Pedals or All In One Box?

So, now that I have upgraded to a DRRI, I now find myself in need of certains effects ( just sold my Line 6 modeling amp ). It seems you either go with multiple pedals or a all in one box. Which would you go with and why? Any brand suggestions would be very appreciated. The only pedal I have heard touted by nearly all the folks I know who play is the Tube Screamer. I play everthing from the Stones to AC/DC to Surf Music.

Sorry guys, this newbie posted this in the wrong forum. I will direct myself to the proper location.

A tube screamer will enter the territory that you play. The DRRI can use a little help to get that type of edge. I am a proponet of minimum pedal use. But I find the TS helps in so many places. Plus you can always cut it off.

So with the DRRI, you have Tremelo, & Reverb. An overdrive and maybe a nice delay would cover a whole lot of territory.

Even though I like a minimum pedal setup, I play in several bands covering R&B/Funk, Blues, British pop and Praise & Worship. Therefore, I felt limited with the pedals that I have. So I sold off a few extra pedals and bought a new Boss GT-10 with EVERYTHING in it. It cost a lot, but not as much as the 4 pedals that I just sold. There is a new learning curve to over come. And the magnitude of new sounds is overwhelming. There is a lot of tweaking required from the stock patches to obtain exactly the sound I need ofr particular songs. Then there is the problem of remembering where that patch is (there are 200 preset and 200 user programs). But it does EVERYTHING. There are many sounds that I cannot obtain with even a complex array of pedals because the way the connection archetecture is setup. Plus, it has some limited amp modeling *something that you may have liked about the Line6).

Even though the GT-10 has everything, it can often sound too processed. Tweaking can help fix some of that, but the tweaking can be endless and a hassle at times. Particularly at rehearsal or on stage when there is no time to fix things the way you think it should sound. You generally won't have that much hassle with just a pedal or two.

It's more cost effective to buy an all in one, but it's more fun to buy single pedals.

even though some of the "all in one" or "multi" fx box is cheaper than some single effect pedals, I found that I DIDN'T need all the "bells and whistles" that come with the "multi" fx. I mean it's fun to play with all the presets, but playing in the "real world", I realize that I only use a couple of fx. Though it is very convenient to have an "all in one" box, and it makes your playing area look less than a "snakepit".
It's so much easier to just dial your settings with the single fx pedal when your at a venue compared to fooling with the preset buttons on a "multi" before a show...and you don't even know what the room would sound like in the first place. Not to mention that each venue has its own unique sound...

multi boxes are cheap and effective but you will swiftly become unhappy with the tone, so really a waste of money if you want lasting satisfaction
so quality single effects all the way

Single pedals are nice, but I have slowly moved over to all-in-one solution. I purchased Boss GT-10, and couldn't be happier. It offers so many options and sounds even if you use only a few. Especially if you want to do any kind of recording, a unit like GT-10 will be so much easier and almost better to work with.

I couldn't tell any major difference between the tone from pedals from the GT-10. Plus, you can a built-in tuner, volume/expression pedal, a decent wah pedal. I use it in front of my tube amp, but if you are playing in a place with a sound system, you can leave the amp home (although I still prefer my amp to direct-in).

Give one of these units a try. You'll be quite surprised.

The reverbs, delays and modulated effects are organic...just stellar

and they sound high resolution and not grainy....

Better than my sons big green Line 6 pedal IMHO

The overdrives and distortions can sound digital if overdone.

The Chandler Tube Driver and Boss Overdrive emulations
are very good...

Definitely try everything that is out there. If you like spending money chasing down that elusive tone ghost than pedals may be for you. Everybody on these forums have probably have gone through every type, make, and model that has ever been on the market since the beginning of time. Form overdrives to fuzz to distortion from chorus to phasers to flanging to delays (tape, analog, and digital) and reverbs. The funny thing is most people end up buying a more expensive version of something that they already have. Or they sold a pedal and now regret it and try to buy one just like it. I'm guilty too but I'm beginning to sense that has been pulling my franklin these many years.

