Putting a boost in front of amp or in the loop

[everton_fc]

Thinking of getting a boost like the MXR Micro Amp - I have read mixed reports of the best place for this pedal - in the front of the amp or in the effects loop.

What advantage is there of putting this pedal in the loop? Does that mean it only boosts the power amp valves etc?

Thanks

[Vision pedalboards]

It depends what you are wanting from the boost pedal, If you place it in the front of your amp (before the pre amp) you will get a gain boost, If you want more of a volume boost put it in the loop (after the pre amp).

Check out the Xotic RC booster for a really cool boost pedal!

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[TwilightOdyssey]

It depends what you are wanting from the boost pedal, If you place it in the front of your amp (before the pre amp) you will get a gain boost, If you want more of a volume boost put it in the loop (after the pre amp).

That is 100% correct. If you don't have a solo boost on your amp, putting a clean boost into the FX loop will give you a really nice volume boost. (I use a HomeBrew Dos Mos for this purpose)

Putting in front of the amp will give you another gain stage. It can make clean turn to mild overdrive, mild overdrive to distortion, and distortion to face-melt city!!

[everton_fc]

If I have a delay pedal in the loop, will the boost need to be before or after?

Thanks

[Vision pedalboards]

I'd experiment with that and see which way keeps the delay the cleanest with your pedals

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[Vision pedalboards]

Another thing to bare in mind is the more gain you are using from the amp the less of a volume boost you are likely to hear.

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[TwilightOdyssey]

Another thing to bare in mind is the more gain you are using from the amp the less of a volume boost you are likely to hear.

... if you are using the boost in front of the amp. Add that bit to the end of what you said and I'll agree. :)

If you use a clean boost in the FX loop, the amount of preamp gain does not rob the level of boost.

[Vision pedalboards]

Of course you are quite right. .

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[the_bleeding]

infront  of clean --> more volume with possibility of crunch
infront of dirty --> more distortion
in fx loop --> more volume whether clean or dirty.


i personally have 3 channels on my amp (clean crunch lead), so i just dial in lead to sound like crunch, but with more volume... so for me, i'd use it in front of the amp to get some more gain out of it... because hell, my amp is loud enough by itself hahaha.