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Post subject: Effects loop?
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:19 am
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What is the purpose of the effects loop on an amp? I have tried both set ups - straight to amp with effects and run through the loop and I am not sure of any reason. HELP!!


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Post subject: Re: Effects loop?
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:23 pm
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moodus2006 wrote:
What is the purpose of the effects loop on an amp? I have tried both set ups - straight to amp with effects and run through the loop and I am not sure of any reason. HELP!!


Certain FX sound better in front of the amp, while others sound better further down the signal chain, after any distortion has been produced. For a good example of this, try placing a delay or chorus before a distortion pedal. You'll notice that the effected signal gets muddied up by the distortion. The same happens when you put a delay/chorus/tremolo/vibrato/phase pedal in front of an amp that produces distortion: marshall JCM 800/900/2000, any VHT, mesa boogie or any other high gain amp.

The effects loop was designed so that it sits in the signal chain of the amp, between the preamp and the power amp sections. Any distortion produced by pedals or the preamp section will take place before the loop. Any time-based FX (such as listed above) will be in the loop.

If you're playing an amp that does not produce distortion (Fender twin, for example), you can put time-based FX in front of the amp and distort the effected signal.

Guitarists in studios, for example, will record with no effects at all (delay, reverb), unless these pedals exist on their pedalboards. These effects will be added by the engineer in the control room. In fact, Larry Carlton has his live rig setup in a similar manner. He mics his guitar amp, sends that signal to a small mixing board, adds the effects there, then sends that signal to a pair of powered monitors placed on either side of his amp. This way, he hears what he's used to hearing in a studio.

If you've tried it both ways and haven't noticed any major difference, then go with all pedals in front of the amp. The other drawback to using an effects loop is that it requires 2 more signal cables to/from the loop and pedals.


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