What the hell is an Effects Loop?
Good Question.
It seems that damn near every amp has one, but it’s only a rare occasion that I see someone using one. The purpose of an effects (FX) loop is to remove harmful tone blockers (pedals) from your signal path, so your signal isn’t degraded.
Most pedals do, in fact, hurt your tone. Think of it like water going through a paper towel. You don’t get nearly the amount of water you would have if it poured freely. People will have different opinions as to which water is better, but there is definitely a difference. This is the same with FX. Some people think it is better to run your rig direct, some say you should use the loop.
There are pedals that are tone friendly. You want to watch for a feature called “True Bypass”. True bypass works by completely avoiding the pedal when it is not being used. It will go from the input jack to the output jack. Once the pedal is engaged, the signal will go from the input, to the circuit board (or whatever it is that affects the sound), and then to the output. These are great. They cost more, but are entirely worth it. Check out FULLTONE for some quality pedals.
If you take a look at the back of your amp, chances are, you will see a pair of ¼ inch jacks, “FX send” and “FX Return”. This is your loop. If you are running effects, you will take a regular instrument cable, from the FX Send, and plug it into the first input of your pedal. If you have a pedal board, you will probably have all of your effects tied together with little 6 inch or 12 inch cables. You will then take another cable from the output of the last pedal on your board, and that will go into the FX Return- hence the loop. This loop will still effect your sound the way you would want it to, as if you were to set everything up as an inline set up.
Guitar --> Pedal Board --> Amp+Cab
But now, the guitar gets to plug straight into the amp, letting just the tone of your guitar shine through, rather than being degraded by effects pedals. Now, your signal would look more like this:
Guitar --> Amp+Cab -- (pedals in loop)
This would seem like the most ideal thing to do at all times, but it is not the case. Not all effects are considered usable in the FX loop. The most common effects to put in the loop are referred to as ‘time based effects’. These are the ones that mess with how the signal is processed by adjusting the timing (more or less). These are your basic chorus, flange, delay, tremolo, phaser, ect. These can affect the overall signal or sound of the amp, and don’t require direct signal from the guitar to sound their best. When placed in the loop, it is often referred to as “post”. Other effects like wah, distortion, fuzz, overdrive, volume pedal, and uni-vibes, are usually considered “pre”, or put before the amp. These effects just don’t sound as good when put in the loop, they are designed to go in front of the amp for best results.
So, the most common thing you will find, is that if someone is using an FX Loop, they will have a selection of pedals going direct to the amp, and a separate group going to the FX loop. This way, they can get the best of both worlds.
Some amps have controllable FX Loops. The MESA rectifier series, for example, have a very detailed Loop system. It has two knobs for controlling the level of both the SEND and RETURN, so you can adjust the volume, or level of the pedals in your loop. Another common feature is for an amp to have the FX Loop to be switchable, via the footswitch. The idea behind this would be to control multiple FX at one time. If there were ever a part in a song where you want Flange, Delay, and Tremolo on at exactly the same time, only for a few bars, this feature would come in handy. Make sure the FX loop is off, and turn on those 3 effects. When you need them, engage the FX button on the footswitch, and bam, there are your effects.
Not too long ago, I had discovered a man named Dave Boggs, out of Indiana. He is a genius. He builds True Bypass Effects Loops for your pedal board, called LOOOPERS. This is a phenomenal device. If your amp doesn’t have an FX Loop, or you think the loop alters your tone in an undesirable way, give this man a call. He makes Looopers to order, customizing every detail (layout, color, or LED). He can make a 1-Loooper, or up to a 5 Loooper (5 individual FX loops, should you need that many). He can also add a tuner mute switch, which completely cuts your signal from your amp, and sends it to your tuner (also removing the Tuner from your chain, creating a better tone). So, the first thing in your signal would be the Loooper, and would work as follows:
This would all be controlled via your feet, and works quite wonderfully. I have a 1-Loooper, and I question how I lived without for so long. I also had the tuner mute switch added, and that is also a lifesaver.
Dave Boggs also makes AB switches, and pretty much whatever else you can think up. Please check him out at http://www.loooper.com/. He gets my highest recommendation!
I hope this cleared everything up as far as effects loops are concerned!
This column was written because someone emailed me this question. I absolutely love talking, researching, and tinkering with guitar gear, so always please feel free to ask anything. If I don’t know the answer, I will find you someone who does!!
greg@overtone.net AIM: gregovertone
My Rig:
Guitar (PRS CU22 semi hollow) to (pedal board #1)
#1 (in this order)
Shure Guitarist Wireless --> Fulltone Fulldrive II LOOOPER (FX send) --> Fulltone 70’s fuzz --> Dunlop 535 wah --> Digitech Whammy II --> Fulltone ChoralFlange --> Fulltone Deja Vibe --> MXR Phase 90 --> Boss PS3 Pitch Shifter --> Boss DD3 Delay --> (board #2)
#2 (in this order)
Line6 Filter Modeler --> Line6 Modulation Modeler --> Line6 Delay modeler (set-up for delays) --> Line6 Delay (set-up for loops/samples) --> back to board #1 --> LOOOPER (FX return) --> Custom LOOOPER Footswitch (w/AB) --> amps
Channel A --> Marshall JCM 900
Channel B --> Orange Overdrive Series II
It seems that damn near every amp has one, but it’s only a rare occasion that I see someone using one. The purpose of an effects (FX) loop is to remove harmful tone blockers (pedals) from your signal path, so your signal isn’t degraded.
