How to Run a Delay Through the Pedal Board FX Loop

Where's the guitar?

Guitarists are always experimenting with amplifiers, guitars and effects pedals in an effort to get the right tone. One thing to keep in mind is that you need to rely on your own ear and musical sensibility to determine the sound that is right for you. If you are using several different guitar effects pedals, the order in which they are arranged will affect the overall sound. More contemporary high-end amplifiers offer another option as well, which is an FX effects loop. This allows you to place the effects pedal in between the preamp and the power amp. This is beneficial for effects like delay, chorus and tremelo because it allows them to affect the the distorted signal as opposed to the preamp distorting them. This allows the delay to echo a distorted sound rather than being distorted itself.

Things You'll Need

• Instrument cables
• Power adapter and power strip

Instructions

1. Arrange your pedal board. If you are using more than one pedal, the order in which they are arranged will affect the overall sound. This is a matter of personal taste. The crucial issue is the question of distortion. If you are using the amp's distortion, then this won't affect a delay pedal that is plugged into the FX effects loop. If you are using a distortion pedal on the pedal board, then it should be placed after the delay pedal and this will have the same effect. Another option is not to include the distortion pedal in the pedal board but to run it into the input jack in the front of the amplifier.

2. Connect the pedal board to the FX effects loop. The effects loop is in the back of the amplifier. It has an output jack designated as "Send" and an input jack that is designated as "Return." This forms the loop. Plug an instrument cable into the "Send" jack and plug the other end of the cable into input of the first pedal on the pedal board. Use another instrument cable and plug into the "Return" jack and plug the other end into the output of the last pedal in the pedal board.

3. Attach a power strip to the pedal board. Guitar pedals use 9-volt batteries, but they also have an input that allows you to connect them to an external power source. This is the better option. You don't have to worry about batteries. A weak battery is a weak link in the chain. Delay pedals go through batteries very quickly. You can buy a power strip and power adapters at any guitar store. There are different types, but they average around $25.

4. Step on each guitar pedal to see if they are powered. Each pedal has an indicator light that comes on when the pedal is in the "On" position. Sometime a bad or loose connection will prevent the pedal from coming on and this will affect everything else in the chain. Your guitar will not produce any sound. This is always a minor problem. Just make sure that all the instrument cables and the power adapter is connected.

5. Turn the amplifier on and adjust the sound. The FX loop allows you to control the volume level and amount of the effect that you want in the chain. There is a volume control in the back of the amp for the FX loop. You can fine-tune the amount of delay by manipulating the controls on the pedal itself and the FX loop control as well.

References

• Guitarsite: What is an effects loop?
• Stinkfoot: In the loop