FX Loop Theory: Where, When, and Why to Use Them

Today, we’re demystifying FX Loops. I’ll show you some of my best practices when it comes to using an FX Loop, how to tell if your FX Loop is a tone-sucker, and how to remedy a sub-par FX Loop! Our industry doesn’t have a standard when it comes to FX Loops, so it’s crucial that you know exactly what you’re getting into when plugging into your amp’s FX Loop!

FX LOOP BUFFERS (turn your passive FX Loop into an active one)

MANUFACTURERS WITH GREAT FX LOOPS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 Introduction
00:16 What is an FX Loop?
00:56 Different Types of FX Loops
03:00 Not All FX Loops are Equal
06:26 What Makes a Great FX Loop?
07:27 What Pedals Should Go in a FX Loop?
09:28 What If my FX Loop Sucks?
10:26 What are the Drawbacks?
11:42 What are the Conclusions Here?
13:55 Outro

⬇️Private Tone Consulting from the Rig Dr. ⬇️

🔽Buy our Pedals/Pedalboard Materials🔽

⬇ DIY BUFFER INTERFACE DIAGRAMS, TEMPLATES, & MATERIALS ⬇

🔻 //rig consulting//🔻

🔈 //podcast//🔈

⬇ RECOMMENDED MATERIALS ⬇
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👇 // diy diagrams // 👇

#FXLoops #Guitarpedals #rigdoctor

[VertexEffectsInc]

FX LOOP BUFFERS (turn your passive FX Loop into an active one)

MANUFACTURERS WITH GREAT FX LOOPS

[davestives]

This is the first video that explained the fact that you don't need to use the FX loop if you're keeping the amp clean and using overdrive pedals. Thank you! That clears it up for me.

[me-xvtf]

A very well spoken young man who doesn't uhhh and ummm his way s.l.o.w.l.y through the entire damn video. And he knows his shit too!! Perfect combination 👍 subscribed....

[gregmacklin]

Man, that cleared up the of the BS ive been told about this topic.
My Prinston doesn't have an FX Loop because it doesn't need one.
Ive had guys tell me I made a mistake buying it, evan though it sounds fantastic.
You just cleared the air.
If the overdrive is coming from a pedal then you don't need a loop.
THANK YOU....

[jacoblendzion]

I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. I’m sure at some point I will understand it. That day is not today but I was able to figure out how to actually play this video which I will count as a win🤙🤘

[JuanArias-xrje]

This chanel is the university of youtube pedal chanels, so good!!! Thanks

[andrewgarcia]

This quite literally answered all of my questions, and solved all of my problems. Thank you!

[AndrewMooreLearningLicks]

Mason these videos are absolutely fantastic 👏 full of really great information and I've fixed issues with my own Big pedalboard thanks to these videos 👍🏼

[susancorgi]

You are not just a rig dr but a rig professor. you explain very very well!

[lorvin]

This is a great video on fx loops. No one else covers it this well that I've come across...

[Soundchain]

Thanks, Mason. I found it helpful. Especially since I was planning surgery (converting passive loop to active) and now can consider using a outboard add-on instead.

[cheezyridr]

subbing this channel right now! 3 things i've learned from this are 1) there's ALOT i don't know. 2) the sweet sweet sound i get from my amp, i found by happy accident. 3) i'm going to need to watch this video at least one more time to fully understand all that you laid out. if there was such a thing as a "tone course" or class, it would be highly beneficial, and you'd be a great teacher.

[alexmurphy]

This channel is so good, right to the point and very well explained.

[farmboy]

Love your channel.
I have one critique. Please get rid of the annoying "pop" sounds.
Please!
It distracts from what your saying and, in my situation, forces me to lower the volume because the "pop" volume is louder than your voice.

[sugatooth]

Wow, this was fantastic! Didn't realize there was so much about effects loops, thankfully the one in my amp is active even though I never thought to check for it before

[moyhennabuchanan]

Awesome, best FX Loop 101 vlog out there, thank you!

[BrookmanGuitar]

Brilliant presentation!...Thanks Mason you're my hero. Now I understand!

[NeMaAn]

Thank you for this information. I was wondering about the distortion and the loops.

[steveatkinson]

Really enjoy your show. The only thing I run through my effects loop is a noise gate / suppressor. This way my delay, reverb units are not affected by the noise gate / suppressor. I don't run a 15:29 big pedal board and have only one pedal ( overdrive ) that is a little on the noisy side. I've always run my pedals in front of the amp.

[nabrute]

I have a MXR micro amp in my effects loop, great for a volume boost without adding any drive, also I like tremolo and chorus in the loop but phaser in the front, I have one reverb in the loop and a crazy hall reverb in the front. Do whatever you want really, I tried like 20 combos before I found what I wanted.