Gain in effects loops

[MDV]

Always a bad idea?

I know you really, really arent supposed to put distortion devices in an FX loop, BUT, gain is gain, right: amplification of a signal,

So

I very much doubt boss have made some horrible mistake here, but my EQ pedal (EQ20) has a switch that adds 4db for the effects loop (it specifically says 'amp effects loop, +4db'). It does make the amp (powerball) quite a lot louder and imbues it with utterly godly tone (makes the powerball on its own sound thin and whispy, but is still crystal clear).

Is this safe for my amp?

I'm leaning rather strongly to 'yes', but I need to be certain.

[martinw]

Yes.
Won't do any harm. If it sounds good, use it.

[MDV]

Yes.
Won't do any harm. If it sounds good, use it.

Thanks mate. Just what I needed to hear!

TO, feel free to kill this thread.

[Will]

I remember Ben saying its a bad idea too, if he pops by, I am wondering why its meant to be so bad?

[hamfist]

Yes.
Won't do any harm. If it sounds good, use it.

Martin - he speak de troof !!

[Fikealox]

It might be a bad idea in as far as it might be likely to sound bad, but I can't see any way that it could harm your amp. If it sounds good, go for it :)

[Doadman]

A guy in a shop I was in the other day said the Marshall technician they dealt with told them never to use any kind of distortion through effects loops as it may fry the circuits. I really have no idea why that would be the case so don't shoot the messenger, I'm just passing on what was said.

[_tom_]

EQ sounds great in the loop, I always used to use it as a lead boost.

[hamfist]

A guy in a shop I was in the other day said the Marshall technician they dealt with told them never to use any kind of distortion through effects loops as it may fry the circuits. I really have no idea why that would be the case so don't shoot the messenger, I'm just passing on what was said.

The only potential risk would be if you already had the pre-amp gain on full, and then gain-boosted a large amount on top. That might potentially stress some circuits I guess.
  As for distortion frying circuits, that's just rubbish.
Distortion, as an effect, does not have to involve any gain boosting at all. It's merely the clipping of the signal wave, which could not be damaging to anything in itself.

  Remember that most people who ever open their mouths about any technical amp opinion (including me sometimes) really don't know what they are talking about, whether they are trained or not.