Ever noticed that your delay or reverb sounds a little off when you turn up the distortion on your amp? It’s not just your ears playing tricks. Your pedals might be in the wrong spot.
That’s where an effects loop comes in.
So, what is an effects loop on an amp, and how does an effects loop work? The FX loop is a powerful tool in a guitarist’s arsenal that lets you put your pedals after the preamp and before the power amp of your amplifier. This gives your effects the chance to shine without getting muddied by distortion.
If, like me, you’ve ever struggled with the clarity of your tone, using the effects loop on your amp could be the solution.
In this article, we’ll explain how an effects loop works, look at its benefits and show you how to start using it in your setup.
Key Takeaways
- An effects loop lets you place pedals between your amp’s preamp and power amp.
- Effects loops tend to work best for time-based effects to improve clarity and definition.
- Series loops process the entire signal; parallel loops blend wet and dry signals.
- Pedals like overdrive and distortion typically work best in front of the amp.
Table of Contents
What is an Effects Loop on an Amp?
An effects loop is a feature you can find in many guitar amplifiers that lets you add your effects pedals between the amp’s preamp and power amp sections. This is especially useful and popular for time-based and modulation effects such as delay, reverb, and chorus.
Unlike when you plug your pedals directly into the front of an amp, the effects loop sits within the amp’s signal chain. This means your pedals in the effects loop don’t affect your signal until after the preamp (which shapes your tone and adds gain) has done its job, but before the power amp (which makes the sound loud enough for your speaker) amplifies it.
This small change can make a big difference in the clarity of your signal, especially if you use your amp’s built-in overdrive.
How Does an Effects Loop Work?
After your guitar signal passes through the preamp, it exits the amp through the “send” output (usually found on the back of the amplifier).
This signal is then patched into your effects pedals, such as delay or reverb, where they process the signal and add their sound (effect) to your tone.
After the pedals, the signal goes back into the amp using the “return” input (on the back of the amp).
The signal then continues to the power amp, which amplifies it for your amplifier’s speaker.
This design is excellent because it makes sure your effects hit a clearer, fully-formed signal. This usually helps in preventing muddy sounds.
Different Types of Effects Loops
There are two common types of effects loops you might find on a guitar amplifier:
- Series Effects Loop
In series effects loops, the signal is routed entirely through the effects pedals, making them a big part of your tone. Series effects loops are by far the most popular on the market. - Parallel Effects Loop
In a parallel effects loop, your effects pedals process only part of the signal, which the amp then blends with the original, unaffected signal [1]. - No Effects Loop
It’s possible your amp might have no effects loop at all.
Effects Loop vs Front of Amp: Which is Better?
All guitarists come to a point where they need to choose between using an effects loop or plugging their pedals into the front of an amp. The decision here often depends on the type of effects pedals you’re using and the end tone you want to hear.
Let’s take a look at how they compare.
Pedals in Front of the Amp
When you put your pedals in the front of your amp, the guitar signal passes through them before it reaches the amp (specifically the amp’s preamp). This approach is the simplest approach and is the one I see being used time and time again.
It will always work great for overdrive and distortion pedals, as they directly affect the raw guitar signal.
Modulation effects, like phasers, flangers, and uni-vibes, will almost always work well here. Although this is a bit of a debate among guitarists. Personally, I really like this position for modulation pedals, as I find they create an awesome organic interaction with everything else in the chain.
However, you do have to be a bit more careful when placing time-based effects like delay and reverb in front of the amp, as it can lead to a very muddy tone. This is usually only really a worry if you are using the amp’s built-in distortion or high gain on-amp settings.
Pedals in the Effects Loop
Putting your pedals in the effects loop will make sure they process the signal after the amp’s preamp has shaped it but before it reaches the power amp.
This setup is perfect for time-based effects such as delay and reverb, as they sound super clean and much more defined when they’re applied to a post-preamp signal. You might even prefer your modulation effects like chorus in the effects loop, too. This allows them to blend more naturally with the polished tone.
