Might have been nice if you explained the voltage and amperage generated by the guitar pickup itself, the wattage change provided by an overdrive pedal itself, the Volt/amp change as well as the Volt/amp change provided by the power amp itself. This could also go into the issue of watts and ohms and what happens to volts/amps when you plug in 8/4/2 ohms. Oh, tube power amp outputs vs transistor? What is line level wattage? What exactly does an attenuate do? Yeah. Enough info for a whole video.
Can I put my looper/drum machine in the four ohm input on the back of my cabinet. If so then would the drums stay clean sounding and can I get a dirty sound out of my looper? Sorry so long. Thank you sooooooo mich
@@twerpuser modular synths are like normal synths, but each module you send your sound through will do something unique to it. You need a controller or an oscillator to make sound happen though. It's basically a build-your-own synth. With the effects loop, you're basically doing the same thing, except instead of modules, you're using guitar pedals and instead of a controller (which is just a keyboard or another "normal" synth) you're using your guitar (or bass, or whatever you've decided to plug into the amp)
@@allboutthemojo oh I just saw a video that only modulation should go thro the effects loop so noise gate should go in front of the amp. so you should be good just go directly from your single chain
I'm an electronics guy so I have a 'feel' for all the technical aspects. Your experience and advice regarding signal flow and levels made sense to me right away. Lightbulb moments!
@@robschaller9061 Yeah, that reason is antiquity and holding onto the past. The future will be digital, and I say this as someone who owns a 68 Deluxe Reverb and a 70w Music Man. But Mark Knopfler and John Mayer recently performed to stadium crowds using amp profilers.
@@brotendo Still the VAST majority of stadium players STILL use tube amps. Digital STILL does not duplicate the warmth of a tube amp. And it's still INSANELY expensive. Kemper profile is ~ the same as a top of line Marshall tube head.
@@brotendo There may come a day when that is true but I just do NOT like the sound of SS/Digital amps they lack the warmth that tube brings to the table. I know that in super high-end audiophile gear Tube is still the preferred amplifier for audiophiles... I doubt that everyone will go that route.
Not sure if this was mentioned below, but you can insert a volume pedal in the effects loop and use it to rehearse at a low volume, essentially retaining your sound (to a point) at a lower volume.
Exactly, sooooo many don't know this ”trick”! Or using your EQ pedal as your volume pedal, works like a treat. But using a volume pedal in the FX Loop is so great; just turn your amps volume to full (even a 60W amp!) and use the volume pedal for your volume. :) The tubes are now working 100% but at your desired volumes.
Oh My GOD! This is the best explanation of fx loop and pedals and multi sequencer effects and distortion I have heard on youtube. I have watched a TON of videos and I had no idea what people are talking about! THIS GUY RIGHT HERE explains everything so succinctly and is well spoken I FINALLY have all my questions answered!
Glad I stopped to check this out. I've always wondered how the effects loop worked and how that was different than plugging your pedal board into the input. Good stuff!
Thanks Rhett, this has been one of those topics I’ve never heard anyone explain. As a player of 14 years without a network of more knowledgeable folks to show me things, this is extremely useful to me.
I play acoustic with probably too many pedals. Always had em straight into the front, always grumpy about my low end being muddy and sometimes disappearing in the mix. I tried plugging in this way (my amp has an effects loop deal but my dumb ass always assumed it was for fancy looping stations interconnecting with midi cues housed in strymon racks or some shit) and ta-da! I'm no longer grumpy about my low end. Thank you, sir!
Probably the best explanation I've seen for an effects loop...and I've watched a lot! Playing in a punk band I never had a use for this feature on my amp (to be honest, I had no idea what it was for...and I was more focused on just making a massive distorted/fuzzed-out sound), but now I'm playing shoegazey stuff, this is what I've been missing! Thank you!!!
Good video, Rhett, thanks. Another significant advantage of an effects loop is it actually is "a Plan B" that gives you a work around if you blow either your amplifier's pre-amp section or power amp section, or if the tubes go bad in one of those sections and you have no replacements on hand at a gig. If your amp's internal pre-amp is non-operable, you can drive the power amp via the return jack with an outboard pre-amp or channel like effects pedal. Conversely if your amp's power amp section is non-operable, you can run your amp's pre-amp from the send jack to another power source, or to FOH PA. For live gigs, I have a Marshall 8008 stereo power amp racked up with the power conditioner in a shallow, 3U SKB rack case, as a back up power amp (it takes your amp's send and has outlet jacks to speakers. Either carry an extra cab, or cables to disconnect and hook up your combo internal speaker(s), such as a male to female cable speaker cable). I carry some pedal like a Boss Amp Farm as a pre-amp back up (send it to the amp's return for power). Read your manuals for best results, but this capability makes an effects loop on an amp an invaluable feature/resource all by itself, as it gives you these back-up options, whether you actually insert any other effects into it or not.
You know what Rhett? I just watched this again. I have to say that there is something really great in how you explain stuff like this. Something about your presentation style that is so logical, ordered and complete, yet still remains accessible to less expert gearheads. Maybe it's the way you write or plot out the script but it also has to do with your diction and speaking style, which is very relaxed, straightforward and again just seems so logical. Effects loops can be a mystery but your step by step explanation of the signal paths was about as clear, concise and understandable as I have yet seen. Well done Rhett - continued success and thanks for all the amazing content. Cheers man....
Great job. Most players may not know that they need something like that. Once I started using a delay and getting more experience with the sound I noticed a need to clean up the delay. The loop did just that.
