Searching for that ideal guitar tone has driven many players to explore innovative techniques for integrating effects pedals with amplifiers. Four Cable Method (4CM) provides excellent tonal control with its highly flexible setup.
Connect a standard instrument cable from your guitar to the output of the first pedal in your chain (red). Next, link up a green cable from the multi-effects processor’s external loop SEND jack to your amp’s FX Loop Return for connection of both processes.
Preamp Tone
Searching for that ideal guitar tone has led countless players down a variety of paths, including finding effective ways to integrate effects pedals with an amplifier’s preamp. One approach, known as the Four Cable Method or simply 4CM, allows for precise control over how effects alter an amplifier’s core tone by running pedals either before or after its preamp – providing you with much-needed control over how effects impact its core tone.
The Four Cable Method
An amplifier’s effect loop has send and return jack sockets that allow you to run guitar effects both before and after its preamp. In order to utilize this technique, an amp equipped with an effect loop as well as a multi-effects processor with an external loop send/return is necessary; both of which should feature standard input/output jacks that connect easily to sockets on its front panel.
Your signal chain begins with your guitar, which should be connected to the first pedal on your pedalboard using an instrument cable. Next, add any additional pedals you wish to use prior to connecting them to an amplifier using additional patch cables. It is best to limit yourself to using only four pedals at one time when using this approach; too many could create feedback loops and noise problems which degrade tone quality. Furthermore, investing in high-quality instrument and patch cables is highly recommended as these will minimize signal loss and interference issues.
Once all your pedals have been connected to your pedalboard, plug one end of a first patch cable into the output socket on your multi-effects processor and connect its other end with amplifier’s INPUT jack. After processing your signal with this multi-effects processor, use cable 3 to tap its output directly into amplifier SEND jack via its SEND plug – this way the amplifier’s preamp section and power amp section will create amplified sound via speakers.
Guitar amplifiers consist of two sections; the preamp and power amp. The preamp serves as the source for basic tone settings, including an assortment of EQ controls; while its counterpart drives amplifying your guitar sound via signal from effects loops.
Running guitar effects through either an amplifier’s preamp or effects loop can dramatically alter their tone. Pitch shift effects tend to sound better when used in the preamp than effects loop, as they won’t be affected by natural compression when the amp is overdriven; delay and reverb effects tend to sound better in the preamp as their distortion-reducing properties make their presence felt more readily. You should experiment both options until finding one that sounds best with your setup.