Effects loop and levels

[josh3184]

Quick question, if I have a pedal in the effects loop, can I therefore chuck the gain on the pedal up to max without worrying about the amp clipping or am I being thick?

[cheddatom]

Basically, you can't ever increase the level of anything without there being a point at which it clips.

"gain" on a distortion pedal, will generally not effect the output level much. On most pedals you have an output level control, and this is what controls the output level. If you have a pedal in your effects loop, and it creates a massive gain boost (a boost in level, not a boost in distortion), it's after the pre-amp and before the power amp, and it could create distortion in the power amp, which could damage the amp or the cab (I think).

[josh3184]

fair enough, the gain on the amp has a clip light, will that signal if the power stage is clipping to or should I look for another indicator? Or is it just a matter of waiting until the speaker starts farting at me?

[cheddatom]

The clip light generally only shows when the pre-amp is clipping. Unless you have an indicator (My Peavey has one) for the power amp then I would be careful.

Is it that you think the pre-amp in your amp is too quiet to drive the power amp properly? Why is it that you want to increase the level between the pre and power amps?

[josh3184]

No, its just that I've got the gain for the pre set nicely with my bass and I've got a Sansamp BDDI in the effects loop, I was just uncertain as to whether this meant that I could whack up the input level or whether I had to watch out for some issues (which evidently I do)

Thanks for the help so far!