date of purchase. In the event
that a particular product is no longer available, Tone Jones reserves the
right to replace the product with a similar product of equal or greater
value.
To make a request or claim under this limited warranty, contact us at
www.tonejones.com for a Return Authorization. Then the product must be
returned prepaid in the original shipping container (or equivalent) to Tone
Jones or to an authorized Tone Jones repair center. The customer
assumes risk for loss or damage.
A copy of your original invoice showing date of purchase and the dealer
name must accompany any request for work to be performed under this
limited warranty. This limited warranty shall not apply if the product has
been damaged due to abuse, misuse, misapplication, accident or as a
result of service or modification by any other than an authorized Tone
Jones Repair center.
There are no expressed warranties other than those on the face hereof
and described above. No warranties whether expressed or implied,
including but no limited to, any implied warranties or merchantability or
fitness for a particular purpose shall extend beyond the respective
warranty period described above of 5 years.
Tone Jones shall not be responsible or liable for any special or incidental
or consequential damages of loss arising from the use of this product. This
warranty give you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which may vary from state to state.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1) Can the A/B 2-Looper send my guitar signal to two amps at the same
time?
A1) The A/B 2-Looper is an A/B/C switcher, not an A/B/Y switcher. As an
A/B/C switcher it does provide selection of ONE of up to three amplifiers.
To do true “Y” switching with no signal loss an active device is needed.
This requires signal buffering and can arguably alter your tone – which is
what you’re trying to avoid in the first place!
Q2) Is it normal to hear a pop when I switch?
A2) The A/B 2-Looper uses the highest quality switches available. They are
mechanical switches similar to those used in a guitar for switching
between pickups. Since these mechanical switches are directly in the
signal path, it is normal to hear a slight pop or click just as you would when
selecting a different pickup on your guitar.
The loudness of the pop is related to what the switch is connected to.
High gain amp settings and the use of compressors will amplify the pop
and therefore will be more noticeable than other scenarios.
Mechanical switching is arguably the BEST WAY TO MAINTAIN YOUR TONE.
Q3) How do I verify that my A/B Looper is working properly?
A3) Insert a known good cable between the Send and Return of either
Loop. With the amp on a clean setting, clicking the loop on and off
should be almost un-noticeable. It should be difficult to hear a pop
through the amp over the click heard from the pedal itself. Try this on
both loops - if they are the same then the pedal works as intended.
Q4) Does the switching work if the battery dies?
A4) The switches do work it the battery dies. The power to this pedal is
only used for the LEDs.

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Q5) Some amps hum when connected in A/B mode, does this pedal
cause hum in A/B mode?
When connected as shown in figure 3, this pedal makes a straight
connection to the selected amp - like having an unterminated cable
connected to the amp that is not selected. To determine if your amp will
hum under these conditions, do this test: Connect a cable to the your
amp’s input with nothing connected to the other end of the cable.
Power up the amp - if it hums then that is what you'd get with this pedal.
On many amps this problem can be resolved by shorting the input of the
non-selected amp to ground as shown below.
Figure 8: Reducing Noise in A/B mode
Amp A represents the amp that hums when not selected. Using
the configuration shown in Figure 8, selecting the left loop
connects the guitar to Amp B and the shorting plug to Amp A.
A shorting plug is simply a standard ¼” plug that has tip and
ring shorted together.
Rtn SendRtn Send
InputOutput
A/B 2
-
Looper
Amp A
Amp B
Shorting Plug