Thanks Man!! Not many channels do the basics. some of us are long term players but are just starting to get into all the newer equipment that seems to be updating weekly.
A lot of people say to use the effects loop, but not a lot (if not at all) that I watch show you how to deal with cable management and all that jazz for it. Great video man! You definitely deserve way more subscribers. Like for this dude!
I have seen many vids on effects loops and this is the first one that breaks it down for even beginners can understand. I especially liked how you showed the back of the amp and demonstrated the proper chord plug in procedure. Kudos to you on a well constructed how to!
YES BOOSTING IN THE LOOP WITH AN EQ, COMP ETC.FOR THE WIN!!!!! Best tone secret I ever discovered! You did a great job covering the basics and some more advanced effects loop stuff. This video would have been crazy helpful about 10 years ago for me but it was awesome knowing I'm not the only one who uses some of the fx loop tricks you mentioned. Although I kinda considered it the secret to my tone. Every time someone asks how im gettong full clean tones especially with coil split humbuckers I tell them but I feel like I'm just giving away $20 bills or something lol. The knowledge was hard won trial an error. Kids these days can just look up videos and learn what it took us years to sort out lol smh.
Shocking how long it took me to come to this realisation. The amount of boost pedals and eq's I have sold cos I didn't think they worked all that well is insane lol
I like a great deal of other guitar players absolutely love having effects loop in their amplifier. One of the tricks that I loved to do was take my BBE sonic maximizer pedal and put it in the effects loop which really helped my overall sound.
WOW thanks! ive always went straight in on my orange, tried to hook a digitec rp 600, through my effects send and return and nothing happened after listening to you, i hooked it up correctly and again wow!!!. thank you so much the sky has opened up and dropped some killer tunes and tones. signed not bored anymore. mike e detune
Thanks Rhett. I've seen other videos on this topic that are good but based on specific pieces of equipment. Yours is good because it explains the principles and talks about options.
Running the amp clean, no need to use the FX loop. Driving the amp hard use the FX loop. The pre-amp can be like your OD/distortion and other tone shaping pedals and you wouldn't put Modulation, Delay, Reverb in front of your Drive/tone shaping pedals - hence you have an FX loop. If your amp is 'clean' and you get your drive from pedals, you don't need to put Modulation, delay, reverb pedals in the loop because they are still after the drive/gain/tone shaping pedals. Its that simple. It really depends on where you get your tone shaping and drive from. The FX loop is just a way to keep the 'pedal' order and use your pre-amp to shape tone instead of relying solely on pedals.
One of my favourite things to do with an FX loop is to use it to get the drive. Plop an EQ pedal in there, put every toggle to the max level, including the output level, and you'll get that awesome juicy power amp overdrive instead of the pre amp overdrive. And you can so that and keep it at lower volumes too. It's almost like a poor man's attenuator
Thank you for this. I got my first amp with an effects loop this week and didn’t know how to use it. I had a 5-watt tube amp for over a decade, so this 65-watt solid state amp is a lot to get used to. You explained it well and I think I’ll hook my modulation and time pedals into the effect loop.
Thanks for doing this video and explaining the effects loop in a clear, easily understood and concise way. Nice mention of the line v. instrument level and it's affect on the sound. I might add a couple other points - my apologies if others have already mentioned these. First, some amps have effects loops, but they are labeled as "preamp out" and "power in" (looking at you, Fender). Second, as you mentioned, you can use a volume pedal to boost your sound. Conversely, you can also use a volume pedal as an attenuator to decrease the volume, while not sacrificing the gain/tone from your warmed up and turned up preamp stage. Keep up the excellent work!
ok. I have several amps, looked at the fx loop thing and thought 'i'll look in to see what that does at some point'. today is that day. now I know and I don't know if I have a use for it or not. I think this evening i'll have a play with an amp and find out. thanks for the info.
Thank You, thank You, thank You... You are a life saver. I have been searching for a video that explained how it works and You seriously did a hell of a good job ;-)
this is extremely helpful and clear, I love being able to understand without having to google 15 different words like preamp, tone shaping, poweramp. you explained everything very clearly! Great video!
Great video , I use a preamp into the effects return of my amp . I change preamps depending on the style of music Im playing. My set uo goes guitar > comp>OD/Dist>Preamp pedal ( set just at the edge of break uo > delay/reverb pedal > fx return.....works beautifully. Basically I am just using the power amp portion of my amp ..My trusty Peavy Studio Pro can sound like Marshall or a Fender Tweed / Twin or a Boogie depending on which preamp pedal I use ( Mooer Micro Preamps UK Gold 007 or Regal 007 or Joyo American American) ,
I was just thinking about doing something similar... But isn't there a problem with not linking anything to the front input of the amp? Won't it be bad for the amps preamp?
@@salottin he not using the pre amp of the amplifier....he has everything runnung into the effect loop return jack thus completely bypassing the pre amp
Greetings from 8,000 feet in the Himalayan mountains of Bhutan. I've tried the four-cable method with my tube amp and my multi-effects withonly a vague understandining of the benefits. Suddenly it all makes sense now. Will experiment now. Much thanks.
I’ve been running four cable method for years and man I can’t live without it. Trying to run just in the loop these days but wah pedals are ass through the loop.
I would have really liked to have seen the difference between plugging this pedals in front of the amp and plugging them into the effects loop. It would really have helped me understand the difference and whether I should be looking at an amp that has an effects loop.
