Gain pedals in the loop?

[dystrust]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

Traditionally effects loops were always for line level devices. That’s why they often have volume controls. Plus the types of effects you would insert there, like reverb, has until recently always been rack units.


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“Get your levels right

Another element that is sometimes overlooked is ensuring your effects can handle the line-level output that is typically sent from your amplifier’s effects loop. Depending on the pedal, hitting your stompbox with a line-level signal can overload the circuit, resulting in less-than-desirable performance. Read your pedal’s manual to find out if it can hang with that stronger signal.”

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/use-amps-effects-loop/


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The loop in my 2555 Jubilee is definitely line level, and lots of stomp boxes sound pretty lousy with levels that hot. I'm used to running my board out front, so I've never tried the loop in my 2525H.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

older designs like the 2555 are definitely designed for rack gear but lots of more modern designs are switchable since at this point way more people use pedals than rack gear

 

[Despair]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

There's a lot of amps that only have instrument-level loops now, too. Because racks are dead and everyone uses pedalboards. *sigh*

 

[ErikH]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

My old Marshall JCM 900 MkIII loop had a level control on it. I had to dial it back all the way down when running a Boss DD-3 through it. It was a killer setup too. The Ibanez DE-7 was great with it too. In the mid-90's I had a Rocktron Intellifex running through it and half-way on the loop was good enough for it.

But, an overdrive or distortion in the loop? Just no. Unless it is a "pre-amp" like an AMT Legend series pedal or the like. In that case, as mentioned the guitar plugs in to the pedal and out of the pedal to the effects return, which goes right to the power amp after the tone stack (and before the phase inverter in a tube amp). But send/return on a gain pedal, yuck! Yes, I've tried it.

 

[Coma]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

One thing to watch out for, keep you master low on the gain pedal and roll it up after you engage it. Sometimes your amp’s master is pre-loop so you can get a huge volume blast if you aren’t careful.

Just moved my clean boost into the FX loop. Knowing fully well the risks mentioned, I bottomed out the gain and volume knobs on it before connecting my board. Then spent the following 15 minutes troubleshooting and checking and re-cheking connections because for some mysterious reason no sound was coming through when the boost pedal was engaged :dunce:

 

[ErikH]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

Now, a clean, and I mean clean boost can work well in the loop, especially on one channel amps and when you get your drive from the amp. Since the max headroom of the preamp has been reached, the only way to boost for a lead is either the sound man does it at the board (old school) or something post preamp, like a clean boost in the loop. It could be touchy but it'll work.

 

[devastone]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

Just moved my clean boost into the FX loop. Knowing fully well the risks mentioned, I bottomed out the gain and volume knobs on it before connecting my board. Then spent the following 15 minutes troubleshooting and checking and re-cheking connections because for some mysterious reason no sound was coming through when the boost pedal was engaged :dunce:

Now, a clean, and I mean clean boost can work well in the loop, especially on one channel amps and when you get your drive from the amp. Since the max headroom of the preamp has been reached, the only way to boost for a lead is either the sound man does it at the board (old school) or something post preamp, like a clean boost in the loop. It could be touchy but it'll work.

Yes, a high headroom boost can work great in the loop, assuming your turn the knobs up.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Gain pedals in the loop?

The effects return jack is similar to a power amp in.

You aren't using the effects "loop" if you're only using the power amp in. (loop return)

...and it does work, and makes many previously labeled garbage distortion pedals become quite useable.