Effects in Loop vs Effects in Input

[ido1957]

I heard that some effects like Delay and Chorus go well in the effects loop of an amp, whereas compression and distortion go best into the front input of the amp.

I have Roland GP-8 which (like most multi-effects) sends everything through one output. I can't split them off into two sends. Would that mean the best choice would be to send the GP-8 output through the front input of the amp?

I've tried both and don't notice a big difference.

 

[metalhead28]

The big difference is caused by running certain effects before or after pre-amp distortion. If you are using the distortion in your multi-effects box, then it doesn't matter to your amp.

 

[kq300325]

i always try to use the effects loop on my amp. Because some effects dont have a true bypass so the signal from the guitar is still altered by the electronics in the effects. This can mean that the life can be sucked out of your clean sound.

Thats just in my limited experience anyways

 

[mindwave_21]

i always try to use the effects loop on my amp. Because some effects dont have a true bypass so the signal from the guitar is still altered by the electronics in the effects. This can mean that the life can be sucked out of your clean sound.

Thats just in my limited experience anyways

I'm not sure, but I think non-true bypassed circuits are going to suck out your tone wherever they're placed. It may reduce the "drag down" by having more signal processed before you get to the effects, but your signal still goes through those effects in the fx loop, so it still gets worse.

 

[cobradenim]

Or, you could use No effects!!! Just think, one cable from the guitar to the amplifier. It can't be much simpler than that.

 

[ggunn]

I'm not sure, but I think non-true bypassed circuits are going to suck out your tone wherever they're placed. It may reduce the "drag down" by having more signal processed before you get to the effects, but your signal still goes through those effects in the fx loop, so it still gets worse.

There is also the consideration that the effects loop runs at line level, while the signal at the amp input is instrument level. Some FX prefer one and some the other.

 

[foreverain4]

i like to put my reverbs and delays on the speaker out. (bulging eye smiley here)

 

[mjareo]

I've also been running my multieffect through the effects loop (Boss ME-30) and have greatly prefered it to going in the main inputs. One big difference I have noticed is more flexibility with volume. I tend to use my amp (Princeton Chorus) in small spaces or as a monitor on platform, and running the ME-30 into the main input gave me too much sound a very low setting. I like to run my amp higher than "just barely on" - call me wierd. I've also been using the ME-30 in manual mode so it funtions as a line of effects. that, next to the stompbox for the amp's onboard overdrive and chorus effects, and I have been really liking the sound - get a good clean with this set up as well.

Just my two cents!

 

[WERNER 1]

I may be wrong here, but in regards to running non true bypass effects boxes in the amps effects loop, I believe that this is a non issue as far as sound degrigation goes. The effects boxes them selves would be left on and then selected by the amps effects loop switching....most likely a footswitch. When the amps effects loop is off, the signal no longer travels through the loop. So even if the pedals were off, it wouldn't effect the tone/signal like they would one the front/input side of the amp.

For the record, alot of non true bypass pedals really don't effect the tone/signal of the amp.....but there are others that are BIG offenders such as Wah pedals!

Rick