Most pedals do, in fact, hurt your tone. Think of it like water going through a paper towel. You don’t get nearly the amount of water you would have if it poured freely. People will have different opinions as to which water is better, but there is definitely a difference. This is the same with FX. Some people think it is better to run your rig direct, some say you should use the loop.
There are pedals that are tone friendly. You want to watch for a feature called “True Bypass”. True bypass works by completely avoiding the pedal when it is not being used. It will go from the input jack to the output jack. Once the pedal is engaged, the signal will go from the input, to the circuit board (or whatever it is that affects the sound), and then to the output. These are great. They cost more, but are entirely worth it. Check out FULLTONE for some quality pedals.
If you take a look at the back of your amp, chances are, you will see a pair of ¼ inch jacks, “FX send” and “FX Return”. This is your loop. If you are running effects, you will take a regular instrument cable, from the FX Send, and plug it into the first input of your pedal. If you have a pedal board, you will probably have all of your effects tied together with little 6 inch or 12 inch cables. You will then take another cable from the output of the last pedal on your board, and that will go into the FX Return- hence the loop. This loop will still effect your sound the way you would want it to, as if you were to set everything up as an inline set up.
Guitar --> Pedal Board --> Amp+Cab
But now, the guitar gets to plug straight into the amp, letting just the tone of your guitar shine through, rather than being degraded by effects pedals. Now, your signal would look more like this:
Guitar --> Amp+Cab -- (pedals in loop)
This would seem like the most ideal thing to do at all times, but it is not the case. Not all effects are considered usable in the FX loop. The most common effects to put in the loop are referred to as ‘time based effects’. These are the ones that mess with how the signal is processed by adjusting the timing (more or less). These are your basic chorus, flange, delay, tremolo, phaser, ect. These can affect the overall signal or sound of the amp, and don’t require direct signal from the guitar to sound their best. When placed in the loop, it is often referred to as “post”. Other effects like wah, distortion, fuzz, overdrive, volume pedal, and uni-vibes, are usually considered “pre”, or put before the amp. These effects just don’t sound as good when put in the loop, they are designed to go in front of the amp for best results.
So, the most common thing you will find, is that if someone is using an FX Loop, they will have a selection of pedals going direct to the amp, and a separate group going to the FX loop. This way, they can get the best of both worlds.
Some amps have controllable FX Loops. The MESA rectifier series, for example, have a very detailed Loop system. It has two knobs for controlling the level of both the SEND and RETURN, so you can adjust the volume, or level of the pedals in your loop. Another common feature is for an amp to have the FX Loop to be switchable, via the footswitch. The idea behind this would be to control multiple FX at one time. If there were ever a part in a song where you want Flange, Delay, and Tremolo on at exactly the same time, only for a few bars, this feature would come in handy. Make sure the FX loop is off, and turn on those 3 effects. When you need them, engage the FX button on the footswitch, and bam, there are your effects.
Not too long ago, I had discovered a man named Dave Boggs, out of Indiana. He is a genius. He builds True Bypass Effects Loops for your pedal board, called LOOOPERS. This is a phenomenal device. If your amp doesn’t have an FX Loop, or you think the loop alters your tone in an undesirable way, give this man a call. He makes Looopers to order, customizing every detail (layout, color, or LED). He can make a 1-Loooper, or up to a 5 Loooper (5 individual FX loops, should you need that many). He can also add a tuner mute switch, which completely cuts your signal from your amp, and sends it to your tuner (also removing the Tuner from your chain, creating a better tone). So, the first thing in your signal would be the Loooper, and would work as follows:
This would all be controlled via your feet, and works quite wonderfully. I have a 1-Loooper, and I question how I lived without for so long. I also had the tuner mute switch added, and that is also a lifesaver.
Dave Boggs also makes AB switches, and pretty much whatever else you can think up. Please check him out at http://www.loooper.com/. He gets my highest recommendation!
I hope this cleared everything up as far as effects loops are concerned!
This column was written because someone emailed me this question. I absolutely love talking, researching, and tinkering with guitar gear, so always please feel free to ask anything. If I don’t know the answer, I will find you someone who does!!
greg@overtone.net AIM: gregovertone
My Rig:
Guitar (PRS CU22 semi hollow) to (pedal board #1)
#1 (in this order)
Shure Guitarist Wireless --> Fulltone Fulldrive II LOOOPER (FX send) --> Fulltone 70’s fuzz --> Dunlop 535 wah --> Digitech Whammy II --> Fulltone ChoralFlange --> Fulltone Deja Vibe --> MXR Phase 90 --> Boss PS3 Pitch Shifter --> Boss DD3 Delay --> (board #2)
#2 (in this order)
Line6 Filter Modeler --> Line6 Modulation Modeler --> Line6 Delay modeler (set-up for delays) --> Line6 Delay (set-up for loops/samples) --> back to board #1 --> LOOOPER (FX return) --> Custom LOOOPER Footswitch (w/AB) --> amps
Channel A --> Marshall JCM 900
Channel B --> Orange Overdrive Series II
