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dojo

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2006
Messages
102
Location
Kansas

noise5150

Active member
Joined
May 13, 2008
Messages
39
I've recently completely changed over my rig from a Marshall head and cab to a Multi-effects set up through 2 Alto PAs. It suits my needs and I've never been as happy with my tone or versatility. I recently got a used BOSS GT-8 that I use through the PAs and I also have an Eleven Rack which I use as well but also for recording. As far as the Pedals vs multi-effects question, I've had many pedals over the years including distortion and many different delays and other effects. Nothing beats a great distortion pedal but I challenge anyone to tell the difference between a stomp box delay or chorus etc vs on the GT-8. I dont think the distortion stomp box sims on the GT8 or 11R are as dynamic as the real thing, but they are pretty close and good enough for me considering the convenience.
 

Voo

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Messages
396
Location
742 Evergreen Terrace
Through the years I have, like most of you guys, gone back and forth. What I have come to realize is that I have a love hate relationship with gear. When I get lazy and just want things pre-programmed I go for a multi effects unit, but I find that I am more creative when I can mess around with the settings on the pedals (usually accidentally when my foot moves a knob). Additionally, there are just some pedals that I really just love. My Kanji is one of the best sounding overdrives to my ears. The Xotic EP Booster is just raw, love it.
anyways that's my 2cents
 

Astrofreq

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2006
Messages
4,201
Location
Santa Fe, NM
Same here. 20 years ago, I had a FULL 14 space floating rack. It was awesome, but a true backbreaker. The only thing I miss was the absolute control I had with midi and and expression pedal. I ran everything in stereo and it was beautiful. BUT, I was young and had not really discovered the beauty of tube amps. I finally splurged and bought a nice tube amp about 5 years ago. My straight tone is unquestionably better than ever. My pedalboard consists of 7 pedals, including the amp switcher. VERY small compared to even 10 years ago.

I have always stayed away from "multi-effect" pedals. I don't like Line6 and Digitech anything because they just don't sound good to my ears. The only "multi" pedal I have is a Strymon Mobius, which will give me all the cool modulation sounds I need for the rest of my life. It sounds fantastic.

The bottom line is that (some) pedals truly sound better and are more powerful than they ever were. I can't see myself ever going back to the rack world (for gigging). I play heavier music now than when I was young, so as long as I have a SICK tone with just my guitar and amp, I'm happy. Pedals are fun, but for me, even then are just icing on the cake.

The more the rest of the world plays ambient music with tons of delays, the drier my sound gets. :)
 

luke2joey

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
61
Location
The Netherlands
I have been trying all the modelling stuff too. But....it is like driving a hot-rod car in a video game.
Then, when you try a good tube amp and a few good pedals, it feels like driving a hot rod for real: the dynamics, the organic sound....the real fun to drive/play with....
The video game can be very realistic, just like the modelling units, but they never get the fun/adventure level that the real thing gives you..
Just my experience. Mind you, esp. with the MM guitars! Great guitars, great 'tone machines' from themselves!.
 

Speros

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Messages
25
Ill always stick to real pedals, more unique, a lot easier to control; and it just looks prettier. Prime example of a pedal that you wouldnt get on a modeller would be the Paul Gilbert AF2. The thing is a goddamn monster!
 

Kenji20022

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 19, 2011
Messages
270
Location
Deerfield Beach, Florida, United States
I have been trying all the modelling stuff too. But....it is like driving a hot-rod car in a video game.
Then, when you try a good tube amp and a few good pedals, it feels like driving a hot rod for real: the dynamics, the organic sound....the real fun to drive/play with....
The video game can be very realistic, just like the modelling units, but they never get the fun/adventure level that the real thing gives you..
Just my experience. Mind you, esp. with the MM guitars! Great guitars, great 'tone machines' from themselves!.

I can appreciate trying a real amp and going the traditional way to get a tone, but for me I've always thought of the Content:price Ratio. I'm still in college, and I feel incredibly lucky on the deals I've gotten on all my gear, and through years of saving up I've been able to perfect my rig. I started out with a Line 6 Spider III, which was terrible but got the job done and had distortion, after awhile I spotted a Digitech GNX3 on Craigslist for a mere $100, and after fiddling with the modeling on it and learning how to properly get a good tone out of it, I used it for at least the last 5 and a half years. IMO it's one of the best starting points for a guitarist, TONS of effects and sounds and the unit itself is sturdy as hell. I still have it and have no intentions to sell it.

After I got my Roland Cube 80XL, I found out a wonderful secret in the GNX3, you can disable amp/cab modeling individually and use it simply for effects. Which may seem like a given for a Multi FX unit, but when you figure I bought it second hand with no manual, and the little display leaves little to actually learn from :D but what turning off the Cab Sim and pushing it through the Roland gave all of my tones a breath of fresh air. After learning this, it's now my backup unit for my Axe FX 2! Of course it doesn't sound as good as the Axe FX, but it can certainly hold it's own for being a modeler that's 10+ years old!

And the Axe FX 2 is just wonderful, I honestly have no practical reason to get a Tube Amp when I have this. Trying Tube Amps and the Axe FX side by side doesn't really make me want a tube amp, I'll eventually buy an Orange Combo since I've always wanted one. But the Axe FX carries everything I need within it and more than I could ever use. Bringing up the Content:price Ratio, the thing has more amps than I'll ever use. And for the cost of pedals/the space they take up/and how their value depreciates, it isn't worth it to spend so much on several pedals. I'd much rather have a unit with everything I need for a more cost effective price.
 
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