Help Me Build a Setup

[GlassMoon26]

As I am but an impoverished British teenager/student, I can't afford such fancy things as a Mesa, or a Blackstar Artisan, but I'd love to know generally what people's feelings are on Blackstar HT-5 combos, and the HT-DistX pedal if anyone has any experience of either. I'm looking to build up a mini practice/recording rig from...

a HT5 Combo
a HT-DistX
a Hardwire DL8
a Korg Pitchblack Tuner

I play mainly metal, and a large amount of prog, ranging from Muse to Dream Theater (of course, I play a JP6 after all) so basically, oh great forumers, to give me advice.

Oh, and don't go suggesting anything either to expensive or large as this'll all be for university.

[Voo]

can you give us an idea of your budget?

[rickjohns]

I think what you have suggested is decent for your needs. I would look into all in one processors as well. The processors usually do metal really well, it's the subtle bluesy soft stuff they are not as good with.

[Sub1 Zero]

The Vox Valvetronix line is something for you to look at, and you can snag them painfully cheap on eBay. I've owned mine now for well over a year, and abused it plenty on full tilt and it keeps coming back for more. I much prefer it to the Line 6 offerings, because although there are less effects and amp models, they sound far better to my ears. Also, the power knob (1w-50w on mine) is an incredibly useful feature. Give it a look

[Spudmurphy]

If you have very little money to spend - get a pod xt - has a good built in tuner too.
If you can snag an FBV shortboard it will give you wah wah /swell.
It would be a good start while you save up.

I saw a band play a large club in Cardiff and the guitarist had great tone - he used an xt into the PA. I know that the XT is not gonna compete with the real thing but hell - you'll have a good start.

The valvetronix is a good option too - my son had a 30 watt then sold it to get a 50watt.

Blackstar - not sure that the little combo will give you good cleans there is a thread on it somewhere on the forum - try the search and see what you come up with.

I have a pitchblack plus and it is a great tuner - fast - large LED's -accurate.
Don't bother getting the Pitchblack plus (the one I have) as the extra functionality is not worth it.

[bkrumme]

I've had tons of good luck with a Line6 Spider Valve combo. That plus the same FBV Shortboard, and you've got yourself a pretty nice practice & recording rig.

[TonyEVH5150]

I own a HT-5 mini stack, and it does have a good clean channel. I normally avoid clean channels - play alot of distortion, but this amp makes me want to use it.

The gain on the HT-5 is great. I can get a great modern high gain tone out of it, but I don't know if it will get a metal tone without some help. I haven't used a Blackstar distortion pedal, but the one you listed should do the trick.

I also have the Korg Pitchblack tuner. does a great job, and the tuning is dead accurate.

[GlassMoon26]

I bought the HT-Dist X pedal earlier today, and I couldn't be happier, basically meaning I'm almost certainly getting a HT-5 now, and the Korg PB tuner is no brainer. Ta guys.

That just leaves the delay pedal. Has anyone got any experience with Hardwire? I know they're an offshoot of Digitech, and having owned a few digitech pedals in the past I know they tend to be good value. I really love the sound it gets and it comes in at about £100, so is there any decent competition that I should know about?

[Voo]

MXR carbon copy

I dont know how many delay pedals I went through before finding this one, love it

[Phrat]

+1 on the HT-5

I love mine

[bkrumme]

MXR carbon copy

the Carbon Copy is a great Delay pedal. The Boss DD-7 is always a good choice as well.

[sickindian]

the Carbon Copy is a great Delay pedal. The Boss DD-7 is always a good choice as well.

Had dd-7 plenty options but you can hear hum when playing distorted sounds never tried CC. Personally got 2290 and dd-3 A version happy with both.

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I don't think you can really go wrong with Boss Delay's.

[GlassMoon26]

Not into boss pedals generally unfortunately, had bad experiences in the past. Still think the HWDL8 looks the best, the same price as the MXR Carbon Copy but has a loop function and stuff. Is there a big difference in quality bewteen the two would you imagine? Obviously the HW is digital...is there such a thing as a non-digital delay..?

[Voo]

the Carbon copy is an analog delay

IMO this is a much warmer and responsive delay compared to the Boss delays. There is no loop function but for the $ I think its worth it.