@@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84 yo bro so do we really need excessive pedals…. I was going to go on a shopping spree on pedals…. So only time based and modulation goes in the fX loops…. I just realized they said that tube amps already have a pre amp…. So technically we don’t need a over drive or a pre amp since we already got it in the amp…. But what if you want to use a modulation/time FX combo? So technically just wah/distortion/fuzz in front and a mod/time pedal in back….. so like 2/3 pedals at a time?
“SEND to the IN, OUT in RETURN” Guitar directly into the “send,” let’s you bypass the preamp. You can also connect two amps, send from one amp to the return of the other amp and use the first amps preamp.
I did sound for a few years and was kinda shocked at how many guitar players had no idea how to use or what effects to use on their in/out. I would hook up their effects correctly and leave tuner, chorus out front and they were surprised how much better it sounded.
Nice explanation. Just something to add. The line vs. instrumental level is more than just a volume change. It is a voltage change. Line level could damage an instrument level pedal.
I started plugging a Line 6 POD into the return on a SS Fender pro 185 when playing live because the 185 was ridiculously loud and hard to control. By using the effects return I was using the POD as the preamp and only the power amp of the 185, which gave me better modeling sounds from the POD and better control of the amp. Later I switched to a POD xt Live and the set up worked even better. I played gigs regularly with that set up for years, and still use it when I play the occasional gig.
Well done, virtually a perfect demo / how-to. My only quibble would be the switching of guitars between different set-ups / effects. Would have been a more consistent demo if it was same guitar throughout. Cheers!
Plus, using a solid body would probably give a more present sound. The ES sort of added extra depth that might amplify those washy effects such as reverb.
i don't normally leave comments but i just had to give props. you have a really well thought out simple way of explaining things that sinks right in to my brain. thanks!
PSA: for some amps the equivalent to "send" is "preamp out", and the equivalent to "return" is "power amp in". I think some Fender combos with FX loops are labelled like this - Hot Rod Deluxe? Awesome video Rhett.
What is the D.i. OUT plug for in the back of my amp? It seems like the headphone out jack next to it but the amp plays as well as sending out the sound. I put a cable from the D.i. out into the front input jack and I was stunned... nothing happened. My amp has 2 inputs so I played it like this and to me it sounded the same.
Awesome job Rhett. This is the best video I have seen on the FX loop. Others that are shorter just don't go into the detail that you need to actually understand and set up yourself. This was great. I'm going to follow this when my new Mesa Boogie amplifier arrives next week. 😁
No one ever takes a phone and shows their pedalboard divided in half from the distortion side and the effects side and how to wire stuff through, or with a patchbay. No good videos on this yet :(
This was really useful. The clean volume boost ... the differences and troubleshooting the basics ... so good job. I'd been trying to get things right, thanks!
I've recently heard that you can plug straight into the return of an effects loop with your guitar, or guitar>pedals>return jack, and completely skip the input on the front of an amp. Is this true? If so, what are the advantages?
I've been using my effect loop on my amp for quite a while now, puttin my Chorus and Delay pedal there. Just curious of what u think about a noise gate pedal, will it work better if we put it in the effect loop or infront of amp (before an overdrive pedal) Thnx
Not to be smart, but it depends on where your noise is coming from. You obviously want the gate AFTER the source of the noise. Most of the time that is immediately after your guitar but effects loops CAN introduce noise with certain pedals (and some amps are much more sensitive that others.) If you A/B things and it seems like modulation pedals in your loop are noisy, I'd first try different power supplies/power strips. One easy test is run everything in the loop on batteries. If the noise goes away, there's your problem. Only as a last resort would I put a gate AFTER modulation pedals in a loop. The various tails, repeats, ambiance of your pedals would probably be choked down by the gate and you don't want that. Good luck.
Thanks Rhett, this video was quite an eye (ear) opener, and now I've split the signal from my busy pedal board sending all modulation effects through the fx loop and leaving the overdrive pedals in front of the amp. Cheers mate!
Excellent overview with enough details to appreciate the effects loop system that I have not used before. I use a Zoom G5n but have not tried it through my effects loop. Hopefully it'll add some flavors I haven't used before. Thanks!
Thankyou man,I’ve just set up a pedal board and have a jjn signiture blues valve amp 20w and have an array of pedals so I might look into send/out option for the whole board with the guitar going into the main power amp input.Before your video I had no idea if a whole pedal board could work only a small chain. Makes scence.Cheers for your vid👍🎸
Some amplifiers have those words, but are essentially the same thing. Don't be intimidated by the different types of terminology, much like effect pedals, effect loops have different names for the same function.
If you wanna see where he actually starts plugging stuff in and showing how to actually do it.... 6:07 starts around there. To anyone impatient like me.
Same case here, but my amp doesn't have effects loop. Do you know any way to "replace" it and take different sounds? or i should buy an amp with fx loop?
Thank you!!! I’m relatively new to this stuff. I bought a 5150 iconic combo, it sounded awesome in the store and got home hooked my pedals up and it sounded bad with pedals on. Just watched your video and switch them,and Perfection thank you!!!! By the way the instructions for 5150 iconic blow, might as well not bothered wasting the paper to print them on.
Great video. I have a PRS Custom 50 with a “volume” knob for send and another for return. Right now, they are set at 12:00 (both of them). I’ve tried to play with them, but don’t know when I’m putting too much signal into the effect. Is there a general rule? If I turn both of them up, I can drive the power tubes a little more, but don’t know how far I should be pushing the pedals in the loop.
