Effects pedals

[WickedWishes]

Yes,...another question for the members of this forum.

Effects pedals,...can they be connected in series,..??

And in what order,...??

I am looking to purchase a few "Boss" effects pedals, and I would like some suggestions of which ones to purchase, and the order of connection.

I play an Epiphone LP Standard through a Marshall MG100DFX.

Thanks in advance for ya'lls input.

WickedWishes

[Steelpriest]

Certainly they can be connected in series, you just have to follow some rules to get the desired results and avoid a mushy sound or in the worse case a blatant cacophony... First should always be the distortion or overdrive pedal followed by modulation effects like chorus/flanging/phaser, the last in line should always be the delay pedal before the signal goes to the amplifier. If you wanna add a wah-pedal connect it after the distortion pedal. Those pedal effects are designed for being connected in series. Only make sure they are "real single effect" pedal effects. I recommend not to mix up multieffect pedals (like Digitech RP series for example) with analog distortion pedals.

[Uriah]

Effects pedals... Are they worth it? All the ones i've seen in my music store cost upwards of $60-$90cdn bucks! I'd really like to get an octave pedal but they don't seem to supply them... What makes them cost so much? To me they don't look like they would need to cost that much.

[sandman]

You get more flexibility out of n effects pedal than you do some of the all in one boxes lke zoom or digitech. They also tend to be built a little tougher...will take more abuse.
I have multiple boxes and also have a digitech rp100.
My normal line is
whichever axe
Boss bd-2
boss reverb/delay
tuner
noise gate
whichever amp

still need lessons though

[WickedWishes]

Thanks ya'll for being so kind as to answer my beginner question.

Now,...hehehe,...question #2

My amp is a Marshall MG100DFX.

Should I make the pedal connection in series from my guitar, etc, to the main input jack on the amp,..??

Or

Should I use the designated FX input on the amp, and connect the pedals in series to the FX input,...??

*sigh*

So much to learn,...but having a friggin blast doing so,....*VBS*

Thanks again,...

^5

WickedWishes

[Steelpriest]

If you use pedal effects connect them in series from the guitar output to the main input of your amp. The FX loop is only intended for 19" rack devices that can handle/provide higher input and output levels. Don´t try to connect the FX loop send/output to a floor pedal effects input, you might seriously damage the effect pedal. Hope that helps.

[WickedWishes]

First,..thanks for the input, It helps me understand the connections.

But,...(rut roh here we go,...LOL)

My Marshall MG100DFX , (on its FX loop), has a switch to change its FX level, as in,...

+4dB,....for rack units
-10dB,...for pedals

So,....does this mean I can use the switch to determine what is connected, either a "rack" unit or series connection of assorted pedals, or do I just make the series conncetion from my guitar output, pedals, to the amplifier input,....

uhhhhhhh,.....pardon my newbie ignorance,...but what in the hell is a "rack",..??

Ahhhhhh,....so much to learn, and having a blast doing so,......*VBS*

Thanks in advance, you guys are great,...!! ^5


WickedWishes

[Ol Geezer]

WickedWishes said:

First,..thanks for the input, It helps me understand the connections.

But,...(rut roh here we go,...LOL)

My Marshall MG100DFX , (on its FX loop), has a switch to change its FX level, as in,...

+4dB,....for rack units
-10dB,...for pedals

So,....does this mean I can use the switch to determine what is connected, either a "rack" unit or series connection of assorted pedals, or do I just make the series conncetion from my guitar output, pedals, to the amplifier input,....

uhhhhhhh,.....pardon my newbie ignorance,...but what in the hell is a "rack",..??

Ahhhhhh,....so much to learn, and having a blast doing so,......*VBS*

Thanks in advance, you guys are great,...!! ^5


WickedWishes

I'm going to jump in with a few ideas here, but I'm not familiar with your amp so I can't address everything.

What is probably being referred to as "rack" equipment is the 19" wide pieces of electronic gear found commonly in studios mounted one above the other in vertical racks. Much of this "pro" gear is designed for higher nominal input and output levels (+4dB) than is "consumer" equipment (-10dB), though a lot of the "pro" stuff is switchable to allow for use either way.

From what I can gather in reading your posts, it sounds like your amp has an "insert" where you can connect outboard gear in such a way that the signal is intercepted within your amp (or preamp), is routed through the outboard device (via a SEND) and then comes back to the amp (via a RETURN). Mixing board channels often have insert points, for using with compressor/limiters for example. They allow the outboard gear to work with line-level information (which they are designed for, and expect to "see") rather than lesser level guitar output (which typical pedals are made for).

Both Line 6 (POD) and Behringer (V-Amp) make their modeling amp "boxes" for consumer use, as well as larger "pro" versions that can rack-mount plus feature more/different inputs/outputs.

So, in essence, you could probably get the same effects going either way, but you'd have to use different types of equipment. I see now that the more I go on, the more I must be getting confusing... so I'll stop here.

Basically, though, as Steelpriest pointed out above: if you have typical "stomp boxes" they should be connected one into another from the output of your guitar, going into the amp where you'd plug a guitar anyway if you had no such boxes to begin with.

[Steelpriest]

Thanx Geezer! I only would like to add the following: If your guitar amp has the option on it´s FX Loop to switch from +4 to -10 db for pedals and you have pedals for chorus or delay switch to -10 and connect them in this FX Loop, you will have surely less noise and a better sound performance. There is only one exemption: NEVER connect a distortion/overdrive pedal in an FX Loop. Distortion or overdrive pedals should always be connected between guitar and amp input. Hope you now have "enough" information, hehe... oh boy, this is really complicated, but be assured we help you, no matter how "newbeeish" the question might be. We all started somewhen back int he past and did know nothing. If you tried all those sugegstions made here, I will ask you the next question concerning your built in FX Loop on your Marshall amp. Is it a parallel loop or a serial loop? A parallel loop is better for chorus and delay effects, because it means you have a "mix" control on the front panel of your amp, what means you can adjust how many of the original preamp signal you want to route to the poweramp (master volume control) and how much effects sound from the loop you want to add. If the amp has no such a FX Mix or Loop Mix control the amp only has got a serial loop and you have to adjust the effects balance on the effect pedal exclusively.

[ogi]

Well, isn't FX loop on amps used when you want to place some effects after the amp's distortion? If you connect them all from your guitar to amp, they will all be in line before the amp's dist, but as you mentioned before, some effects sound better used after the distortion (modulation, delay). If you place them in FX loop, the signal will go guitar -> amp's dist -> FX loop...

I do not have much experience with amps with FX loop, but this is the information I gathered from various forums and it sounds reasonable to me

[ZacAttack]

Steelpriest said:

Certainly they can be connected in series, you just have to follow some rules to get the desired results and avoid a mushy sound or in the worse case a blatant cacophony... First should always be the distortion or overdrive pedal followed by modulation effects like chorus/flanging/phaser, the last in line should always be the delay pedal before the signal goes to the amplifier. If you wanna add a wah-pedal connect it after the distortion pedal. Those pedal effects are designed for being connected in series. Only make sure they are "real single effect" pedal effects. I recommend not to mix up multieffect pedals (like Digitech RP series for example) with analog distortion pedals.

Yup thats how you do it. Back in the day I used alot of different stomp boxes but the 2 most usefull ones were always the distortion and the 7 band EQ with a line level(that makes 8 faders). Distortion pedal first EQ last, for me as a rule, but feel free to experiment, some people like to go DIST, EQ, then other stuff, but you will just need to monkey with them to find the best algarhythem (or series) to run them in. I would recomend trying out different distortion pedals to find the one you like and then hooking up the EQ pedal (like the BOSS E-7 or what ever) after it and see what I mean. Definately Distortion and EQ pedals for your first 2 IMO. Or for about the same price range the digitech RP artist line. It offers everything the RP line did with a bunch of actual artist presets as well. Someone mentioned flexability. I haven't had a problem with that but thats just me. Go get you a DIST. and an EQ and price them and then go check out the RP Artist series and get what suits you best.

[WickedWishes]

Ok,...

After reading up again about my Marshall amp, the FX loop in the amp is in parallel.

I sincerely thank everyone for replying to my questions, ya'lls input saves I disagreeets.

I again have a better understanding, and I'll apply the advice everyone has so graciously shared.

Thanks Ya'll

^5

WickedWishes

[WickedWishes]

I disagreets,...??

duh huh,...??

I didn't type that

I tried to say,....save my (_!_),....*wink*

^5

WickedWishes

[cage77]

Ahhh...Steel man....so true until you said that you should never place a distortion box in an efx loop. Really it doesn't matter at all. Two differences tho....

In a parallel loop, a distortion box will create a very interesting effect. With the box turned on, you will hear not only the clean tone of the guitar (if you're on the clean channel) but also a "second", distorted sound. Really cool in some applications (stereo cabs).

In a series loop, the signal from the preamp will go right out the loop, pass through the box, and right back in to the power section of the amp creating pretty much the soame sound as if the box was between the guitar and the pre.

Cool things you can do when you play around....

Brandon

[Steelpriest]

Hi Cage! it depends on what someone considers as sounding interesting, hehehe! Okay, I mean it is possible to connect a distortion or overdrive in a loop, you won´t damage anything, but I really doubt it´ll sound very good. Just my opinion!