Hey all, wondering if I could get some advice on some gear I have aquired over the past few years. I've tried messing around with different configurations, but can never get it quite right with what order in the chain what should go were. I can't always get a signal to my maximimzer. I've heard of distortion pedals going through the effects loop, but how exactly, what should i feed what and to where? should the EQ go last, or after the distortion etc... And like amp settings, the mesa has the 3 switch positions and what not, theres jsut so much to use and tweak!! Anywho, heres a list of some stuff

Metal Zone
Boss 7 Band EQ
Boss Noise Suppressor
BBE Sonic Maximizer
Behringer 2 channel rack compressor
Running through a Mesa Dual Rect head with a matching cab.
My guitar has EMG 81's.

Anyone??? Any hints or advice would be excellent!

personally i would ditch the metalzone, bbe, the ge-7, and the compressor. and just tweak around with the amp alot. if you cant get a good sound out of it... sell the head and buy something different.

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Ditch the metalzone.

Put the GE-7 wherever you think your tone is weakest (if your guitar sucks, put it after that! if you dont like your mesa's tone, in the effects loop).


Um, use the BBE sparingly if necessary, in the effects loop. Try the EQ first.

Compressor? uh, maybe, but i dont think it's necessary.

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Pretty much what everyone said.
You don't need the MT-2, sell it to someone who's starting out.
You might not need the BBE, but try it out in the FX loop.
I would put the Noise suppressor as the first thing in the loop.
The compressor might not be needed, but if you do use it, I would recommend as the first thing after your guitar.
The equalizer can be put before the input of the amp, or in the loop. It yields different results. Try it out, and use what you like best.

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Ok, I will try the suggestions. Thanx for your time. But lets just say for poopies and giggles, that I wanted all of the effects hooked up that I own, even if they arent being used or turned on per say, what order would you line everything up in then? Like any advantages to having the EQ here instead of there, or if I did it like so,this could be attained? Just curious, like I stated before, there are so any combinations, could use an idea of were and with what to start?

err...

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ya i know......, I am going to try your suggestion this weekend at my buddies rehearsal studio. Been working some crazy hours, haven't had time to give it am attempt. But I would like to see what kind of options I have. I dunno. Regardless, thanx again!

There really is no set rule for effects chains, but here is one that is the most basic.
Guitar
wah's
dist/od's
amp
(in effects loop)
modulations (choruses, flanges, etc.)
delays
outboard (eq's and bbe's)
noise suppressors



This is how I've noticed alot of people up their effects. You should experiment with it a bit more though. Some pedals will have a more noticeable sound in one spot in the chain than in another, so move them around until you find a setup that sounds good to you.

Thats pretty much what I would do, tough I would put EQ'ing either directly before or after whatever is my distortion (preamp or pedal)

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This might help... http://metaltabs.com/forum/showthre...ight=Rack+setup

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Thanx a bunch, this is the kind of info I was looking for. I can't wait till this weekend to try everything out, thanx again!