software

What's the difference tonally between running OD/Dist effects in front of an amp vs in the effects loop? I'm gonna experiement with my DS-1 tonight and see what differences I hear. I have been running it in front of the amp and sounds good. But it's noisey. I need to get an AC power supply to get rid of the noise caused from battery use.

Wtf.... never run anything that boosts gain or volume in the effects loop. While I'm not sure if this is true, I've heard you can seriously screw up your poweramp.

Your pedal should not be causing noise because of battery use, but because it's a distortion pedal, it will create hissy white noise. It's just the nature of using high gain.

I certainly don't want to ruin anything. I read in another post where it was suggested to let the preamp tubes do their job and boost the signal, ie don't put dist/od pedals in front of the amp, run booster pedals after the preamp tubes.

Is this wrong?

Request, this is one of those topics that comes up again and again. Is there a thread that it vault worthy as a reference source? I found search for some that talked about effects order but they didn't explicitly discuss the effects loop. Based on my experience, I need explicit.

I think you mis-read, or they meant powertubes instead of preamp tubes. You should run overdrive pedals infront of the preamp tubes to send them into a clipping state. I don't believe thats safe with powertubes, though.


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3I think you mis-read, or they meant powertubes instead of preamp tubes. You should run overdrive pedals infront of the preamp tubes to send them into a clipping state. I don't believe thats safe with powertubes, though.

You're probably right. Now, where did I read that...hmm


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3I think you mis-read, or they meant powertubes instead of preamp tubes. You should run overdrive pedals infront of the preamp tubes to send them into a clipping state. I don't believe thats safe with powertubes, though.

Yep I havn't heard of anyone running an OD in the effects loop. It also doesn't sound right considering the input for the OD is an instrument level input. The effects loop is at line level I do believe.


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3Wtf.... never run anything that boosts gain or volume in the effects loop. While I'm not sure if this is true, I've heard you can seriously screw up your poweramp.

What about the G-Major, though? It's an effects loop only unit (in theory), and I swear it has patches with a 6db volume boost for soloing...


Originally Posted by SpiderVenomWhat about the G-Major, though? It's an effects loop only unit (in theory), and I swear it has patches with a 6db volume boost for soloing...

It also works at line leve, and is a professional piece of equipment compared to a 40 dollar boss pedal .

Line level?

If you want to boost your signal for solos and such, see below:

1) If you run the pre-amp clean, then run the booster or OD in front to give some grit, and it will boost as well.

2) If you run the pre-amp dirty with little or no clean headroom left, then run the booster or OD in the loop (after the pre-amp) to boost the overdriven signal going to the power amp. Running a booster or OD before an already saturated pre-amp is going to just add more saturation and no boost.

A DS-1 is a distortion device but will give some boost when dialed in just right to do so. I prefer to use the tool designed for the job, and that is a booster for boost and overdrive for overdrive. Even though an overdrive can be dialed in to boost, it's just not the same. Too much coloration going on.

In the end it's all about the available headroom before the power amp even comes in to play.

You're not going to hurt anything by putting your DS-1 in the effects loop. If that was the case, I guess I should not use my delay, chorus and flangers there either.

I don't nessecarily want boost I want more overdrive at lower volumes than my amp produces. It works fine before the amp, I simply want to experiment.

Thanks Erik. That's very helpful post.


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadLine level?

Line level is what preamps boost to before going into a power amp.


Originally Posted by ErikHYou're not going to hurt anything by putting your DS-1 in the effects loop. If that was the case, I guess I should not use my delay, chorus and flangers there either.

Time domain effects are not made to run before a preamp. They are intended to run in an effects loop. Have you ever run a delay pedal before a pre? Unless your running with no distortion, the thing will turn it all to mush.

I must disagree, vinterland. I happen to love my Univibe and Small Stone in front of the amp, and they are time based effects. I use the effects loop only for Flanger and Delay.

As far as the OD in the effects loop goes, I don't think you'll hurt anything (the boss pedals are all at instrument levels) but I certainly wouldn't expect a good sound out of it.

BUT, don't take my word for it, I've never put a gain based effect in my effects loop...

Is there any merit to saying quot;let the preamp tubes do there jobquot; therefore place boosters overdrive/distortion after them?

vinterland, your delay example is right on, and yes it does sound pretty bad, but lots of folks run chorus, flanger, phasers before the pre-amp. Not a problem with those at all so I have to disagree with you there. It just sounds different.

GT, for what you're wanting to do, push the front end of the amp with the DS-1. That'll hit the pre-amp tubes harder and give some more saturation. You can use a distortion, overdrive or a booster.

But if I had a single channel amp and the pre-amp was already saturated and I needed a boost for a solo, if the amp had an effects loop, I'd put a booster in there. I'd still run an OD out front too cause I like to.

Another option is a dual volume pot box that switches between them with a DPDT switch. Set one higher than the other. Instant rhythm/lead settings for a single channel amp.


Originally Posted by ErikH1) If you run the pre-amp clean, then run the booster or OD in front to give some grit, and it will boost as well.

Gain knob low.Originally Posted by ErikH2) If you run the pre-amp dirty with little or no clean headroom left, then run the booster or OD in the loop (after the pre-amp) to boost the overdriven signal going to the power amp.

Gain on 10.Originally Posted by ErikHA DS-1 is a distortion device but will give some boost when dialed in just right to do so. I prefer to use the tool designed for the job, and that is a booster for boost and overdrive for overdrive. Even though an overdrive can be dialed in to boost, it's just not the same. Too much coloration going on.

I simply have been liking a lot of distortion with my strat lately. Trying to pretend my SSS is a single hum metal machine...until I can make it that way for real.


Originally Posted by ErikHvinterland, your delay example is right on, and yes it does sound pretty bad, but lots of folks run chorus, flanger, phasers before the pre-amp. Not a problem with those at all so I have to disagree with you there. It just sounds different.

Yeah you are right about the chorus and flanger, as I know they can be run before though usually aren't so sorry about that. I should have edited to only include quot;delayquot;. I also prefer it in the loop for what you said, the sound. I just don't like any kind of effects before the pre.


Originally Posted by vinterlandYeah you are right about the chorus and flanger, as I know they can be run before though usually aren't so sorry about that. I should have edited to only include quot;delayquot;. I also prefer it in the loop for what you said, the sound. I just don't like any kind of effects before the pre.

I myself don't either. I run chorus and delay in the loop. However, I do like my Phase 90 out front better. I'll use the chorus out front if I'm using my practice amp and want some chorus since it doesn't have a loop but the effect isn't quot;therequot; as much. Still a pretty cool sound.
My trial reveals that in front of the amp definitely sounds better than in the effects loop. I think that this reveals that I really need a Marshall.