Noob Effects Loop Question

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:12 pm

I don't currently have an effects loop. My only amp is a Pathfinder 15r and it doesn't have one. Is there a pedal that could serve as an effects loop? Would this be a line selector like an LS-2 or EHX Switchblade?

I'm asking as I'd like to use a Yamaha FX500 (half-rack) in an effects loop. Using it currently involves disconnecting my pedalboard from the amp and using the FX whereas I'd like to be able to just switch from one to the other without stopping.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:40 pm

I think you're getting two different things mixed up here.

On an amp an effects loop allows you to place pedals between the pre-amp and power-amp sections of your amp. Some people prefer the way certain effects here as opposed to in front of the amp, namely reverb and delay. A pedal won't allow you to do this sort of thing, instead you would need fairly hefty mods performed to the amp.

On a pedalboard there are a couple of other things things that might be called loops. Using a line selector would allow you to choose between different sets of pedals, so you could go from having pedals A, B, C and D all on at once, then suddenly go to having pedals E, F, G, and H all on at once for instance. But none of these things are going to sound any different to how they would if they were in front of your amp by themselves, it would just be easier to switch things up.

There are also looper pedals (which allow you to record a section of music and have it loop back), and feedback loopers, but I don't think you're interested in either of those.

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:37 pm

BP, thanks for the explanation. Yeah, I guess what I was wanting all along was a line switcher. I wanted to be able to switch over to the FX500 without having to disconnect/reconnect cables and then switch right back over to the pedalboard so that I could have both sources of effects powered on at once without the hassle. Is there a line switcher that you can recommend from your experience?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:19 am

The Boss LS-2 sounds like what you want. It'd allow you to switch between two loops A or B to the same amp. It'll also do other things, but that mode seems like the most useful. More information, plus the user manual which features diagrams that might let you more clearly what it is you want to do are available here:

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/LS-2/

That might be more expensive than you'd like to pay for though.

At this point, someone else might chime in with their ideas? I'm sure someone on here (mike, maybe?) has built all-in-one units for this sort of thing before.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:07 pm

If you fancy a low-risk punt:

Behringer AB100 (LS-2 copy) $30-ish
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... AB100.html

And some A/B boxes in the same price range

Behringer AB200 (copies FS-5L and FS-5U in one)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 ... mable.html

DOD VAC270
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1 ... B_Box.html

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:56 am

Is the AB100 a LS-2 copy? I thought it was just an A/B/Y box, so you'd need two of them, and maybe three legs in order to switch between two different loops?

I've been meaning to get the AB200 for ages, for my RC-2. Looks really useful for other things too.