There are many bonuses to the "all-in-one" option. First off for about $400 bucks you can buy all the effects you could ever need, a tuner, and a expression pedal all encased in a solidly built unit. Just plug in from your guitar and out to your amp, plug in the AC and you are done and ready to rock. What? You amp has crapped out? Just plug out of the unit and into a PA and juice up the monitor, just be sure you told the unit what your pluggin' into and finish out the gig.
Want some new tones to try, just hook up your "all-in-one" into your computer via the USB out and download some new tones. Try doing that with pedals.

The point I'm trying to make is that the "all-in-one" boxes out there are designed for the working musician in mind. A piece of equipment that you can not only play live with through an amp or a PA but also a unit you can use as a recording device also.

But do try what is available and something that sits comfortably within your budget. Check out the POD UX3, Vox Tone Lab, or the Boss GT10. But remember you are going to have to read the manual this time and spend some time programming. If you can turn a knob you can program these things.

Oh, I meant to add that the people listening out in the audience either don't know or don't care what your using. You can be using the entire Keeley line of pedals wired with George-L cables attached to the most elaborate pedal board ever made going into the most expensive boutique amp and you will mostly hear "Play Freebird" and thats it. Either that or "Can I sing "Me And Bobby McGee" with the band?"
In other words, Nobody gives a dingo's what you use! Well maybe the thug in the corner looking to swipe your stuff when you not looking does.

There is something creative about being able to easily tweak the knobs on individual pedals that is lost on a multi effects unit. I very much prefer individual pedals.

There is something creative about taking one pedal away and changing it with another (swap distortion pedals but leave the other stuff alone...etc).

Individual pedals are easy to afford one by one.

Tubescreamers don't have enough gain for me but you could start with a Tubescreamer or a $49 Digitech Bad Monkey or a $49 Boss SD-1 or even a $15 Danelectro FAB Distortion. I have the Monkey, SD-1 and the Dano and I swap them. It's great fun.

Someone had a Digitech distortion pedal in the classifieds here for $28. Ebay is also a treasure trove of pedals. I'll bet that I've bought and sold 30 pedals on ebay. Cheap easy fun.

Best cheapo available! (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Danelectro-D1-Fab-Distortion?sku=151847)

I personally like the sound of individual pedals (and tube amps, and passive single coil pickups). However, vfj1968 makes a valid point in that few in the audience will know the difference. Indeed, they normally won't know the difference between your new DRRI and the Line 6 you dumped. And, certainly, a well played Line 6 is better sounding than a crappily played (put your favorite high dollar boutique amp here).

Still, I think that given equal players, the tube amp sounds better, and the individual pedals sound better. Besides, you should be able to get everything you need with an OD, delay and maybe a wah. As was noted before, you already have reverb and trem in the DRRI. So, unless you really need a lot of effects, that should cover most situations.

I like pedals. Easy to use and if I don't like one I can change it. If I do like it I can use it with any other pedal(s) that I like. It gives me a lot of flexibility. I have multi FX but I don't like the tweaking and changing that goes along with it. With pedals I can dial in a tone and switch and mix them on the fly, without taking my hands off of the guitar. That's a convenience that I really enjoy.

Bob

individual pedals to me always sounds more organic and real than a processing unit will IMO. get yourself a simple pedalboard to makes it easier for gigs and U should be set....

Good ol' Boss pedals with a Tube Screamerish type overdrive (or two) will get you in a great starting place.... Delays, Compressors, Chorus, Tremelo, just about everything you'd ever need is made by Boss or Ibanez or the likes (maxon, mxr etc). Wow....nothing boutique mentioned yet... hmmmm :wink:

Pedals. Not only that, battery powered only. :mrgreen:

I like pedals. Easy to use and if I don't like one I can change it. If I do like it I can use it with any other pedal(s) that I like. It gives me a lot of flexibility. I have multi FX but I don't like the tweaking and changing that goes along with it. With pedals I can dial in a tone and switch and mix them on the fly, without taking my hands off of the guitar. That's a convenience that I really enjoy

Bob

Well it all boils down to "the right tools for the right job". If your in a cover band the "all-in-one" is a pretty useful tool. When I was in a country cover band I had to set patches for material ranging from Buck Owens, to Les Paul & Mary Ford, to Brooks & Dunn, to Hank Williams. Every song had its own delay settings, or what ever effect the song called for. We were required to do a lot of the "big hat" music which mostly is rock with a fiddle so some distortion was required also. It was very convenient to have and sounded really good going through my TRRI and DRRI.

