Question:
Ok, I'm pretty new at all these effects things and this is going to be the first time I buy a pedal. Well, my guitar teacher suggested that I buy a single pedal and then collect pedals. The guitar shop guy suggested that I buy a multi-effects pedal. So I need ur advice on what to buy. Here are the 2 pedals they recommended.
Boss DS-2 Turbu Distortion(single)
http://www.music123.com/Boss-DS2-Tur...n-i21776.music
G2 Zoom FZX-3 (multi)
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/g2/index.php
Hope u guys can help, thanks.
Answer:
Well, technology has come pretty far with multi-effects in the fact that they sound almost exactly like their single counterparts. One main advantage of a multi-effects unit is being able to have one package that you just have to pick up and walk out with (although, once you make a pedal board, it is the same way). A downside is that you're kind of stuck with what the unit gives you.
An advantage to having individual pedals is being able to order them in whatever way you want in the signal chain. Sometimes what I've found is that the individual pedals can be tweeked a little more and they usually sound better.
The list can go on forever. From a business stand point, the guy at the guitar store is probably going to push a $300 unit over a $50 unit (just random numbers) because even if you tell him that you'd keep coming back for pedals, he still has the $300 sale over the $50 sale if you never step foot in the store again.
It all really just comes down to personal preference and the guy at the store may just like multi-effects over single.
Answer:
It depends on your current and future needs, price range, etc. My first pedal was the Boss ME-50. That thing was sweet. It had all that I could ever need, but there were some things I never used. And eventually, I got my amp which had some effects on it. I sold the ME-50 and now I just use one pedal, the Barber Tone Press.
What kind of amp would you be running through?
Answer:
single pedals are better sound quality for that effect. in a multi effects unit you get more effects but not better sound than you would get from the single pedals.
Answer:
Originally Posted by thomaspg70 single pedals are better sound quality for that effect. in a multi effects unit you get more effects but not better sound than you would get from the single pedals.
They are? I think what you meant is, sometimes multi effects processors won't sound "real" if you know what I mean. As if they are missing something, usually in the EQ, like not good bass response or something.
With multi effects you will usually get less noise than hooking 5 pedals up in a row.
Answer:

What kind of amp would you be running through?
The amp I'm using is just for personal practice. The 2 amps I usually use is in my church. A crate and a marshall. I dunno what specific amps they are.
he list can go on forever. From a business stand point, the guy at the guitar store is probably going to push a $300 unit over a $50 unit (just random numbers) because even if you tell him that you'd keep coming back for pedals, he still has the $300 sale over the $50 sale if you never step foot in the store again.
Well, actually the guy at the guitar shop is a friend of my fathers and I have been buying everything from that guy. And the multi-effects he recommended is just 20$ more than the single.
But between the two pedals which I specified, which one would u personally buy? Has anyone ever tried the G2 Zoom? Anyway, when I have time I will go and try the pedal.
Happy new year.
Answer:
^
true
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I used to have a Korg Toneworks AX1G...Im sure multi FX units and the technology involved have evolved since I got this...probably 4 or 5 years ago....but I hated this tihng, everything sounded so processed and artificial and fake. The only thing I liked is i could use headphones on it and not even have to use an amp, heh.
I know alot of people have gone digital but I like my stompboxes. ^_^
Answer:
I've started out with a Digitech rp100a ... it's a multi effects pedal and it went for about 100 bucks ... it's lasted me quite a while and I still use it ... I dont see too much wrong with the sound ... although the compression isnt very good ... the different amp models are very nice ... reverb and delay are excelent and the basic effects such as chorus flanger phaser and so on are alright ... I guess in deciding what type of pedal you want (single or multi) deppends on how much you use it, where you use it, and how long you think your going to keep it ... I plan on sticking with multi effects pedals ... I would really like the new Boss GT-8 multi effects proscesor but that runs for around 500 bucks
Answer:
Here's my take on the whole single v.s. mutli thing.
