About Effects Loops

[RW James]

This is about placement of stomp boxes in my effects loop

My amp (Hartke GT60) has an effects send/return loop built in... it says

In-line effects (such as foot pedals) intended for low signal levels should be placed between your guitar and the front panel GT SERIES amplifier input and not connected with the rear panel Effects Loop jacks.

Later it talks about "professional external signal processor that has Line-level inputs and outputs" being put into the Effects Loop.

As I read this, ALL my stomp boxes should be ahead of the input and not in the effects loop. I guess my confusion stems from not being sure about what they mean by "low signal level".

Is this how you all set up your effects? In my old Crate I set them all into the effects loop - I guess that was wrong? Are there some effects that are better ahead of the input and some better in the effects loop?

Sorry for sounding stupid here - but I can't help it...

 

[shredaholic]

Re: About Effects Loops

It's not wrong if you think it sounds good. I'd very surprised if you could damage the amp or pedals in any way by putting them in that effects loop.

Effects like delay, reverb and some modulation effects (for a more upfront sound) should go in your effects loop.

 

[RW James]

Re: About Effects Loops

It's not wrong if you think it sounds good. I'd very surprised if you could damage the amp or pedals in any way by putting them in that effects loop.

Effects like delay, reverb and some modulation effects (for a more upfront sound) should go in your effects loop.

That's kind of what I was thinking...

I currently have
-compressor
-wah
-distortion
-fuzz
-phaser

Of those, I was thinking the phaser might be good in the loop.
But what is the difference? I mean, other than stringing two extra cables to my pedal board. Am I gaining anything by putting it in the effects loop?

 

[ErikH]

Re: About Effects Loops

Everything you have there is fine out front. Try the phaser in the loop and see if you like it there. If not, leave it out front. I personally like phasers out front, distorted pre-amp or not. Chorus, Flanger, Delay, Reverb....all in the loop.

 

[James Rock]

Re: About Effects Loops

It is because the effects loop (on that amp) is for rack effects (different levels line instead of instrument)
Some amps have switches so u can use either stompboxes or rack effects on the loop.

 

[RW James]

Re: About Effects Loops

It is because the effects loop (on that amp) is for rack effects (different levels line instead of instrument)
Some amps have switches so u can use either stompboxes or rack effects on the loop.

Okay... that's good to know... so it sounds like stompboxes wouldn't work as well in this situation.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: About Effects Loops

Not necessarily - I run my analog delay (floor pedal) through my Plexi's effects loop on the line setting and it sounds better (clearer).

 

[y2stevo]

Re: About Effects Loops

Not necessarily - I run my analog delay (floor pedal) through my Plexi's effects loop on the line setting and it sounds better (clearer).

Ditto

i hate the sound of a delay infront of the amp.
At least thats been my experience with my Line6 DL4 and DSL50.
The reason the Delay usually sounds better in the loop is because( at least when you are using overdrive ) is because if you have the Delay infron tof the amp, you amp is distorting a delay, So the trail-offs from the delay will not just sound less loud, but they will also have less gain(since there is less of that particular signal going into the preamp tube).
The other way around(The Delay in the Loop), you are delaying a Distorted sound, so the trail-offs will all have the same intensity of gain and no changes in tone etc..

 

[VTM Mike]

Re: About Effects Loops

I have always run pretty much everything through the loop except distortion or overdrive pedals, which I believe sound pretty bad looped. I have used a 7 band eq pedal for years, in front, and it pushes the preamp nicely, but totally changes the sound when put in the loop. It's guitar - Dunlop crybaby - Ibanez eq - amp. Through the loop it's TCelectronic gmajor-BBE Sonic maximizer. The more stuff in the signal chain going into the amp's input, the more noise, etc. The loop makes for a nice, clean quiet patch.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: About Effects Loops

Ditto

i hate the sound of a delay infront of the amp.
At least thats been my experience with my Line6 DL4 and DSL50.
The reason the Delay usually sounds better in the loop is because( at least when you are using overdrive ) is because if you have the Delay infron tof the amp, you amp is distorting a delay, So the trail-offs from the delay will not just sound less loud, but they will also have less gain(since there is less of that particular signal going into the preamp tube).
The other way around(The Delay in the Loop), you are delaying a Distorted sound, so the trail-offs will all have the same intensity of gain and no changes in tone etc..

Thats a very good point sir :fing2: