Off Topic Floor based multi FX

[spkirby]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of getting a floor based multi fx unit. Any recommendations and experiences you'd like to share?

I've been an analog pedalboard guy for a long while but looking for something easier for those days when I'm feeling lazy and less like tap dancing! Plus having a few new tones & fx to play with, albeit digital, wouldnt be a bad thing.

Thanks

 

[Sweat]

Honestly you just need to try whats out there, so many and at all different price levels, I prefer the Boss GT series, my brother who can actually play uses the GT-6, but you would be hard pressed to find a new GT-6, I now use the new GT-10 and really like it and had the GT-8 before and liked it as well, only reason i went to the 10 was easier interface and much bigger display, which I need bad eyesight as I get older LOL

 

[eegor]

Hi. I bought a Zoom G9.2tt a little while ago, and I gotta say, out of pretty much every multi effects processor I've heard (for under $1000) I love it the most. It sets itself apart because of the two 12AX7 tubes in there and ability to blend tube and solidstate as well as boost the gain signal with the tubes. The tubes also take away a lot of the digital sound that most effects processors have.

It's got an array of different amp and pedal models, as well as a few combinations of amps and pedals, and they all sound surprisingly good. Its other effects (delay, chorus, wah, etc.) are hit and miss, though. Some work well with some amp models, but sometimes it's very difficult to get good integration.

Overall, I say this processor is one of the best floor-based units out there, and it doesn't take long to learn how to get a good tone out of it.

 

[Spudmurphy]

POD XT - cheap now a daze !!

Great for the bucks.
Link it up to a FBV shortboard and you will have a wah wah too!!

Love mine!

 

[Paul in WV]

POD XT - cheap now a daze !!

Great for the bucks.
Link it up to a FBV shortboard and you will have a wah wah too!!

Love mine!

I have a POD XT live as well and I have to say for the $$, you sure do get access to a lot of pretty cool stuff.

I have things now that I only dreamed I'd have back in the day when I was playing a lot...I barely had enough cash for strings in those days. I've heard people complain that the Amp/Cab models don't sound perfect but as long as you're aware of that, you should be OK.

I'm by no means the expert but now that I'm playing pretty regularly with a local group that needed a second guitar player, the rest of the band seems to think it works pretty good. We're rehearsing the lead singer's original stuff and she liked it so much she went and bought a POD as well...not the XT but she said she was so impressed with what I was able to pull off, she wanted something too.

There are TONS of options on these things now days and the prices go from fairly cheap to extremely expensive so you're probably going to get a lot of different suggestions.

Spud...FBV shortboard? Can you explain for the unlearned?

 

[lumberjack]

POD XT - cheap now a daze !!

Great for the bucks.
Link it up to a FBV shortboard and you will have a wah wah too!!

Love mine!

Yep, based on Spud's advice and help, I picked up a POD as well. Very cool unit. Especially, the newest version. Haven't gotten around to picking up the shortboard yet, but adding and midi type foot controller would give you a very nice unit.

Also, you could look into the Line6 M-13. Very nice unit, too.

 

[fsmith]

If you're looking only for effects, the Line6 M13 looks tough to beat. I'm planning on picking one up to use with my Rebel 20.

I also have a Pod XT and it's a great little unit.

fred

 

[Colin]

I have a GT-6 and it's great.

 

[trolley]

Hi. I bought a Zoom G9.2tt a little while ago, and I gotta say, out of pretty much every multi effects processor I've heard (for under $1000) I love it the most. It sets itself apart because of the two 12AX7 tubes in there and ability to blend tube and solidstate as well as boost the gain signal with the tubes. The tubes also take away a lot of the digital sound that most effects processors have.

It's got an array of different amp and pedal models, as well as a few combinations of amps and pedals, and they all sound surprisingly good. Its other effects (delay, chorus, wah, etc.) are hit and miss, though. Some work well with some amp models, but sometimes it's very difficult to get good integration.

Overall, I say this processor is one of the best floor-based units out there, and it doesn't take long to learn how to get a good tone out of it.

I agree with the man!
I have one bolted onto the front of my TSL60 - awesome. And since each patch can be boosted or not, and you can control 3 parameters independently (4 if you include tap delay) the world's your bivalve mollusc.

Mind you, if I had the money I'd buy a G system - but I don't use o/d pedals. All the gain comes from the amp

 

[TNT]

I try and compare everything to my Eventide Harmonizer when I'm searching for the highest quality.


Damage Control Glass Nexus for multi effects (tube)
Damage Control Timeline for delay (tube)

Zoom is also very good (tube). I haven't tried the G system yet that Vai uses.

P.S. Trolley, I have that same amp (TSL60) it's a toss up with my JCM 900 MK111 for the best amp Marshall ever made - it's dynamite!!

 

[Jonny Dubai]

I like the Vox stuff,

J

 

[fbecir]

A long time ago, I bought a ART SGE Mach II (in 1990 I believe). After that, I bought a BOSS ME30, a Digitech RP100, a ZOOM G2.1u ...
I was using this but one day, I told me : well, let's try again my old Ibanez OD9 (from 1982) ... and I was blown away. The digital stuff is nice a low level
and for recording but if you play in a live situation with a good amp (rehearsal or gig), the good old stompboxes are better, IMHO.
The ZOOM G2.1u is cheap and handy but don't expect to have great sounds. You will spend days playing with the presets but at the end, it's better to invest in a good analog pedal that does exactly what you want.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

It seems to me most of these FX units have a preamp section too. Does anyone still make them with just effects?

 

[fbecir]

It seems to me most of these FX units have a preamp section too. Does anyone still make them with just effects?

The G-System from TC Electronic is what you are looking for. There are just effects and loops for your pedals. But it's expansive : 1400 €

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I'm really happy with my Digi-Tech RP250. When plugged into the laptop over a USB cable, you have access to effects not available with the dials on the unit. Create what you want and save it under the name you want. Very compact and easy to use. I spent way too much time at GC trying out various ones and this was the only one intuitive to me. It was on sale for $139 when I bought it and I had a 10% off coupon to boot.

jack

 

[Dead-Eye]

The Pod X3 is a very interesting piece of kit if you have a MM with a piezo. It can run two different presets at the same time, so you can connect the magnetics to one input, the piezo to the other, process them independently and send both signals to different outputs (or to the same one, if you want to). My dad just bought an X3 live as a lightweight alternative to the Mesa + AER setup he usually plays through.

 

[73h Nils]

If you've got $$$$, the G System is insane. That thing does everything and your laundry*....



*May not do laundry.

 

[spkirby]

I really like the G-System idea and its high end quality but it still means carting around separate OD pedals and an expression pedal to get it all up and running. I was thinking of a one-unit solution. I'll see if I can check out the Zoom 9.2tt, POD X3 Live and the Boss GT-10. Anyone rate the Digitech GNX4, it seems to have been around for a long time but has a load of features...?

 

[floyd99]

i'm using a Line 6 M-13 and it's great.
i've never liked multi-fx units as I don't work too well with the whole notion of "patches". The M-13 is unlike all other units in that there are no patches, it's just a digital set of stomp boxes. It does have overdrive/distortion effect but I don't use them... I use the M-13 just for modulation, delay, reverb etc and run stomp boxes for overdrive/distortion. but, I believe the overdrive/distortion on the M-13 isn't too bad - I've just not as used used them.

 

[mcvinyl]

I've just been reading the review for that new Line 6 unit in Guitarist Australia. It looks great. I think I might have to check one out this year.

Simon