Random questions about things I don't know about :)

[Eskimo_Joe]

QUESTION 1 --- How does an amps' effects loop work? If I always have an effect on (SBEQ), does it matter?

QUESTION 2 --- I have a Victoria combo amp. If I have an amp head that I want to play through the Victoria speakers, is that possible????

[Jagattack]

I was waiting for more knowledgeable persons to post on this, but I will give you my small amount of knowledge
on these questions and wait to be corrected or expanded upon.

There are two types of FX loops - series and parallel. The series version works like having a pedal between the guitar and the amp,
although the point at which the loop comes out and goes back in could vary with different models. That is the loop may send and
return to different parts of the preamp section. This could be a good place to put the SBEQ if you have it always on and want it all
through your tone. I think there's still a level control of some sort, but I don't know how it works?

The parallel FX loop gets mixed into the preamp with the non-FX loop sound and you can blend how much of the FX in the loop get
added in, I think reverbs always work like this. So the parallel FX loop is better for delays, reverbs and things that you want to mix
with the straight guitar sound, but you could put any effect in there and max out the depth on the effect then the mix control on
the FX loop becomes like your depth control. I personally don't think it's any good for fuzz or OD type effects because you're usually
looking to drive the effect in some way from the guitar (vol and tone knobs) and then have the tone from the effect drive the preamp
on your amp, or even the power section depending your setup. The parallel FX loop can be good to put a non true bypass effect in it
and then switching the loop in and out to avoid the tone suck.

The thing about FX loops is they present the effects with a high impedance to drive and take away the need for the guitar to drive them
directly which can help in some situations, but it depends on how the loop is implemented - I'm not trying to say that all FX loops are
buffered.

The other question about driving the speakers in your combo with a head - this should not be a problem, as long as the load presented
by the speakers is suitable for the head to drive (very likely it is especially if the head is a valve amp). So, to work this out you just need
to know the impedance of each speaker and whether they are connected in series or parallel. Two 8 ohm speakers in series = 16 ohm load.
Two 8 ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohm load, two 4 ohm speakers in series = 8 ohms (there are other combinations eg 16 ohm speakers).
Then you would select the correct speaker output on the back of the head for the load of the Victoria's speakers and plug into that.

Of course the cable probably wont be long enough or maybe the connections are hardwired or something, then this would require minor mods.
Things to avoid: unplugging the Victoria's speakers and accidentally switching it on (BAD!), unplugging the Victoria's speakers and then using
other wire to connect the speakers to the head and just having the cable that usually plugs into the Victoria flapping around, and taking some
wire from the head to Victoria speakers while they are still plugged into the Victoria (I would not recommend this at all!).

Cheers
Jag

[Bobby D]

that sounded like an intelligent and knowledgeable response to ME

[Jagattack]

Cheers Bobby, I just don't want it to be taken as gospel because there could be some developments and specifics I'm not aware of.

[Jagattack]

Oh yeah, I should have said how you can tell if your speakers are in series or parallel!

Series: http://www.soundcitysite.com/sc_webpages/series_2x12.pdf

Parallel: http://www.soundcitysite.com/sc_webpages/parallel_2x12.pdf

[Eskimo_Joe]

that sounded like an intelligent and knowledgeable response to ME

I agree, thanks Jag!