How many use the effects loop, which pedals do you route through?

[Greywolf]

A few of my amps have effects loops , I remember many moons ago trying it and not being impressed . ( My PRS CAD amps don't have them)
I know the norm is to use it for time/modulation effects .. curious to know who and how folks are using them .

 

[Fill]

I use a Fender Marine Layer reverb pedal in the loop of both my Mesa Stiletto Ace, and my Hot Rod 25. I have no issues with the FX level interfacing with the loop(s). I'd always opt for putting FX in an effects loop to minimize any noise the effect might make as a result of putting the FX between the guitar and amp into the amps input, where FX noise gets amplified by the amps pre-amp.

As you mentioned, the PRS HXDA amp I had didn't have an FX loop, so I did use that reverb into the amps input, and had no issues noise or level issues with it used that way. Up until recently, I didn't use any FX aside from the reverb. It was simply guitar/cord/amp. When Sam Ash went out of biz, they ran clearance sales, so I did pick up another reverb pedal, along with a delay, a couple of boosts, an overdrive, and a tuner pedal.
I recently stopped in a local GC and found a super clean used "Pigtronix MVP" power supply that should be perfect to power those pedals on a small pedal board I've been putting together. One of the boosts (an "Xotic EP mini booster) is gonna be built into a Tele with Rio Grande "Dirty Harry" Tele pickups that I've been working on.
How that's gonna work out? As my Dad used to say "we shall see what we shall see".

 

[DISTORT6]

I like to use an EQ pedal in the loop every once in a while. Really fine tune or dial in a "high-fi" sound.
Just not with the SLO. Mine is an older one with the line level loop.

 

[jkornel]

I have always been a loop guy, since I started playing in the late 80's. I run all my time-based effects in the loop (chorus, flange, delay, and eq) and up front i run Comp, overdrive, wah. It's 4 cables and a bit more set up every gig, but for me I just always liked the clarity of those effects in the loop.

 

[Greywolf]

One chap on another forum suggest an EQ which is a delightful idea, as I have a nice parametric I've used for Open Mic to tame the wolf tones on the acoustics .. The Blues Deluxe apparently benefits from FX loop attenuation control to smooth out the asymetric volume swell. Some go with a "Lion Tamer" which is just a variable 10K ohm pot plugged into the loop .

The EQ makes more sense to me..

 

[Wyzard]

I use a Lehle SD and a Free The Tone Ambi-Space in my amps that have a loop, and stick them after my drive pedals in everything else that doesn't have one.


It's all good; but I generally prefer keeping the reverb post the amp's own gained-up preamp section whenever possible.

 

[Maertl513]

FX: Delay, Flanger, Leslie clon, H90.

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

Half my H90 goes to the fx loop, as well as Zuul+ (triggered with a One Control solo looper), and a RC10R looper; but that's not really an effect pedal

 

[bodia]

No loops for this guy. Straight into the front.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Definitely prefer a good loop if given a choice on my amps. Always have verb and delay in the loop. Usually chorus and flanger, and sometimes an EQ as well.

 

[aamefford]

Loop when I had the Mesa Mkv25. With the Triple Crown, so far straight in the front. A tiny bit because there is a very (very) vocal minority that screams "TONE SUCK IN THE LOOP!" at every opportunity with the TC-50 and TC-100. There is a much larger majority that is silent, so I doubt it's much of an issue. The real reason? 1 cord to board, one cord to amp for straight in. One cord to board, three cords to amp for loop, and the TC-100 is like 46 lbs, so a PIA to reach the loop jacks.

I'll get around to redoing the plumbing for the loop eventually. I may also use the loop on my PS2, just to see.

 

[László]

No loops used here, even with amps that have them.

My rig is dead quiet even with all 4 amps and cabs going through the amp and cab switcher with the pedals on. I spent a lot of time and effort making that happen.

I like doing things old-school. For my purpose (recording) if I need post-preamp effects, things sound even better post-amp and post-mics, with effects at the mixer.

But I like the way things sound in front of the amp, even modulation, delay and reverb.

My signal is routed through a Pettyjohn preamp with buffer, PJ Edge low gain OD, PJ Rare Klon type pedal, PJ Chime OD, PJ EQ, Suhr compressor, trem, chorus and clean boost, then to tuner and two H9s.

