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An amp’s effects loop is a send and return jack pair between the preamp and the power amp. Put time-based effects like delay, reverb and modulation in the loop, and keep wah, compressor, boost, overdrive and fuzz in front of the amp. If your amp’s preamp makes the distortion, this keeps delays and reverbs clean instead of smeared.
Learning how to use effects loop jacks is one of the biggest tone upgrades you can make without buying a new pedal. This guide is part of our complete guide to building a guitar pedalboard, and it builds on our guitar pedal order guide.
Below you’ll learn what an effects loop is, when to use it, the effects loop vs front of amp debate, and how to wire the 4 cable method step by step.
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Send My Cheat Sheet →What Is an Effects Loop?
Most guitar amps have two main sections. The preamp shapes your tone and creates overdrive. The power amp makes it loud enough to drive the speaker. An effects loop is a break between those two sections.
- Send carries the signal out of the preamp to your pedals.
- Return brings the signal back into the power amp.
If nothing is plugged into the loop, the signal passes straight through. When you use the loop, your pedals sit after the preamp distortion, which is why delay and reverb sound so much clearer.
Most loops use standard mono TS cables. If you’re not sure about cable types, read our guide to TS vs TRS vs TRRS cables.
Series vs Parallel Loops
- A series loop sends all of your signal through the pedals. It’s the most common and the easiest to use.
- A parallel loop splits the signal and blends the effected sound with the dry sound. It usually has a Mix knob. It keeps your core tone strong, but some pedals sound thin in a parallel loop.
Loop Levels
Some loops run at instrument level and some at line level. Most guitar pedals are designed for instrument level. If your pedals distort or sound weak in the loop, check for a level switch on the amp, or use a pedal built to handle line level.
How to Use Effects Loop Jacks: Step by Step
Here’s how to use effects loop jacks with a regular pedalboard.
- Turn everything off. Switch off the amp or put it on standby before you change cables.
- Split your board in two. Put your “front” pedals (tuner, wah, compressor, boost, drives) in one chain, and your “loop” pedals (modulation, delay, reverb) in another.
- Plug the guitar into the front chain. Guitar → front pedals → amp input.
- Connect the loop chain. Amp FX Send → loop pedals input. Loop pedals output → amp FX Return.
- Set the levels. Start with pedal mix and level controls at noon, then turn the amp on and adjust.
Use short, quality cables for the loop. Our guide to the best patch cables covers what to buy.
Effects Loop vs Front of Amp
The effects loop vs front of amp choice depends on where your distortion comes from.
| Pedal type | Front of amp | Effects loop | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuner | Yes | No | Needs the raw guitar signal |
| Wah, filter | Yes | Rarely | Reacts to your pickups and gain |
| Compressor | Yes | Sometimes | Usually shapes the guitar before gain |
| Boost, overdrive, fuzz | Yes | No | Needs to hit the preamp |
| Noise gate | Either | Either | Some gates work best in the loop |
| Chorus, phaser, flanger | Either | Yes | Clearer after preamp distortion |
| Tremolo | Either | Yes | Pulse stays strong after gain |
| Delay | Sometimes | Yes | Repeats stay clean and defined |
| Reverb | Sometimes | Yes | Tails don’t get distorted |
If you use a clean amp and get your distortion from pedals, you don’t need the loop. Just put