If I'm doing mostly original stuff I mostly use individual pedals but it really depends on the situation and works best for you and your wallet.

I switched to the Boss GT-10 from single pedals.

Its a good MFX. But, its the top of the line at 499.00 USD

Pretty much any MFX will sound decent if you sit and tweak it. Depends on what you have in mind.

Single pedals seem to limit the possibilities in the amount of time between songs.

Another cool thing about the GT-10 is being able to loop a dry signal and play it back as you build a patch. Then with 200 user patches to save in, you can take it to the gig and test the ones you like best in live performance.

So, for me the MFX is faster for live use and its also jammed packed with crazy tools you can use to drive bandmates insane with.

I'm a pedal guy. I usually use a Deluxe Reverb. My "bare bones" pedal set up is a tuner, a ts9 or sd1, an old ce2 chorus or a microvibe, and a delay, either a danecho or boss dd6. The boss sd1 is a real nice pedal at any price and it's under $50 new. Bad monkey is in same price range. Heard good things about it but never had one. Last night i used a boss tuner into a cs3, wah, little big muff, ts9, ce2, microvibe, danecho, into a pro reverb (bigger amp cause we played outdoors in an open area. I love being able to mix and match pedals and not have to cycle through to get a setting. Funny thing with pedals, half the time they're off and when they're on it's usually just one or two. That said, my other guitarist uses a pod into a twin reverb. He sounds great.

I've used the Boss GT8 in the past. It's a great box, but not for me in live situations. Footprint is just too big and it looks like an aircraft console on the floor. Fun to have all the options, but it's not too tweakable while in the gig moment. Prefer it for the studio.

IMO most gig situations in any style/genre -- rock, blues, country, jazz -- all you really need is a good clean sound and a good dirty sound (dirty sounds can be have tons of flexibility when you use your guitar volume knob). You'd be suprised at how much ground you can cover when you limit your options, rather than expanding them. The "all-in-one-box" solution is seductive, but ime you spend more time dancing on pedals patching up and down and less time hitting the good note. ymmv

Currently, I use a pretty simple setup ... amp, overdrive, wah. One of my amps doesn't have a reverb, so sometimes I'll add a reverb pedal -- though sometimes I just go for the dry martini. Less is more.

For all of my guitar-slinging life, I've been a Guitar-stomp box-amp guy.

I snagged a modeling pedal, DigiTech RP100, when they first started popping up, I think in '99 or '00. It still works like a trooper, except for the tuner. But I've always stuck with pedals.

Until recently. I traded my way into a Vox Valvetronix Tonelab SE. The big one with two expression pedals (uh oh, discontinued!). I've never been happier. I feel liberated. If I cant dial in the sound that I need with this device, then I guess I don't need the sound. I don't wanna trip over a mess of cables and wall warts any more. It has simplfied my setup and lightened my load.

Using a modeling pedal requires restraint and self control, and if you can avoid the temptation to use too many effects and too drastic settings, then the tones you can dial in are suprisingly good. I now run direct to the PA with mine and have never had such a good soundboard mix in all my years of playing.

My focus now stays with the songs, I'm starting to just not care about the gear anymore. A few 25 year old Squire strats and a Vox modeling pedal and I'm good.

That said, the Vox does have a preamp tube in it. It came with an Electro Harmonix 12ax7, I have since swapped it out for a more hip RCA 7025 from a 50 year old radio. I notice a smoother top end on some settings, but nothing real drastic.

The Pod X3 Live I own is producing some incredible tone with my AV52 thru headphones, very useful sounds that I would love to use. So far, however, I haven't been able to duplicate the tones thru my DRRI. If I can't do it live, I ain't interested.

I'm not ready to blame the X3 yet, as it takes a lot of tweaking to get it right. The verdict is still out.

