Amp Effects Loop vs Bass>FX>Amp

[MarkoDaBassman]

I'm not too savvy when it comes to using effects pedals/units with bass but was wondering what the difference or benefit in using an amps effects loop vs just going from your bass into some pedals then into the amp? The amp I'm getting has an effects loop send/return ports on the back.
Amp is a Fender Rumble 100

 

[catcauphonic]

I think the general guideline is to have dirt pedals into the pre and modulation effects in the send/return, but it might be worth it to try running all of them in the loop and all in front to see which you favor.

To my ears everything sounded as good going bass > effects > amp. If you're splitting up your pedals some here some there, there's also extra cabling to consider. Just didn't seem worth it enough for me, but YMMV.

Congrats on the new incoming amp!
Please report back with your findings

 

[tshapiro]

Generally speaking, a guitar can sound really strong and pure when it hits the preamp of the amp directly. I generally like to do this when running a 6 string electric guitar into the front of my tube amps. Then, after the sound is amplified by the tube preamp it's sent out the effects loop to the pedals. If I go to the pedals directly from the guitar, there's a little something lost in the tone quality. With a bass into an all solid state preamp and power amp there's not going to be much difference in sound quality. With my bass setup I run my bass into the pedals first and then the amp. At the end of the day, it's either sound quality (which I don't think will apply in your case) or if it makes things easier to wire things up. Now, if you had an all tube amp like a Fender Bassman or an Ampeg SVT than hitting the preamp first could be a bigger consideration.

 

[MarkoDaBassman]

So I got the Fender Rumble 100 yesterday and here is what the manual says about the effects loop. (Benefit)

 

[catcauphonic]

So I got the Fender Rumble 100 yesterday and here is what the manual says about the effects loop. (Benefit)
View attachment 3644906

It's not gonna hurt anything to try them all both ways, and YMMV but to me they sound as pleasing all running in front of the amp and certainly not worth the extra hassle of more cable management.

I'm anxious to hear what you think when you do!

 

[MarkoDaBassman]

I’ll report my findings after I’ve played around a bit.

It's not gonna hurt anything to try them all both ways, and YMMV but to me they sound as pleasing all running in front of the amp and certainly not worth the extra hassle of more cable management.

I'm anxious to hear what you think when you do!

 

[chadhargis]

I've never used the effects loop on my amp or preamp pedal. I understand the principle. On my preamp, the FX loop is AFTER the EQ...so your effects pedals will be getting the shaped sound versus if you have them in front of the preamp, they will be getting the unshaped sound as it comes from the bass (or other pedals).

I've considered putting my HPF into the FX loop of my preamp so it can act on the final signal being sent to the board via the DI.

 

[labeledbass]

I've never used the effects loop on my amp or preamp pedal. I understand the principle. On my preamp, the FX loop is AFTER the EQ...so your effects pedals will be getting the shaped sound versus if you have them in front of the preamp, they will be getting the unshaped sound as it comes from the bass (or other pedals).

I've considered putting my HPF into the FX loop of my preamp so it can act on the final signal being sent to the board via the DI.

Yes, what he said ^^ on some occasions the Fx loop that's onboard is strategically placed/inserted before or after an EQ, Drive, Lowpass/Highpass, and some preamps even give you a selectable choice where the effect loop inserts into the signal chain. There is no right or wrong, but there is considerable benefits depending on what kind of effect or tool you are using.

I have that same combo, except the 200. It is nice, the vintage switch can get you some nice natural compression if you turn the gain up, and master down (basically drive the preamp). If you ever want to bypass the amps preamp/EQ all together you can use the Fx return ONLY to input another preamp. I've done that when I wanted to bypass the Fender EQ and use only one. All those combos blow me away on how light the are.