Order of effect pedals?

Ben Godard · From: Jamesville NC

I want to know the best way to hook up my pedal board. This is for my tele and not my steel. But like many of you, I play both and most of us use similar effects.
Please take a look at my pedals below and I’m open to suggestion on the order to hook them up in

Joe Hensley · From: Boise, Idaho, USA

There are many ways to mix-n-match and if you stray from the 'unwritten rules' sometimes you can discover magic.

Generally though....

Dynamics (compressors), filters (wah), pitch shifters, and Volume pedals typically go at the beginning of the signal chain.

Gain based effects such as and overdrive/distortion pedals come next.

Modulation effects such as chorus, flangers, phasers typically come next in the chain.

Time based effects such as delays and reverbs work best at the end of the signal chain.

Volume pedals can go at the beginning or end of your signal chain to provide slightly different functionality in different locations in your chain.

Hope that helps!

Mike Auman · From: North Texas, USA

Hey Ben, a lot depends on the sound you're after. For example, do you want to delay a phased signal, or phase a delayed signal? However, there are a few general ideas that might be helpful.

1. Tuner needs a clean signal, so put it first.
2. Compressor will raise the noise floor if you put it after other effects, so put it next.
3. Tremolo and reverb (either order) go toward the end.

Other than that, try stuff and see what you like. EQ is good either early or late, delay is good more toward the end. You're pretty good in the sequence you have the in the pic, right to left.

<edit> and I concur with Joe!
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Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Mine are set up like Joe suggested. That seems to be the more common practice and generally best results.

John Larson · From: Pennsyltucky, USA

Tremolo after reverb is excellent if you want the fender amp sound since that's how they are wired!
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Lynn Kasdorf · From: Waterford Virginia, USA

It is often desirable for overdrive/distortion boxes to be first in line, so that the texturing happens no matter where your volume pedal is. You can get the distortion at any volume.

However, if your goal is to have distortion happen only when you step on the gas, then they would come after a volume pedal.

Delay and reverb would come after volume pedal, in general. This is so that it trails on a bit after you cut the volume and sounds more natural.

However, if you are doing a double speed effect with a delay, you may want it before volume so that you can kill the final echo at the end.
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ajm · From: Los Angeles

Basically, what Joe Hensley said to start with.
But I'd add:
The tuner comes first.
The tremolo pedal is a modulation effect.
The GEQ pedal, where to put it? All bets are off here. It depends on what you want to use it for, as that may determine the best place for it in the chain.
Ambient effects like delay and reverb, think of standing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and playing. The final effect would be the reverb and delay/echo from the canyon itself (usually).

And one more comment.............

I like your use of the 8 loop switcher.
I can't tell if it's homemade or commercially bought, but it doesn't matter.
I see so many "pro" videos and whatnot on Youtube and elsewhere on how to build a "pro" pedalboard.
Guys will spend boo-koo bucks on the ultimate tonemeister pedal du jour, and not pay much attention to how it really fits into their chain sonically and electrically.
Very very few of them ever *really* address buffering and bypassing and cable length and loading and etc etc etc.
Many people do not understand the difference between:
- Mechanical hardwire bypass
- True bypass
- Buffered bypass
And then there's cable length and how it interacts with all of these.
Having a switcher like you do lets you get a better handle on these things, IMO.
Not to mention ergonomics.
Your board only has one row of pedals.
I see jam packed cluttered boards with tow rows of pedals and wonder how these guys "tap dance" on the fly to switch stuff in and out.
With a switcher along the front row things are MUCH easier.

This is a whole nuther subject/topic/discussion that doesn't deserve to hijack this topic, though.
And, it has also been discussed on the forum several times in the past.

Ok, rant over.
Sorry to temporarily hijack the topic.

Karl Paulsen · From: Chicago

Ben, I have my order very similar to the way yours is pictured. My only differences are...
-I have my Marine Layer reverb earlier in the sequence, right after my phaser. That's because I use it really wacked out and more like a modulation effect. I use amp reverb for the traditional reverb effect.

-The only tremolo-like effect I have is a Roctary. I have that before my delay because the Roctary is mono-in/stereo-out and the delay is stereo in/out. Doesn't matter much though as I almost never use the two of them together anyway.
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