An effects loop is an absolute must for my tone. Putting an eq in the loop as well as a modern compression both to boost my split coil sounds is paramount. Boosting in the loop is amazing, no extra breakup just more power tube output/sag/saturation. I would have said compression in the loop is stupid a few years ago but more modern (less noisey) compressions in the loop are amazing. They can simulate tube sag but more importantly will restore your highs if you've lost some due to cable capacitance and tone sucking pedals. Like my MXR M234 chorus, I love it but bypassed it sucks highs. Compression adds them all back and boost the clean signal in a beautiful way. I just set the comp with the volume up pretty high and the gain/comp 1/4 up or less. Sometimes just having it on but the comp all the way down with the volume up and tone set to taste is enough to really make cleans sound amazing. I use high output humbuckers so compression out front isn't an option. With the comp up front it makes the signal hot the preanp harder so it just breaks up more. I use compression for a fuller clean tone. That's the best part of compression, just enough so that your tone really pops out in a mix.
Just when you think "I'm finally getting it" when it comes to playing guitar... tone rears its beastly head!!! 🤯Thx for this, Rhett, it was extremely helpful.
Great video for someone like myself, never used an effects loop before until now , with an upgrade in my music gear. You’ve made it very clear for me to follow when, how and why to use the loop and with which pedals. Thanks heaps for the huge help 👍
I use a master volume knob through the FX loop on my Fender Hot rod amp. Best decision I’ve ever made. Allows me to get the full power of the amp’s tubes while keeping the volume at bedroom levels :)) saves buying an expensive attenuator
Thanks Rhett, for sharing that gem of info, I knew about it but you just refreshed my knowledge on it again. I got to your channel by watching you with Rick and Dave. AWESOME! Thank you again!
i've been plugging cables in and out the send-return based on experiment without knowing what and how it works.. your video explains a lot, though it's just basic as you said it. thanks a lot, Rhett. it has been a pleasure watching your feeds, man
My first video course, The Tone Course, is available now! Check it out here.
flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course
Might have been nice if you explained the voltage and amperage generated by the guitar pickup itself, the wattage change provided by an overdrive pedal itself, the Volt/amp change as well as the Volt/amp change provided by the power amp itself. This could also go into the issue of watts and ohms and what happens to volts/amps when you plug in 8/4/2 ohms.
Oh, tube power amp outputs vs transistor?
What is line level wattage?
What exactly does an attenuate do?
Yeah. Enough info for a whole video.
Compressor?
Can I put my looper/drum machine in the four ohm input on the back of my cabinet. If so then would the drums stay clean sounding and can I get a dirty sound out of my looper? Sorry so long. Thank you sooooooo mich
@@bobbystereo936 compressor clean driver in front
@@joobchrismac8706 I mean , compressor in the effects loop or front end of the amp?
The best effects loop beginner guide I've watched. Straight forward and clearly explained. Thanks for the video Rhett.
Effects loops are a gateway drug to modular synthesis. Stay in school...
I don't know what this means but it's pretty funny though!
I just say "No!"
It's a "poor man's" modular synth (though that shit ain't cheap regardless)
@@twerpuser modular synths are like normal synths, but each module you send your sound through will do something unique to it. You need a controller or an oscillator to make sound happen though. It's basically a build-your-own synth. With the effects loop, you're basically doing the same thing, except instead of modules, you're using guitar pedals and instead of a controller (which is just a keyboard or another "normal" synth) you're using your guitar (or bass, or whatever you've decided to plug into the amp)
😂😂😂
You had me at How To.
I'm gonna stop you at 0:08 and just say yes.
...you had me at HOW, Kemosabe.
@@allboutthemojo wait you can put a noise gate on the effects loop?
@@allboutthemojo oh I just saw a video that only modulation should go thro the effects loop so noise gate should go in front of the amp. so you should be good just go directly from your single chain
@@allboutthemojo that's where ingot the info
It's this kind of basic knowledge that is sorely missing on CZcams. Thanks Rhett
I'm an electronics guy so I have a 'feel' for all the technical aspects. Your experience and advice regarding signal flow and levels made sense to me right away. Lightbulb moments!
One thing I appreciate about you rhett is you keep it simple that is invaluable
I’ve been playing for nearly two decades now and this is the first time I can say I finally understand this concept. Thanks a lot Rhett!
After 50 years I now completely understand effects loops!😀 Thank you.
Never been much of a buff on effects loop and such. Hooked my reverb and delay up through it and it’s changed my world. Thank you!
"Digital vs. tube amp... that's another video." I won't forget this, man! I hope you do that video.
Tube by MILES and MILES. There is a reason the VAST majority of big-time players almost exclusively use Tube Amps.
@@robschaller9061 Yeah, that reason is antiquity and holding onto the past. The future will be digital, and I say this as someone who owns a 68 Deluxe Reverb and a 70w Music Man. But Mark Knopfler and John Mayer recently performed to stadium crowds using amp profilers.
@@brotendo Still the VAST majority of stadium players STILL use tube amps. Digital STILL does not duplicate the warmth of a tube amp. And it's still INSANELY expensive. Kemper profile is ~ the same as a top of line Marshall tube head.
@@brotendo There may come a day when that is true but I just do NOT like the sound of SS/Digital amps they lack the warmth that tube brings to the table. I know that in super high-end audiophile gear Tube is still the preferred amplifier for audiophiles... I doubt that everyone will go that route.
