Need help, new to FX loop

[nismofreakish]

Hi guys!

I just ordered a new Roadster head and I'm really excited about it!

However, since I always put my FX in front of the amp, I now want to put put ALL my stomp boxes in the FX loop but was wondering if the order of the boxes would make a difference...

In my chain, I'll have:

- For my clean: a Boss Acoustic Simulator AC-3 and a Maxon Flanger
- For my dirt: a MXR Carbon Copy delay and a Electro-Harmonix Phaser
- Also a Line 6 G50 wireless system and a Korg Pitchblack tuner.
(All true bypass stomp boxes, except maybe the Boss)

Could you guys help with it and give me your input ?

Thanks a whole lot! Much appreciated!

 

[MrMarkIII]

You have a series loop, which is good.
I'd start with the G50 into the tuner, then the AC-3.
You may want to experiment with the AC-3 in the loop, as it might sound better, but generally EQ type pedals tend to have more of a dramatic effect between the guitar and the amp's front end. Then you can use the Roadster's clean channel and EQ to fine tune the sound.
In the loop, try the Flanger, Phaser, then the Delay. If you run the Phaser at a higher speed setting than the Flanger, then maybe Phaser to Flanger makes more sense.
Also, running the Delay before the modulation stuff sound more "chewy" and dramatic, more like Hendrix's House Burning Down. Putting the Delay last is cleaner.
The best of both worlds could be Phaser to Delay to Flanger.
My two cents

 

[nismofreakish]

Thanks!

I really like to put all of 'em in the loop though

 

[ifailedshapes]

I don't want to come across as TOO arrogant, but I think I'm about to give you the best advice possible for this situation. Ready? :wink:

Don't make up your mind before you even have anything plugged in.

Yes, there are some general guidelines that work well for most people, but sometimes awesome sounds can be found by doing things the "wrong" way. What I would do is try each effect, one at a time, both in front of the amp and in the loop. After you have heard all of them individually, then start trying things in different combinations until you find what you are happy with. If you just take our word on what we would do, you'll get a good sound, but by experimenting a little, you might find something that you're even happier with.

With that being said, here's what I would do:

Guitar > Wireless > Tuner > Acoustic Sim (personally I wouldn't even use this pedal, but to each their own) > Phaser/Flanger (try the order you like best) > front of amp.

The only thing I would put in the loop is the delay; however, the flanger might work best in the loop. One thing I do know is that I prefer the sound of a phaser before the amp

Now there's one more thing you should know, and that is most stomp boxes work best between a guitar and an amp. This is because they expect to see a low-volume, high-impedance signal (your guitar.) While there are rules for effect placement (i.e. time-based effects post-distortion), sometimes these go out the window when dealing with pedals.

I hope this all makes sense. Really, just have fun, and you'll find your sound in the process.

 

[nismofreakish]

Thanks!

The fact is I'm a lead singer too, so I bought the Roadster for the features of the FX loop on/off switch on each channel, so that I don't have to dance around to switch many pedals at the same time. So yes it must sound good, but I rather compromise a little FX tone and use the practical side of the FX loop on/off switching device.

The only FX I put in front of the amp (between my wireless and tuner) is my acoustic simulator 'cause in the loop, the signal was really really low, and when I highered the level knob, I don't know how to describe this, but I had a feedback (not really but well, a high pitch noise) or so, I was afraid to damage the amp. In front it's top notch. Anyway, this pedal has an Out that goes right through the PA when it switched on, where the acoustic sound is jaw dropping. I just wanted to have an ok sound for venues where I won't be able to use the PA for it.

 

[ifailedshapes]

I sincerely hope you didn't buy the Roadster just because it has an effects loop foot switch. It so, it's an expensive foot switch. There are a lot of products on the market that allow you place pedals in loops before the amp, giving you the ideal sound, and also allowing you to make presets and whatnot. Check out these companies' products:

RJM Music Technology
Voodoo Lab
Musicom Lab
Loop-Master

Hopefully the Roadster is your sound. I found my sound (or at least my current idea of what I think it is) in the Stiletto Ace. I really wish it had an effects loop switch, but I'd rather have a great sound than a convenient feature.

Please keep us up to date on how everything goes.

 

[nismofreakish]

Don't worry ifailedshapes !!

Among of the reason to buy this amp was the FX loop on/off switch, but the MAIN reason was that I was tired hauling around my Single Recto head, my Mesa 2x12 cab AND my Roland Jazz Chorus 2x12 for my cleans... so I wanted a head that did all the sound I had (Recto sound and awesome clean in the same head). So far, although I still have some tweaking to do, it does the job very nicely! I also thought I could use some extra channels, actually, I find myself using all of them and it suits my band's song perfectly ! I love my new amp !

The only bad thing happening now, is when I switch from channel 4 (heavy modern recto sound) to Channel 2 (my clean channel which has reverb on it). In a song, I have to mute the strings on the channel 4 and switch to channel 2 before playing clean, and I get a rush of reverb fading in at quite a high volume... I don't know how to get rid of that. The reverb switch is always on, as I read on this forum it was recommended to avoid poping and delays, and still, I get this issue...

 

[ifailedshapes]

Yeah, I understand where Mesa is coming from, but it doesn't make the reverb swell ideal. I don't use a lot of 'verb, myself, but I am happy to use outboard gear to avoid what you're talking about.

And don't worry, I'm not worrying. Haha. I just like to make sure people are informed of all their options. I'm still curious to find out what you finally come to regarding your effect placement.

 

[nismofreakish]

Would anybody know why my Boss acoustic simulator (AC-3) just doesn't wanna fit in my loop?
In front, I must set the level (volume) on the pedal at 80% then it's an ok volume/mix, but when I tried it in the loop, when I reached 25% (the volume was soooooo low, it was useless) I heard a squeal/feedback...

It really bums me out because in front, it's really a pain in the a** for the switching considering I must go on and off with my heavy distortion and my clean being on acoustic. And considering I only have 3-4 pedals, I don't wanna have to buy an external switching system...

 

[ifailedshapes]

Now there's one more thing you should know, and that is most stomp boxes work best between a guitar and an amp. This is because they expect to see a low-volume, high-impedance signal (your guitar.) While there are rules for effect placement (i.e. time-based effects post-distortion), sometimes these go out the window when dealing with pedals.

The acoustic simulator is a filter effect, and those really need to be placed between your guitar and the amp. The reason it is squealing is because it's getting too much gain, and I don't mean gain in the sense of distortion, I just mean more gain than your guitar has on its own.

 

[nismofreakish]

Ok, but would a change in the order of the chain help/solve my issue?

thx

 

[ifailedshapes]

No.

 

[nismofreakish]

Ok thanks!