How to Build a Pedal Effects Loop
On the one hand, building a pedal effects loop seems like a simple procedure. Simply connect the pedals together with guitar cables, plug the pedals into the amplifier and plug the guitar into the pedals. On the other hand, the truth of the matter is a little more complicated. There are two factors to consider: The ordering of the pedals affects the overall sound, and you can run the effects loop in front or behind the amplifier. Some amplifiers provide an effects loop option in the back of the amplifier. This allows you use the effects before they are processed by the amplifier. Not all amplifiers provide this as an option. The more traditional approach is to plug the pedal board into the input jack in the front of the amp. There are numerous ideas about the best way to set up a pedals effect loop, but the short answer is that the best setup is the one that sounds best to you.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 guitar cables, each 6 feet
- Smaller guitar cables 3 to 5 inches long
- External power adapter designed for 5 or more guitar pedals
Instructions
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1
Understand the basic process. Electric guitars turn sounds into electrical signals that are sent to the amplifier, which turns the signals back into sound. This forms a electrical signal path or a chain. The signal passes from the guitar to the preamp, tone controls, master volume, reverb, power amp and to the speakers. Each link in the chain is doing something to the signal. When you set up an effects loop, you are selecting a place in the chain to insert the effect.
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2
Categorize the types of pedals. The order of the pedals will affect the overall sound. Think of your effects in terms of categories; distortion, compressors, pitch shifting effects such as chorus, flangers, octave dividers and delay. If distortion is an essential part of your guitar tone, place it in front of the chain. It will affect all the pedals that come after it. A chorus effect before distortion will sound different from a chorus after distortion. If you want to keep your clean sounds distinct, however, place distortion later in the chain. Delay usually goes at the very end.
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3
Set up the pedal board. Effects pedals have an input jack and an output jack. Use high-quality short cables, 3 to 5 inches, to connect the pedals. Plug one cable into the output jack of the first pedal and then plug the other end into the input jack if the next cable. Continue until you have connected all the pedals.
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Connect the pedal board to the amplifier. Plug a guitar cable into the output jack of the first pedal of the chain and plug it into the input jack of the amplifier. Plug a guitar cable into the input jack of the last pedal of the chain and plug into the guitar. Modern amplifiers give you the option of plugging into an effects loop. This helps to mellow the tone of the pedal, and some effects loops allow you to adjust the overall volume as well. The input and output jacks are in the back of the amplifier. The output jack is marked "send" and the input jack is marked "return." Plug a guitar cable into the send jack and plug the other end of the cable into the front of the pedal chain. Plug another cable into end of the pedal chain and the other end of the cable into the return jack. Plug the guitar into the front of the amplifier.
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Turn the amplifier on and check all of the pedals. Step on each pedal to make sure the power light comes on. If it doesn't come on, check the power source and make sure all the guitar cables are connected. Experiment with the pedals to see if you like the overall sound. Try arranging the pedals in different orders and find the sound that you like the best.
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