Conference napalm::guitar

    Steve,

    The advantage is that the signal level at the effects out jack is
    greater than your guitar signal, so the effects signal has a better
    signal/noise ratio. Also, the effects level control is actually a mix
    control, allowing you to add just enough effect to your dry signal to
    suit your taste. This control may not be offered on all units with
    effects loops because it's often a tad redundant: most effects have a
    control to do this already. This feature isn't really offered with stomp
    boxes in mind. More useful for rack stuff.

    Anyway, yes, effect out (send) to stomp box in, stomp box out to
    effect in (return).

    --Ron

    RE: -1
    
    Thanks Ron....another question, tho:
    
    Could I run a cord from my "effects out" to another amps "input" jack,
    and get the power of my small combo "coupled" with (boosted by)
    another amps power/tone?
    
    Steve

    Re: .2
    
    Yeah, but you'd be best off going from the "effects out" of your amp
    into the "effects in" of the other since the out level will be much
    hotter than a guitar signal.  With this setup, the volume and tone
    settings of the second amp are inactive, and you're just using the
    power amp and speakers.
    
    							Brian

    And another question:
    
    
    If I hook up my stomp boxes "conventionally" (guitar--> stomp boxes-->amp),
    will the signal coming from my first amp's "effects out" jack have "FX" on
    it?  I was thinking of using two amps by running a cord from my "effects 
    out" jack to my other amp's input, and I want my FX'd signal coming from
    both amps.
    
    
    Guitar --> stomps --> amp 1 input --> amp 1 "effects out" --> amp 2 input.
    
    
    Is this hair brained? 
    
    Steve
    

    RE: -3
    
    Brian,
    
    makes sense as the "effects out"put is pre amp boosted..hmmm, my 2nd amp
    doesn't have an effects loop.  Guess I'll have to use the tone/volume
    settings on amp 2 carefully.
    
    Thanks!
    
    8^)

    This brings to mind a question I have on my amp: it has a send/return
    loop built into it, but I don't understand why you get no output out of
    your amp if you try putting an effect directly between your guitar and
    amp's main input.  Aren't the signal levels roughly the same?  Is the
    signal being cancelled out somehow?  Maybe the previous reply already
    answered this but I'm still confused...
    
    Thanks,
    Alan

    Re: .4
    
    That setup will work fine. 
    
    Re: .6
    
    No, you don't *have* to use the effects loop.  Older amps (say pre 1975)
    rarely had them.  If the amp has one, for certain effects it may be
    preferable.  That's it in a nutshell...try the effect patched both
    ways, pick the way that works/sounds best for you.
    
    						Brian

    To you Boogie owners,
    
    I found the best way to "tame" the "Boogie volume adjustment problem"
    (which is that the master tends to not have much effect between
     2 and 10 and between 1 and 1.7, which means that trying to set it
     means nudging the knob several micro-degrees which is often
     impossible) is to use a volume pedal in the effects loop.
    
    In fact, the manual (correctly) asserts that you only need to one
    one cord (can't remember if it's the send or the return) to do this.
    I've tried it and it does work.
    
    Anyway, this sorta is as close as you can get to having a very smooth
    volume control that doesn't drastically change the tone.
    
    	db

    Steve
    
    If your amp has an efects loop use it. If for no other reason just to
    cut down on noise. If an amp has an effects loop then it has pre-amp
    the loop is between pre + amp. When you use effects they will add noise
    by going guitar to effects to amp (not useing loop) your pre amp is
    amplifying your sound + noise. By using the effects loop you eliminate
    the pre amp from amplifying noise. The end result will sound better. I
    find little difference at low volumes, and greater difference at higher
    volumes. I'm sure this varies on brand of amps, types of effects,
    number of effects, quality of effects and so on.....
    If your useing pedals try experimenting with order of effects. I have
    found that placement in line can increase and decrease unwanted noise.
    Hope this helps.
        Bob
     

    thanks for all the help!
    
    
    Steve

    Given all of this, should I put my rack tuner in the effects loop?
    
    Rick

    > Given all of this, should I put my rack tuner in the effects loop?
    
    If you do, make sure it's before the harmonizer.   ;-)
    

    > If you do, make sure it's before the harmonizer.   ;-)
    
    Right - I'll make sure it's first.  Would this be better than
    guitar - tuner - amp ?
    
    Rick

    I find that effects are much less pronounced when put in the effects
    loop, rather than in-line between guitar and amp input. 
    
    Pete

    
    Doesn't matter where you put the tuner - it's supposed to have no
    effect on the signal.
    
    I (probably mistakenly) thought that the effects-loops signals were
    approximately line level ( ~1 volt).  The effects loop is a good place
    to put rack mount boxes - use the stomps in the guitar-out to amp-in
    chain.
    
    If you put a rackmount box in the effects loop, though, make sure that
    the rackmount's inputs are set to line-level operation.   Some of those
    (the DSP-128 variations and the BOSS SE-50 I know from 1st hand
    experience) have level select switches that allow these boxes to accept
    either line level or instrument level inputs.  If the box is set for
    instrument level inputs and you feed it with a line level signal,
    you're going to have a hard time getting rid of that distortion patch! 
    *8')
    

    
    The only type of effects I use in my bass rig is a DBX160 Compressor.
    Currently, I run from my bass into the compressor then into my GK800.
    Would it be better to run the compressor thru the effects loop
    on my amp ??? 
    
    Also, to anyone who has used one of these DBX compressors...
    
    There is an input on the front of the unit. There is also an input and
    output on the back of the unit. Is there any difference in these two
    input jacks ??? 
    
    /Billy_K

    FWIW Digitech used to make a "multi effects" beast called a Chain
    Reaction 944 which had 4 or 5 effects with breakout patches around
    each. The only jacks on the front panel were main in & out; all the "in
    betweens" were on the back. There were front & back versions of the
    main IN & OUT, & they were connected to each other directly by a wire.
    This puts the two jacks in parallel which can be useful. 
    	If you don't have schematics or enough nerve to go poking around
    inside your unit, try a simple continuity test. Test it in each
    direction with the power OFF. if it looks like 0.0 ohms each way,
    chances are, it's a wire. I would not be surprised if they were
    different though.
    Paul