+1 on individual pedals. Multifx units seem to be a way to just try what you like before you buy but you've already had that. There are a lot of tweaks you can do with a gt10 but it feels like theres just as many with individual stomps, more than you'll ever get around to trying.

I ended up with the following pedals;
1) Dunlop Wah - Wah
2) Ibanez Tube Screamer
3) Line 6 Delay with Loop
4) Keeley Time Machine (this thing is awesome )

I've used the Boss GT8 in the past. It's a great box, but not for me in live situations. Footprint is just too big and it looks like an aircraft console on the floor. Fun to have all the options, but it's not too tweakable while in the gig moment. Prefer it for the studio.

IMO most gig situations in any style/genre -- rock, blues, country, jazz -- all you really need is a good clean sound and a good dirty sound (dirty sounds can be have tons of flexibility when you use your guitar volume knob). You'd be suprised at how much ground you can cover when you limit your options, rather than expanding them. The "all-in-one-box" solution is seductive, but ime you spend more time dancing on pedals patching up and down and less time hitting the good note. ymmv

Currently, I use a pretty simple setup ... amp, overdrive, wah. One of my amps doesn't have a reverb, so sometimes I'll add a reverb pedal -- though sometimes I just go for the dry martini. Less is more.


"The "all-in-one-box" solution is seductive, but ime you spend more time dancing on pedals patching up and down and less time hitting the good note. ymmv"


Amen TWICE!!! :wink:

The Pod X3 Live I own is producing some incredible tone with my AV52 thru headphones, very useful sounds that I would love to use. So far, however, I haven't been able to duplicate the tones thru my DRRI. If I can't do it live, I ain't interested.

I'm not ready to blame the X3 yet, as it takes a lot of tweaking to get it right. The verdict is still out.

Are you going through your DRRI with the EQ flat (i.e. Bass and Treble set at 1) on the amp? Do you have the POD output set for "combo amp"? If the design is the same as the PODXT Live check to make sure that the amp/line switch is set to amp. Most people forget that its there.

i like pods thru a hi stereo solid state amp .
but i really like pedals. why buy simulations of the real thing?, just get the real thing.
some of the classic sounds are made basically with some effect pedal flavors,modelers offer a way to get those flavors to a recording or hi-fi rig,
but thru a guitar amp pedals just sound more pleasing IMHO.

I came to the same question recently and after talking with several other performers, decided to stay with my pedals for the following reasons.

1.) I like my pedals (Mostly Fulltone)
2.) I like a very organic, analog sound
3.) Processors/modellers take a lot of time, which I do not have, to program patches, tones, and to learn to make them usable to the sounds I need to do when I perform or record.
4.) I can not name one pro performer that I listen to who uses a P/M. I'm not saying there isn't someone out there who uses one, but in the rock/blues circles I'm familiar with they ALL use pedals!

Now if you're a tinkerer and love to spend a lot of time doing patches and want to make it a hobby then have at it!
I just spoke tonight with a fellow guitarist who is an avid Boss GT-8 user, and he suggested I stay with the pedals I have. He said he really like my tone and that it's not worth the time he had to invest to learn his GT-8 well.
(Having said that, he uses his at our large church and I think HE has good tone, or amazing fingers, or both!)

I came to the same question recently and after talking with several other performers, decided to stay with my pedals for the following reasons.

1.) I like my pedals (Mostly Fulltone)
2.) I like a very organic, analog sound
3.) Processors/modellers take a lot of time, which I do not have, to program patches, tones, and to learn to make them usable to the sounds I need to do when I perform or record.
4.) I can not name one pro performer that I listen to who uses a P/M. I'm not saying there isn't someone out there who uses one, but in the rock/blues circles I'm familiar with they ALL use pedals!

Now if you're a tinkerer and love to spend a lot of time doing patches and want to make it a hobby then have at it!
I just spoke tonight with a fellow guitarist who is an avid Boss GT-8 user, and he suggested I stay with the pedals I have. He said he really like my tone and that it's not worth the time he had to invest to learn his GT-8 well.
(Having said that, he uses his at our large church and I think HE has good tone, or amazing fingers, or both!)

