Where in the chain do you use overdrive?

[Tony Palmer]

Regarding a stand alone stomp box type unit...
this is more of a survey, as I've used it all different ways and was wondering if there is any consensus.
1)Steel to unit first, then to volume pedal....for maximum distortion and sustain
2)Steel to volume pedal, then to unit for more controllable distortion, but not maximum sustain
3)Or use in effects loop with volume pedal normal and get some combination of the two

[Curt Langston]

Foot switchable effects loop.

[Darvin Willhoite]

I use a Tubeworks, Tube Driver and run it between my guitar and volume pedal. It works very well this way and I sit it right beside my volume pedal so I can switch it in and out easily.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

[Larry Bell]

I prefer distortion early in the chain, delay toward the end, and reverb last. I have run before the volume pedal as Darvin suggests, but I think I prefer it after.

Since distortion changes the waveform of your entire signal I like it best throughout the chain -- so as early as possible -- before or after the VP, but before everything else.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[Tony Palmer]

I guess what I'm curious about is the sound of the distortion as a function of where it is used...any comments?

[Jim Sliff]

Time-based effects; delay, echo, reverb, chorus; are the only ones that should ever be used in a loop, and I con't even like them there.

OD and distortion run early in the chain, normally. I run a booster first, then OD, then Fuzz, them time stuff, with volume pedal last.