EFFECTS ORDER

[Gris]

Is there an accepted/tried & true order to putting your effects in line or is it all hit & miss. If there is, what would be one or more good orders to try for my stuff. Up to now it hasnt really mattered if i plug and unplug (a couple o these are tonesuckers - can ya guess which ones...?), but i'm starting to play more in a band setting so i need to figure this out...

1 - tuner
2 - EB vol (w/ tuner out)
3 - analog delay (used a lot for reverb rockabilly type sound)
4 - distortion (used a lot for mild overdrive)
5 - chorus (stereo - used mostly to split to two amps)

6 - octaver (rarely used)
7 - autowah (rarely used)

Oh yeah, i often but not always like to play two amps in stereo...

Thanks gurus!

[photoweborama]

The accepted theory is...

Distortion devices, modulation devices, time devices. Though this is not set in stone...

I think it should go.. 74652, and I'm not sure where 1 goes..

[Offshore Angler]

Yep. I'm with Phtot. I actually prefer some devices after the amp, like compression. It's very hard to set compression pre-mike since the mikes add compression after the speaker. Pre it sounds a tad squishy, post it acts more like a limiter and sustainer.

Tuners should be on separate loop since most brands have buffers.

[Gris]

One of my amps has a effects loop. How, if at all, does that change the equation?

[photoweborama]

I'm not sure, but my effects loop makes the effects not as pronounced, and it also cuts down quite a bit on noise.

My problem is when I've and an amp with a loop, the on-board reverb was always in the amps preamp. Since reverb is a time effect, I could not put it last in the chain. If I added a reverb pedal, it was ok, but I figure if you have reverb on your amp, use it.. so I've always put the chain in front of the amp.

[mmcquain]

1 - tuner
2 - EB vol (w/ tuner out)
3 - analog delay (used a lot for reverb rockabilly type sound)
4 - distortion (used a lot for mild overdrive)
5 - chorus (stereo - used mostly to split to two amps)
6 - octaver (rarely used)
7 - autowah (rarely used)

Photoweb is right about the accepted order of things. Here's some other ideas to keep in mind (but you should experiment since your needs may vary):

* I put my tuner first (unless it's on a separate loop) so that it is only hearing the true guitar tune (without any added harmonics, etc. from some pedal). A Boss TU-2 also can cut off the signal going to the rest of the chain so you can tune without disturbing the audience.

* Unless you want it in the amp's effects loop, a compressor should come early (near guitar) since this will provide a smooth/consistent signal for the effects to come

* Things like Octave pedals, EQs, etc. should come next so that they are working with the cleanest signal (i.e., no hiss from overdrive/distortion, etc.)

* When using multiple distortion/overdrive pedals go from lower gain to higher gain (e.g., guitar > eq/boost > tube overdrive > full distortion)

* Many prefer distortion before a Wah but almost as many prefer it after the Wah

* Modulation (chorus, phase, flange, vibrato, tremolo, etc.) are next

* Noise gates should come next (i.e., BEFORE time/delay effects so they don't chop off the end of your reverb decay, etc.)

* Time (delay, echo, reverb) are towards the end of the chain (away from guitar/closer to amp)

* Volume pedal should be last so that it will take down ALL sound (including the time decay, etc.) and/or can be used as a final "noise gate" of sorts.

I have about "one of everything" on my board (see below / note I've flipped the EQ and Dist. since pic was taken) and the above guidelines have served me well for years. Also, here's a web site that may give you some ideas about effects order, effects loops, pre/post amp, etc.
http://www.amptone.com/index.html#effectssecn

[Offshore Angler]

mmquain, I agree except for the compressor and reverb. They should usually be on the house sound after the amp, post mike. I do pre-compress in my stage rig but only to add pop, not compression.

[mmcquain]

mmquain, I agree except for the compressor and reverb. They should usually be on the house sound after the amp, post mike. I do pre-compress in my stage rig but only to add pop, not compression.

Good points. It's just that in my particular setup I'm doing the reverb with a pedal as I'm running direct out into our church system (they want no amps on stage!) so as I said before, they should experiment since your needs may vary.

[Rickenjangle]

* Things like Octave pedals, EQs, etc. should come next so that they are working with the cleanest signal (i.e., no hiss from overdrive/distortion, etc.)

Plus, the Octaver tracks much better on a clean signal, so I'd place it close to the front.

Most people place the wah to the front, unless you've got something like a fuzz face, which I believe likes to see the signal directly from the pickups.

[djinn1973]

So:
guitar --> tuner pedal --> wha --> octavio --> tweak fuzz --> bad monkey --> soul vibe --> digidelay --> sonic stomp --> amp?

[Cogs]

Here's how I would set it up:

1 - tuner
2 - EB vol (w/ tuner out)
6 - octaver (rarely used)
7 - autowah (rarely used)
4 - distortion (used a lot for mild overdrive)
5 - chorus (stereo - used mostly to split to two amps)
3 - analog delay (used a lot for reverb rockabilly type sound)

[djinn1973]

Thanks!

[stratcat55]

Used to use a lot of effects. Time based effects can go in the effects loop. My Mutron Octave Divider was first because as everyone else agrees, they do work better with a clean signal, then my distortion, chorus, phase shifter etc. Wah for me was a little different. Mine sounded better driven by the distortion as did my Mutron III, but that's all taste. If it's rarely used, I usually took it out of the signal chain until the set I needed it for. Some nights I never plugged some of the effects in at all.

Now my setup is a bit different. Guitar, cord, cranked lower wattage tube amp sometimes mic'd. I would experiment, it's a lot of fun.

[djinn1973]

After a bit of tweaking, I settled on:
Tuner pedal-->Soul Vibe-->Bad Monkey-->Tweak Fuzz-->Digidelay-->Sonic Stomp.
This is giving me the best "tone" so far, my Octavio is being modded (to run off of a wall wart) so I am sure the order will change once I start trying to squeeze that in some where...
Thanks again guys.

[stoty50134]

Is there an accepted/tried & true order to putting your effects in line or is it all hit & miss. If there is, what would be one or more good orders to try for my stuff. Up to now it hasnt really mattered if i plug and unplug (a couple o these are tonesuckers - can ya guess which ones...?), but i'm starting to play more in a band setting so i need to figure this out...

1 - tuner
2 - EB vol (w/ tuner out)
3 - analog delay (used a lot for reverb rockabilly type sound)
4 - distortion (used a lot for mild overdrive)
5 - chorus (stereo - used mostly to split to two amps)

6 - octaver (rarely used)
7 - autowah (rarely used)

Oh yeah, i often but not always like to play two amps in stereo...

Thanks gurus!

I would go with 2,6,7,4,5,3 and not use the tuner in-line.

[Dr S]

I'd always run a fuzz before the Tuner the buffer in the tuner seems to change the tone to my ears, personally I run,

Double Muff -> TU2 -> Chorus -> Autowah -> Phaser -> Ehx wiggler (tube tremolo / vibrato pedal) -> Zvex Box of Rock

Delay is in the loop.

I like to be able to have drive at either end of the FX to it gives more flexiblity in the sounds you can create...

[Jemeister]

Definitely run your volume pedal in front of the delay. If you have tuner option on the EB volume pedal, then I think you should run your tuner through that option. This way it takes the pedal out of the chain.

On my setup, I have effect loops on my amps. I run my modulation and delays/reverbs in stereo through these, and run all my dirt/od and wah and phaser as well as the volume pedal in front of the amp.

I don't think there are any hard set rules, but that seems to work best for my ears.