Buying a multi-effects unit

[Owen]

I’ve just joined a covers band, I haven’t played with a band for over ten years, apart from my Luke the rest of my gear is a bit dated, so I have decided to get a new multi-effects unit. I can’t afford anything too expensive so I am looking at the Boss ME-50 and the Korg AX1500G.

Has anyone got/tried either of these or got any views on them or any others?

 

[NorM]

I really like the Boss over the Korg. The ME 50 is a huge step over the ME30. Personally I have been a fan of Digitech over the years but their latest low end line to compete with things like the Boss seemed a little lacking. On the other hand I never played one.

The Boss will meat your needs.

 

[Luiz Gustavo]

Go for POD XL Live.

More than multi effects.

 

[Colin]

I can recommend the Boss GT-6 or GT-8.

 

[SteveB]

A buddy of mine who gigs constantly really digs his Boss multi-effects.

 

[Randracula]

Which effects do you plan to use most?Why not see how much it would be to buy those effects separately? If you could narrow it down to three or four....like a Delay,Wah,Chorus and OD for leads you would most likely get a way better sound than a multi-effects unit.You would also get more tweakablity out of each effect and probably come in about the same price without paying for a bunch of effects you won't use...........

 

[J_Alexander]

i always suggest the digitech 2120. while its older so was my eventide h3000 i sold to buy it and a axis and some other rack gear. i first bought this unit to replace my eventide as it comes closer to the eventide's detuner then anything i have ever heard. i didnt use any of the other efffects as i use all seprate for everything. the other night i got to digging into the 2120 and it is the best money can buy if you ask me wow. you can find them on e-bay. its abit confusing to figure out at first but once you read the manual you'll get the hang of it as its no cheapo effects unit. tehy are usually on e-bay for around 450 or so.

 

[Silhouette]

While on this subject I'm thinking of selling a Roland GP-100 (I've also got an FC-200 so gigging with it is easy). Can any other Roland users help swing me away from this idea because it truly is a great piece of equipment, it's just my graphic design course is soooo intense I don't really have the time to mess around with multi effects. Complicated piece of equipment but damn good. Once I've made a decision on whether I want it or not I can get in contact with you.

^This post makes no real sense, sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

 

[Jimi D]

Which effects do you plan to use most?Why not see how much it would be to buy those effects separately? If you could narrow it down to three or four....like a Delay,Wah,Chorus and OD for leads you would most likely get a way better sound than a multi-effects unit.You would also get more tweakablity out of each effect and probably come in about the same price without paying for a bunch of effects you won't use...........

I would have agreed with this statement even two or three years ago, but today, if you compare the performance of something like a Boss ME-50 or (if you want the amp modelling too) the GT-6 or GT-8*, you're very hard pressed to put together anything near as flexible as a good multieffects pedal using individual pedals - you would be pressed to pay for a good Delay, Chorus and Wah for the price of an ME-50, for example, and adding an Overdrive, Distortion and maybe a Tremolo or Flanger to that and you're way over... I think the new multieffects units sound stunning for the money, and their "tweakability" (at least with the Boss units) is probably more complex than the average pedal. For live work, if you've got the patience to program one, it's hard to beat them, really....

my 2¢

* note: I use these particular models as examples only because I have some experience with them, and use a GT-6 myself - there are other equally capable systems from other manufacturers...

 

[Owen]

Many thanks for your comments.

I have got a number of stomp boxes, but I am short of a tuner and a power supply, the effect I most wanted to add was some kind of rotary/u-vibe effect and they are not cheap. In the last hour I've been offered a 2nd hand Korg AX3000G for a reasonable sum so I might be tempted towards that. Otherwise based on comments here, it looks like the Boss unit may be the one to go with.

cheers

 

[Dakine]

In LIVE situation, BOSS rules!!!!!!!!! ENd of story.
Know a guy who actually tests for Line6 and he hates the stuff live.
Now for pc stuff, line6 (pod etc.) is the leader.
But live, BOSS!!!!

I just got the GT 8 and am blown away.
Also tried the ME-50 though, and if modelling/patches/fx etc. are not your bag/quest, then the ME-50 will be awesome.
Try them out is only/best advice.

