Effects Loops 101

[Ron C]

What are the benefits of using an amp's effects loop instead of putting pedals in line with the guitar?

I'm finally using an amp with an effects send and return (older Peavey Classic 30) and would appreciate your advice.

At this time, the only pedals I use are a tuner and one or two o/d pedals. And all I've used the loop for is to send a constant signal to my Boss TU-2 tuner (no return signal) so that its not inline with the guitar. Even I can hear some tone loss when putting the TU-2 between the guitar and the amp.

Thanks!

[callaway]

Generally, effects loops are used for line-level effects. Stompboxes are rarely compatible with line-level signals; as such, they generally should go in front of the amp. Distortion boxes should definitely never go in an effects loop... unless you're going for something completely crazy.

Depending on how the effects loop is driven, the tuner coming off the effects loop may or may not alter your tone. From your amp's schematic, it looks like it shouldn't impact the tone. If it sounds fine and your tuner is able to handle the hotter signal, then that might be a novel idea.

The "correct answer" for when an effects loop should be used is as follows: if you are getting your distortion or crunch from the preamp, then put modulations and delays in the effects loop. The traditionally best-sounding signal chain is compression - overdrive/distortion - modulation - delay - reverb. So if the overdrive is coming from the preamp and you want to use mod, delay, and reverb, then you ca retain clarity and the character of your preamp by putting those effects in the loop.

[Ron C]

Thanks!

[emu!]

My amp doesn't have an effects loop...some purists say it taints the sound of the amp even when no effects are used thru it. I say that is funny.

BUT, I have created a way to make my own effects loop by using an A/B switch box. My guitar signal goes directly to the A/B switch...the B channel then goes right to the amp (via a 2-in-1-out Y connector from Radio Shack). I call the B channel the "BYPASS" channel because the guit signal never comes in contact with any effect stomp boxes. The A channel is routed thru all my effects then goes right to the amp (via the same 2-in-1-out Y connector from Radio SHack). I call the A channel the "ALTERED" channel because the guit signal goes thru the effect stomp boxes.

This way, even if I have cheap stomp boxes (which I do) that don't have true bypass, the signal can still bypass the effects chain completely.

[Ben Harmless]

The idea of the FX loop is to place effects between the preamp and power amp of your amplifier. This way effects such as reverb, delay, etc. will be acting on whatever the preamp does to your tone instead of having the preamp color whatever the effect did.

Yes, most FX loops are line-level, but a lot of pedals don't mind that at all. Reverbs, delays, tremolos, and such are good candidates for loop placement. EQs can have a very different effect when placed in the loop.

Personally, I don't use loops. I even run my delay into the front of my amp (which doesn't have a loop) when I use it. I like the lower-fi version better. It just suits my taste.

[jakatone]

fx loop is great for some things, and terrible for others.....for expample, if you use the guitars own OD and have a boost/overdrive in the chain of pedals of which the delay would probably be the last...you set the delay how <ou like it, but as soon you hit that boost, the delay gets louder, a lot....form my experience, also gets pretty dirty....IMO not good, so i put it in the FX loop...but i also tried a phase 90 trough the loop and sounded terrible compared to when it´s in the chain....so i guess you should experiment with all your pedals, both trough the loop and straight to the amp and see what you like

[redstringuitar]

Originally Posted by emu!

My amp doesn't have an effects loop...some purists say it taints the sound of the amp even when no effects are used thru it. I say that is funny.

BUT, I have created a way to make my own effects loop by using an A/B switch box. My guitar signal goes directly to the A/B switch...the B channel then goes right to the amp (via a 2-in-1-out Y connector from Radio Shack). I call the B channel the "BYPASS" channel because the guit signal never comes in contact with any effect stomp boxes. The A channel is routed thru all my effects then goes right to the amp (via the same 2-in-1-out Y connector from Radio SHack). I call the A channel the "ALTERED" channel because the guit signal goes thru the effect stomp boxes.

This way, even if I have cheap stomp boxes (which I do) that don't have true bypass, the signal can still bypass the effects chain completely.

As Ben Harmless explains in his post, your effects are still pre-preamp, going through the front end when in used...therefore you do not have an effects loop in the true sense, just a bypass loop.