Multi effect pedal questions

[Rolling Estonian]

Hey all,

Just wanted a bit of advice. I started playing about a year ago and just got a Blues Jr. for my HW1 Tele.

I have Pod farm and can run to the amp but it doesn't sound very good.

So I'm looking at some inexpensive multi effect pedal to hold me over while I aquire the pedals that I'll want and need as I develop my own thing.

The Zoom G1x is $69. Is it worth it? And/or would you know of any pros and cons to others. Again, not looking for the high end whatsoever.

Thanks!

M

[Jakedog]

Well, I don't know a ton about the newer multi FX units, but I have tried a few (although not the one in question).

Having had an on and off love/hate relationship with multi FX pieces for the first ten years or so I played, I can tell you what I don't like about them-

They don't sound so good. Some of them are passable. VERY much so for home practice, having fun in the garage, etc. But I always encourage people to look at it like this-

Say you have a swiss army knife. You can scale fish, whittle, saw, awl holes in leather, eat dinner, open a bottle of wine, scissor, tweeze, do all kinds of things with it. But for all it does, every function is compromised. You can buy dedicated tools for each function it performs, that will FAR surpass the performance of the knife's attachments. The difference is, it'll cost you a lot more to buy those tools, and each one only does that one thing. Only you can decide if the exponentially enhanced performance is really worth it to you. If you are only gonna open a bottle of wine once every two or three years at Christmas dinner, a top of the line $100 stainless steel cork screw is probably not a worthwhile investment.

In my opinion though, if you already play, have a good ear, and know what sounds you're after, you are only gonna frustrate yourself woth one of those little "all in one" boxes. They do many things pretty good, but they don't do anything as well as a dedicated unit will.

As I've said, some of them do fairly well. But then you're that much money further away from getting the real deal, which sounds like something you are intent on. In the price range you are looking at, I think they are all gonna be about the same. If you decide to go with anything under $300, I would just read reviews and pick the one that's the easiest and most intuitive to use. I don't think for that money you're going to see a noticeable quality difference between brands or units.

[mlweidl]

I had a boss gt-8 and i used it live and it was awesome... but it had its drawbacks... its a multi effects pedal. I mean with guitars 95% of the time you get what u pay for. So save your money man and if your gonna get a multi effects pedal get one that is not so cheesy. In my opinion boss makes probably the most solid multis out there(im gonna get some hate mail for saying that) but its true. Dont waste your time with digitech everything i have ever gotten from them sucks. But Save up and get a used gt-8 which would be your best bet or get an me-70 which has delay a mod, over drive and one other effect

[callaway]

The Line 6 M9 or M13 (both probably more than you want to spend) are outstanding. I agree with all the usual sentiments about multi-effects... generally they are terrible. The Boss units are okay if you like that sound, but any of these cheap Zoom or Digitech units just sound wimpy.

The M9 / M13 on the other hand... wow. These things are the real deal. It is the first digital gear I've played that doesn't sound like it. It is totally transparent.

If you're wanting to keep it under $100, I recommend you go ahead and buy a decent overdrive pedal, then probably a delay. I would take those 2 effects over a cheap multi-effects unit any day. You can trust me, I've been down that road of the cheap effects unit 12 years ago back when I didn't know what I was doing. Go with a good OD and a good delay. You will get years of use out of them, plus if you decide to change it up, they will have decent resale value.

[Mr. Papa]

I've been sniffing around the TC Electronic Nova System as an alternative to buying their SCF and Nova Repeater pedals, but I remember my experiences with some Digitech floor units and the 2101 I owned for a while, and I am put off on the idea of a multiFX unit from that. Maybe they are much better than they used to be, but based on other comments I am going to guess that most of them are not. Just like callaway is saying, you get what you pay for.

[sonserve]

I agree with Callaway. I love my Line Six XT-Live, $500.00. It sounds really good through my solid state, and my Super 210. I don't like it in front of my Vintage16. Do try to audition what you settle on through an amp like yours to see what it will sound like.

[DocG]

I think it's best to know each effect really well in order to get the best sound out of it, and the best overall sound. So I would recommend getting the individual pedals you like, one at a time, and fine-tuning your sound.

My multi-fx is a Vox Tonelab SE, and it's very capable, but for playing live my signal chain is just an overdrive pedal, a chorus pedal and the reverb in my amp.

[jjkrause84]

I am of the opinion that money spent on a MFX is money spent on somethign that will be made all but obsolete as soon as you buy your first "real" stompbox. First off, MOST people don't need 200 effects anyhow and you will, in all likelihood, be able to find "your" sound with little more than an OD and "one more" pedal (phaser, wah, delay, whatever).

A used Bad Monkey and used MXR Phase 90 sees you spending less than $100 and you'll have some great sounds. For a little more you can have a used Bad Monkey and a used MXR Carbon Copy and then you're REALLY in business!

[Rolling Estonian]

Thanks for all of your input! Just what I needed to hear. You have all reaffirmed what I assumed and have made my decision much easier.

I'm going to forget about the multi effect pedal and go with individual pedals. I have the Line 6 UX2 so that'll be fine for messing around but it's time for me to 'man up' as it were.