@@robschaller9061 well, something i think allan Holdsworth (?) once said, :
"Who cares? As long as you get the tone you want"
Not sure if this was mentioned below, but you can insert a volume pedal in the effects loop and use it to rehearse at a low volume, essentially retaining your sound (to a point) at a lower volume.
Great idea esp for a jcm 800
does that work as good or better than a rivera rock crusher power attenuator???
Nice thats a great idea :)
Jhs makes a pedal for that. Josh does a video and it works for pretty much any amp with a loop
Exactly, sooooo many don't know this ”trick”! Or using your EQ pedal as your volume pedal, works like a treat. But using a volume pedal in the FX Loop is so great; just turn your amps volume to full (even a 60W amp!) and use the volume pedal for your volume. :) The tubes are now working 100% but at your desired volumes.
Oh My GOD! This is the best explanation of fx loop and pedals and multi sequencer effects and distortion I have heard on youtube. I have watched a TON of videos and I had no idea what people are talking about! THIS GUY RIGHT HERE explains everything so succinctly and is well spoken I FINALLY have all my questions answered!
Glad I stopped to check this out. I've always wondered how the effects loop worked and how that was different than plugging your pedal board into the input. Good stuff!
Thanks Rhett, this has been one of those topics I’ve never heard anyone explain. As a player of 14 years without a network of more knowledgeable folks to show me things, this is extremely useful to me.
L'm?
So at 6:00 that's how I hook up my pedal board?
Rhett I’ve played guitar for 16 years. Watching your videos have made guitar and gear fun again. Thanks!
I play acoustic with probably too many pedals. Always had em straight into the front, always grumpy about my low end being muddy and sometimes disappearing in the mix. I tried plugging in this way (my amp has an effects loop deal but my dumb ass always assumed it was for fancy looping stations interconnecting with midi cues housed in strymon racks or some shit) and ta-da! I'm no longer grumpy about my low end.
Thank you, sir!
You should’ve quit from the start! 🤦🏽♂️
you have a very clear verbal style I really appreciate that
Probably the best explanation I've seen for an effects loop...and I've watched a lot! Playing in a punk band I never had a use for this feature on my amp (to be honest, I had no idea what it was for...and I was more focused on just making a massive distorted/fuzzed-out sound), but now I'm playing shoegazey stuff, this is what I've been missing! Thank you!!!
Good video, Rhett, thanks. Another significant advantage of an effects loop is it actually is "a Plan B" that gives you a work around if you blow either your amplifier's pre-amp section or power amp section, or if the tubes go bad in one of those sections and you have no replacements on hand at a gig.
If your amp's internal pre-amp is non-operable, you can drive the power amp via the return jack with an outboard pre-amp or channel like effects pedal. Conversely if your amp's power amp section is non-operable, you can run your amp's pre-amp from the send jack to another power source, or to FOH PA.
For live gigs, I have a Marshall 8008 stereo power amp racked up with the power conditioner in a shallow, 3U SKB rack case, as a back up power amp (it takes your amp's send and has outlet jacks to speakers. Either carry an extra cab, or cables to disconnect and hook up your combo internal speaker(s), such as a male to female cable speaker cable). I carry some pedal like a Boss Amp Farm as a pre-amp back up (send it to the amp's return for power). Read your manuals for best results, but this capability makes an effects loop on an amp an invaluable feature/resource all by itself, as it gives you these back-up options, whether you actually insert any other effects into it or not.
anyone else think that tone at 2:00 is 🔥 filled me with a lovely nostalgia
You know what Rhett? I just watched this again. I have to say that there is something really great in how you explain stuff like this. Something about your presentation style that is so logical, ordered and complete, yet still remains accessible to less expert gearheads. Maybe it's the way you write or plot out the script but it also has to do with your diction and speaking style, which is very relaxed, straightforward and again just seems so logical. Effects loops can be a mystery but your step by step explanation of the signal paths was about as clear, concise and understandable as I have yet seen. Well done Rhett - continued success and thanks for all the amazing content. Cheers man....
Great job. Most players may not know that they need something like that. Once I started using a delay and getting more experience with the sound I noticed a need to clean up the delay. The loop did just that.
Was always not sure if I was connecting effects correctly now I can be more confident using effects loop.
Thanks Man!! Not many channels do the basics. some of us are long term players but are just starting to get into all the newer equipment that seems to be updating weekly.
A lot of people say to use the effects loop, but not a lot (if not at all) that I watch show you how to deal with cable management and all that jazz for it. Great video man! You definitely deserve way more subscribers. Like for this dude!
Rhett, one of your first videos I really liked, learned from, and appreciated. Thanks!!
I have seen many vids on effects loops and this is the first one that breaks it down for even beginners can understand. I especially liked how you showed the back of the amp and demonstrated the proper chord plug in procedure. Kudos to you on a well constructed how to!
YES BOOSTING IN THE LOOP WITH AN EQ, COMP ETC.FOR THE WIN!!!!! Best tone secret I ever discovered! You did a great job covering the basics and some more advanced effects loop stuff. This video would have been crazy helpful about 10 years ago for me but it was awesome knowing I'm not the only one who uses some of the fx loop tricks you mentioned. Although I kinda considered it the secret to my tone. Every time someone asks how im gettong full clean tones especially with coil split humbuckers I tell them but I feel like I'm just giving away $20 bills or something lol. The knowledge was hard won trial an error. Kids these days can just look up videos and learn what it took us years to sort out lol smh.
