Need some effects chain/loop help

[Mercutio]

Howdy!

Ok gang, i got a bit of a dilemma here. Basically, here's my rig: Gibby LP Custom in my SKB pedal board which is: Crybaby 535Q, Turbo Tube Screamer, Boss Metalizer, Boss EQ, Ernie Ball volume, Boss tuner; then from the board, directly into the input on the amp, a Mesa Boogie F50 combo, which has its own footswitch for clean/gain channels.

The problem is that I have the Tube Screamer and EQ in the line as boosts for solos. However, when I am using the amp distortion channel, the EQ and tube screamer have little to no effect at boosting the volume. They add a touch of gain, but nothing else. On the clean channel, they will boost the volume as much as I want. But when switched to the Mesa's distortion channel, i get nothing.

Now, if I run these effects through the amp's effects loop, I can get the desired effect, but it is a parallel effects loop and doesnt sound as full (only 90% cause thats as high as the effects loop mix goes). Plus, it makes my wah sound like crap cause it mixes AFTER the distortion. So that's kind of a no-go.

Does anyone have any idea why the EQ/Tube screamer will boost on the clean channel and not the distortion when directly in line? I'm at a loss as to figure out why. I tried switching the pedals around, removing some, etc. Nothing works. The only solution I see to get the sound i want is to run half the pedal board through the effects loop and the other half directly in line. I'd rather not do that cause it would be a cable nightmare, but I really dont see any other way unless someone can tell me how to get the boost to work on the distortion channel.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance...

[toka_ares]

not sure whats wrong but the same thing happened when i plugged my PODxt into the front of my marshall, i just use the effects loops religiously now. good luck!

[kissfanps]

it is because the preamp is has no more room left to go when you are on the distortion channel and thus you only get more distortion. it was already clipping to begin with.

on the clean channel you have a lot more headroom.

[toka_ares]

i can see clearly now the rain isss gonnneeeee

[Mercutio]

i can accept that, but why does it work on the effects loop then? is that because it probably routs in AFTER the preamp?

[kissfanps]

exactly! you are driving the power amp instead of the preamp. be careful not to boost TOO much or things can be damaged. that is why the new Marshall Vintage Modern has LED limiters in the FX loop.

[JW123]

If your amp switch has a effects switch. You might place the EQ in the loop and kick it in with the switch on your amp board.

I have a tube screamer on my pedal board and it really doesnt raise the volume much on my rectifier head. If you can lower the gain some on your amp you may see some rise in volume when you kick in the Tube Screamer. I also have a Rocktron Black Jack booster/distortion pedal and it will raise the volume some, but its still not enough to be called a lead boost.

[kissfanps]

that reminds me of a cool technique

My Marshall TSL has a parallel FX loop with an adjustable mix.. If you pop a cable into the return (with no connection on the other end) of the loop it breaks the normal to engage the loop. Keep in mind that there is no signal returning. Adjust the master to your "lead" level and FX mix to your rythem level. Pretty much because it is a wet/dry mix you will only just decrease the level of your dry because there is no wet to increase. So with the FX loop on you have your rythem level and the button to turn it off for leads. I think that is the coolest thing about the TSL although you cant put any effects in the loop, but IMO effects dont belong in a loop.

[Mercutio]

thanks guys, i appreciate the help

[hbucker]

FWIW I've never had any luck boosting solos with a Tubescreamer in front of my amp. As was said earlier, it just creates more overdrive, not volume. And overdrive in the loop usually sounds bad, period.

Are you saying that the T.S. and the E.Q. are all in the same pedal? If so, then I'd say that's your problem. I use a Boss GE-7 eq in my loop to boost solos with PERFECT results. I don't even boost the volume much. I slightly cue up a couple of the middle frequencies and raise the volume slightly and BAM! My solos pop out to the front and everyone hears me loud and clear.

Honestly, I can't think of a more efficient and accurate way to boost solos. There are others but this is the one that I hang my hat on because it's so easy to control and sounds great.