When I am considering the order of pedals I usually think along the lines of what I am trying to accomplish. For example I use an EQ pedal for a number of reasons but almost exclusively onstasge. Sometimes I use it as a boost and tone shaping device for when I want to stomp on something for a lead sound in which case it goes last, if I want to reshape the tonality of the guitar tone I would put it first. So you need to define why you need it, don't like the tone you get after stepping on the dist. then it goes last, if you want to increase the distortion turn up the boost and run it into the dist pedal and you will overdive the dist pedal more.

This is from Premier Guitar Feb 09 Stomp School
"Greetings gearheads, welcome back to “Stomp School!” Since starting the column, Analog Mike and I have received a number of pedal-related questions from Premier Guitar readers. So, we thought we’d take some time in this month’s column to answer some real questions posed by real readers. Here goes…

Q: First of all, I love the column! Very cool, and full of useful info. I have a question. I’m planning on adding a clean boost to my pedalboard and was wondering where to place it in the chain. It seems logical that I should put it at the end of the chain to boost the signal after the loss from my pedals and just before it hits the amp. But, I’m not sure. What do you suggest? I appreciate any help you can give me. Again, I love the column (and PG is my favorite mag)!
Rock & Roll, Greg

A: Hi Greg. The order of a clean boost and a dirt pedal (overdrive or distortion) determines what the clean boost will do. A clean boost into a distortion pedal will add more distortion. That’s because the distortion pedal is already clipping, and will just clip more when you hit it harder. That’s also why a small amp cranked up (or a Marshall on 10) does not get louder when you hit it with a louder signal—it’s already out of headroom, so it can only distort more. That’s how a lot of players used the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 back in the day, to overdrive the amp. A clean boost after a dirt pedal will increase the volume without adding more distortion. So put it where it will do what you want (or get two: one for more distortion and one for more volume!). "

I am looking to chop off some of the bass frequencies so they don't reach the mics in the first place, so I would probably put it first before the distortion. How do you think it would perform in the FX loop?

You can't lower the bass enough in the amp controls? Or is this possibly proximity effect? Have you tried moving those mics back six inches?

The fx loop might be the ideal place, in most of the tube marshalls that loop is after the preamp (where I believe the tone controls are) and before the power amp, but in solid state I haven't a clue how it is setup.

jg49 wrote: You can't lower the bass enough in the amp controls?

Nahh, the channel I will be using only has a 2 band EQ, bass and treble. Yeah I know that's ridic, my amp is the next thing that needs to be replaced.