Help! Reverb pedal - before or after?

[candid_x]

After 4 years without pesky stomp boxes, I'm back to using just two of them: a Maxon OD9 (modded TS) and a Mr. Springy reverb. Traditionally, does the reverb/delay go before or after the OD9 on the signal chain?

Thing is, the Springy is analog and temperamental, sensitive to gain changes and such. It seems a bit more stable before the Maxon, but I seem to recall that they're usually run last in the chain.

 

[TNT]

Bruce

Traditionally "after".

However, as you stated, it may perform better "before". I've personally always thought the "reverb (then) delay" sounded best at the very end of the any chain.

Actually, ideally, it would be even further down the road, i.e. the return would be placed "after" the power tubes, if using the fx loop.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks, T.

Actually I did try it through the adjustable fx loop but the effect was weak, even when opened up. I always figured that loops work best for rack gear, and stomp boxes should run through the front, but I'm no ace on this subject.

I'll try it again after the TS.

Bruce

 

[TNT]

Yeah, you're right Bruce. I experiment around too.

On two of my favorite amps I have no "reverb" (VHT 100 Cl head and a JCM 900 MKIV head). In my previous rack I was spoiled because I had an Eventide Harmonizer H3000 I used for delay and reverb (try going down from that).

So, when I put my "pedal" rig together, I had my work cut out for me!!

Well, I chose the new Digitech Hardwire Series Reverb pedal and the Damage Control Time Line Delay pedal. I put BOTH of them through my loop (in that order), where they work absolutely fantastic!!

I keep my only other pedals (Boss Flange and MXR Phase 90) thru the front of the amp.

Fun, fun funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!

 

[Slingy]

I also like time based effects in the loop. Effects in the loop need the level set higher or they sound weaker but should sound cleaner since they aren't being distorted by the overdrive.

 

[candid_x]

Do you guys use a splitter when you send most pedals through the front but send your reverb/delay through the loop?

The Springy has a dry and a wet out. According to their info it's meant for splitting to two separate amps, but I sent the dry through the OD and front end, while sending the wet through the fx loop. As I said, it worked but was weak, even with Springy intensity way up and the loop wide open.

 

[Jimmyb]

I run all of my pedals into the front of my amp, but I haven't got an effects loop.

Bruce, are you taking the input from the guitar into the Springy and then splitting it? You might have more luck taking the input to the Springy from the effects send of the loop and plugging your guitar into the OD, then the amp.

 

[candid_x]

You might have more luck taking the input to the Springy from the effects send of the loop and plugging your guitar into the OD, then the amp.

Jimmy, sorry, I must be really thick headed, cuz I read this several times but don't understand what you mean. Do you mean to loop the Springy in and return through the fx by itself? And then run the rest straight to the front?

I feel lame asking this cuz it's probably so fundamental to those who commonly use the fx loops.

 

[candid_x]

Ok, takes me a little while sometimes . I looped just the Springy, and it works fine, unaffected by gain levels. Yay!

Adds a bit of hum, however. Wonder if the effects loop is tube driven, cuz then another tube might quiet that. It's quieter when I bypass it.

At any rate, this puts me closer to what I'm looking for. Thanks, Jimmy and TNT, appreciate your help.

 

[Jimmyb]

Great stuff!

Glad it worked out for you. Not sure about the hum, it may be a ground loop. Are you using batteries, or a 9v adaptor?

 

[candid_x]

Using a 9v, waiting for adapter to come. Isn't that less likely to cause a hum? The Mr Springy is an awesome sounding reverb but it devours batteries faster than I can supply them.

I found that the loop is tube buffered, I think it's V3, but digging to find out. That at least addresses the hum.

There's a couple other factors in considering this, and this is all interesting and eye opening for me. For one, if I use the loop, it means I have to a) run longer cables to the pedal board, so pedals can share one power source via daisy chain. b) or, leave Springy sitting on amp and use patch cables (obvious disadvantage without on/off on the fly), power each pedal separately. c) go back to running it all through the front end. This is what I'm inclined to do, even though the analog Springy will be affected by changes in gain chain.

The reverb sounds like background when going through the loop, like the ambient background noise you converse over at a party. When it goes into the front end, the reverb it is foreground ambience, an integral part of the sound. This is when the Springy has that marvelous 3-D blackface reverb.

If, on the other hand, I wanted to included a time delay pedal, then I would most likely run it through the fx loop.