Which Pedals Belong Where? Or Dont Belong Where?

[soundchaser59]

No, I'm not talking about Anatomy 101!

Git yer minds out of your DC Womanizers! :roll: :roll:

I'm just asking about using pedals with my 5.25 Express. I remember hearing a rumor that certain kinds of pedals (pedals that "pulse" the signal - whatever that means) should not be used in the fx loop (or in front of the power amp section).

So I'm wondering what kinds of pedals should never be used in the fx loop? What kinds of pedals should always be used in front of the amp, between the guitar and the input jack?? What kinds of pedals can always be best utilized in the fx loop?

 

[Platypus]

General rules.. obviously nothing is set in stone and if you like things in different places then more power to you.

Time based effects such as delay, phaser, flanger, chorus, tremolo, rotary, etc are better suited for an FX loop.

Distortion, OD, fuzz, wah et al are better suited before the preamp

Fuzz is better before OD/distortion as is wah.

 

[soundchaser59]

I think I remember the rumor saying something about envelope followers like auto wah in particular should not be used in the loop?

So general rule of thumb: Dynamic fx in the front, time-based fx in the rear?

Of course, now I'm gonna have to repeat all of my "pedals in what order" experiments! :lol: 8) Oh my poor neighbours! :shock: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[MrMarkIII]

Jimi didn't have "effects loops" and I believe he sounded OK.

 

[giantstepjoe]

I think I remember the rumor saying something about envelope followers like auto wah in particular should not be used in the loop?

So general rule of thumb: Dynamic fx in the front, time-based fx in the rear?

Of course, now I'm gonna have to repeat all of my "pedals in what order" experiments! :lol: 8) Oh my poor neighbours! :shock: :twisted: :twisted:

You are absolutely right. Filters should be in front of the amp not in the effects loop as most filters are attack sensitive.

 

[twostring]

If it helps you at all, my signal chain is as follows...

BYOC Compressor
Wah
Boss BD-2
Custom overdrive (think Full Drive 2)
Fulltone Choralflange
Fulltone Deja Vibe
BYOC Tremolo
MXR Carbon Copy
Boss DD-3

All of that goes right into the front end of my Roadster...no loop. When I feel like using extra cables, everything from the Choralflange on goes into the loop. Also, from time to time I add a BYOC Octave Fuzz in front of the BD-2 and a Red Llama clone between the BD-2 and the overdrive.

The only effect that I feel that needs a definitive placement are pitch shifters like the Digitech Whammy...I just don't feel that they track properly further down the chain and for the most part need to be the first thing in the signal chain (with the exception of a compressor). Everything else can be played with...see how you like it. It takes time, but play around with things. Most everyone else I know demands their chorus at the end of the signal chain. I personally like the chorus to manipulated by other effects down the chain.

 

[rvschulz]

i don;t use the loop - only because i haven;t felt that my signal was in a bad place sonically. i may try in later this week though.

 

[DeFrag]

Read my post at the end of page #1:
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=24287&highlight=

 

[MusicManJP6]

In my experience delays do not sound too good in front when you are using the distortion on the amp. What do you think, twostring? You seem to be OK with your delays in front and we seem to have similar taste in gear. :lol: (I used to have a Roadster too)

 

[Herbvis]

I have found that the Mxr carbon copy works very well in front of my stiletto. All of my other delays and reverb pedals sound like absolute *** if they are not in the loop.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Read my post at the end of page #1:
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=24287&highlight=

Nice post man!

 

[Juancito12]

I recently put my Keeley DD-3 in front and found I liked it better... well at least on the clean channel. Through the vintage channel only my DM-2 and DM-3 in the loop are used where they seem to sound best and can't suck as much tone.

I wish I had more time to experiment. I mean look at Johnny Greenwood's effects chain. He gets a great sound, in my opinion, and he's got stuff everywhere:
http://guitargeek.com/rigview/510/

 

[twostring]

In my experience delays do not sound too good in front when you are using the distortion on the amp. What do you think, twostring? You seem to be OK with your delays in front and we seem to have similar taste in gear. :lol: (I used to have a Roadster too)

It works fine for me. I'm rather OCD when it comes to setting up rigs for customers, but when it comes to my own, I learned to just let go and let it be if it sounds good. High gain or not, I don't really run into any issues with noise or other "fragments" by running my delays in front of the amp. They sound more uniform in the loop, but I just haven't been in the mood for the extra master volume lately.