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So I've just recently started messing around with the effects loop on my amp and all the ones I'm looking at getting have them. And I've discovered that if I put my 10-band EQ there it makes the whole sound seem a lot more even and kind of cuts down on some of the volume difference between pedals. In the near future I plan to have a Fender amp with some sort of reverb unit, an old MXR EQ in the effects loop with all my other pedals ahead of the amp. How much of a difference would some sort of compression pedal made if I put it in the loop either before or after the EQ? Or should it even just go after the pedalboard? This is for looking for a nice even sound that isnt quite so jarring when I go from bright clean chorus tones to heavy grungy sludge.

Well most effects loops just slot the effects between the preamp and the power amp...

So I have no idea.

D.o.S. wrote:Well most effects loops just slot the effects between the preamp and the power amp...

So I have no idea.

Exactly! I know that just not how to use it. My understanding is a lot of people put modulation after it or something. I really want to compress my overall sound just a little to lessen volume drops on pedals etc., so would an EQ, compressor combo help this?

This brings up the other issue that I know nothing about compressors other than vaguely what they do.

I would concentrate on just using the EQ, which should accomplish your goal of balancing/limiting without squashing it all down. I do like a compressor on my bass or sometimes guitar for a specific sound, I just think EQ is more open sounding.

compressors essentially squash ur dynamic range and then add gain back onto the signal to make it unity

You really need to just experiment.

Some pedals and rack gear handle the demands very differently. Pedals are designed for instrument level, while most rackmount stuff is line level.

It sounds like you want to use a compressor more for limiting, than heavy compression. I would experiment putting it in the loop.

while most rackmount stuff is line level.

Or is switchable on the back or via a front panel slider/knob, especially if the effect was designed at evil guitarists.

I never count on an amp I'm unfamiliar with having a useful effects loop - some are just too noisy/picky to be worth any shit at all.

yup. IMO to really be useful an amplifier effects loop should have some kind of level trim or +4/-20dB switch at the input; otherwise you wind up with too much noise with most effects because the levels don't match. even if you have a piece of rack gear that's switchable, you can't count on the amp loop being compatible if it's not adjustable in my experience.

Real pros just use the rack as a permanent clean boost even when bypassed anyway and run it straight into the front. ;0