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
Sharing tricks makes the whole world of music better lol
Shocking how long it took me to come to this realisation. The amount of boost pedals and eq's I have sold cos I didn't think they worked all that well is insane lol
I like a great deal of other guitar players absolutely love having effects loop in their amplifier. One of the tricks that I loved to do was take my BBE sonic maximizer pedal and put it in the effects loop which really helped my overall sound.
is video is really, really great at demystifying the "innards" of an amps signal chain. Straight forward and concise!! Thank you so much, Rhett!
WOW thanks! ive always went straight in on my orange, tried to hook a digitec rp 600, through my effects send and return and nothing happened after listening to you, i hooked it up correctly and again wow!!!. thank you so much the sky has opened up and dropped some killer tunes and tones. signed not bored anymore. mike e detune
Thanks Rhett. I've seen other videos on this topic that are good but based on specific pieces of equipment. Yours is good because it explains the principles and talks about options.
Wonderfully done. Your explanations are very clear, intelligent, and useful. Thanks man!
My friend, you are THE MAN for explaining this so well, and walking through it all with extremely important commentary is golden, bro. THANX! ;)
Running the amp clean, no need to use the FX loop. Driving the amp hard use the FX loop. The pre-amp can be like your OD/distortion and other tone shaping pedals and you wouldn't put Modulation, Delay, Reverb in front of your Drive/tone shaping pedals - hence you have an FX loop. If your amp is 'clean' and you get your drive from pedals, you don't need to put Modulation, delay, reverb pedals in the loop because they are still after the drive/gain/tone shaping pedals.
Its that simple. It really depends on where you get your tone shaping and drive from. The FX loop is just a way to keep the 'pedal' order and use your pre-amp to shape tone instead of relying solely on pedals.
Bingo, well said and exactly what I do with my Twin.
One of my favourite things to do with an FX loop is to use it to get the drive. Plop an EQ pedal in there, put every toggle to the max level, including the output level, and you'll get that awesome juicy power amp overdrive instead of the pre amp overdrive. And you can so that and keep it at lower volumes too. It's almost like a poor man's attenuator
Thank you for this.
I got my first amp with an effects loop this week and didn’t know how to use it. I had a 5-watt tube amp for over a decade, so this 65-watt solid state amp is a lot to get used to.
You explained it well and I think I’ll hook my modulation and time pedals into the effect loop.
Nice video Rhett! A clean boost in the loop is also good idea.
And then you said so at 9:05, :)
I knew all of that, but i still feel like i learned things ! Thanks for the quality of your videos!
Great explanation. My last add to my FX loop was a boss eq, that I use as a boost, with a bit of mids to cut through in a solo
Thanks for doing this video and explaining the effects loop in a clear, easily understood and concise way. Nice mention of the line v. instrument level and it's affect on the sound. I might add a couple other points - my apologies if others have already mentioned these. First, some amps have effects loops, but they are labeled as "preamp out" and "power in" (looking at you, Fender). Second, as you mentioned, you can use a volume pedal to boost your sound. Conversely, you can also use a volume pedal as an attenuator to decrease the volume, while not sacrificing the gain/tone from your warmed up and turned up preamp stage. Keep up the excellent work!
ok. I have several amps, looked at the fx loop thing and thought 'i'll look in to see what that does at some point'. today is that day. now I know and I don't know if I have a use for it or not. I think this evening i'll have a play with an amp and find out. thanks for the info.
How was it
Thank You, thank You, thank You... You are a life saver. I have been searching for a video that explained how it works and You seriously did a hell of a good job ;-)
I've always known what the efx loop was for, but didn't know what made it tick so to speak, this was very informative!
this is extremely helpful and clear, I love being able to understand without having to google 15 different words like preamp, tone shaping, poweramp. you explained everything very clearly! Great video!
thank you peepeepoopooman1234
Great video , I use a preamp into the effects return of my amp . I change preamps depending on the style of music Im playing. My set uo goes guitar > comp>OD/Dist>Preamp pedal ( set just at the edge of break uo > delay/reverb pedal > fx return.....works beautifully. Basically I am just using the power amp portion of my amp ..My trusty Peavy Studio Pro can sound like Marshall or a Fender Tweed / Twin or a Boogie depending on which preamp pedal I use ( Mooer Micro Preamps UK Gold 007 or Regal 007 or Joyo American American) ,
I was just thinking about doing something similar... But isn't there a problem with not linking anything to the front input of the amp? Won't it be bad for the amps preamp?
@@salottin he not using the pre amp of the amplifier....he has everything runnung into the effect loop return jack thus completely bypassing the pre amp
Very clear and informative. Well done, will watch again.
Great video - I’ve had my amp for 20 years and never used the loop - I’ll give it a shot now with my delay (and that reverb is sublime!)
This is information I didn't know I needed!!! Haha! I'm going downstairs right now to give this a shot! Thanks Rhett!!!
Greetings from 8,000 feet in the Himalayan mountains of Bhutan. I've tried the four-cable method with my tube amp and my multi-effects withonly a vague understandining of the benefits. Suddenly it all makes sense now. Will experiment now. Much thanks.
I wonder how different your rig would sound at sea level, so cool to imagine how mine would sound up there. Cheers from Boston Massachusetts! Rock on!
Wherever he is, Bud Ross is grinnin' at his K-200-A4 design.
I’ve been running four cable method for years and man I can’t live without it. Trying to run just in the loop these days but wah pedals are ass through the loop.
