Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

[bornagainplayer]

I've read that the order in which effects pedals are placed in the chain makes a difference in the sound. Is that true? If so, what order should they be in? I have the following:

Tube Driver: Digitech Bad Monkey
Distortion: MXR Distortion +
Chorus: Digitech Multi-Chorus
Digital Delay: Digitech Digidelay
Flanger: Boss BF-2 Flanger
Compressor: MXR Dyna Comp

I'm looking to add a reverb pedal, but I'm not sure which one yet. I'd appreciate any advice on this also. Not looking to spend a lot - not more than $60 used if possible.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

Absolutely! If you want to unleash the power.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

The order of effects matters a great deal. The pedals that come first will effect the sound of the pedals after them. For example, if you put a distortion or overdrive pedal before the delay, you'll be delaying the overdriven/distorted signal, but if you put them after the delay, you'll be distorting or overdriving the delayed signal. A general rule of thumb is to go compression->overdrive/distortion->modulation (flanger/chorus/phaser/etc)->time based stuff (delay).

For the pedals you have listed I would go:

Guitar > Dyna Comp > Bad Monkey > Distortion + > Multi Chorus > BF-2 > Digidelay

If your amp has an effects loop, I would run the Chorus, Flanger and Delay in the loop.

You should experiment, though, and try some different combinations to see how the pedals interact.

 

[bornagainplayer]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

Great info, Matt...Thanks!

 

[chadd]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

I prefer the effects in the loop and the dirt up front. I've had to move mine around a few times to get them to work the way I want.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

Sometimes the order does not really matter. But I agree with Matt42. If you have two digital delays, you can oftentimes switch the order, for example. It's like adding 2 and 4. Regardless of which way you do it, you always come out with 6.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

And as a related matter, often if you want to use a pedal to boost a 'dirty' channel for soloing, use a clean boost (a la MXR m-133 or EQ pedal w/ + vol.) in-the-loop. This results in far less compression of the signal as distortion on distortion does.

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

I messed up my effects chain before and indeed, they destroy the tone.

I was listening to a what I thought was an acceptable tone, but it wasn't.

So, I positioned mine this way and it works well.

(wah) -> (compressors) -> (distortion) -> (EQ) -> chorus/delays/flanger -> Volume pedals

hope it helps
Shade

 

[bornagainplayer]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

I appreciate all the information very much. This gives me some great info to experiment with. -Scott

 

[hermetico]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

I appreciate all the information very much. This gives me some great info to experiment with. -Scott

Maybe, you want to read a bit more here:

http://hermeticoguitar.blogspot.com.es/p/pedal-effects.html

 

[bornagainplayer]

Re: Does it matter what order my effects pedals are in?

Good info in that link. Thanks for sharing!