Pedalboard/Effects Question

[gibson5413]

I am building out a pedal board for my new Mesa Boogie Electra Dyne combo. What is the best way to set it up in regards to the effects chain? Where should I put the wah, modulation, overdrive, etc? I was thinking the delay and wah will route to the effects loop but what is a good way to setup the effects that go in the guitar signal path? I will be using a BB Preamp, ISP Decimator and a wah in the guitar signal path. Any recommendations or suggestions? Thanks!

[Pietro]

There are no rules... but...

I would do Wah first, OD after, and only Decimater and Delay in the loop. Put the Decimater before the delay. Modulation FX, depends on who you ask. I like them before the amp, others like them in the loop. In fact, some people like delay before the amp, too. Experiment!

[dannopelli]

Unless you have a "Fuzz-Face" type fuzz, you should put Tuner first. If you have a Fuzz Face type Fuzz it has to go first. (Google it. Too complicated to explain here.)

Then compressor or wah. Most guys try to swap back and forth on that for their fave sound.

After that all your dirt stuff. Now that said guys sometimes put the wah after all the dirt. And treat your phaser, if you use one, like a wah. Try it before and after dirt.

All that goes to the front of the amp.

All your time based FX, delay, chorus, flange, octaves, etc go in the loop.

That is the "typical" set up.

That said, there are all kinds of options. Lots of guys don't use the FX loop. Do what sounds good to you.

[dannopelli]

One other thing, I like to call "Perceived Crappy Tone When The Band is NOT Playing."

If this board is for live use, one thing to learn is that your tone that you use in your home when you are jamming with prerecorded music, or just practicing, can be nice and warm and round. But when you are in a band mix, using a House PA, you have to cut the mix. And you are in charge of your tone. Not the guy on the board, if there is one. Most "house" sound guys don't have the time to tweak their boards to each band. And many don't have the skills. So this may not apply if you are in a real good church gig or have a dedicated sound guy. But most of us don't.

So your tone live needs to be bigger. More mids AND more highs. Kind of "spikey," for lack of a better term. It may sound like crap by itself, but will, if you adjust it properly, sound nice and warm and round when the band kicks in. Remember there is likely no compression on any instrument, and little EQ from the board. You may not even be miked. All those frequencies are bouncing off each other. The guitar is a key instrument that must sound good. So it is kind of on your shoulders.

Wireless helps. Then you can go into the house and hear your sound when the band is playing. Or a long high quality cable.

Hope that helps!

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