Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I have never liked and I have never used effects loop
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Effects Loop vs. Direct
- Thread starter KenD
- Start date
I have never liked and I have never used effects loop
I've done A/B comparisons with most of my effects, running them in front of my Mesa D800+, and also in its FX loop. I did the same with the Genz-Benz amps I owned (Shuttle 9.0, Streamliner 900, Shuttlemax 9.2).
Running the effects into the front input won every time. Your results may vary, but it's pretty definitive for me.
Running the effects into the front input won every time. Your results may vary, but it's pretty definitive for me.
It doesn't really matter. Each will sound different, but better is subject to your whims. I ran my pedals direct to my effects return on my Peavey Alphabass because the preamp broke up way too early, and that worked really well for that amp, but it was way more of a hassle for little benefit on my Carvin R600 amp. Just give it a go and see how it sounds.
Edit: I will say that running three cables to your amp instead of just one is a PITA and can create some issues if a quick change of bands is necessary unless you have everything very organized.
Examples include all of the Trace Elliot V-Types (Hybrids plus the V4, V6, V8 etc)
...also includes the Ashdown amps that draw their heritage from the V-Types; to include most if not all of the Dual Tube series and CTM series. (LB30, Touring and Spyder hybrids, CTM30, Small Block 427, CTM100, CTM300, etc)
Here is the front end of the preamp from the Series I V-Type Schematic.
The effects loop is in exactly the same place for the Series II Trace Elliots and all of the Ashdowns I mentioned. There are of course some variations in the circuit.
Actually you are probably the one who misunderstands. The effects loop in most amps works at line level. Most pedals work at instrument level and are not compatible with line level. Line level effects loops are intended for studio rack gear like equalizers, compressors, reverbs, etc. However some amps have an effects loop that works at instrument level, or one that can be switched to work at instrument or line level.
So @Mushroo is actually asking a very intelligent question instead of giving you a general answer that may not be relevant to your amp.
However some amps have an effects loop that works at instrument level, or one that can be switched to work at instrument or line level.
So @Mushroo is actually asking a very intelligent question instead of giving you a general answer that may not be relevant to your amp.
Is the necessary info not already contained in my OP? It mentions the tube buffered fx loop and purporting to match impedances.
No, the info is not in the OP; so it is really impossible to give you a specific answer.
FYI, Impedance matching and signal levels are two different things. Also, most modern audio circuits use impedance bridging rather than impedance matching. What you have copied is pretty much a line of marketing BS that seems to be using the term "impedance matching" when they mean "impedance bridging."
FYI Impedance is considered to be bridged when the input impedance (of the load) is approximately 10x the output impedance (of the source). The idea is the input impedance of the load is so high that the sources sees the load as nonexistent (I.E. open circuit).
Generally speaking, an FX loop is in between the preamp and the power amp. It depends if you want to feed your preamp into the effects, or vice versa. Also, some pedals (like some distortions) like high impedance signals, so that might be another factor in deciding where you should have them.
It's interesting that some people seemed to understand what I was asking and were able to offer a useful answer. But thanks anyway.
Here is the irony:
I have actually answered your questions fairly directly, but apparently that has eluded you. However, since you continue to be evasive and snarkey, I will go away and stop wasting both of our time rather than continuing to try and help you understand.
Before I go, many of the other answers you were given are not as useful as you think they are, but since you are satisfied, good luck!
Have a nice day!
Unsubbed.
OP, it does seem odd that the you mention a specific amp under consideration, with a specific effects loop as the feature being asked about in relation to pedals and their placement in the signal path. Not much to misunderstand in your intent there, unless you’re going for deliberate obfuscation.
Questions about what amp it is are inevitable, and necessary in order to provide a specific answer. Mushroo and Wasnex picked up on the implied specific amp you chose to mention in your first post and were trying to give you useful info, because it sure sounds like you’re asking about a specific amp.
Questions about what amp it is are inevitable, and necessary in order to provide a specific answer. Mushroo and Wasnex picked up on the implied specific amp you chose to mention in your first post and were trying to give you useful info, because it sure sounds like you’re asking about a specific amp.
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This is my take as well. Your question inspired a couple of the most technically knowledgeable members on TB. The least you could do is offer an honest reason for your secrecy.
some loops are also in series or parallel I believe; so that'll play a role. Also what level signal the loop wants....my matamp is a bit funky and I honestly don't use it anymore. If I was in the studio, I'd likely run my delays and modulation in the loop.
As a rule of thumb, put the time-based effects (flanger, chorus, reverb, delay, looper) in the f/x loop and the tone shaping ones before the amp (EQ, compressor, OD). A Phaser is an oddball in that it works in either very well.
Of course, YMMV. This is music and if it sounds good, then it's good.
This suggestion is based on guitar experience but probably holds true for bass also: wherever you put your phaser with regard to the effects loop, make sure to try it both before and after any distortion-producing stages in your signal path. The results can be very different.
I’m just going to go full-disclosure here and specify that I used to have an old AC-powered Mu-Tron Phasor and a Rat 2, and putting the Phasor first was pretty cool and swirly, but putting it after the Rat was nutzzzz. Feeding it the expanded, excited range of Rat overtones really accentuated the sweep sound.
Of the effects OP mentioned, i’d only try the Thumpinator in the effects loop.
The others are tone shaping, so they should go before the preamp.
The Thumpinator could go either place, but it might yield some cool results in the loop.
The others are tone shaping, so they should go before the preamp.
The Thumpinator could go either place, but it might yield some cool results in the loop.
I don't usually use FX loop of my amps (for pedal effects).
I sometimes use FX return in order to bypass amp's preamp...
I sometimes use FX return in order to bypass amp's preamp...
