Overdrive in effects loop

[richard parker]

What is the reason for the generally held opinion that you don't put overdrive pedals in the effects loop ? If you put a clean boost in the front end of your amp it will increase the gain but if you put it in the loop it will just make the amp louder. So if you put your o/d in the loop it should give you the option of more gain plus a volume boost for solos. Wouldn't it work the same as an onboard switchable extra gain/volume stage ?

[playas]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

No idea beyond - pushing the pre-amp tubes.

But I think you´ve just inspired me to try it out for myself.

[hermetico]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

Usually, an overdrive isn't a pedal designed to distort itself but, designed to push the gain of your tubes and give them and earlier and beefier break up, instead. Imagine them as an additional tube before your V1.

Distortions are designed to distort themselves and radically modify the input signal. You can see them as a high saturated tube or the last triode in a cascaded high gain amp, just before the PI or driver.

But there is nothing wrong trying it and, if it works for you, just do it!.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

Normally I like time based stuff in the effects loop,though I've used volume pedals in the loop and it's worked fine(Depending on series or parallel)...I've not tryed an overdrive pedal there,but would be worth trying!

[P.A.Foholic]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

Because every gear snob tells you that you can't do that. They think it's both ethically and morally wrong. You will gain a really bad reputation among the guitarists in the world if they hear about this.






Go for it man and tell us about the results!

[Toe-Knee]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

I've had very good results with ODs & clean boosts in the loop for simple clean boosts.

But if you add drive it can get nasty very quickly. Oh and VERY loud.

This can differ between different amps & loops especially depending on the placement of the loop in the circuit

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

The signal levels in an effects loop can be much higher than the signal from an instrument. Some pedals are designed to handle instrument levels while others can handle line level signals. An instrument pedal can distort and attenuate your signal if used in the effects loop.

The best way to find out is to try it. If it sounds good, do it!

[richard parker]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

I don't have any need to do this I just got to wondering why so many folks say you shouldn't. I can't understand why it's not the same as having another gain stage in the amp.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

Pedals get their basis sound from the preamp....this way it is just the pedal without any colouration or amplification from the preamp...
Most of the time...it just do not sound very good!

[richard parker]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

Vasshu etc. - have you tried it ? If so, what exactly did you do ? I'm curious and I could easily walk upstairs, fire up the amp and try it out but I am a man of formidable lethargy.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

Yeah...and just had myself testing it again, same result as I remembered, thin, unpleasent attack, not too far off how the pedal normally sounds, but the feel is close to gone, unpleasent harmonics as they are not subdued as much as they usually gets with tubes, and is extra thin and brittle.
Not much to that.

[JOLLY]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

I've done it before and I thought it sounded like crap.

[Inkstained]

Re: Overdrive in effects loop

I ran a Satchurator in an effects loop once.

Once.