 

[dannymusic]

if you have a PIEZO, the digitech GNX4 is a great choice. inputs for both mag and mic and line. Great tones

 

[NorM]

if you have a PIEZO, the digitech GNX4 is a great choice. inputs for both mag and mic and line. Great tones

I remember yo had said that before but I forgot. I so want to try that out.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Pod XT with floorboard or Pod Live.
At home they are awesome ... on the road they are .... awesome!!!

 

[Colin]

With the GT-8 you can actually change the channels on your amp (latching type) and save it as a preset. And while the individual pedals may be easier to use, the progression up to the GT-8 is not that much harder to use.

 

[Owen]

Thanks for the advice.

I spent quite a lot of time on the ME-50 but I wasn't too impressed with it, and it needs extra investment (adaptor & bank switch extra) I've now bought the 2nd hand Korg AX3000G, it came in £30 cheaper than the Boss, and I I had to pay out for an unexpected repair on the car yesterday so financially it was the better thing to do. I'm going to test it thoroughly at home and at the rehearsals, if it doesn't peform I think I can sell it on and get my money back (at least).

First impressions are good, well made, all metal including the exp pedal, it seems to have less impact than the Boss on the natural tone. The modelled effects/amps are quite authentic to the real thing. The Boss seemed to go strange when you got past 12 o'clock on the dials on modulation, the Korg is more subtle. Also the expression pedal is assignable to virtuallly any effect so you can have it as a gain control ie. half way - clean, to flat - distortion and volume increase v. useful for solos.

 

[lenny]

I have the KORG AX1500G and i LOVE it i have had them all boss digitech POD and like i said my Family owns a music Store For 27 years and counting and i sell more Korg EFFECTS UNITS than anything,when it comes to STOMP boxes then we are talking different because i use everything from Boss to POD and back but you will not regret buying the KORG very Versitile very Easy to program and you have Factory presets and your own so its the best of both world and it ALL METAL! i have been using the AX1500 on stage since it came out with my Marshall JCM2000 TSL 60 head and cab and it has a BYPASS so if i want just MArshall I hit BYPASS if i want the EFEECTS UNIT i undo the Bypass with a stomp of the switch
Hope this helped

 

[MikeVt]

I've had a few different floor multi-fx units, but right now I actively use both a Boss GT6 and a GT8. I was lucky enough to get one of the first GT8's to hit the US and I was just blown away by the improvements over the GT6. The GT8 is a tweaker's dream. There's virtually nothing you can't do with it. If I had to pick a weak spot, it would be in the amp models. They definitely sound best through full range powered monitors or a PA. Regular guitar amps just add too much color. Over on the BossGTCentral forum, the new Digitech GNX3000 seems to be getting better reviews for amp modelling. I have to agree that I like the amp models in my Behringer V-amp2 and my Korg PX4D better than the amps in the Boss - but from an effects standpoint, the Boss wins hands down....

Mike

 

[Sub1 Zero]

when i was in this situation i chose the digitech RP50, and it is all i need (actually more). it pretty much covers every genre

 

[Junior]

Yeah, that's the ONLY reason why I don't like multieffects. I just can't find one that has the features that I need, without 90% more. If I'd buy one, I'd probably use just about 10% of its features. Other than that, I love multieffects, 'cause of the programable patches. That's totally slammin'!

But I'd rather just buy a few pedals than spend way more on something that I'd barely use.

The reason for me not using many effects is 'cause I like to have as less effects posibble to keep the real guitar sound going. IMHO The sounds looses its soul and hardness when you have like, 20 effects etc. And I'm talking about live stuff. I don't mind tons of effects in the studio. This is what I'd use: Distortion (amp), reverb (amp), delay, talkbox (Bon Jovi ), volume pedal (only for boosting on solos), tuner. I even kicked out the wah. I don't need it.

Actually, I'd just like to have the guitar plugged into the amp with no stuf in between, but I need the talkbox, I need the boosting on solos, and the delay is... cool And the pedal I didn't mention is the tuner, but that's not an effect. Nevertheless, it's a pedal.



But if you want a really good one, I'd go for the Boss GT series. GT-8, prefferably