Simple To Use Multi-Effects?

I am GASsin' real bad for a Carl Martin Quattro, but I am also financially challenged at the moment. Does anybody know of a decent, but less pricey alternative? I am not looking for something programmable or with menu bars etc. Once I set the sounds I like, I pretty much stick with them. Please help!

Get a used Boss ME 50.
You can get em off CL for $100ish.
Absolutely intuitive to use, and bulletproof.
I've been using mine steadily since Christmas 03!

I am GASsin' real bad for a Carl Martin Quattro, but I am also financially challenged at the moment. Does anybody know of a decent, but less pricey alternative? I am not looking for something programmable or with menu bars etc. Once I set the sounds I like, I pretty much stick with them. Please help!

Seriously, I would just save up for the Quattro. It makes sense and its all analog. No need for menues or programming. And the efx loop is after the drive but before the chourus and delay so you can use a wider selection of dirt pedals.

Why buy something you really don't want when you can save up and buy what you really want?

The Boss ME-50 or ME-70 will get you there. Put the ME-70 in manual mode and adjust it like a 3 knob pedal for each effect and there's over 40 effects unlike the Quattro.

You won't be satisfied until you get the Quattro...I'd love one myself.

Fender Mustang Floor...

Seriously, I would just save up for the Quattro. It makes sense and its all analog. No need for menues or programming. And the efx loop is after the drive but before the chourus and delay so you can use a wider selection of dirt pedals.

Why buy something you really don't want when you can save up and buy what you really want?

I second this... save and get what you want the first time! :lol:

That looks like a great multi-effect. If I were you, I'd also check out Line 6's M9. I have one and use it for rehearsal and small gigs where stage space is limited and it sounds very good. It's ODs and distortions require some tweaking to get good tones, but the reverbs, delays and modulation effects are great. And it's stupid easy to use.

I found the Korg AX (http://www.korg.com/ax3000g/) series dead simple to use and they have a lot of kick-ass sounds. I used the AX1000G for almost 10 years of non-stop gigging before it died on me.

The Vox Tonelab is the more upscale version.

That looks like a great multi-effect. If I were you, I'd also check out Line 6's M9. I have one and use it for rehearsal and small gigs where stage space is limited and it sounds very good. It's ODs and distortions require some tweaking to get good tones, but the reverbs, delays and modulation effects are great. And it's stupid easy to use.

Line 6 M9=$399 You have to tweak distortions, set up menues and pre program things. Digital output. Has a lot of effects the OP may never use. OP needs to buy a MIDI to USB cable to upgrade firmware via his computer. There have been quality issues with the footswitches and build. With the control laylout it is very easy to accidently switch settings mid song or go into tuner mode.

Carl Martin Quattro=$685 Has your basic 4 effects (including a 2nd drive channel) in a high quality enclousure with its own power supply. No menues or programming required so its easy to adjust things on the fly so it is even more stupid easy to use. No need to buy MIDI to USB cable to upgrade firmware. Total analog path with EFX loop that you can run your favorite pedals through. Real quality footswitches. And from looking around for used ones, it seems the Quattro holds its value better then Line 6

And here is a used one for $450 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carl-Martin-Quattro-Analog-Multi-Effect-Pedal-/180927755111?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a20227367

Get a used Boss ME 50.
You can get em off CL for $100ish.
Absolutely intuitive to use, and bulletproof.
I've been using mine steadily since Christmas 03!

This ^^^^........cant lose...sounds great thru my 5E3....super simple its like having all boss pedals at your fingertips with stomp type tweaking. been playin mine for years....

Thanks for all the input. I am looking real hard at that Quattro on ebay.

So you want 4 pedals on the Carl Martin instead of 40 pedals on the Boss?

So you want 4 pedals on the Carl Martin instead of 40 pedals on the Boss?

Well, there are probably a bunch of those 40 that I will never use, and the Carl Martin sounds are very good.

Imo "simple to use " MFX is an oxymoron.

You get 256 effects combinations of which 3 are useful but you cannot find them. Or you get the wrong one and look a complete plongeur.

Discrete pedals and keep them to a minimum. Having lots of pedals is fun but figure out which ones you actually use or rather actually need on your board, and remove the rest.

Well, there are probably a bunch of those 40 that I will never use, and the Carl Martin sounds are very good.

Actually that Quattro has been around awhile, a few years. While the pedals are good, they are the older Carl Martin pedals in it. I'm not trying to talk you out of it. Just did what you are doing and tried alot of multi fx's. I settled on Boss, because it is basic and easy to understand in manual mode. Sometimes I need a tremolo, sometimes the loop recorder comes in handy, Vibrato's are interesting on some songs, etc. If you wanted to try a phase shifter, or Flanger it see what it would sound like in a song, it's right there, plus alot more.

Well, I am not going to close my mind to anything. I will probably run by the store and try one out. Thanks for the tip.

Actually that Quattro has been around awhile, a few years. While the pedals are good, they are the older Carl Martin pedals in it. I'm not trying to talk you out of it. Just did what you are doing and tried alot of multi fx's. I settled on Boss, because it is basic and easy to understand in manual mode. Sometimes I need a tremolo, sometimes the loop recorder comes in handy, Vibrato's are interesting on some songs, etc. If you wanted to try a phase shifter, or Flanger it see what it would sound like in a song, it's right there, plus alot more.