While this setup might offer a more pristine sound, it requires amps with an effects loop feature and a slightly more time-consuming setup process.
Which Setup is Better for You?
Choosing between using an effects loop or putting your pedals in front of the amp is entirely up to you and the sound you want. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
There are, however, a few common practices.
If you rely on your amp’s overdrive or use a lot of time-based effects, the effects loop will likely provide a clearer tone.
If you prefer the direct interaction of pedals with your guitar’s signal or use simple setups, running them in front of the amp may suit you better.
The best way to decide is to experiment. Try placing your pedals in different parts of the signal chain and listen to how each setup changes your tone.
Personally, I have used both ways. These days, however, I love simple setups and rely entirely on pedals for my overdrives and distortions, so I always plug all my pedals straight into the front of the amp.
Tips for Using an Effects Loop (FX loop)
If you decide to use the effects loop on your amplifier, here are some tips to help you make the most of it:
- Put your time-based effects like delay and reverb in the FX loop.
- Experiment with pedal order to find what works best for your tone.
- Keep effect levels low at first, as the effects loop signal can be stronger (or even weaker) than the input signal.
- Use good quality cables to avoid adding noise to your tone.
- Add a buffer pedal if you notice tone loss over long cable runs.
Setting Up Your Effects Loop: Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up your effects loop correctly is important to get the best sound quality out of your pedals and amp. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
- Find the effects loop jacks
Look for the “send” and “return” jacks on your amp. These are usually labeled on the back panel. - Connect the send jack
Use a patch cable to connect the “send” jack to the input of your first effects pedal. This routes the signal from the preamp into your effects chain. - Arrange your pedals
Connect your pedals in whatever order you want. If you’re unsure, you might want to start with modulation effects like chorus and flanger, followed by time-based effects like delay and reverb. - Connect the return jack
Use another patch cable to connect the output of the last pedal back to the “return” jack on your amp. This completes the signal loop through your effects. - Adjust levels
Power on your amp and pedals, then adjust and set the levels on your effects pedals to suit your sound.
Make Your Effects Loop Work for You
An effects loop isn’t just another amp feature. It’s a tool you can use to make improvements to your tone.
Whether you want cleaner delay repeats, a super lush reverb, or extra precise modulation, the effects loop can help you get the most out of your pedals in ways you might not expect.
If you’ve never used your amp’s effects loop, now is the time to experiment. Try out different pedals, tweak your settings, and listen closely to how your tone changes.
Understanding how an effects loop works, even if you choose not to use it, is another step towards having full control over your tone.
FAQs
What is the purpose of an effects loop on an amp?
The purpose of an effects loop is to let you place effects pedals, such as delay and reverb, after the preamp but before the power amp of your amplifier.
Why Use an Effects Loop?
You use an effects loop to improve the clarity and quality of time-based and modulation effects, like delay and reverb. By placing these effects in the effects loop (after the preamp), they avoid being distorted, resulting in a cleaner, more polished tone. This is especially true when using amp-driven gain.
How do you hook up an effects loop?
To hook up an effects loop, connect a patch cable from the amp’s “send” jack to the input of your first effects pedal. Then, connect another patch cable from the output of your last pedal to the amp’s “return” jack. This routes the signal through your pedals between the preamp and power amp. Follow our step-by-step guide.
Which pedals go best in the fx loop?
Typically, the best pedals for the FX loop are time-based effects like delay and reverb and sometimes modulation effects like chorus, flanger, and phaser.
Can you put a compressor in the effects loop?
You can put a compressor in the effects loop, but it’s not usually ideal. Compressors are designed to shape the dynamics of your raw guitar signal and are most effective when placed at the start of your signal chain. When you put them in the effects loop, they can amplify noise and interfere with the natural dynamics of the preamp signal, often resulting in “not great” effects.
Should chorus go in effects loop?
Chorus pedals can go in the effects loop for a cleaner, more polished sound, especially if you use amp-driven distortion. However, I personally prefer placing chorus in front of the amp for a more natural, raw tone. You should experiment to see what works best for you.
