Preamp before or after effects?

smo · #1 11-26-2009, 09:29 AM

Hi all,

What's the consensus here at TB?

Do we like:

BASS > Effects > Preamp > Poweramp

or

BASS > Preamp > Effects > Poweramp.

Reason I ask is that I've been playing one of these ways for the last 10 years, and I thought I'd try the other way, and was pleasantly surprised!!!!!!

So what do you do?
And why do you like it?

What are you gigging guys doing?

Poor Tom · #2 11-26-2009, 09:48 AM

I don't have a preamp, but I would assume to put it in front of the effects. Can you tell us which way you were doing it, and which is the new way that you were "pleasantly surprised" about? And why? Describe the difference between the two if you can.

I love moving around pedals in my chain, it makes a bigger difference than you think it would at first. Lots of different sounds to find.

ga_edwards · #3 11-26-2009, 10:23 AM

A lot depends on the effects you're using and how many. Certain tone shaping effects tend to work better before the preamp - wah, filters, dirstortion. Wheras time based processors tend to work well after the pre-amp, such as chorus/flange/phaser, reverb, delays etc. Compression is one of those ones that can work equally as well in either spot.

However, if you're just using one or maybe two effects, you may well find that they work well in either are, especially if you're a set it and forget it guy with the preamp like me. I've recently taken to putting my compressor in the fx loop instead of front end. Works a treat.

As always though, YMMV.

bongomania · #4 11-26-2009, 11:24 AM

Another aspect that must be considered is: are the effects designed to run at line level or instrument level? If the former, they usually won't work well in front of the preamp. If the latter, they almost never work well after the preamp. If they can be adjusted for line or instrument level, then it's up to personal taste in how the results sound. If the effects were designed for -10 dBu "consumer" line level, then where they work best will be up to the in/out specs/levels of your specific preamp and amp.

Zooberwerx · #5 11-26-2009, 11:39 AM

Simply put...

Knobs / switches / LEDs on top = before preamp.

Knobs / switches / LEDs on front = preamp effects loop or output.

smo · #6 11-26-2009, 10:53 PM

I've been running effects before preamp for ages.

I run a DHA VT1-Bassdrive as a preamp in to a tube slave.

For this test I was using the DHA at unity gain with my P bass, at band rehearsal volumes.

Recently I tried a few different fuzz pedals and phaser after the DHA, and found the fuzzes and phaser sounded much more dynamic (not as compressed) in a good way!
The wah and OD still sounded better to my ears before tho.

Just thought I'd share, although I don't think I'll be changing the order permanently.