Is it considered a best practice to put a distortion pedal in your amp's effects loop? In general, I would say no, that's not a good idea. However, it's not necessarily going to hurt anything.
And if it won't hurt, why should we avoid it?
The details are a little bit technical, and subject to interpretation.
But for those who don't just want to take my word on it, read on for the full explanation of why you should not put a distortion pedal in an effects loop.
Read more: Best Guitar Pedals Overall
Why You Should Avoid Putting Distortion in an Effects Loop
An effects loop works by using a send and return cycle to basically place your pedals between the preamp and power amp sections of your amplifier.
This is more ideal for effects that have a wet/dry mix, like most modulation and ambient pedals. For effects that do not have a wet/dry mix, like distortion, it'll make it harder for that distortion pedal to do the job of layering your clean signal.
How a basic effects loop is set up
Again, it doesn't really hurt anything, but you gain nothing by moving your distortion pedal to your effects loop.
From our comprehensive guide on guitar pedal setup, here's a diagram that shows how this might look with a distortion pedal:
A distortion pedal should be placed directly between the amp and the guitar in a signal line. Pedals like delays and phasers can go in the effects loop.
Other Gain Pedals
This is going to be true of all gain pedals. Any pedal that adjusts volume at all, perhaps with the exception of tremolo, should be left out of an effects loop. This includes the following:
- Distortion
- Overdrive
- Fuzz
- Boost/Drive
- Compression
All of these pedals can have an impact on your gain and are - as part of their core functionality - designed to react to volume or simply change it. Putting them in an effects loop removes their ability to interact with your preamp, meaning you lose an element of audio quality and functionality.
More Guitar Pedal Articles
The scope of this article is small, so we'll keep it short. However, we've covered a lot of other guitar pedal related topics, which we'll list here for continued reading.
Conclusion
To summarize, we would not recommend putting a distortion pedal in your effects loop. Instead, put it in the main line between your amp's input and your electric guitar. It'll help the distortion pedal interact better with your preamp and will sound more natural when moving from a clean to a distorted sound.
If you've got questions, we'll try and help out as much as well can.
Leave them in the comments section below.
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Can You help me figure out how to use a stereo pedal to go to 2 amps?
I have 2 modeling fenders..I may put a prs clean boost compressor in front, as well as a vox mystic drive (in front) then split the signal to another amp..using effects loop for stereo chorus makes it too complicated to figure out though I won’t hurt anything by trial and error.. I’ve save all Your links, and I’m sure the answer is in there! Mahalo, I may use a wet dry as I’ve heard it’s the best, but the fender has stereo delay w XLR outs..lol
Alohoho
So the two outputs on the stereo pedal should be able to run one to each amp, though you won’t be able to “select” between the two, like you would with an A/B/Y switch.
But it should be as simple as that. Have you checked this page out? https://www.guitarchalk.com/guitar-pedal-setup/
Check this image: https://www.guitarchalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ABY-Splitting-Diagram-with-Two-Amplifiers-and-Two-Pedalboards-1080×406.jpg
That graphic has the ABY switch, but it could just as easily be a stereo pedal.
I’ve used a Boss DS 1-X for a master volume in a series fx loop on a non MV SV20 Marshall amp.
The DS 1-X level pot allows for lower volume playing while enjoying the richness of power tube distortion when the amp is cranked.
The treble, bass and distortion pots can be used or not.
tones are most excellent!
I can recommend it.
NOTE: Don’t turn it off accidently or…yikes!!!
LOUD
Thanks for sharing, Bill. This will certainly be helpful to folks.
You did not complete the answer to the question. You advise not to put distortion pedal in effect loop and state it will not hurt also no benefit. When one has Amp with pre program effect built in such as Marshal 100 Amp head. One can put distortion before preamp not even on a clean channel. I run a vintage Digi tech death metal peddle made in USA I go from guitar to peddle to return. I don’t use the send. I know you advise not to run through loop but I do and pretty much have to to get the sound I’m looking for. Perhaps I need a different Amp that does not have effects built in Amp.?
Thanks for sharing, Jeff. And sorry if I’m missing something from your comment, but what exactly is the benefit of having the DigiTech in the loop?
He’s essentially using the DigiTech as a preamp pedal and bypassing the amp’s own preamp – so using only the amp’s power amp and the cabinet.
The Boss Metal Zone is often used in such a configuration as well
That makes sense.
I guess I would argue that if you have to bypass your amp’s preamp in favor of a distortion pedal than your amp isn’t all that great. In most cases I think a good amp > a good distortion pedal.
Opinions, I reckon.
Pedal..
Some of the 90’s shoe gazers can put a delay 1st in the pedal chain or any number of weird and strange things!
Thanks for the ideas tho’ (I’m an old drummer) Aloha
Thanks, Bradley. Glad it was helpful.