Guitar FX Chain Question

oysterboy · 5 May 2006 at 11:03

I've found myself in posession of an Ibanez Tube Screamer, a wah and a Line 6 Delay Modler recently - anyone know what's the best order from guitar to amp to keep the best original signal?

My guess would be guitar, TS9, Line 6, Wah and then amp?

:confused:

riddlermarc · 5 May 2006 at 11:52

Generally speaking you want to run guitar->wah->ts9->amp and have the delay in the effects loop (post pre-amp) but you can run it after the ts9 which is cool.

Take a look at the rationale behind fx ordering here:
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/fx-order.htm
http://www.geofex.com/effxfaq/fxorder.htm

SexyGreyFox · 5 May 2006 at 14:34

I'd go -
Tube screamer
delay
wah

Garp · 5 May 2006 at 14:40

I'd go

Tube Screamer
Wah
Delay

but thats just me

Honestly, its up to you. Experiment, see what you find the most useful, what range of sounds you can produce with pedals in different combinations.

IceBus · 5 May 2006 at 14:42

The rule of thumb tends to be keep the signal as clean as possible until you get to the distortion stage. For example, I have Guitar/Whammy/Line 6 Delay/Fuzz factory.

I'd say for the cleanest tone... Guitar>Wah>Line 6>TS9>Amp

The effects loop would be preferable for the best use of the delay but it'll mean a lot more cabling.

riddlermarc · 5 May 2006 at 15:02

The only problem with having you delay/reverb before the OD/distortion is that OD/distortion will distort the true qualities of the delay decay, distorting the fading reverb effect will clip it short and/or produce unwanted noise.

As has been said though, YMMV and people do run their wah after the distortion for a different sound, for example

Chronos-X · 5 May 2006 at 20:27

I haven't got an FX loop - I use the amp's inbuilt overdrive which just overdrives whatever signal you put into it. I use chorus, flanger and wah (before overdrive) - can anyone suggest a proper order for these to go in?

Also, can anyone chip in with any knowledge of compressors or boost pedals? Are they worth it?

Garp · 5 May 2006 at 23:15

Chronos-X said:
Also, can anyone chip in with any knowledge of compressors or boost pedals? Are they worth it?

IME compression is always worthwhile on an electric guitar. Helps smooth things out a little more.

georges · 6 May 2006 at 00:04

I run Homebrew Electronics Medicine bawl Wah -> Digitech bad monkey( Modded ts9 circuit)

Sounds better that way imo.

I'd experiment though, doesn't take long

georges · 6 May 2006 at 00:05

Garp said:
IME compression is always worthwhile on an electric guitar. Helps smooth things out a little more.

Depends if your style incorporates dynamics. I'm into clean/really light od with large dynamic variation so they're a no for me.

Can't beat being clean, then digging in and getting some bluesey lead.

SexyGreyFox · 6 May 2006 at 00:08

Chronos-X said:
Also, can anyone chip in with any knowledge of compressors or boost pedals? Are they worth it?

Depends what you want to do.
Heavy compression was used on The Police records.
Mild compression can even out the volume irregularities on each string and a compressor can also act as a booster for solos.

starscream · 6 May 2006 at 00:21

My best order I find is

compression > distorion > modular effects (flange/phaser etc) > delay > wah

I don't use them all at once though