EFFECTS LOOPS

What follows is a discussion of effects loops as used in London Power Amplifiers, as described in our book The Ultimate Tone (TUT), and as understood (or misunderstood) by musicians.

Effects loops have become a source of contention among players. Some like loops, and some don't. The original iconic amps did not have loops of any kind, allowing the amps to be "approached" as single functional blocks. This allowed the player to explore specific textures that would not be fully realized if he thought in terms of two blocks - a preamp and a power amp split by the effects loop. Loops were a fad in the 1980s and early 90s, but many players simply did not use them properly or at all. Loops became encumbered with an undeserved bad reputation. However, enough players really use loops and use them correctly to make such a feature desirable.

There are three common types of effects loops: inserts, side-chains and mixing loops.

The Insert

The insert is a series make-break connection, usually consisting of just the jacks themselves. The wide implementation of this minimal loop gave series loops a bad name. They are best suited to line-level applications or for simply connecting to passive outboard devices, as in the original STUDIO amp. An improvement on this arrangement is the simple addition of a pure buffer on either side, a form most often found in high-end mixing console channels.

The Side-Chain

Side-chain loops accommodate low-level devices in the loop with gain added only in the return signal path. This loop type was used in the earlier versions of the SESSION amp. Passive mixing of the dry and wet signals assures very low-noise operation regardless of what is plugged into the loop.

The Mixing Loop

Mixing loops have feedback-controlled gain for transparent mixing of the return and dry signals. A simple switch allows the breaking of the dry path for series operation. This type of loop is an industry standard described in TUT as 'The Best All-tube Effects Loop', and is used verbatim by many amp companies. In all of these loops, the 'send' output can be used to slave other power amps or as a line out. This type of loop is used in our SUSTAINOR amp, and in our BFX kit.

Loops at LONDON POWER

In our previous product line-up, the LONDON POWER SORCERER had two fully featured effects loops built without compromise. This is all-tube circuitry the way it was meant to be, configured to give modern performance and convenience. Each section of the SORCERER had separate SEND and RETURN level controls, and a GAIN switch that optimized the return path for instrument-level devices or line-level gear - that's -20dB or 0dB signal levels in sound-man lingo. So, your pedals could go in here just as easily as that new pro piece you just picked up. Look for a schematic of this product in TUT6.

The loop in the 2003 STUDIO amp could be used as a gain boost, just as many mixing loops can be. The STUDIO's loop did not have a gain switch like the SORCERER; rather, it had sufficient gain within the return path that pedal-level signals could be boosted up to match the dry path level. Inserting a patch cord between the SEND and RETURN jacks let you access this extra gain. To make this foot-switchable, an A-B box could be used in place of the cable. The SERIES switch should be 'down' (parallel mode).

Of course, since the SORCERER had two independent loops, you could use one section into the front-end of your amp, and the other between the preamp and power amp. The front-end loop then worked at guitar signal levels while the later loop operated at line levels high enough to drive the power amp. But with the SORCERER's controls, either loop could have pedals or line-level effects regardless of the location of the loop in your system. Cool!

Loop History

In the '70s when people first started using effects loops, they were just a pair of jacks with an interrupt contact on the 'return' jack. Techs and amp designers got a little fancier in the '80s, adding 'Send' and 'Return' controls. At least you could chop the signal down enough not to overload your pedals anymore, but you still had significant loss. So, some loops had gain added after the loop to make up for the expected loss. This gain was always in there, adding noise, boosting whatever noise was coming from the preamp, and mostly being more trouble than it fixed. What a compromise! And some big-name companies are still doing this....duuumb. (PV 5150-series, Fender Twin)

In the '90s, studio techniques were applied to the whole "effects loop fad", and suddenly loops seemed to have something good to offer. 'Parallel' or 'mixing' loops became popular - with a lot of help from The Ultimate Tone - and these allowed the 'dry', or uneffected signal to stay inside the amp. The loop now became what sound engineers call a "side chain". The signal is tapped off, routed through the external effects, then mixed back in with the dry sound. The effected sound is called the 'wet' sound, as you might have guessed.

So what does a mixing loop do that a simple loop can't?

One of the most important benefits to parallel loops is that you never have an instant without sound. Many of the effects processors introduced through the '80s and '90s would mute the signal for a fraction of a second while patch changes occurred. This meant a drop-out in your sound: a tiny slice of time filled with SILENCE that seemed to last forever! With a mixing loop, your dry sound is always there even if your processor takes a little nap.

There are times when you want really "in your face" effects sounds that need a simple series loop like those primitive amps had.

More Magic

You hear those really cool tricks on albums where a delay is being used on a guitar lead and then at the end of the solo, the echoes continue even though the guitar sound has changed back to the rhythm tone. Wow. That must be hard to do outside of the studio, right? Wrong. It's just the difference between controlling the input or output of the effect in the loop. And, yes, each loop on the SORCERER could be switched from 'Post' to 'Pre' effects muting. Awesome. In TUT, we called this "head" and "tail" switching. Switchable LONDON POWER amp loops all use 'pre' switching, where the 'send' signal is turned 'off/on' allowing the effect sound to fade out naturally like an overdubbed track.

Tube vs. solid-State loops

Loops can be built with equal performance using solid-state or tube circuitry. Considered as a functional block, an effects loop should provide unity gain - no gain, no loss of signal - and be transparent. The presence of the FX block should itself not be obvious tonally. Techs debate whether loops should be fully bypassable or not, while designers who know what they are doing realize it is best to leave the loop in the signal path at all times. A transparent loop does not change the signal. Any amp builder who tells you this is impossible needs to go back to school.

Modern solid-state loops often use a single dual-section FX mix control to set the send signal level and return gain. With op-amp circuitry this is simple, but it can be applied to tube topologies, too. Semis are about an order of magnitude quieter than tubes, but very respectable noise performance can be eked out of the glowing glass bottles.

Tube loops are more aesthetically pleasing in a tube amp, but more readily corrupt the signal if poorly designed. They are usually designed by the same guys who insist on a bypass. It is very difficult to design a solid-state loop with sonic compromises. There may be signal handling issues if the designer has not anticipated tube preamp output levels as "used by real musicians". Fortunately, most big manufacturers have competent designers.

Where can I learn more about loops?

The Ultimate Tone (TUT) illustrated the basic loop concepts of level, send signals, return signals, mixing/series options, noise optimization and dB level references. It takes one full dual-triode tube to make a proper loop. Anything less will be a compromise to your sound, let alone to the ergonomics you might miss out on. TUT2 showed how to put together a stereo reverb loop, which is the same as an effects loop if you leave out the specific tank driver and return boost amps. TUT4 and TUT5 both show useful stereo effects loops, as will TUT6.