I know I'll definitely get an overdrive. Then I'll decide on which to go for from there. I guess a delay and chorus after that. With xmas coming up I may be able to get two or three, I think I may have been good enough this year for Santa to deem me not too naughty.

Any other ideas suggestions would be appreciated. Does anyone have a link to a 'what pedals do you use' thread, tried searching..... Pedals are a vast category.

Thanks again!

M

[Jakedog]

What kind of stuff (music) are you playing, or wanting to play? Lots of people here could probably make some great suggestions for a 3-4 pedal "starter" package that would get you rolling in plenty of style.

I'm kind of a pedal nut. I buy sell and trade constantly. I almost never use more than two to three at a time on stage anymore, with a max of four (and one of those is a tuner) but at one time I had a home-brewed mothership style board that ran 38.

[telideli]

Seems like some have a negative opinion of multi-effect units after using one once or twice. And maybe that occured a few years ago. The versions coming out now are not those of 2-3 years ago. Incredible how people comsider them practice toys. They're not made to be turned on and 2 or 3 dials turned. More complexity involved than that,...and the more you learn how to use them and taylor 'your sound', to a particular guitar, and they'll serve you well for whatever your needs are. That's what I've experienced anyway with POD and ZOOM.

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by telideli

Seems like some have a negative opinion of multi-effect units after using one once or twice. And maybe that occured a few years ago. The versions coming out now are not those of 2-3 years ago. Incredible how people comsider them practice toys. They're not made to be turned on and 2 or 3 dials turned. More complexity involved than that,...and the more you learn how to use them and taylor 'your sound', to a particular guitar, and they'll serve you well for whatever your needs are. That's what I've experienced anyway with POD and ZOOM.

I currently own a POD XT. and very recently bought one of the top shelf digitech units and returned it. I realize very well from using the POD extensively for demo recording and home practice, that learning how to deep edit, program, and really use the features is paramount to getting any kind of favorable results. I can program and edit a POD to blow most peoples minds. Especially in a recordng setting. And it does have many pluses over real rigs in that application, but it still ain't the real thing.

My first multi FX was a Digitech RP-1, in 1992. Since then, I've had go-rounds with Boss, Zoom, Korg, Line 6, and some others. I understand them deeply, and I know how to get the best out of them. I will be the first to say that for some applications, they do things that nothing else will. I have defended tham on many occasions. Still, I will also be the first to say they ain't the real thing. They get better all the time, but they still aren't there.

Disclaimer- I have not tried the newer Line 6 units, like the M9 and such. I am curious.

[Rolling Estonian]

Jake,

I bought a Boss OS-2 It's OD and distortion, a good start. As xmas and my b-day are on the horizon, I'm going to go with a delay, probably the Carbon Copy. Then..... Well I don't know....... Maybe a wah...... I know if most of the great ones could get their sounds with 3-4 pedals, I can too!

I appreciate all of the responses! I love TDPRI! Fast becoming my favorite site!

M

[Mojohand40]

I've been through a few multieffects/amp sims over the years. Behringer V-amp, old Zoom, a couple of Digitechs...I currently have a Digitech rp250 that I like.
For me, they are an almost indispensable piece of guitar gear...for practicing and recording. As a headphone amp, and for playing along with a CD or MP3 using the aux in, they are hard to beat. You take that riff book that came with a CD, run it into your multi, grab headphones and dial up a good guitar tone, match the CD recording and spend hours. Believe me, it's a great way to practice.
I've even rigged a DVD player to play through my Digitech to play along with. A cheap dvd player and used little TV, with a multieffect and headphones is another GREAT learning tool. Also,the Digitechs (and others) have built in drum patterns and such. Again, for headphone practice, very, very nice.

Also for recording. (which is a great way to improve your chops, record yourself!) Way faster, and easier then mic-ing an amp, especially for the home studio guy, etc.

I like the digitech because it is easy to edit using the downloaded software, the usb and my lap top.
As others have said, you got to really spend time tweaking to get good sounds, but then you store them and that's that. The more patches you program, the faster and easier it gets.

Now, for live in front of an amp...well...I've ALWAYS been disappointed with the sound of multieffect units. I'll on occasion play around with turning off amp sims and using JUST an effect (like reverb) with my multieffect box, but 98% of the time, if I'm plugging into an amp, I use either nothing or dedicated stomp boxes. No multis for playing live. I don't even bother trying anymore.

In short, Multieffects are great and amazing TOOLS, for practice and recording, but not for playing through your amp. They can't replace stomp boxes. (yet..)
-

[PixelMover]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

... but at one time I had a home-brewed mothership style board that ran 38.

Sadly, Jake had to stop using this masterpiece because his neighbors became tired of the lights dimming everytime he played.

Seriously, you have any pics of this thing?

[studio1087]

The Line 6 M9 is nothing like a $69 Zoom Box or a $49 Digitech RP50.

Zoom boxes sound like Tinker Toys.

I played my M9 through my Champion 600 last night and it was fantastic. I usually use it with a Princeton but I tried it with the Champ just for practice fun and it was great.

This is the M9 straight into my recorder. No amp at all.....

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8412214