Multi-effects pedal recommendations, please

[D_Malone]

I know little to nothing about multi-effects pedals. I have a lot of research to do, but I was hoping y’all could help me narrow it down to a few.

What I need:
Delay
Reverb
Tremolo
Phaser
Chorus
Clean boost
EQ
6+ foot switches for selecting presets

What I don’t need:
Distortion, OD, amp models

What I’d like, but don’t necessarily need:
Ability to load IRs
Volume/expression pedal
A loop to insert my favorite dirt pedal(s)

My budget is pretty flexible, but I’d love to keep it around $500 USD, if possible.

So far the Boss GX-100 looks good.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GX100--boss-gx-100-guitar-multi-effects-pedal

Thanks!

 

[FendrGuitPlayr]

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[brookdalebill]

The Boss ME-series (50,70,80,90) are excellent, simple, intuitive to use devices.
The 90 is the current model (I think).
I have it, and over the decades, I've had all the others.
They may do more than you need, but they sound great, and are ultra dependable.
Buena suerte!

 

[bluesholyman]

Line 6 HX Effects - you can find a used one in great shape well under your budget ($400'ish)

If you are in the Boss camp, they just came out with the GX-10. More stuff than you need but similar price point.

 

[rze99]

I would go for a used Boss ME range.

I have a very OLD ME-50 and, you know what, into a good amp, it's very good.

You can buy them very cheaply and they go in a haversack/back pack instead of a full-on pedal board.

You could put one of these into play and save some decent money for the next amp/guitar.

Don't underestimate them and at this cost level, it's less than a new "name" pedal.

 

[memorex]

GX-100 is pretty nice. But GX-10 will do practically everything that GX-100 does for $200 less in a smaller form factor, if you can give up the extra footswitches. From what I've seen, patches for GX-100 will load in GX-10 since they have the same engine.

 

[D_Malone]

Thanks all! This gives me some great options to consider.

 

[Hallo Spencer]

Line6 M9 is still great. Great sound, no menues, super easy operation and relatively affordable.

 

[dswo]

I think the current generation (AIRD) of Boss modeling sounds and feels very good. If you're choosing between Boss units, here's something to think about:

GX-100/10: Lots of effects, lots of ways to configure them, in well-built packages.
ME-90: Fewer effects, fewer ways to configure them, but the parameters for the effects you do have are easier to access, because most of them have a dedicated knob.

I have a couple Boss multi-effect units. I'm currently using the GT-1 (a very slimmed-down GT-100) once a week in church. It can do A LOT, and the more you work with it, the faster you can get around. But you really need to set up your patches ahead of time. And I do! I also have a GT-1000 Core: again, it can do almost anything, but if I want to adjust (let's say) the delay time, I either need to dedicate one of the unit's six knobs to it, or add an expression pedal, or dial through the signal chain. All of that's doable, but I sometimes miss the immediacy of individual pedals, where you have a dedicated dial for most functions. I'm trying to shed gear, not get more, but that's what makes the ME-90 attractive to me.

Obviously, everything's a trade-off. More knobs = more space = more weight. The GT-1000 Core can do more than the GT-1, and sounds better, but the GT-1 sounds more than good enough, and the format is very convenient -- so that's what I use when I'm playing out. If I had a ME-90, would I take it instead of the GT-1? I'm not sure: the GT-1 fits in the pocket on my guitar case, which an ME-90 would not. It also fits in a pedalboard case, which an ME-90 would not...

None of this is to say that you should get what I have. Just think about how you're going to use it.

Another factor might be how well a given piece of gear works with your phone...

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I will second the comments of @brookdalebill and @rze99 on the Boss ME series. At the moment, I am getting all my effects, save reverb and tremolo, from the ME-90. I never played the earlier models, but my understanding is that the biggest jump in quality from the 80 to the 90 is with the overdrive/distortion and the amp models. If you don't need those, you could probably get in cheaper with the 80 (or even 70).

The ME-90 has an effects loop, a volume/expression pedal, and all the effects you mentioned. I know you can make a whole bunch of presets and save them, although I just use it like a traditional pedalboard. I'm pretty sure it has multiple IRs already, and I think you can load more. I think that checks all the boxes.

 

[NoTeleBob]

GT100 gets you the same general setup as the GX100, for about $250 used. But, it’s a bit larger (two screen is a nice feature to easily see patch number and name on the older GT but that adds 3” length). You also get the slightly older COSM tech instead of AIRD. GX100 is a little more flexible to program without using a computer and the Boss Tone Studio.

Line 6 HD500X is on the same price range and has fans too. Likewise, you can step up to the Helix if you want.

If this is your first time with a multi pedal I’d advise used… learn what you like and don’t like and then resell if needed.

 

[Andyfreddy]

I think the current generation (AIRD) of Boss modeling sounds and feels very good. If you're choosing between Boss units, here's something to think about:

GX-100/10: Lots of effects, lots of ways to configure them, in well-built packages.
ME-90: Fewer effects, fewer ways to configure them, but the parameters for the effects you do have are easier to access, because most of them have a dedicated knob.

