• Registered: 2010-08-29
  • Posts: 98

Topic: what is FX loop ???

Hi everyone ,

please , anyone could explain to me ( and i´m sure a lot of other one aswell ) what is FX loop ??

How does that work & and ( if i understand well ) why a pedal should work better with FX loop (behind the amp ??) rather in the

front of the amp.

Thanks a lot for any reply ,

Epiphone Les Paul 1989 with bridge & neck WCR DarkBurst set pickups , Burny Les Paul Custom från 80 ' late with bb2 & bb3 ,Fender Princeton Reverb 68 , Joe Bonamassa Face Fuzz Dunlop ,MXR Micro Flanger , Ts 808 tubescreamer reissue , Boss DD 3 made in Taiwan ,  MXR Dyna Comp , MXR Distortion +,MXR Joe Bonamassa Fet Driver
  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-02-14
  • Posts: 318

Re: what is FX loop ???

An effects loop (FX loop) runs parallel (or in serie some amps) with the circuit of the amp. Your guitar goes into the amp, goes to the pre-amp, then to the fx loop and then to the last section of the amp. this works nice for specific effects, I like the effects loop only for the delay, maybe an EQ now and then and my fuzz factory (don't ask me why, it sounds good). but overall I think you want your pedals to hit the pre amp, so it's best you put them in front of the amp, not in the fx loop.

Hope this helps you,
Rick

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: what is FX loop ???

This is how I see it....
guitar->any pedals>amp's input->preamp tubes -> Effects loop (pedals)->powertubes->speakers

So pedals, in this case, can go either "in front of the amp" or in the effects loop.

Tube screamer pedals, for example are meant to excite the preamp tubes and help overdrive... so it makes sense for that to happen before the signal gets to the preamp tubes.

Other effects, may sound different if the effects take place after the preamp section and not before. Whereas in pedals in front of the amp are colored by preamp tubes. the preamp tube stage will feed a signal into effects loop pedals like delay, reverb, chorus, or other pedals. Playing with these sorts of layouts, trying them before the amp vs. effects loop can help your tone preferences.

Good luck!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool