Pedals in the effects loop...?

[BloodRose]

Wasn't sure if I should put this in the amp forum or here... So here it is...
First... Ill disclaimer. I KNOW its user error..
I have never run pedals through my effects loops before. Have been told in some of my other threads that certain pedals probably would respond better. So, yesterday I tried it.. I couldn't hear the effect.. so today, tried again. My splawn has a volume for the loop, so turned it up and WOW!! Big effect!! The prob is, when effect is on, volume is much greater than when off. Is this just a matter of finding balance with the loop volume? I didn't have much time to experiment to see. That's what Im guessing. Just thought Id ask in case Im wrong or barking up the wrong tree. Thanks!

Cant wait to see how the delays respond in the loop!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Loops are made for time based effects, or eq's. That being said yes sometimes it's best to run the loop hot. I run mine at unity. Then adjust the overall loop output with whatever effect I'm running in there.

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[BloodRose]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Yeah, I was running chorus today. want to try delay next.

 

[devastone]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Yes, you have to find the balance between the loop level and the level on the effect. I looked up Splawn amps, does yours have the +4/-10dB level switch for the loop in addition to the loop volume control? If so, I would recommend running it at -10dB for pedal effects, +4 is line level, mostly for rack effects.

 

[Diego]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Just FYI, there's no "rules" for what goes where when it comes to FX loops.

Everyone says chorus and modulation pedals should go in the loop. I like mine better in front of the amp, it sounds a bit more subtle.
Just don't take anything for granted and experiment a lot. EQ pedals particularly are a blast in the FX loop.

 

[devastone]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

I agree with Diego on mod effects, I like phase and flange in front (that's how King Ed did it). Delays I like in the loop 99% of the time. Chorus, it depends on what I want to achieve with it, in front you can get cool warbly rotary speaker/uni-vibe-ish type effects. In the loop it can give you more of that polished spread 80's-ish sounds, especially in stereo.

 

[Diego]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

I agree with Diego on mod effects, I like phase and flange in front (that's how King Ed did it). Delays I like in the loop 99% of the time. Chorus, it depends on what I want to achieve with it, in front you can get cool warbly rotary speaker/uni-vibe-ish type effects. In the loop it can give you more of that polished spread 80's-ish sounds, especially in stereo.

Exactly. In the loop my chorus sounds a bit too correct and hi-fi. Sounds dirtier, more subtle and warmer in the front.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Official answer: There IS NO CORRECT ANSWER

Practical wisdom - Modulation, Delay, Reverb mostly better in the loop

Reality - You never know.

Also: There are serial loops, parallel loops, and pre and/or post EQ loops. All of that contributes.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Yes, you have to find the balance between the loop level and the level on the effect. I looked up Splawn amps, does yours have the +4/-10dB level switch for the loop in addition to the loop volume control? If so, I would recommend running it at -10dB for pedal effects, +4 is line level, mostly for rack effects.

I agree, I think it's probably saturating the chorus causing the big jump in volume.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

some people love running boosts in the loop, as it really acts as more of a clean boost and lifts the signal of the preamp, rather than going straight into the preamp and hitting that harder.... again, depends on your desired goal [ crunch things up slightly and get louder, or a volume boost to a tone from the amp you like but don't want more gain in

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

On boosts in the loop... If your amp is at the point where it's about to get power tube breakup, you can add more of that without saturating the preamp section any farther.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

The concept of this thread doesn't even compute. I went so far as to install an effects loop in my amp because I couldn't deal with the sound of a delay into a distorted amp. I promise I'll never buy another amp without an effects loop ever again.

 

[Diego]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

The concept of this thread doesn't even compute. I went so far as to install an effects loop in my amp because I couldn't deal with the sound of a delay into a distorted amp. I promise I'll never buy another amp without an effects loop ever again.

I don't even get how you can play and grow to the point where you can own a Splawn without knowing the awesomeness that lies within the FX Loop.
For me it's like playing for years and years without discovering overdrive, ever. Or harmonics. Or a pickup switch!

Don't think for a second that I'm judging or taking the piss though. I'm just surprised.
And as stated before, my primary amp will always have an FX loop.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Different tone.... I've gotten to the point that I like everything in front of the amp except reverb (obvious) and delay (50/50). I've just come back to the grandfather of hard rock, Eddie and his line of pedals and Echoplex into the input, with plate reverb at the desk (simulated with the loop). It just does it for me!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Delay and reverb in the loop (if anything..).. don't use pedals in front at all. I like the feel/sound of plugging straight into my amp :bigthumb:

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

I'm the one guy on the planet that doesn't like delays after the amp/distortion. For me, when the repeats get gradually both quieter and cleaner but darker, it sounds more natural (like real reflections off a mountain in nature) and doesn't clutter the tail of the sound. When the delay is after the amp/distortion, then all the repeats have equally-loaded levels of distortion start to mud together and make a mess of the tail of the sound - to my ear. A nice studio-quality reverb is about all I can stand after the distortion.

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

I will be putting things in my loop soon enough. I just need to stop buying pedals and focus on getting more and better cables.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Due to space and all, I used either my little Hughes and Kettner solid state amp or my PV Classic 30 for years, so got in the habit of running pedals in front. I recently got my pedals set on an actual board and now Im trying to learn the "awesomeness that is the fx loop".. : ) As Im learning more about how to use it, Im really liking it..

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pedals in the effects loop...?

Been running a 31 band Peavey rack eq in the loop of my Carvin XV212. It lets me set the onboard eq for one channel and use the one in the loop for further sculpting. Still getting it dialed in, but I Like It!

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