NS-2 pedal arrangement

[Todd]

Just Bought a Boss NS-2 to help reduce excessive hum from my pedal board and from the overdrive channel in the amp. I have always used my pedal board in the amp's FX loop. But the instructions show the hookup before the amp. So that's what I did. I have to admit, it sounds pretty good. But wonder if I could improve upon the set-up. Here is what I have right now according to the NS-2 instructions:

All pedals are before the amp (not in amp FX loop)

Guitar > NS-2 loop send > GE-7 EQ > BD-2 (keeley mod) > RC Booster > return to NS-2 > NS-2 output > Boost R.V.B reverb > CS-9 chorus > Amp

I put the fx mod pedals between the NS-2 and amp like the instructions said.

The amp's footswitch for the distortion channel is not in this configuration but plugged into the amp directly, naturally.

Now, is there a configuration that will work well in the amps FX loop using the NS-2 or is it better to stay in front between the guitar and amp? What would you do?


The amp is a Traynor YCV 50 Blue

 

[baritone]

Re: NS-2 pedal arrangement

If that is working for you, it might be a good idea to stick with it. Of course, there is always room to experiment with sounds. The first thing I would do is try the reverb and chorus in the amp's effect loop and leave everything else how it is. Other than, that, it is totally worth trying different orders of effects and trying different pedals in the loop. Basically, it depends on what sounds best to you.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: NS-2 pedal arrangement

this is just me but i would switch your EQ and put it last right after your RC, and as proposed by baritone i would try putting the reverb and chorus in the FX loop but i would switch them around putting the chorus first and reverb last


why switch things around? because of how depending on how you place certain fx in a certain order it can greatly affect the chain and either make things clear and nice or it can make things sound crowded and undefined.. unless of course you get the desired effect from placing them in the order you have right now. A rule i always follow is the simple phrase "Which chain of effect pedals makes life easy" it sounds silly but it works...

Guitar ---> Wah (Which) - Compressor (Chain) - Overdrive (Of) - EQ (Effect) - Pitch (Pedals) - Modulation (Makes) - Level (Life) - Echo (Easy) ---> Amp

This is how i setup my stuff every time. Its a great starting point and usually it sounds great from the start and i end up very rarely changing something. In the end its all about your ears tho so experiment! Its not like your soldering the patch cables you can always go back to your current setup if you end up with something worse.

 

[Todd]

Re: NS-2 pedal arrangement

this is just me but i would switch your EQ and put it last right after your RC, and as proposed by baritone i would try putting the reverb and chorus in the FX loop but i would switch them around putting the chorus first and reverb last


why switch things around? because of how depending on how you place certain fx in a certain order it can greatly affect the chain and either make things clear and nice or it can make things sound crowded and undefined.

Yep, it used to sound cluttered with them all together in the FX loop w/ the chorus and reverb in the middle of the others. Now with the Chorus > Reverb in the fx loop separated from the others it's much cleaner. I also like your suggestion about moving the boost and EQ, which also makes a noticeable difference.

I have more questions. I understand that the NS-2 should be the first in the chain from the guitar. I wonder if anyone has put it in the amp fx loop... and what this would do? It doesn't sound like a good Idea to me.

I'm also wondering why certain pedals are put in the NS-2 loop? Won't it still cancel hum if they were outside it, between the NS-2 and the amp? I mean it seems to work for the amp's overdrive channel ok, which isn't in this loop.