Vin Venal Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 Got a darkglass microtubes head with built in OD channel. If I want more drive, should I run it up front into the amp, or in the effects loop? If I put it in front, does it actually matter what I use, since in theory I'd just be driving the gain circuitry of the amp harder, right? Or does it not work that way with solid state stuff? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 I’d pop a boost pedal in front to hit the pre a bit harder. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 (edited) The effects loop inserts after the preamp and before the power section, unless you have a level on your distortion you will find you can overdrive the amp and get a big volume boost. (It’s not controlled by the amp drive and volume) Modulation usually goes into the Fx loop. Most fx loops are line level not instrument level and if the pedals not designed for it it can make it sound completely different. Edited April 5, 2022 by Bunion 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 9 hours ago, Vin Venal said: If I want more drive, You'll have to spell out what you mean by that as it could easily mean something other than what you think it does. Can I go ahead and assume you want a gnarlier sound without a whole lot of extra volume when you stomp on it? You should put it in front of the amp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Venal Posted April 6, 2022 Author Share Posted April 6, 2022 Thanks all. Experimentation shows that a big muff sounds much better before the pre-amp, either with or without the overdrive circuit on, and with the overdrive circuit on, the big muff feeds back horribly if it's in the effects loop, so that settles that. I still don't really know if I'm actually hearing the big muff, or just the VMT in the amp being driven harder, but either way it sounds good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 Best to keep the modulation pedals in the fx loop as they’re not boosts and when you want to add reverb chorus or delay to your sound you want that untouched by the colour you add through your EQ. Although there’s nothing wrong with doing that and many do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 I'd always say that if you're using a stomp (or anything with bass/mids/treble knobbage), then you need push that through the effects return (or just use a power amp) and allow that to shape your sound. This way, you're not layering the fundamental core (B/M/T) on top of what the pre-stage is already delivering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybeevee Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 On 05/04/2022 at 22:08, Bunion said: Most fx loops are line level not instrument level and if the pedals not designed for it it can make it sound completely different. Can you expand on this please? it sounds significant but I don't fully grasp it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyt Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Isn’t the answer to this , try both and go with what sounds best? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Venal Posted April 17, 2022 Author Share Posted April 17, 2022 11 hours ago, Jaybeevee said: Can you expand on this please? it sounds significant but I don't fully grasp it I think it just means more gain. I think that's why my big muff (oo-er) sounds good when it's the first pedal in my chain, but feeds back and makes unholy noises if it's after another OD, or when I tried it in my FX loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Venal Posted April 17, 2022 Author Share Posted April 17, 2022 11 hours ago, garyt said: Isn’t the answer to this , try both and go with what sounds best? Yeah, that's what I did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 (edited) There are different levels of voltage used in the chain. Mic level (the lowest) instrument level (guitars, basses pedals etc,) line level (keyboards, mixing desks and other rack equipment) and speaker level. A lot of pedals are designed (not all) to take instrument level. Pre amps (not the one in your bass) are required to boost the instrument level to line level voltage and as most FX loops are post preamp they push out line level voltage. If the pedal isn’t designed to take this voltage it can overdrive and distort. Edited April 17, 2022 by Bunion 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 4 minutes ago, Bunion said: There are different levels of voltage used in the chain. Mic level (the lowest...), instrument level (guitars, basses pedals etc...), line level (keyboards, mixing desks and other rack equipment...) and speaker level. A lot of pedals are designed (not all) to take instrument level. Pre amps (not the one in your bass) are required to boost the instrument level to line level voltage and as most FX loops are post preamp they push out line level voltage. If the pedal isn’t designed to take this voltage it can overdrive and distort. Just for clarity; my apologies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 12 hours ago, Jaybeevee said: Can you expand on this please? it sounds significant but I don't fully grasp it The signal coming out of the fx send is all set to make the power stage go big boomboom. It's a much higher voltage than most floor pedals are designed operate on as they expect only as much as a battery powered guitar pickup or another pedal is chucking their way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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