What is an effect loop?

Most amps today have more sockets than the one labeled "input". Chances are, your amp also has two- labeled "send" and "return" - the
effect loop. The signal that "travels" through your amplifier normally takes the following way:

• Input - Preamp (generally responsible for sound and - if you want - overdrive)
• Power amp (generally responsible for volume, although with tube power amps the sound is also shaped).

Some effects work and sound better if they come after any distortion or gain that is applied to your guitar signal. Why? For example, it would not sound too good if you put the reverb before the overdrive. You want a reverb on youroverdriven signal, not an overdriven reverb.

Basic rules:

1. If the effect modulates the signal (see following Topics), put it behind any preamps or overdrive/distortion boxes.
   
2. It the effect boosts the signal, put it before overdrive.
   
3. There are no absolute rules! Break them, experiment!

Normally, you put all your stomp boxes between your guitar and the input of the amp. But if you want to use your amp's overdrive channel,
you get the problems described above. This is where the effect loop comes in.

The guitar signal comes from your amp's preamp and through "send" goes into those effects that should be put behind any overdrive. The
signal comes back into your amp through the "return" socket. Therefore, you should have all the stomp boxes that should come before overdrive between your guitar and the amp's input and all the boxes that should come after overdrive after your amp's preamp in the effect loop.

Some amps have a series, and others have a parallel effect loop. With a series effect loop, the guitar signal (your sound) comes from
the preamp of your amp, "leaves" your amp through the send jack, runs through the inserted effect and comes back through the return
jack. 100% of your signal goes through the effect. The solution was the parallel loop: with the control, you control how
much of your original signal leaves the amp and passes through the effect.

The "remaining" signal stays in your amp, preserving much of your sound, and is "joined" again by the signal coming back from the effect,
now with effects on it. So you can mix the dry (without effect) and the wet (with effects) signals, but keep in mind that you won't hear much of the effects if you only put a tiny part of your signal through the effect box.

The effects in the loop should be set so that they let out no original signal but 100% effect signal. You decide with the parallel effect knob how much effect you want.

Have fun and I hope you've found this guide useful. If you've learned something or you have further clarifications, feel free to drop us an email. We'll love to hear from you!

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