Bass amps with adjustable FX loops for sensitivity and series/parallel

[GeneralElectric]

Just wondering whats out on the market.

My favorite amp to play through is my Aguilar AG 500. I love the tone and its fast attack, but one of the coolest things for me is the FX loop on the amp which not only can switch between parallel and series, but also has an adjustable +/-20db send/return. Its super helpful for driving certain pedals that don't normally work so well as line level effects on bass.

I'm not really looking to get an amp immediately. I'm in currently in downsizing mode, but it doesn't hurt to have something that'll motivate me to sell my crap!

 

[BassmanPaul]

Most pedals are designed to work in front of the amp and not in the Effects Loop.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Trace SMX does tweak operating level.

 

[GeneralElectric]

Most pedals are designed to work in front of the amp and not in the Effects Loop.

Reply and a bump

Some pedals work better in an FX loop. Its usually modulation effects that go through the loop, but I have one particular distortion pedal that is placed in there.

But also the adjustable send/return is super useful when you're playing with a pedal meant for guitar and has a minimal effect on bass. For example, I got an awesome phaser from Mr Black. It slays on guitar. On bass, it seems you need to dime every control on the pedal to get a good phase effect. Putting it through the FX loop lets me raise the gain to better interact with the pedal, and then adjust the return, so I can still maintain unity gain in my signal chain.

I also play a passive P-bass most of the time, so that definitely factors into it too.

 

[anderbass]

If you wanna include amps on the used market:
The older Mesa/Boogie D180, 400 & 400+ amps all came with an "Effects Blend" knob.

 

[abarson]

My old Tubeworks RT-3300 has level adjustment for both effects send and return, as well a wet/dry signal mix control. I've not seen the likes on any other amp, and especially not newer ones.

 

[agedhorse]

The number of players that would benefit from this is very (very) small compared with the cost and inevitable support questions (challenges) that would arise.

 

[Passinwind]

Just wondering whats out on the market.

My favorite amp to play through is my Aguilar AG 500. I love the tone and its fast attack, but one of the coolest things for me is the FX loop on the amp which not only can switch between parallel and series, but also has an adjustable +/-20db send/return. Its super helpful for driving certain pedals that don't normally work so well as line level effects on bass.

I'm not really looking to get an amp immediately. I'm in currently in downsizing mode, but it doesn't hurt to have something that'll motivate me to sell my crap!

IMO going for something out of the box is a better bet than looking for a unicorn amp. If you post over in the Effects Forum you should get plenty of ideas for pedal solutions.