Need advice on hooking/setting up pedal effects

[Outlaw_son]

Ive finally got a mini collection of effect pedals and I have a couple of questions Id like to ask. Up to this point I havent "chained" the pedals together, simply because I dont have any pedal cables yet and I dont know how to.

The Amp I have is:

Gallien Kruger 700rb-II (pic at bottom)


The effects I have are :

- Korg PitchBlack Tuner
- Toadworks Mr. Squishy Compression
- Boss ODB-3 overdrive
- Boss Oc-2 Octave
- Q-tron Envelope filter

The questions I have are:

1. How do I run my effects pedals into my setup? (My amp has a regular instrument input jack as well as FX send and return inputs and a tuner input.)

2. Please explain to me the the purpose of the FX send/return inputs and why thats different from the instument input.

3. Is there any specific order I shoud run my effects in? Ive heard some pedals belong in front or behind other pedals.

I hope this doesnt belong in the amp forums as it appears to touch on both topics. Thanks

[KsToaDangr]

You've got it posted in the right place.
The FX send/return is for Line level effects, which are mostly rack effects.
Most of the people are going to tell you to just play around with different orders until you find the one you like best. I would say to go ahead and hook them up in the order you've got them listed, and go from there.
Start with BASS-> Korg PitchBlack Tuner-> Toadworks Mr. Squishy Compression-> Boss ODB-3 overdrive-> Boss Oc-2 Octave-> Q-tron Envelope filter->AMP
If you don't like a particular one before another one, start switching them around.

[cabrego]

According to the manual for my DOD filter wahs and filters should be the first thing in your chain after your bass.

[bongomania]

I might go:
bass --> tuner --> Squishy --> octave --> filter --> overdrive --> amp

The compressed (but otherwise un-effected) bass signal will be the best signal to feed into the octave, for the cleanest tracking. Everything else is up to personal taste- however remember these factors:

1) Overdrive/distortion/fuzz all compress your signal.
2) A filter placed after compression will be more consistent but less dynamic.
3) Filters (esp. the Q-tron) can put out a big volume spike when they peak, and putting the compressor after the filter can help.

Obviously there are some contradictions possible there, so it's a question of experimenting while bearing those concepts in mind.

[Outlaw_son]

So for for situation there is no need to use the tuner and FX inputs?

I can run BASS-->EFFECTS-->AMPs instrument input right?

[SpankyPants]

Personally, I'd go Me>Bass>Octave>Drive>Filter>Squish>Tuner>Me again>Amp.

Octave+Drive+Filter = Mean synthy sounds. Octave gets the cleanest, most direct signal. Filter generally gets more dynamic signal and is followed by a compressor to control volume spikes. The tuner is the last thing in your chain, so it can mute your entire signal even if all of your effects are on.

The general rule of thumb involves a night to yourself, whiskey, and arm flailing. You'll get the hang of this.

[rustynuts]

Or have both options....Pick up a second OD and place one in front and one behind the filter.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Outlaw_son

So for for situation there is no need to use the tuner and FX inputs?
I can run BASS-->EFFECTS-->AMPs instrument input right?

Yeah, that's what we're saying. There's no harm in trying to use the loop, but generally pedals go between the bass and the amp instrument input.

You can certainly put the tuner pedal in the "tuner out" jack, but then you lose the ability to use the tuner as a mute button.

[baalroo]

basically, just try to wrap your head around the fact that each pedal will effect the sound of the one(s) before it.

for example:

Bass->Octave->Distortion->Amp will distort the sound of the octave

BUT

Bass->Distortion->Octave->Amp
will create an octave of the distorted sound.

Same exact pedals, two very different sounds. Once you understand this just start experimenting with combinations. The above suggestions are a good place to start, but half the fun is figuring out how to get the "most" out of your gear.

[bassmaestro]

doesnt it go thye same for a wah wah pedal too.
putting it in different places effects the sound in a different way.im trying to figure out where best to my cry baby.i want a good sound for soloing.
any advice?

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by bassmaestro

doesnt it go thye same for a wah wah pedal too.
putting it in different places effects the sound in a different way.im trying to figure out where best to my cry baby.i want a good sound for soloing.
any advice?

Of course it does. Generally the further down the chain you put your wah, the more intense it will be because...

If it's bass->Wah->other fx ->amp
then all the other fx will "mellow" or "cover-up" the wah with whatever fx they make.

If it's Bass>other fx >Wah >Amp
then you are Wah-ing the end result of all your other fx.

so, if you want the wah more prominent (ie: progresive metal, funk, etc) then put it later in the chain and if you want it "smoother" or less obvious (classic rock, blues, etc) put it closer to the front.

btw, obviously a pedal is irrelevant to your signal chain unless it is turned "ON" (aside from bypass-tone-suck which is another topic entirely)

[KsToaDangr]

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

Tuner>Me again>Amp.

Spanky, you're so addicted to effects, you're in your own signal path.

[Noosh]

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

The tuner is the last thing in your chain, so it can mute your entire signal even if all of your effects are on.

technically though, wouldnt the tuner do that anywhere in the chain?

[SpankyPants]

Well compressors, OD's, and other effects can raise the noise floor or even introduce noise into the chain. Even if you mute your signal before distortion, you could still hear the distortion buzz until it turns off.

[Swift713]

I personally find that my Q-tron kind of masks my overdrive if it's after the OD. I get a more focused liquidy sound with Q into the OD. I also find the compressor ruins the Q-tron either before (very consistent / boring) or after (choked or swallowed). Of course, I don't use my comp for "transparent" compression. My chain (this week) is Q-tron, comp, OD, Multi (for delay, tuner & mute mostly), Sonic Maximizer, amp. The comp could go anywhere really because I don't use it with anything else. The name of the game is obsessive experimentation.