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AMPEG question?

S

Stone Coyote

Dec 15, 2020
6
9
#1
Hi!

I'm a brand new newbie to the bass world, and have a 'beginner' type question.

I was just given a Fender Jazz bass, and an Ampeg BA-112 V2 combo.

It seems like a pretty straight forward rig to figure out, but I'm left with one question. Would anyone please explain what the 'Effects Return Jack' and 'Effects Send Jack' are used for? Please dummy down any replies, like I said, this is all new to me.

Best Regards!
 
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#2
"Effects" are a whole category of sound-processing devices such as: EQ, compressor, reverb, delay, chorus, overdrive, etc.

You can connect the Effects Send to the Input on your effect(s), and then connect the Output of your effect(s) back to the Effect Return. This creates what is called an "Effects Loop."

So you Send your signal out from the amp to "something else" and then the signal Returns from the "something else" to your amp. In pro audio you might sometimes hear this called an "Insert" or "Patch."

If you aren't using any additional effects, then you don't need to worry about the Effects Send or Return, they are extra features you don't need right now. These features make the amp more versatile and modular for your future use.

In layman's terms you can think of it kind of like if you wanted to add a water filter to your kitchen sink. You would have to "patch in" to the plumbing and create a "loop" so you can "send" unfiltered water to the filter, and then "return" filtered water to the tap.
 
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#4
It's also worth mentioning you don't have to use the effects loop, someday when you start buying effects pedals. Many effects pedals will sound best if you connect them between your bass and the Input of your Ampeg. This is the "classic" or "old school" way to use effects, and will sound good most of the time. Something like a standard Boss effects pedal for bass (for example) most people wouldn't use the Effects Loop for that.

The Effects Loop is often used with studio-grade effects equipment that runs at "line level," as opposed to guitar stompbox pedal effects. But you can experiment: If you buy an effects unit, try it both ways (before the amp, and in the amp's effects loop) to see which sounds better to you.
 
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#5
Stone Coyote said:
Hi!

I'm a brand new newbie to the bass world, and have a 'beginner' type question.

I was just given a Fender Jazz bass, and an Ampeg BA-112 V2 combo.

It seems like a pretty straight forward rig to figure out, but I'm left with one question. Would anyone please explain what the 'Effects Return Jack' and 'Effects Send Jack' are used for? Please dummy down any replies, like I said, this is all new to me.

Best Regards!
Click to expand...
Welcome to the bass world. Enjoy! Sounds like you have a good setup.
 
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#6
Stone Coyote said:
Hi!

I'm a brand new newbie to the bass world, and have a 'beginner' type question.

I was just given a Fender Jazz bass, and an Ampeg BA-112 V2 combo.

It seems like a pretty straight forward rig to figure out, but I'm left with one question. Would anyone please explain what the 'Effects Return Jack' and 'Effects Send Jack' are used for? Please dummy down any replies, like I said, this is all new to me.

Best Regards!
Click to expand...

Mushroo said:
"Effects" are a whole category of sound-processing devices such as: EQ, compressor, reverb, delay, chorus, overdrive, etc.

You can connect the Effects Send to the Input on your effect(s), and then connect the Output of your effect(s) back to the Effect Return. This creates what is called an "Effects Loop."

So you Send your signal out from the amp to "something else" and then the signal Returns from the "something else" to your amp. In pro audio you might sometimes hear this called an "Insert" or "Patch."

If you aren't using any additional effects, then you don't need to worry about the Effects Send or Return, they are extra features you don't need right now. These features make the amp more versatile and modular for your future use.

In layman's terms you can think of it kind of like if you wanted to add a water filter to your kitchen sink. You would have to "patch in" to the plumbing and create a "loop" so you can "send" unfiltered water to the filter, and then "return" filtered water to the tap.
Click to expand...

I can't say that I have ever used the "effects loop"... it's a whole "nuther" level of complication I don't need in my life...

I think I understand the concept.
 
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#7
WillyW said:
I can't say that I have ever used the "effects loop"... it's a whole "nuther" level of complication I don't need in my life...

I think I understand the concept.
Click to expand...

Bass can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. I tend for the latter, but over the past few years I've gone for the former. Even before that, I never really bothered with pedals, it's just an expensive addition to an already expensive passtime.
 
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#8
Stone Coyote said:
Hi!

I'm a brand new newbie to the bass world, and have a 'beginner' type question.

I was just given a Fender Jazz bass, and an Ampeg BA-112 V2 combo.

It seems like a pretty straight forward rig to figure out, but I'm left with one question. Would anyone please explain what the 'Effects Return Jack' and 'Effects Send Jack' are used for? Please dummy down any replies, like I said, this is all new to me.

Best Regards!
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard! That's one heck of a gift right there!

I have nothing to add RE: the effects loop. I just plug my multi-effects processor in between the "out" of the bass and the "in" of the amp as I am too old and cranky to learn anything else.
 
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#14
Stone Coyote said:
Hi!

I'm a brand new newbie to the bass world, and have a 'beginner' type question.

I was just given a Fender Jazz bass, and an Ampeg BA-112 V2 combo.

It seems like a pretty straight forward rig to figure out, but I'm left with one question. Would anyone please explain what the 'Effects Return Jack' and 'Effects Send Jack' are used for? Please dummy down any replies, like I said, this is all new to me.

Best Regards!
Click to expand...
I thought th BA112 v2 didn't have effects send and return. Am I wrong?
@JimmyM
@Stone Coyote
If you DO have them, you can also use them to daisy chain two amps together to make a double amp.
Here are two BA115s:
942F8B66-19C0-40C9-A748-01742C384423.jpeg
 
#17
pie_man_25 said:
Bass can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. I tend for the latter, but over the past few years I've gone for the former. Even before that, I never really bothered with pedals, it's just an expensive addition to an already expensive passtime.
Click to expand...
I should also add - if you like pedals, more power to you. Heck, even I've got an Smith scr-di and I love playing through headphones with it.
 
#18
The effects loop also has sort of "bonus" uses. It can be used like posted above to make a master/slave rig, as well as a preamp output and/or power amp input. For example on the second use there, if you had a combo that sounds great but isn't high enough power for the situation, you can SEND the preamp signal to a more powerful amp and cabinet. As well you could send a processed or line level output directly to the power amp using the RETURN and bypass the amp's preamp.

This is down the road a bit for you but it's another way the fx loop is commonly used.
 
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