Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

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Pvt. Ryan
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Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

Hi. Just wondering if there's an indication whether an amp's effects loop is series or parallel just in case the manual didn't mention about it. Cheers.

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Delayman »

Pvt. Ryan wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 3:18 pm Hi. Just wondering if there's an indication whether an amp's effects loop is series or parallel just in case the manual didn't mention about it. Cheers.
I would always guess series unless the amp says something on it, or it has a level control on the loop that doesn't affect the through sound.
They keep telling me tone is in the fingers, but I have yet to see a "look at my fingers" thread.
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned my amp in the first place. It's a Bugera 1990 Infinium and it has a level control on the loop.

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

Image showing the FX Loop
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by FuzzMonkey »

I'd say it a Series effect loop. The Level control sets the output from the Send. Often this is just a push-button that cuts the signal by 10dB in order to run instrument-level effects or +4dB for line-level effects. Someone will correct me if I am wrong no doubt.
Last edited by FuzzMonkey on Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by MikeC »

I just had a squiz at the schematic - pretty sure it's series.
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

MikeC wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:35 pm I just had a squiz at the schematic - pretty sure it's series.
Awesome! Thanks.

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

FuzzMonkey wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:33 pm I'd say it a Series effect loop. The Level control sets the output from the Send. Often this is just a push-button that cuts the signal by 10dB in order to run instrument-level effects or +4dB for line-level effects. Someone will correct me if I am wrong no doubt.
Perfect, thanks!

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

It's just that I have this JHS Little Black Box Attenuator and specifically mentioned to use only on a series effects loop. Thanks to all!

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Delayman »

Pvt. Ryan wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:55 pm It's just that I have this JHS Little Black Box Attenuator and specifically mentioned to use only on a series effects loop. Thanks to all!
Will that do something that the master volumes won’t do? I guess if it’s tricky to set the clean and lead channels relative to each other and you want a single knob to control overall volume.
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by FuzzMonkey »

Looking at the schematic, you could just put a patch cable in the Send and Return and use the Level control in the same way as the Little Black Box.
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

Delayman wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:15 pm
Pvt. Ryan wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:55 pm It's just that I have this JHS Little Black Box Attenuator and specifically mentioned to use only on a series effects loop. Thanks to all!
Will that do something that the master volumes won’t do? I guess if it’s tricky to set the clean and lead channels relative to each other and you want a single knob to control overall volume.
The amp's pretty loud even if the master volume level's set to 1. I wanted to retain the amp's response and tone without lowering the volume so I thought having an attenuator would do the trick.

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

FuzzMonkey wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:31 pm Looking at the schematic, you could just put a patch cable in the Send and Return and use the Level control in the same way as the Little Black Box.
I have to try this neat trick. Thanks.

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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by MikeC »

Pvt. Ryan wrote: Thu Aug 04, 2022 12:33 pm
FuzzMonkey wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:31 pm Looking at the schematic, you could just put a patch cable in the Send and Return and use the Level control in the same way as the Little Black Box.
I have to try this neat trick. Thanks.
It works well in the Hot Rod Deluxe too!
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Re: Effects Loop - Series or Parallel

Post by Optical »

Pvt. Ryan wrote: Thu Aug 04, 2022 12:26 pm
Delayman wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:15 pm
Pvt. Ryan wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:55 pm It's just that I have this JHS Little Black Box Attenuator and specifically mentioned to use only on a series effects loop. Thanks to all!
Will that do something that the master volumes won’t do? I guess if it’s tricky to set the clean and lead channels relative to each other and you want a single knob to control overall volume.
The amp's pretty loud even if the master volume level's set to 1. I wanted to retain the amp's response and tone without lowering the volume so I thought having an attenuator would do the trick.
the JHS black box isnt an attenuator, it's a volume control

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