Using preamp pedals

[Iheartreverb]

Sorry guys for a vague title, I just didn't know how to put across what I want to ask.

Lots of people have told me that I should be using my preamp pedal WITH the sound of my amp rather than just in the effects return which is what I normally do.

My question is that if you use both the pedal and the amp to get your sound then when the FoH is taken from your pre amp pedal that won't be the sound you have (and want) from your amp.
So what should I be using it in the front end?

Is there something I'm missing? Do I have the wrong idea?

 

[Kael]

Use the preamp pedal to set the tone you are after. Use the EQ on the amp to adjust to room acoustics for the stage. That way FOH gets the sound you intend. EX: If you are on a boomy stage, you can cut the low end without doing the same out front.


You can go into the effects return if you want, but I've always had better results using a pedal preamp stompbox style, in front of the regular input.

 

[gregmon79]

What kind of amp are you using?? If you run it through the preamp into your amp, there should be a post/pre button or switch on your amp. So if you go into your input/preamp from your board/preamp pedal and make sure your switched to post, you should be fine. That way it will be running your board and your amps pre. I used to get confused too until I played a few shows.

Some people like the way it sounds better into the effects send/return to where youre just using the power section of your amp. Thats all up to you. I prefer to stack my pedal pre on top of my amps pre. But then again, Im a total pre addict. I use three different preamps on my board, an SA PEQ and when I uswed my GK 1001rb I ran it into my preamp section and set it to post. Loved it!

 

[Iheartreverb]

What kind of amp are you using??

Part of my reason for owning (MXR M80 which I far preferred to a sansamp) is that I use different amps depending on where I rehearse so I put it into the effects return to get nearly the same tone with whatever I am using.

I'm not against using it into the front. I've just never understood the advice of using both the pedal and the amp to achieve a tone because it's likely only one half of that equation will go to FoH.

 

[gregmon79]

Part of my reason for owning (MXR M80 which I far preferred to a sansamp) is that I use different amps depending on where I rehearse so I put it into the effects return to get nearly the same tone with whatever I am using.

I'm not against using it into the front. I've just never understood the advice of using both the pedal and the amp to achieve a tone because it's likely only one half of that equation will go to FoH.

Only if your amp is one that doesn't give you the option of a post/pre. I can plug my board into the pre input on my GK 1001rb and the FOH plugs into my GK DI and the FOH picks up my board and my whole amps signal.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I wouldn't worry about it. If your mxr DI gets you what you want, you're golden. You can put other effects in front but make sure they don't mess with the overall level too much.

 

[Rocksolid]

I use a VT Bass deluxe as my Preamp, similar to yourself with your MXR. I set up my patches on my VTBD running into my PA to get myself sounding how I want in the PA. The PA gets my DI out, my 1/4 out goes to a EQ pedal, then to a power amp/cab, or powered wedge. The PA gets what I want them to get, and I still have the facility to dial in my tone on difficult stages.

Using the fx return is fine if you don't need further eq to get it how you want it to sound on stage. If you need to dial in your stage tone without touching the MXR and therefore changing what the PA gets, run thru the front end of your amp.