A really old school question I'm almost embarrassed to ask

[redbaron]

Like probably many of us, I have a little collection of effects pedals at home that I haven't been using since the advent of digital effects processors.

Recently, I went to my music store and asked for their recommendation for a cheap but sturdy and noise-free digital effects floor pedal. I said that I was NOT looking for a maximum solution since effects work great only in a studio situation - when you play live, effects will have your sound disappear behind the drums. All I wanted was the classic effects - Delay, Chorus, Flanger/ Phaser, Wah.

In response, instead of making me buy some Pod X3 or Behringer Whatever, the sales guy said: "Here, buy this effects case for 39€. Stick your collection of old pedals on it. Patch them together with these cables for 2€ and power them with these powerplug extensions for 4€. And you're all set!"

He had me convinced in a sec - I had forgotten that all those digital effects processors do is to emulate those classic pedals, meaning that the pedals are not some leftover technology but still the real deal!

And now I find myself in a situation I last faced in 1986 or so. What, pray tell, is the proper sequence to patch them together again?? First the Wah, then the Delay.... or first the Distortion, then the Chorus... embarrassing - I used to know all this like 20 years ago. But after 10 years with effects processors, this basic knowledge is GONE!

Here's the list: Wah, Distortion, Chorus, Octaver, Flanger, Digital Delay. What's the sequence? And should I run some directly to the tube amp input (MesaBoogie) and others by the effects send/return?

Man, I really should know this stuff after almost 25 years of playing the guitar... Help!

[Les]

http://amptone.com/index.html

[pooterpatty]

Baron, I've found it best to experiment to see what sounds best for your particular setup, but the normal rule of thumb is you have any delay or modulation effects running through the effects loop, and just your distortion/overdrive and wah in front of the amp.

There may be some rule about whether or not you should put a flanger in front of a delay or an octaver in front of a flanger, but being that no one has tested those effects in that order on your amp with your guitar, they can't really say for sure which way is going to work best for you. Experiment and go with what sounds best to your ears!

[cwight]

Well, it's a kinda 'horses for courses' question I suppose (presuming you know what I mean by that)...

I'm a bit like you and I've probably forgotten. I do remember though that I used to mess around with the order quite a bit. I'd read up on some stuff and then play around. generally though, I'd put distortion quite early on in the chain, and the echo at the end...But it's really down to ears, although I expect there are some rules...

Just to demonstrate how opinions vary..This one has Filters first

http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/fx-order.htm

this one has distortions first...go figure...

http://www.masht.com/guitars/order_of_effects.htm

Btw..just do a google search for 'order of effects pedals'...you'll get loads of (conflicting) advice...

[d3drocks]

He had me convinced in a sec - I had forgotten that all those digital effects processors do is to emulate those classic pedals, meaning that the pedals are not some leftover technology but still the real deal!

not true.
I've found digital stuff that doesnt model old stuff, and kits for making your own peddles via firmware sets.
being a VST developer myself, when working on amping and effects, I never model after the old stuff.
MOST do, but there are alot that dont model the old stuff.

[redbaron]

You're right of course. There's a lot of new stuff out there. But the fact that at least a great many digital effects pride themselves in faithfully reproducing sound and usability of those old pedals pays a compliment to them.

Btw in German you affectionately call those old pedals "Tretmine", which means "anti-personnel mine". Sounds better in German obviously, and the metaphor is great too: step on it and it goes off.

Moreover, us Germans colloquially call a drum set "Schießbude", meaning "shooting gallery". I suppose the idea is that during a concert, a drummer makes his set go "bang-bang-bang" all the time

[Muddhole]

Distortion comes before the amp, that's where the term Pre-Amp came from. A delay or any other effect would come after all this just like an echo would happen if you talked in a cave and heard your voice after. If you try and put that before the distrotion this you get your original sound distorting more and more and it sounds all mushing and nothing like the original sound anymore. That's where effects loop comes in. It allows you to place those type of effects after the pre-amp and be able to control the levels of those effects and allowing you to blend the sound how you see fit.

So...

Guitar====Distortion(Pedal or Pre-amp)====Effects(Pedals Opt #1)====Amp====(Effects Loop Opt #2)====Cab

It doesn't mean you can't experiment a little though. After all it all really depends on you so there isn't any set rule to that. Just a kind of a rule of thumb to go off of.

[tapping5150]

What I found to work for me is running my wah and overdrive-distortion boxes in front of the amp. Then running my modulation and delay effects through your effects loop. But then again, it's all about experimentation. Certain set ups might sound good to others, but not for you. You never know man!

[d3drocks]

I find it funny, cause I've only ever owned 1 stomp, which sucked. it was a really bleep overdrive. I ended up loosing it too :p
I'm glued to line6 stuff, because of the production quality for the price.
I hope IK Multimedia cringes at the Sight of line6, because line6 out does them, and beats their price.