Andy474x can verify how quiet the rig is.

From guitar to pedalboard to amp switcher there’s 35 feet of low capacitance VanDamme or Sommer cable, and an additional length of cable from switcher to the amps.

The pedalboard uses Grimm TPR cables. Cables for amp/swircher/speaker connections are DH T-14. Power cables are ESP.

I guess I should mention that all tubes are NOS, tested to ensure low noise.

Sounds crazy, I know, but all this goofy stuff makes a difference even though it’s not supposed to. .

 

[BrianC]

delay in the loop

 

[vchizzle]

On amps that I use a decent amount of preamp gain(SLO and Archon), I will use delay and reverb in the loop. A graphic eq with a level control can be handy if you need the volume real low but want your amp at a higher volume on the master. I had my pedalboard setup with a midi controller pedal switcher set up to run with multiple amps, switch channels per preset. I used a source audio eq pedal running last in chain, always on. Not so much to do much actual EQing, more to leave my amp channel volumes set and balanced and I would just use it mostly as a volume control at gigs for whatever size the room was. I had 2-3 eq presets stored and pick whichever one depending on which amp I wanted to use that given night.

With my Matchless, Divided By 13 and Bad Cat Black Cat- I only ran to edge of break up and all pedals out front. Any real gain added was with boost/OD pedals in front of delays and verbs to keep things from getting messy sounding.

 

[jak3af3r]

I usually run a delay or a tremolo into a strymon lex followed by a strymon bluesky. All of this operates similar to this description...

...more to leave my amp channel volumes set and balanced and I would just use it mostly as a volume control at gigs for whatever size the room was.

My FX loops are passive and need a buffer to drop the signal down to pedal levels and then bring it back up to send back to the amp. The buffer has 3 level controls with the return control effectively replacing the master volume on the amp so the amp's master can run at its happy spot without blasting everyone.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

delay in the loop

This

 

[Black Dog]

I go straight into the amp.

 

[Huggy Love]

Even in my hard Rockin effects laden days 100% loop.
I never used gain pedals as I always bought amps that had more than enough gain for my needs. For all others I used at the time (reverb,delay,chorus,octaver) a well designed loop always provided a better and more controllable signal and tone, especially live.

Nowadays I just bring a guitar and an amp to gigs & jams and rely on my fingers for effects.


*Disclaimer: Huggy does not and has never owned a pedalboard,

......and relied on duct tape.

 

[andy474x]

Andy474x can verify how quiet the rig is.

Can confirm!!!

Sometimes, when I'm all alone and things are really quiet, I think to myself "ah, I can still hear the silence of Les' amps at idle... even from across the state!"



Really, though, his setup thing of beauty. Even though he'll turn around and call it "craptastic"... don't believe it.

Anyways.

I have a novel theory on when to use an effects loop:

When it sounds better.

OK - I know that's a smart@$$ response, but we guitarists overthink the loop thing. Many people say "oh, the pros don't use effects loops, I've worked with them and none do." I went to a Pete Thorn clinic, and he was all for using the effects loop, and claimed that tons of pros do use them. He had no reservation in saying he couldn't make the sounds he wanted without one. There's probably some truth to it both ways.

I just evaluate the pros and cons of using, or not using, the loop in any given setup or situation.

Some cons to using a loop are: Sometimes they raise the noise floor. On some amps they might "suck tone," although I suspect that some of those instances might actually be due to effects that aren't designed for the hotter signal level that some amps produce in their loop. They might not do well with pedals on non-isolated power supplies (but, people, it's 2025, use a per-pedal isolated power supply).

But, the pros are: Some effects are much easier to adjust for the intended sound in an effects loop, delays and reverbs are much less sensitive to small adjustments in a loop, where the gain of the amp might make them wildly sensitive out front. Modulation on an effect might be more subtle and pleasing on a high gain sound, as a lot of distortion can really accentuate a tendency to sound "out of tune." Also, I think the decay on delays can be different in a loop, they might taper gradually than if they're in front of a cranking amp.

So, I generally do prefer to try an effect in front of an amp, just to cut down on the complication factor, but if it isn't working the way I want due to being in front of a lot of gain, I'll use the loop.

 

[László]

I have a novel theory on when to use an effects loop:

When it sounds better.

Best response ever!