single tube reverb vs. digital reverb in FX loop

[yeahyeah]

Title sums it up, what are the pro's and con's of each.

If you opt for the FX loop, you will have to build some form of buffer be it dumbleator or solid state...then run your signal into solid state effects...which is scary for obvious reasons.

or you can add spring reverb to the amp but it won't be as versitile as the effects loop option... and most amps with built in reverb are said to sound better when the reverb is taken out of the amp...so theres some tone suckage involved here too.

which is the lesser evil???

what are your prefrances and why?

[Funkalicousgroove]

I much prefer a separate device for the loop, then you can use digital or analog reverb, your choice. FWIW, I have a T-rex roomate reverb and I'd put it up against about anything but a tubeworks reverb or a thunderfunk 12 spring reverb.

[heisthl]

I agree with Funk (unless you were making a blues harmonica amp) that if you only have space for 1 tube build a loop. It does take 2 knobs worth of space instead of one and generally a little more rear panel space for In/out jacks but if you were going to have preout/pwrin jacks you could eliminate those. A $25 digital reverb sounds better than the 1 tube reverb IMHO. Of course you could always build an external combination of reverb and loop https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=3031 .

[Funkalicousgroove]

I'd actually take it a step further and say that the loop should at least be on it's own power supply (if not an entireley separate device alltogether)

[yeahyeah]

I'm building a D'lite and alot of folks at the brown note forum are putting in the iron-sounds solid state fx loop. It has a true bypass so at least you would be able to tell if there was any coloration or tone suck at all. (and with a hi-fi op-amp etc. i bet it could be really good)

the dumbleator is reported to change the sound. even though its suposedly for the better it kind of scares me. (and i can't find the schematic for it either, link anyone?)

What scares me even more is just putting effects in the loop. It just seems so wrong to take your preamp signal and run it through so much silicon. even though solid state is more linear than tubes, I can't help but think it will castrate the signal. maybe all the mojo marketing has something to do with this.

the "right" thing to do is add the delay/reverb and similar time based things after the amp entirely at the board...but thats not do-able in small gigs.

There are alot of cool effects out there that would be useless without a loop...but part of me wants to keep it simple. somebody just tell me what to do!

[mlp-mx6]

There are alot of cool effects out there that would be useless without a loop...but part of me wants to keep it simple. somebody just tell me what to do!

Uh, decide what YOU want! Not trying to be "smart" but you have to decide!

Perhaps you should study the Dumbleator schematic (or any other effects loop schem) and build it in a separate box as an "interface box." That way you can build the amp simply, and incorporate effects as you see fit when you see fit. Series, parallel, tube-driven, solid-state, whatever.

I attached the D'lator schem as used to be found on Schematic Heaven. Good luck.

[stelligan]

My solution has been a loop "kind of". I use the preamp out to a d'lator but, don't return the effects to the amp. I just send the d'lator back to the amp in for the extra tube gain stage. I use a powered 1 x 12" satellite to return the effects into. IMO this compromises the tone of the amp least + digital effects can do so much than reverb alone. That said, I have not heard one of these amps with built in reverb.

[Pete]

My solution has been a loop "kind of". I use the preamp out to a d'lator but, don't return the effects to the amp. I just send the d'lator back to the amp in for the extra tube gain stage. I use a powered 1 x 12" satellite to return the effects into. IMO this compromises the tone of the amp least + digital effects can do so much than reverb alone. That said, I have not heard one of these amps with built in reverb.

I've experimented with similar setup, though not recently. I guess you could simplify a little more and try preamp out to FX, to another small guitar amp dedicated to wet signal. May or may not mess up the main amp sound depending on FX unit.