effects loop advantages

[bassman515]

Are there really any real advantages to running effects in an amps effects loop? I know that i have always been told that you should run delay bassed effects in your loop. So i know that i run my delay, flanger, and chorus in mine...i just wondered if there is any real, true, reason to do so...

J

[four2oh]

just remember that most amp effects loops run on LINE-LEVEL, so it's best to use effects that can handle that (ie. most rack mount fx).. pedals are almost always INSTRUMENT-LEVEL, so place that BEFORE the amp.

[bassman515]

really...hmmm...i am pretty sure that my amp is inst level but i do not know... (i have a B1500) but i am not sure.

[oli@bass]

Originally Posted by four2oh

just remember that most amp effects loops run on LINE-LEVEL, so it's best to use effects that can handle that (ie. most rack mount fx).. pedals are almost always INSTRUMENT-LEVEL, so place that BEFORE the amp.

what four2oh said...

[Diddii]

well diffrence is... Effect placement? Do you want to mod your bass sound and then effects or let your effect "ruin" (who said that?) you bass signal

Well i keep my DBX160a in effect loop, sounds great.
Just try both and see how it sounds...

[RickenBoogie]

+1 FX loop= line level, stomp boxes= inst level. It's all true.

[bongomania]

And here is an article that goes into a little more detail on that subject:
http://www.ovnilab.com/compfaq.html#pedal

[bassman515]

I have never really noticed an issue with the pedals that i have in my effects loop. The only real reason that i was thinking about it is 1) i thought about using my effects loop to turn on and off effects like a looper. 2) i get a hum in my effects becuase i have the same power brick powering all of my effects, if i run batteries on my loop effects the hum goes away, if i have the whole thing inline, no hum. I just thought about getting another brick. can sending to hot of a signal hurt the pedals? Another thought, i have a BBE sonic Max in my loop and it has -10db inputs...wouldn't that be inst level????
Just curious?

[Ric5]

For me running in the effects loop never seems to sound as good as plugging straight into the front.

[bassman515]

How so, what differences did you hear?

[bassman515]

If the effects are set for -10 (inst) will it kill the signal if it is in the loop? Just trying to figure it out.

Thanks!

[bongomania]

Hey bassman, did you read the link I posted? Please do, and then let me know if there are any questions that still need to be answered.

Oh and -10dB is roughly halfway between professional line level (+4dB) and instrument level (somewhere from -30dB to -15dB, but typically -20dB). IOW it can work with some pedals and some rack units, but not all of either category.

[bassman515]

Bongo i did read it. I guess my main questions would be...if i am not hearing any distortion though the loop am i OK? Is there any inhearant positives to having the effects after the preamp of the amp? If i do have pedals in the loop will can it damage the pedals, and can it lower the output of the amp, or am i getting it back to normal with the BBE? Does that all make sence? the main guys that have always told me to use the loop are guitarist becuase that is what they use (reasons are cleaner tone, delays after the preamp)

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by bassman515

if i am not hearing any distortion though the loop am i OK?

Yes.

Originally Posted by bassman515

Is there any inhearant positives to having the effects after the preamp of the amp?

Not across the board. There may be some effects that you find sound or work better after the preamp, but it can't be generalized.

Originally Posted by bassman515

If i do have pedals in the loop will can it damage the pedals

No. Thank goodness.

Originally Posted by bassman515

can it lower the output of the amp

Yes, if whatever you put in the loop is not capable of putting out a signal at least as high in level as the output of the preamp stage.

Originally Posted by bassman515

am i getting it back to normal with the BBE?

Depends on the settings, but it should be able to.

Originally Posted by bassman515

the main guys that have always told me to use the loop are guitarist becuase that is what they use (reasons are cleaner tone, delays after the preamp)

Yeah, guitarists have a whole church of BS about the order an effects chain has to be in. We've even had a few bassists on here who drank the Kool-Aid. The only "real" rule IMO is make sure the input and output levels match up- everything else is up for debate.

[Captain_Arrrg]

Very informative bongo, good rules of thumb.

IMO it comes down to what works for you. I have my Bass Big Muff in the FX loop of my BX1200 and it works for me. I not sure about the B1500 but on the BX1200 the loop is after the compressor, contour, tone and drive, but before the graphic EQ and the master volume. So you can have an effect on the tone your amp is putting out, and then shape it further with the GEQ and control the volume.

My Qtron+ on the other hand, does not work well in the loop. My SMMH should arrive Wednesday, we'll have to see about that....

Edit: You can also mute the entire loop at once, if that helps.

[bassman515]

that is very informative...so, i am not hurting anything. Right now, there is no noticable difference in volume if is shut off my loop (I can turn it on an off) assumeing that the signal is not still going though it. There is no distortion, and obiously it will still get the color of the preamp if it is before it becuase the pre colors everything that goes into it, i pretty much run everything flat except for the drive anyways... Sounds like i need to do some experimenting.

[bassman515]

PS..thanks for the help!!!