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hey guys I got a zoom gfx-5 for my last birthday but it sucks, it is a tone-killer and I'm considering a new one, so what do you think, Digitech or Boss, for Digitech I dont really know which one but for boss I was thinking about the GT-8, any comments? other brands?...and also I was wondering should I not buy a multi- effects processor and spend my money on individual pedals? thanks for your help guys
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Guys?
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Originally Posted by G-mast Guys?
I guess the "standard" answer would be: it really depends on what you are looking for.
For me though, I favor the GT-8 to GNX.
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well I've always liked multi effects, what about the Boss ME-50?
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As sort of an overly broad generalization, BOSS makes the pedals that I would describe as high quality but still reasonably price.
I've never played with a GT-8, but I've played with a GT-6 and liked it better than my friend's GNX (don't remember model number).
I think most people would be better off with pedals than a multifx unit. Many people disagree with me, but here's my reasoning against telling new guitarists (or guitarists who are new to effects) to just buy the cheap multi unit.
With multi effects units, there are usually a few things you'll use a lot, and most of the rest of the stuff is just a bells and whistles that nobody needs. Even in the most expensive floor units out there, each effect still tends to be a little less versatile then the pedal version. Also when you have one of those multifx things, you tend to spend a lot more time tweaking knobs than you do playing. At least I do. I'm a compulsive knob tweaking when it comes to my guitar rig.
So what you might consider doing is going through your presets on the gfx-5 and see what effects you use the most. For the kind of money you'll put into a GT-8, you could probably get 4-7 high quality pedals.
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Yeah, I started out with multi effects, but i could never get any tone. I've since switched to a pedalboard with Keeley, line six, and boss pedals and it can completely slay any multi effect. Now my current setup is much more expensive than a multi fx, but I started with a Crybaby, Rt. 66, and DanEcho, even then I was getting more flexibility out of that than my old ME-50. Those are all great pedals, and can all be had for under $300.
However if you are just dead set on multi fx, the only one that I have tried, and been able to live with when in a crunch was the new vox one, however it would be much more expensive than the pedals I described above.
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Originally Posted by Hellfighter Yeah, I started out with multi effects, but i could never get any tone. I've since switched to a pedalboard with Keeley, line six, and boss pedals and it can completely slay any multi effect. Now my current setup is much more expensive than a multi fx, but I started with a Crybaby, Rt. 66, and DanEcho, even then I was getting more flexibility out of that than my old ME-50. Those are all great pedals, and can all be had for under $300.
However if you are just dead set on multi fx, the only one that I have tried, and been able to live with when in a crunch was the new vox one, however it would be much more expensive than the pedals I described above.
+1
The Vox floorboard is the frontend of their Valvetronix amps, which are pretty amazing (modeling amp engine + effects). If you want to go with multi-effects, the Vox would probably be one of the best in that aspect.
I've heard plenty of good things about the POD units as well... however, it seems that they have good modeling with a focus on effects, while the Vox units seem to focus on modeling with good effects.
Also, what amp do you currently have?
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1)...when you post, dont' expect an an answer ASAP, especially when you're posting at 5AM PDT.
2)...i've known people who've gotten great use out of multis. it's really a question of what sort of application and ease of use you're looking for. i'm personally more of a single pedal guy right now, because i don't have a multi, and because if i did have a multi it's likely that i'd be too lazy to figure out how to program it.
3)...if you're dead-set on multis, i'd check out the BOSS GT-6/8 (they're practically the same thing from what i understand), the Vox Valvetronix floorboard, and the Line6 PODxtLIVE!
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My opinion, and it's worth every cent you paid for it too!
Choose discreet pedals:
*If you prefer having the flexability of choosing individual pedals from different manufactures that best meets your need for each effect type.
* You only use a few effects and don't plan on changing.
* If you're an analog gear-head and don't mind paying for expensive botique pedals.
* You are not interested in modelling.
* You don't want to spen all the time it takes to learn the technology. With individual pedals, you just turn a few knobs, and you're good.
Choose Multi-effects:
* You like the flexability of having a plethora of effects type at your disposal
* You are tired of the toe-tap dance (the reason why I began using multi-fx)
* You like modelling
* You like the high degree of programmability multi-fx's offer you (if you do covers, this makes your life very easy)
* You don't mind spending the time and effort to learn the multi-fx in order to get good tones out of it
Now, I've been using multi-fx's for many years. IMHO, there are myths regarding multi-fx's, mainly surrounding tone suckieness. This is strictly my opinion, so I don't expect everyone, or even anyone to agree:
Granted, early generation multi-fx's sucked! The technology was very new. My first multi-fx was the ART-ECC. HORRIBLE pedal!!! It was prone to a horrible feedback when using the flanger, and distortions were just plain bad!
But remember, multi-fx's are Digital Signal Processors. They are computers designed specifically for audio applications. Considering they are computers, they are (in my opinion) subject to Moore's Law. In a sentence, Moore's Law states that computer power doubles every two years. And up to now, Moore's Law has pretty much been accurate.
