All those time devices are supposed to be used in the loop but I have never liked running them on my marshalls in the loop. Don't have a loop in my old Fender amps. I can assure you that the tank needs to be in front and not in the loop. Might work ok but I doubt if anyone would agree.

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Last edited: Nov 01, 2015 18:14:56

Usually you put pedals that are supposed to work as a preamp before the (tube)amp to drive those tubes and make the amp sound 'hotter'. A tank has a similar effect, which simply won't work if used in the effects loop.
You will also have less 'drip', as the tank needs to be hit directly by your signal in order to make the springs move.
But these are all just rules of thumb and there is no right or wrong. Try to experiment and find what sounds best for you. Trust your ears.
I don't play amps with effect loops and if I did, I wouldn't bother with it, as setting up a combination of pedals before and in the loop sounds like a lot of cable to me. And I'm lazy.

The Hicadoolas

This all makes sense, thanks gang. so what is the actual purpose of an amp effects loop? does it reduce noise or just when you're not using pedals they don't passively suck tone (or whatever?)

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matt wrote:

This all makes sense, thanks gang. so what is the actual purpose of an amp effects loop? does it reduce noise or just when you're not using pedals they don't passively suck tone (or whatever?)

I can only give information as it relates to my 30 years of playing. With that in mind, to understand the "effects loop" on your amp is to place it in the context of something completely opposite of what we are all doing here in the surf community. I personally equate it to the 1980's. This was a time of very processed guitar. Rack mount, multi-effect units were all the rage. And most guitarists I knew ran them through their effects loop. This wasn't a time in music when most in rock and pop were trying to embrace the natural tone characteristics of their tube amps.

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The effects loop is usually used for chorus, flanger, echoed and delays even though you could still run them through the front of the amp. It will create a different sound weather you run it in front compared to the effects loop. I would suggest trying both record it and see which sounds better to you. I used to use a fuzz pedal in the front of my amp cause that's where everyone says it should be. I had switched the fuzz pedal to the effects loop and I was pleasently surprised at the cool spacey effect it made. If I didn't experiment I would've never found that cool effect. Theirs no harm in experimenting with effects in order to make a unique sound.

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NYStan - I have heard that running fuzz through the effects loop could damage the amp. Just sayin'

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ebrobston wrote:

NYStan - I have heard that running fuzz through the effects loop could damage the amp. Just sayin'

That's doubtful. Most effects loops are just a place in the signal chain that is running a a higher voltage level (compared to the input of your amp that expects to see the very tiny voltage from a guitar pickup. So running in the loop typically will produce less noise (because a good part of the total gain is in front of the loop and so things in the loop aren't amplified as much (including any noise from your effect).

There will be a difference in the sound however depending whether you go in at the input of an amp on in the loop. This is mainly because most effects can/do add some boost so when you plug in the front end of your amp you are contributing to overdriving the preamp section. This doesn't happen when you go into at the effects loop. So whether that difference is a benefit or a detractor depends on how you expect the sound to be.

I've found that I like my delay, tremolo, and reverb in my effects loop. To me the tremolo sounds deeper and the reverb and delay are a little cleaner. In my experience boost pedals are more powerful as a clean volume boost and not pushing the amp into overdrive in the loop. Really its all up to personal preference. I put some effects in front of the amp and some in the loop. It's all what you want things to sound like and what you're happy with. Try experimenting.

I look forward to experimenting! until then, I'll probably continue to ignore the loop...

Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters
Boston's Premier Surf/Noir Combo
http://www.heatonsurf.com

Having too many choices is not a good thing. Above 12, more is less. Think of it this way: most classic sounds were the only ones available with extant gear. Less IS more.

DreadInBabylon wrote:

Yep, exactly what KBK did.
It's like 90's hi-fi receivers that allow you to insert a corrective EQ module before the power amp Other than that, think "The Edge"

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