From: wags@cimage.com (Bill Wagner /10000)
Subject: Re: Effects loop vs Straight In
Reply-To: wags@cimage.com (Bill Wagner)
Organization: Cimage Corporation
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 15:36:30 GMT

wayne@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Wayne Wylupski) writes:
|> >I have a bunch of questions regarding the effects loops of some combo amps,
|> >because I've never used them and maybe I should.
|> >
|> >What's the difference between the following setups:
|> >
|> >Guitar -> effects -> amplifier
|> >
|> >Guitar -> amplifier
|> >	   |     |
|> >	   effects (in the effects loop)
|> 
faulkner@acsu.buffalo.edu (Shane P. Faulkner) writes:
|> This configuration will sound better.  An effect loops allows placement of 
|> various effects between a combo amp's pre-amp and power-amp stages.  Placing
|> effects before the pre-amp stage (ie. before the signal enters the amp's main
|> input) will drastically increase the noise.
|> 
wayne@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Wayne Wylupski) writes:
|> >
|> >Where would one best put the following effects?
|> >-- distortion pedal
|> >-- wah-wah
|> >-- compressor
|> >-- delay effects (chorus, flange, reverb and digital delay)
|> 
faulkner@acsu.buffalo.edu (Shane P. Faulkner) writes:
|> All the above should go in the amp's effects loop EXCEPT the wah-wah, which
|> I would put before the main input.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong.  You
|> can try it both ways without damaging anything.
|> 
wayne@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Wayne Wylupski) writes:
|> >
|> >If one was using the amp's distortion, would that change where one would put
|> >the previous mentioned effects?
|> 
faulkner@acsu.buffalo.edu (Shane P. Faulkner) writes:
|> No.  But if you are using a distortion pedal as well, I think it would sound
|> best as the first effect in your chain.
|> 
I actually mix and match.  Neither setup will harm any of the components, but
each sound different.

My own (usual) setup is:

Guitar -> wah-wah -> auto-wah -> Amplifier  
                                  |       |
                                  |       |
                          chorus - flanger - phaser

The amplifier is a Marshall and the effects loop does follow the distortion
in the pre-amp.  The auto-wah and the wah-wah are actually in parallel, as 
are the chorus, flanger, and phaser.  This is because my taste don't run
to really changing the sound, but rather to coloring it.  However, you 
will get some very interesting sounds by changing the order, or using the
effects in series.  

If you look at the setup, I run the signal through the filtering effects
first, then the distortion, and finally, the time/frequency modulators.

The filter effects modifies the set of frequencies which appear at 
higher or lower volumes (crispness / warmness of tone, etc.)  Then
the distortion will add the overtones.  Finally the modulators provide 
a much richer tone. 

As far as changing the order:  The effects that are earlier in the 
signal path are effected by the effects later in the signal path.  As
a result, the later effects are more clearly discernable to the ear and the
earlier effects are not as clear.   

Play around and enjoy.



-- 
-------------
          Bill Wagner                USPS net: Cimage Corporation
Internet: wags@cimage.com                      3885 Research Park Dr.
AT&Tnet:  (313)-761-6523                       Ann Arbor MI 48108
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"One should be able to see that things are hopeless, and yet be 
determined to make them otherwise."  - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers,alt.guitar.bass