That Specular Tempus sounds amazing! 🤩
I’ve been playing for 40 years (home only, no gigging), and I’ve just learned this information now! Thanks.
Thanks Rhett. I've been an intermediate player for 25 years but your vids always help.
I would have really liked to have seen the difference between plugging this pedals in front of the amp and plugging them into the effects loop. It would really have helped me understand the difference and whether I should be looking at an amp that has an effects loop.
He showed what happens to delay if in front of the amp right at the beginning lol.
@@joshuamichael4312 there’s no hope for ppl like that 🤦♂️😂
@@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84 yo bro so do we really need excessive pedals…. I was going to go on a shopping spree on pedals…. So only time based and modulation goes in the fX loops…. I just realized they said that tube amps already have a pre amp…. So technically we don’t need a over drive or a pre amp since we already got it in the amp…. But what if you want to use a modulation/time FX combo? So technically just wah/distortion/fuzz in front and a mod/time pedal in back….. so like 2/3 pedals at a time?
“SEND to the IN, OUT in RETURN”
Guitar directly into the “send,” let’s you bypass the preamp. You can also connect two amps, send from one amp to the return of the other amp and use the first amps preamp.
Wait a minute...
Cool stuff. Just make sure if using tube amps, that the amps and connected to cabs.
i think SRV did this with multiple fender amps
When you say make sure connected to cabs, does that mean a combo amp works ok?
@@dirt_diggler_ yes, a combo amp always has a speaker attached to it anyway to provide the necessary impedance.
I did sound for a few years and was kinda shocked at how many guitar players had no idea how to use or what effects to use on their in/out. I would hook up their effects correctly and leave tuner, chorus out front and they were surprised how much better it sounded.
That reverb/delay tone was like "oh dear God yes! I want it!" ...until I looked up the price. Nevermind 🤣
Hooray! I learned something valuable in 12 minutes from Rhett!
Nice explanation. Just something to add. The line vs. instrumental level is more than just a volume change. It is a voltage change. Line level could damage an instrument level pedal.
Good point. Best to read the manual first or research online as to these kind of parameters and being cautious from the git go.
Do you know how to determine? I have a catalinbread talisman that has a level knob and runs at 18v so im curious....
I started plugging a Line 6 POD into the return on a SS Fender pro 185 when playing live because the 185 was ridiculously loud and hard to control. By using the effects return I was using the POD as the preamp and only the power amp of the 185, which gave me better modeling sounds from the POD and better control of the amp. Later I switched to a POD xt Live and the set up worked even better. I played gigs regularly with that set up for years, and still use it when I play the occasional gig.
Well done! Excellent video! Made it really easy for me on how/what to chain through my tube amp, especially where I could put my volume pedal
Well done, virtually a perfect demo / how-to. My only quibble would be the switching of guitars between different set-ups / effects. Would have been a more consistent demo if it was same guitar throughout. Cheers!
Plus, using a solid body would probably give a more present sound. The ES sort of added extra depth that might amplify those washy effects such as reverb.
Not sure if anyone mentioned the use of a “dumblator” if your loop isn’t buffered.
i don't normally leave comments but i just had to give props. you have a really well thought out simple way of explaining things that sinks right in to my brain. thanks!
You explained this very well! Thank you!
Shoot, wish you would've done an A/B setup showing a pedal before the amp and in the loop! Drats.
There is that exact comparison done by another CZcams channel, PMTVUK it is pretty useful.
PSA: for some amps the equivalent to "send" is "preamp out", and the equivalent to "return" is "power amp in". I think some Fender combos with FX loops are labelled like this - Hot Rod Deluxe? Awesome video Rhett.
Jack, I believe you are spot on. I also believe newer effects loops (send/receive) are instrument level whereas pre out / pwr in are line level.
What is the D.i. OUT plug for in the back of my amp? It seems like the headphone out jack next to it but the amp plays as well as sending out the sound. I put a cable from the D.i. out into the front input jack and I was stunned... nothing happened. My amp has 2 inputs so I played it like this and to me it sounded the same.
Congratulations Rhett. Very Educational video. You speak slowly and explain the details like a teacher. 👏👏👏
Awesome job Rhett. This is the best video I have seen on the FX loop. Others that are shorter just don't go into the detail that you need to actually understand and set up yourself. This was great. I'm going to follow this when my new Mesa Boogie amplifier arrives next week. 😁
No one ever takes a phone and shows their pedalboard divided in half from the distortion side and the effects side and how to wire stuff through, or with a patchbay. No good videos on this yet :(
I actually like modulation in front of the amp, even distorted. And you can also use tube amps in stereo, you just need two of them, and two cabs! =D
1/2023: Now I understand. Very well presented and educational. Thank You
This was really useful. The clean volume boost ... the differences and troubleshooting the basics ... so good job. I'd been trying to get things right, thanks!
I've recently heard that you can plug straight into the return of an effects loop with your guitar, or guitar>pedals>return jack, and completely skip the input on the front of an amp. Is this true? If so, what are the advantages?
Robert Foster way lower output/volume as you are not preamping your instrument level input.
I've been using my effect loop on my amp for quite a while now, puttin my Chorus and Delay pedal there.
