While there’s no send/return loop on the Caveman AP1, its versatile outputs mean it’s still possible to make good use of other pedals alongside it.
I enjoyed the review of Caveman’s AP1 acoustic pedal in the October issue [www.soundonsound.com/reviews/caveman-audio-ap1]. I had the same question: whether it would be possible to have a send/return installed as an upgrade and a surplus price. I tried to mail two times to the company (Caveman) but did not get any answer. I intend to use the Origin Effects Cali 76 pedal and an LR Baggs Acoustic EQ pedal. Would placing those two pedals before the Caveman AP1 work, without compromising the high‑quality signal? Is there a better configuration? Thanks.
Leo Janssens
SOS Reviewer Bob Thomas replies: Hi Leo. I’m glad that you enjoyed my review of the Caveman AP1 — many thanks for your kind comment! I’ve passed your feedback on to the manufacturer but I can offer a little advice too, since I often use a similar setup to yours. In my case I have an Effectrode PC‑2A compressor running into a 1980s vintage TC Parametric EQ pedal. To get the best from of the Caveman AP1 preamp, you would have to put it before the compressor and EQ. If, instead, you put the Cali 76 and the Acoustic EQ in front of the AP1, then your pickup is going to ‘see’ the Cali 76’s input stage as its preamp, and that isn’t going to sound as good as putting them after the AP1 preamp.
Personally, I would ‘drive’ the Cali 76 (with the dry signal set at zero) from the AP1’s Amp Out, then run the output of the Acoustic EQ and the AP1’s DI output into two separate channels of either a mixing console or into a little submixer on your pedalboard. This would allow you to run a parallel effects setup with the AP1’s DI out as the dry signal and the Cali 76/Acoustic EQ as the wet signal. I hope that helps!