OD Boost
 

In using an OD pedal as a boost, is it more effective to go through the effects loop or guitar>pedal>amp?

what are you trying to do? 100% volume boost or a boost to add some grit, hint of volume, compression and tighten up the sound like a lead tone?

if A, run the gain DOWN level up, would work in the loop or before the amp on a cleaner tone

but if B on a dirty tone, its going to hit the front end of the amp harder and take a gritty tone to a distorted one.

If you just want to be louder, then stick it in the FX loop with the drive turned down and it will work just like turning up the master volume a little. If you want more of a solo/lead boost then stick it before the amp with the level up and the drive to taste.

A simplified way of putting it would be that infront of the amp is like turning up the gain, while in the FX loop it's like turning up the master volume.

alright, cool! thanks for the answers :)

Most overdrive pedals are nowhere near transparent enough to go in the loop as a volume boost. It will make the front louder if it's reasonably clean, or more compressed if it isn't.

A Microamp/volume pedal would be way better in the loop - I use the latter.

very true. a cleaner pedal or something like an EQ with the level up is better suited in teh loop.

doesnt matter, the question was just on an OD.

yeah personally, i would run an OD in front of the amp. even with the level up, you should be able to get a fairly clean volume boost on a cleaner channel. it really depends on the amp .

With an OD gain down/level up your going to push the first preamp tube into overdrive so using an OD as clean boost doesn't really work that well.

completely depends on the headroom of the amp. on a very clean setting with a high headroom amp, its basically going to act as a clean boost. but it depends on the amp and pedal.