input vs effects loop + pedal arrangement

[ruski]

hey guys, im pretty new to the whole effects scene and would like some help setting up my pedals correctly.

I used to put all my pedals through the input, but have recently got a GK 1001rb which has an effects loop.

So wondering what the difference is between the two. Means ill have to get some new leads if I use the effects loop.

Currently have:

boss tu 3
EH big muff pi
digitech whammy 4
boss bass chorus
boss dd 6

and ill be picking up a sansamp programmable bass driver preamp soon.

and..... eventually want to get a compressor, wah, volume and flanger

any help in how I should arrange these would be awesome. cheers

 

[G3Mitch]

i'm not a fan of fx loops, but any modulation pedals sound good thru fx loops, things like fuzz and pitch benders are more suited to input/output IMO.

that being said, it depends on whether you like the sounds, just try both and see what you thinks best.

as for order, what you've listed is a solid order, allthough i would put the whammy before the muff.

 

[cloudyorchestra]

Id get a compressor first if your amp doesn't have one already built into it.

But go wah then distortion then play around after that. It's all pretty confusing stuff.

 

[chuck3]

I have read here on TB that if you are using stompboxes, it's best to keep using the effects in the chain going right into the regular input. If you have rack effects, that's when you want to use the effects loop. It has to do with instrument level v. line level.

I have not verified this myself. I do use my pedalboard right into the regular input and it works fine. This is with a Genz Benz head that has an effects loop.

 

[ruski]

thanks for the advice. borrowed a friends lead and tried it out. to be honest I didn't find much of a difference except that it eliminated this hissing sound. for some reason my tuner makes my cab make this horrible hissing sound. its only 6 months old too

 

[agedhorse]

You will need to look at the input and output level specificatios of your effects. Most effects loops are +4dBu which under normal playing conditions can deliver ~3.5VRMS... enough to unintentionally overdrive many pedals and even some rack devices that emulate pedal levels.

 

[aledeville]

Agedhorse nailed that one.

The effects loop on the bass amp is more for things like rack compressor etc.
With the guitar this is a completely different story. There it is the case, that the preamp crunches or even distorts, which means, that all the effects like reverb/delay etc. have to be after it in the signal chain. Therefore they often use the 4-cable-method. First cable goes from the guitar to the pedalboard into fx like overdrives etc. then the second cable goes into the amps input. Third comes out of the fx loop (after the preamp) into your pedalboard again for the reverb/delays and then the fourth goes into the input of the fx way.

However, because we don't use delay often enough to justify this method, the effort isn't worth it. Put all those pedals in front of your amp, you'll be as fine as it gets.