Q: I want to use modulation and time-based effects on my guitar, and I read that they should go in the effects loop of my amp. But my amp doesn’t have an effects loop! What can I do?
A: It is generally suggested that you place modulation and time-based effects, such as choruses, delays, and reverbs, in an amp’s effects loops, because putting them in front of overdrive and distortion can end up turning your tone to mud. However, that’s all it is — a suggestion. Lots of vintage amps never had effects loops. In these cases, a guitarist could keep the amp clean for pedals, and then put a dirt pedal in front of their modulation and time-based pedals, which in effect provides a similar signal path as if you’d kept your amp dirty and put your modulation and time-based pedals in the amp’s effects loop.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with sonic experimentation — you may find that putting a huge dark delay in front of your high-gain amp gives you a washed out atmosphere that you really like for creating a certain mood. Or you may find a particular pedal that you think sounds really good in front of an amp. There are effects such as the Fulltone Tape Echo that emulate the EP3 Echoplex, for example, that were designed to go in front of an amp. And the 1963 Fender Tube Reverb Tank also went in front of the amp, so the Fender Tube Reverb reissue effect and the BOSS FRV-1 Fender Reverb Pedal are both at home in front of the amp as well. So don’t worry if you don’t have an effects loop in your amp — you still have lots of options!