Actually both Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom use Line 6 stuff in Blue Oyster Cult, at least the last time I saw them.

Short answer: Go with what works for you.
If you liked your Line6 Modeller, think about one of the POD floor/stomp models (XT Live, X3). It's the same amp/effects modelling as the amp was.

I've gone back to my Boss GT-8 and am lovin it. I don't use the amp modeling as I have a 5E3. I have every pedal Boss makes in one unit and for FX live it beats the hell out of my individual pedals in convenience and matches tone so close it's irrelevant..especially live when the whole band gets going. If my amp craps out I go straight into the board....

Cheers
ce24

pedals... I've had several of the all in one units... CYBERHUNCH..... They kill your back..... Plus pedals sound better because you can pick the best pedals in each category.

And it is usually easier to tweak pedals on the fly, where as many of the all in ones, it takes quite a bit to change them.

Received my PODxt Friday, tweaked it for 3 days, and love it. It is replacing my pedal board which consists of: TC Nova Delay, DOD envelope, Bad Monkey, Small Stone, Digi Whammy, and Crybaby.

I have a Little Dawg Deluxe 5e3 and love the tone, so I turned off or bypassed the amp modeling and am only using the effects section of the POD. The effects sound so good, very natural. Its gonna be easier getting in and out of gigs and rehearsal.

Received my PODxt Friday, tweaked it for 3 days, and love it. It is replacing my pedal board which consists of: TC Nova Delay, DOD envelope, Bad Monkey, Small Stone, Digi Whammy, and Crybaby.

I have a Little Dawg Deluxe 5e3 and love the tone, so I turned off or bypassed the amp modeling and am only using the effects section of the POD. The effects sound so good, very natural. Its gonna be easier getting in and out of gigs and rehearsal.

Do yourself a favor and save yourself potential regret and hang on to your pedals. You can use them in conjuction with the POD or you may find yourself going back to them on occasion. It happened to me. I also have a pedal board for other sounds as well as the POD. I love to use both when the occasion warrants it. Of course if your selling them because you need the cash, ignore me.

Personally i prefer to use single pedals. The sound is generally more organic and satifying to my ears. I also like the idea of a dedicated pedal which does ONE thing very well. I also use a multi FX unit (i've got a few) like the GT8, but only for delays and the onboard volume pedal and the tuner.

Are you going through your DRRI with the EQ flat (i.e. Bass and Treble set at 1) on the amp? Do you have the POD output set for "combo amp"? If the design is the same as the PODXT Live check to make sure that the amp/line switch is set to amp. Most people forget that its there.


Just saw your note and do not have the output on combo, but will tonight.

Still tinkering, but the sound thru my amp is much better thanks to suggestions. If it gets to where I want it, the time and money spent with the multi will be worth it.

The biggest problem I found with the all in one units is that you get them all programmed and sounding great, and then you get into a live situation, or a gig, and everything changes.

I've had drastically different sound between rehearsal and live playing.

For all of my guitar-slinging life, I've been a Guitar-stomp box-amp guy.

I snagged a modeling pedal, DigiTech RP100, when they first started popping up, I think in '99 or '00. It still works like a trooper, except for the tuner. But I've always stuck with pedals.

Until recently. I traded my way into a Vox Valvetronix Tonelab SE. The big one with two expression pedals (uh oh, discontinued!). I've never been happier. I feel liberated. If I cant dial in the sound that I need with this device, then I guess I don't need the sound. I don't wanna trip over a mess of cables and wall warts any more. It has simplfied my setup and lightened my load.

Using a modeling pedal requires restraint and self control, and if you can avoid the temptation to use too many effects and too drastic settings, then the tones you can dial in are suprisingly good. I now run direct to the PA with mine and have never had such a good soundboard mix in all my years of playing.

My focus now stays with the songs, I'm starting to just not care about the gear anymore. A few 25 year old Squire strats and a Vox modeling pedal and I'm good.