So if you accept my suggestion that multi-fx's will double their processing power every two years, they will get significantly better and better. And based on my personal opservations, I think that's exactly what has been happening. One very dramatic advancement that affects "tone suckieness" is the analog to digital conversion. Older pedals used 16 bit A/D and D/A. Today's standards are 24 bits. Without boring you with the technical details of why that matters, suffice it to say 24 bit A/D D/A can capture every audio frequency you throw at it AND all of it's harmonics, that give a tone's flavor or characteristic. It WON'T suck tone!
Now, here's my unscientific test for tone suckieness. I tested with a Peavey Ultra212, all tube amp and a Digitech RP300. I played my guitar straight into the amp, especially varying picking attack to discern variations in tone based on what I could accomplish with just my fingers. I palm muted, did pinch harmonics, varied thet attack stregnth. Then I programmed the RP300 turning everything off, modelling, effects, speaker simulator, compressor, everything! I put the RP300 in my signal chain with just the guitar, multi-fx, and amp. I repeated the same variations in playing and my ears could not detect any change in quality of tone. Now, obviously once you start turning effects on, you alter the tone. The one thing about multi-fx's is you have to take the time to learn your gear. If you just rush through, you'll find you can definately get some very unsatisfying tone and end up concluding multi-fx's suck tone. In my personal experience, that RP300 and my current GNX2 does not suck tone. In fact, I've become a big fan of Digitech gear. But then again, maybe your ears are more sensative than mine. I do listen to metal music very loud!
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If you have $$ go for single pedals.. but if you are into multi-effects, I would recommend POD xt live or Boss Gt-8
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My ME-50 is very nice.
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dcunning30,
I think you're slightly confused by what people mean when they talk about pedals tone sucking. What that refers to is the loss of signal when the pedal is turneed OFF. It mainly occurs with high frequencies which makes the signal sound muddy, and the effect builds up and gets worse as you run your signal through more tone sucking pedals. Pedals can also add/amplify noise when they are bypassed.
That is actually one advantage to using multi effects is that you have at your disposal 30+ stompboxes worth of odd noises without worrying about the switching method used in each one. However, multifx units do suck tone. Many of them don't even have a "bypass" mode, and if they do, it's still sampling & converting the signal then just converting it back without processing it. If you don't think they're noisy, get a very quiet amp, set it on it's clean channel with flat eq, and set the volume on max. Plug a guitar directly into the amp and pay careful attention to how much white noise you hear. Then run through your fx process with the volume set as close to unity gain as you can get it, and bypass all the fx. If you notice a difference, it's more noise than you get with a true bypass which is unacceptable in some situations.
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Originally Posted by jbm222 dcunning30,
I think you're slightly confused by what people mean when they talk about pedals tone sucking. What that refers to is the loss of signal when the pedal is turneed OFF. It mainly occurs with high frequencies which makes the signal sound muddy, and the effect builds up and gets worse as you run your signal through more tone sucking pedals.
Sorry I didn't make my point more clear. What you described is EXACTLY what I was referring to.
However, multifx units do suck tone. Many of them don't even have a "bypass" mode, and if they do, it's still sampling & converting the signal then just converting it back without processing it.
You're referring to true-bypass. I'm fully aware of that. The purpose of true-bypass is to assure your effect doesn't color your tone when unused. In order to accomplish true-bypass, you have a mechanical switch, instead of FET switching. With mechanical switching, you have an audible "click". Anyway, my point is based on the technology and my previous discussion of high frequencies (harmonics) that give a tone it's quality, true-bypass isn't necessairyly the holy grail of doing away with tone suckieness, and with 24 bit A/D, D/A, you'll capture those harmonics or overtones that gives a tone it's quality.
BTW, I haven't performed your white noise test, I'll try it and let you know my results. BTW, that's assuming the amp, doesn't produce any white noise itself. But in analysis, what your test suggersts is the multi-fx might *introduce* audio artifacts. That is contrary to the discussion of tone suckieness.
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Hey
Around a month and a half ago I happpily bought my GT-8(couldnt get the vox tonelab), but i still got the GT-8 because it sounded better to my ears anyway than to the GNX processor and I always trusted boss over any other companies for pedals. Anyway right now Im pretty happy, later on I plan on getting a floor board but still keeping the GT-8 for experimental uses. Their great to play around with lol sooo many things, but their quality isnt as great as single stomp boxes. GT-8 has a preamps and alot of things you could do with that but I think I shouldve gotten the GT-6 and spent a little less dough because there isnt alot of difference. In conclusion if your buying it to just mess around, etc I highly reccomend buying the GT-8 (6,5 etc) but if you know the certain sounds you want and want quality I say buy the stomp boxes because you only use like at most 15 fx out of 500 lol. Hope that helped I think I just blabbered on.
(Amps play a big part in this ex.my board on my small studio mate doesnt sound great, but when I plugged it into a marshall stack~~ It sounded 10x better lol so think about that too)
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Two words:
PODxt Live!!!!!