I have a couple Boss multi-effect units. I'm currently using the GT-1 (a very slimmed-down GT-100) once a week in church. It can do A LOT, and the more you work with it, the faster you can get around. But you really need to set up your patches ahead of time. And I do! I also have a GT-1000 Core: again, it can do almost anything, but if I want to adjust (let's say) the delay time, I either need to dedicate one of the unit's six knobs to it, or add an expression pedal, or dial through the signal chain. All of that's doable, but I sometimes miss the immediacy of individual pedals, where you have a dedicated dial for most functions. I'm trying to shed gear, not get more, but that's what makes the ME-90 attractive to me.

Obviously, everything's a trade-off. More knobs = more space = more weight. The GT-1000 Core can do more than the GT-1, and sounds better, but the GT-1 sounds more than good enough, and the format is very convenient -- so that's what I use when I'm playing out. If I had a ME-90, would I take it instead of the GT-1? I'm not sure: the GT-1 fits in the pocket on my guitar case, which an ME-90 would not. It also fits in a pedalboard case, which an ME-90 would not...

...

Hi, I’m getting ready to make the transition church, and have had the Gt-1 for almost a year. It really can do everything I would need…I’m hoping the worship pastor and sound guy agree with me that while it may not sound quite as good as the more expensive stuff, it gets 90% of the way there, and in a mix nobody can tell.

I got it used for $100…and when I think about all the “real” pedals I could have gotten instead…it could have been $2000!

 

[dswo]

Another question to ask yourself: do I care about running off batteries? Again, Boss has some good options if that's important or useful to you. (My thinking: batteries = one less cable for the people I'm sharing a stage with to trip over, potentially bringing down my guitar/bass in the process.)

 

[surfco]

Boss GX-100.

 

[somebodyelseuk]

I know little to nothing about multi-effects pedals. I have a lot of research to do, but I was hoping y’all could help me narrow it down to a few.

What I need:
Delay
Reverb
Tremolo
Phaser
Chorus
Clean boost
EQ
6+ foot switches for selecting presets

What I don’t need:
Distortion, OD, amp models

What I’d like, but don’t necessarily need:
Ability to load IRs
Volume/expression pedal
A loop to insert my favorite dirt pedal(s)

My budget is pretty flexible, but I’d love to keep it around $500 USD, if possible.

So far the Boss GX-100 looks good.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GX100--boss-gx-100-guitar-multi-effects-pedal

Thanks!

Line 6 HX Effects (+ external expression pedal).

 

[tele_pathic]

Check out the TC Electronics X-3 or X-5, depending on how many effects at time you need. I have one: It's great! Has everything I need and nothing I don't, but always customizable when needed/wanted.

I had a Headrush MX-5 that has all the modulation and time based stuff, but the overdrive stuff was not great, and ultimately, it was too complicated, or overly complicated for what I wanted, which was individual pedals for dirt and not individual pedals for tremolo, univibe, delay, phaser, octave/pog, etc. And the X-3 fit the bill perfectly. And the price ain't bad.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

Another question to ask yourself: do I care about running off batteries? Again, Boss has some good options if that's important or useful to you. (My thinking: batteries = one less cable for the people I'm sharing a stage with to trip over, potentially bringing down my guitar/bass in the process.)

This is something that rarely gets mentioned, but is very important to me. I love not having my pedals tethered to an outlet. You get a bit more flexibility in where and how you can set up. And I love not having to worry about noise issues caused by dirty power (which is an issue in my own house, as well as crappy venues). And this is another point in the plus column for the Boss ME-90.

In addition to the ME-90, I have the Yamaha THR-10 desktop amp, which can also run on AA batteries. So, I have the ability to take an amp and a full pedalboard outside and jam wherever. Pretty sweet.

 

[Digital Larry]

Line6 M9 is still great. Great sound, no menues, super easy operation and relatively affordable.

These are notorious for having unreliable switches. I've owned the M9 twice. First time I replaced the switches myself. Never again! Second one I didn't have that issue but gave it to a friend. It is in fact a pretty decent unit other than the possible issue with switches.

 

[Jullecaster]

I would go for a used Boss ME range.

I have a very OLD ME-50 and, you know what, into a good amp, it's very good.

You can buy them very cheaply and they go in a haversack/back pack instead of a full-on pedal board.

You could put one of these into play and save some decent money for the next amp/guitar.

Don't underestimate them and at this cost level, it's less than a new "name" pedal.

Good call - I've had a pro buy my old ME unit with a faulty contact because he loved some of the effects so much. Built to last (except for that mains cable, apparently)

 

[Hallo Spencer]

Yes, true, unfortunately. I had three. One I sold because two are enough. On one I replaced the switches just in case and out of curiosity (acceptable minor pita imo). The third just recently developed a failing switch. To be fair: It has been heavily used and abused for at least ten years. I have this one in my synth setup now and switch presets over Midi. But yeah, the switches are definitely garbage.