Just curious of what u think about a noise gate pedal, will it work better if we put it in the effect loop or infront of amp (before an overdrive pedal) Thnx
Not to be smart, but it depends on where your noise is coming from. You obviously want the gate AFTER the source of the noise. Most of the time that is immediately after your guitar but effects loops CAN introduce noise with certain pedals (and some amps are much more sensitive that others.) If you A/B things and it seems like modulation pedals in your loop are noisy, I'd first try different power supplies/power strips. One easy test is run everything in the loop on batteries. If the noise goes away, there's your problem. Only as a last resort would I put a gate AFTER modulation pedals in a loop. The various tails, repeats, ambiance of your pedals would probably be choked down by the gate and you don't want that. Good luck.
Thanks Rhett, this video was quite an eye (ear) opener, and now I've split the signal from my busy pedal board sending all modulation effects through the fx loop and leaving the overdrive pedals in front of the amp. Cheers mate!
WHY IS THE BLUES JUNIOR DOESN'T HAVE AN FX LOOP
My Super Six doesn’t have it either 😞
Excellent overview with enough details to appreciate the effects loop system that I have not used before. I use a Zoom G5n but have not tried it through my effects loop. Hopefully it'll add some flavors I haven't used before. Thanks!
Ok
Thankyou man,I’ve just set up a pedal board and have a jjn signiture blues valve amp 20w and have an array of pedals so I might look into send/out option for the whole board with the guitar going into the main power amp input.Before your video I had no idea if a whole pedal board could work only a small chain. Makes scence.Cheers for your vid👍🎸
I have a boss me 50 and a fender deluxe with a Les Paul studio . Am just learning all this stuff and your videos are very helpful
Peavey likes to label them "Pre Amp Out" & "Power Amp In".
I think fender amps do that too
Some amplifiers have those words, but are essentially the same thing. Don't be intimidated by the different types of terminology, much like effect pedals, effect loops have different names for the same function.
My Piranha says send and return. Maybe it's too small to label it any other way😅
If you wanna see where he actually starts plugging stuff in and showing how to actually do it.... 6:07 starts around there. To anyone impatient like me.
Great informative video! Thanks for takin the time to help others improve their sound!
Finally a simple and forward video on the FX loop.
I've been playing guitar for 7 years and never knew about effects loops lol. (Granted I usually just play clean. But still) Thank you
Me for 25 years
Great explanation, but you didn't mentioned one important use case: Plugging a looper into the fx loop of the amp to record different sounds.
I was wondering how to use my loop pedal on my boss katana and still use the effects on the amp.
@@doctoribanez Wondering the same thing
Same case here, but my amp doesn't have effects loop. Do you know any way to "replace" it and take different sounds? or i should buy an amp with fx loop?
Thank you!!! I’m relatively new to this stuff. I bought a 5150 iconic combo, it sounded awesome in the store and got home hooked my pedals up and it sounded bad with pedals on. Just watched your video and switch them,and Perfection thank you!!!! By the way the instructions for 5150 iconic blow, might as well not bothered wasting the paper to print them on.
Thank you, after over 20 years, finally makes sense.
Thanks from Riverdale, Ga.
GOD'S BLESSSINGS.
Digital VS Tube?
Digital AND Tube.
There, fixed it.
Lol🤣
Great video. I have a PRS Custom 50 with a “volume” knob for send and another for return. Right now, they are set at 12:00 (both of them). I’ve tried to play with them, but don’t know when I’m putting too much signal into the effect. Is there a general rule? If I turn both of them up, I can drive the power tubes a little more, but don’t know how far I should be pushing the pedals in the loop.
An effects loop is an absolute must for my tone. Putting an eq in the loop as well as a modern compression both to boost my split coil sounds is paramount. Boosting in the loop is amazing, no extra breakup just more power tube output/sag/saturation. I would have said compression in the loop is stupid a few years ago but more modern (less noisey) compressions in the loop are amazing. They can simulate tube sag but more importantly will restore your highs if you've lost some due to cable capacitance and tone sucking pedals. Like my MXR M234 chorus, I love it but bypassed it sucks highs. Compression adds them all back and boost the clean signal in a beautiful way. I just set the comp with the volume up pretty high and the gain/comp 1/4 up or less. Sometimes just having it on but the comp all the way down with the volume up and tone set to taste is enough to really make cleans sound amazing. I use high output humbuckers so compression out front isn't an option. With the comp up front it makes the signal hot the preanp harder so it just breaks up more. I use compression for a fuller clean tone. That's the best part of compression, just enough so that your tone really pops out in a mix.
Just when you think "I'm finally getting it" when it comes to playing guitar... tone rears its beastly head!!! 🤯Thx for this, Rhett, it was extremely helpful.
That baritone sound...my budget...
(...i hate you now...)
;)
I know right!! It was amazing
tbf, those danelectros go for very cheap and sound really good
Summary: effect loops aren’t very punk rock 😂😂😂😂
Great video for someone like myself, never used an effects loop before until now , with an upgrade in my music gear. You’ve made it very clear for me to follow when, how and why to use the loop and with which pedals. Thanks heaps for the huge help 👍
I use a master volume knob through the FX loop on my Fender Hot rod amp. Best decision I’ve ever made. Allows me to get the full power of the amp’s tubes while keeping the volume at bedroom levels :)) saves buying an expensive attenuator
Thanks Rhett, for sharing that gem of info, I knew about it but you just refreshed my knowledge on it again. I got to your channel by watching you with Rick and Dave. AWESOME! Thank you again!
i've been plugging cables in and out the send-return based on experiment without knowing what and how it works.. your video explains a lot, though it's just basic as you said it. thanks a lot, Rhett. it has been a pleasure watching your feeds, man