That said, the Vox does have a preamp tube in it. It came with an Electro Harmonix 12ax7, I have since swapped it out for a more hip RCA 7025 from a 50 year old radio. I notice a smoother top end on some settings, but nothing real drastic.

my experience is exactly the same.

just a small correction the TL's tube is NOT a preamp tube but a "poweramp" one (meaning that it is the last thing the gtr signal "sees" before "exiting" the unit)

I have TWO Tonelabs and they sound amazing (after programming them carefully of course since the presets are awful).

I only use a compressor pedal in front of the TL and of course always a nice tube amp and I am set.

You can't beat the expression pedals convenience and of course the TAP TEMPO function on ALL the effects (modulation & delays)

It also has the best delay & univibe/leslie effects I have ever heard & you can get some amazing od/distortion tones out of both the "pedals" & "dirty amps".

my experience is exactly the same.

just a small correction the TL's tube is NOT a preamp tube but a "poweramp" one (meaning that it is the last thing the gtr signal "sees" before "exiting" the unit)

I have TWO Tonelabs and they sound amazing (after programming them carefully of course since the presets are awful).

I only use a compressor pedal in front of the TL and of course always a nice tube amp and I am set.

You can't beat the expression pedals convenience and of course the TAP TEMPO function on ALL the effects (modulation & delays)

It also has the best delay & univibe/leslie effects I have ever heard & you can get some amazing od/distortion tones out of both the "pedals" & "dirty amps".

+1 on this but I use the Boss GT-8 They are both great units for FX really can't go wrong for ease od use fi you are only using them for FX really don't need the amp modeling if yo have a good amp to begin with but if you go straight into the PA then you would use the amp models..my 2c

Cheers
ce24

I dont have a whole lot to contribute here, but I have tried it both ways, and although the multi-units are convenient, I find them to sound more processed and synthetic.. I used units from Digitech and Zoom and neither gave me a tone that I liked enough to record or perform with.

So I have concluded that, although clunkier and more expensive, the old school analog stomp boxes really give you a much warmer tone and much more individual control of your overall effect, as opposed to just modifying a preset patch sound.

Although I have gone through periods when I just leave all the pedals at home and run stright into my Crate Power Block and just turn up the drive. It's flat, but it's loud and so very low-maintanence. This comes in handy for punk gigs.

Just saw your note and do not have the output on combo, but will tonight.

Still tinkering, but the sound thru my amp is much better thanks to suggestions. If it gets to where I want it, the time and money spent with the multi will be worth it.

The only downside I see with muli-effects like the POD and simialr products is now you really HAVE TO READ THE MANUAL. Once you see all the options you have your head starts to spin but then you also realize how much control you have and the fun of creating your own customized patches. It takes time but it is worth it not to mention that your sound will be consistent from gig to gig. But then you have to fiddle with individual pedals anyway.

The only downside I see with muli-effects like the POD and simialr products is now you really HAVE TO READ THE MANUAL. Once you see all the options you have your head starts to spin but then you also realize how much control you have and the fun of creating your own customized patches. It takes time but it is worth it not to mention that your sound will be consistent from gig to gig. But then you have to fiddle with individual pedals anyway.

You've hit it on the head.... again. I'm anxious to get back to workin' out the songs, but every time I plug the X3 in, I go somewhere I haven't been before. It's not always a good direction as I still get lost, but the journey has its rewards.

That manual is an inch thick.

Just another update with my PODxt. Well second band practice with the unite and I love it. Total control, and I can do more than i could with single pedals.

Things I can do now that I could not before:
1. Set tempo of modulation effects on the fly
2. Turn on and off multiple pedals at once
3. Change pedal order to create different sound
4. Have multiple settings of the same pedal for different songs.

Well, I am selling my pedal collection and I dont think I am going back. The PODxt sounds great.

I don't use pedals much any more, but I've had 2 Zoom GFX707's over the last 12 years (wore the first one out, found a near-new one in a hockshop). My AC30 is sans reverb, and the vib-trem channel is a PIA to use, so the unit is used for trem, vibe, delay, OD (it's not bad...) and tuner. All in one little AC-powered box, bout 9"x6".
It's just for the "ease-of-setup, less-stuff-to-break" thing...