Fx Loops on your amp...does anyone use them

[Wes Mantooth]

If you're using a considerable amount of amp gain, I prefer most delay and verb in the loop or it just sounds like a complete mess when I play. Hate that I don't have one on my Andromeda but it would be $300 to put one in it, not worth it. When I had my OR-15 I definitely preferred how my delay, verb and some modulation (phaser after dirt is way thicker to my ears) sounded in the loop.

Like everyone else said, if you're running clean, doesn't make much of a difference.

[Jwar]

Ok cool. Lots of good info here! I really appreciate it! I'm probably going to hook the two boards together. I've got to figure out why it sounded all fucked up when I hooked them together though. Was so weird. Could be one pedal or a bad patch cable...ugh. It was only when I hooked them together. When I had one board running in the front and one running in the FX loop, no issues. So weird.

[zRobertez]

Ok cool. Lots of good info here! I really appreciate it! I'm probably going to hook the two boards together. I've got to figure out why it sounded all fucked up when I hooked them together though. Was so weird. Could be one pedal or a bad patch cable...ugh. It was only when I hooked them together. When I had one board running in the front and one running in the FX loop, no issues. So weird.

I know with my amp's loop, you can set something like outputting a line level or instrument level signal or something with impedance or whatever. Maybe there is something like that going on?

[John Matrix]

I use mine. I use a lot of amp distortion and it makes my delays and reverb sound like dogshit, so they go into the loop. My amp also has separate fx loops for each channel, so I can switch between sounds that require a few different pedals without tap dancing.

[frigid midget]

I use mine. I use a lot of amp distortion and it makes my delays and reverb sound like dogshit, so they go into the loop. My amp also has separate fx loops for each channel, so I can switch between sounds that require a few different pedals without tap dancing.

What amp is that exactly? I always assumed that amps with sepreate fx loops were sort of a rarity.

[Ro_S]

As a rule of thumb, definitely worth trying time-based effects in the amp's FX loop - especially if you use the amp's distortion.

Also, try an EQ pedal in the effects loop.

[bigchiefbc]

I use the effects loop on my amp at all times, because I'm usually overdriving the hell out of my amp. The only things in the FX loop are my delay and my modulation. I love how they sound after my amp dirt. I find that when I run them all into the input of my amp, they get buried badly.

I don't use two boards, I have everything on one board. I have 3 cables that I run from my board to my amp and they're all zip-tied together; they're all different colors so I don't need to unravel them and trace them end to end. One goes from my tuner to the amp input, the send goes to my delay, and the receive comes from my Mobius (modulation).

I can set it up just as fast as if I didn't use the FX loop at all.

[rfurtkamp]

As has been said, very much depends on the loop and the amp and the pedals in question. Even if someone tells you it won't work, try it anyway - you might like the way something sounds in that particular combo of stuff. Sort of the equivalent of "sometimes verb sounds good before gain, sometimes it doesn't!"

Only thing I run in a loop these days is a looper in the HRD's loop if I want a loop there as I occasionally use the molten, barely usable gain channel for mean purposes.

Otherwise, I usually use the FX send (which too varies on some amps, where doing what I describe nets you no signal) as an optional routing point - like on my Mustang V head I use the stereo out to run into a rack delay and then into the DAW interface and/or Jazz Chorus.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I don't use two boards, I have everything on one board. I have 3 cables that I run from my board to my amp and they're all zip-tied together; they're all different colors so I don't need to unravel them and trace them end to end. One goes from my tuner to the amp input, the send goes to my delay, and the receive comes from my Mobius (modulation).

I can set it up just as fast as if I didn't use the FX loop at all.

That's a nice way to organise things, makes it no problem at all!

[PeteeBee]

Ba ba ba bump.

Seems like the consensus is that people who use their amp gain, use a lot of delay, and don't mind the extra cables seem to like effects loops? I'm going to be in debating whether or not to get one in my upcoming amp. I've never tried one but I've also never really used amp dirt... or more accurately I've just run my amps a little dirty but mostly used pedals before delays for everything. Now I'm excited about using the amp dirt and it's changing everything for me. Especially if I make a little routing junction box thingy....

[Invisible Man]

Last time I tried one my Mesa blew up.

[odontophobia]

Last time I tried one my Mesa blew up.

more details?


i use the fx loop on my dual rectifier. but i'm down to just a pt2 and no dirt because it's all amp dirt. everything is in the loop (except tuner and volume pedal).

basically...

fx loop -- > boss ms-3 (loop 1: boss DC-3, HF-2) (loop 2: boss ps-3, boss dd-5) (loop 3: blackout effects cadavernous reverb, boss rv-3, boss rv-2)

I keep an IO box on the board to plug my FX loop into, easier than wiggling through pedals to get to the ms-3.

haven't explored much of the multi-fx on the ms-3 yet but i'm utilizing it with a mini amp gizmo and midi to control channel switching at the same time as turning loops and other (optional) effects on and off.

[Invisible Man]

Bright flash, audio cut. Sucks. Love that amp, but this keeps happening.

[rfurtkamp]

There's something that needs fixing in the amp if it's doing that!

[odontophobia]

There's something that needs fixing in the amp if it's doing that!

seriously. that's super weird. stop buying 1 million old heavy cabs and get your amp fixed.