For years all cheap multi fx stuff sounded terrible. But by now, the computing power necessary to make good sounding digital effects is cheap enough that most of whats out there sounds just as good as single effects in terms of fidelity. Bandwidths, sampling rates, and bit rates are finally high enough that you won't hear much if any difference there.
But here's my personal opinions of the pros and cons of each.
multifx
Pros:
Programability. Once you get familiar with how to program the thing, mutlifx units will greatly simplify live performace usage of effects. If you want the same distortion but different gain settings on a solo, no problem. Make two patches. You can spend 20 minutes in practice tweaking your flanger setting until its perfect and SAVE this setting so you never loose it.
Effects per dollar. Going out and buying the most expensive latest greatest multifx unit is still cheaper than buying single pedals IF you like to use a lot of effects. The cheaper units ( less than $150 or so) you get most of the same tones as the larger units with less versatility for the same cost as a nice delay pedal.
Portability. Much easier to hull around one mutlifx unit than 10 pedals. Even if you have a pedal board.
Recording and/or going direct. Cabinet and amp simulation is a very sound-guy freindly concept. If you can tolerate the tone you get going direct through a PA your sound man will love you.
cons
Learning curve. All mutlifx units take a while to get used to programing and uses the foot controls. Some are much easier than others, but none are completely plug 'n' play unless you want to sound just like the salesman that sold you the thing.
You're stuck with what you get. Some units actually let you rearrange where stuff goes in the signal path but you're still stuck with what's on board. Say you're happy with everything but the phaser sound, and you want to add it before the cabinet modeling but after the distortion (like the fx loop on an amp acts). Guess what... you're out of luck. Generally they're full of "canned" sounds too. Great for emulating others, not so good for innovating. Usually.
The wah is guaranteed to suck. Some are decent I suppose. I've never heard one that sounds great.
Stomp Boxes
Pros
Easier to learn the settings. Usually you have 4 knobs or less and a switch. Turn them 'til you figure out what they all do then find a tone you like. We all know what the switch does.
Versatility. Multifx are versatile in the sense that one unit gets you a lot of different sounds. Single effects are versatile in two different ways. 1st each individual effect is usually more controlable. Especially with cheaper single units, they leave out the ability to control parameters that are typically found on single pedals. And 2nd, you can choose exactly what pedals in your rig and where. If you want electroharmonix reverb, visual studio distortion, and a ZVEX Ooh-Wah, the only thing limiting you is your budget. And you can arrage them any way you like. Even distortion after delay.
More "Original" sounding. You can get tones out of stompboxes that you will NEVER find on a multifx unit. Especially if you explore more expensive (aka botique) stuff or making your own pedals. Also single fx are moddable. While your Digisuperline8 Deluxe 2000 may be able to emulate a tube screamer, it will never emulate anything built/modded by Keeley or ZVEX or Analogman, etc.
Better collectability/resale value. Old mutlifx units become obsolete. Stompboxes become "vintage". If you buy a ZOOM whatever, 3 years from now it will be worth 1/3 what you paid for it. Where if you buy a single pedal... like say a BOSS DD-3, since it's an industry standard that has been in production for years, it keeps a fairly steady ebay resale value and if it ever goes out of production, this resale value may go up. In the case of old and rare analog effects prices have gone through the roof. This will never happen with digital stuff.
Also, if you keep a fairly modest sized rig say 3 or 4 pedals... it can actually be easier to carry around and easier to use live than multifx.
CONS
It will probably ultimately cost more to build your rig and take longer to get everything you want. This isn't always the case, but usually it is.
Buying them can be overwhelming to beginers since there are sooooo many more options. There are probably over 100 different distortion pedals readily availabe through local stores, online stores, and ebay. Many sound the same since there's really only a few different types of distortion, but it's hard to pick the best TS808 clone. In comparison, there might be 10 mutlifx units in your price range that are recent enough make to sound good.
Powering them and hauling them around can be a pain.
They are usually not programmable. So if you want to different sounds on the same pedal, you either have to change it in the middle of a show or buy two.
Summary: I prefer single effects because of my 2nd and 3rd 'pros'. But now that mutlifx actually sound good (ugghh... i hate to admit that), it's mostly a matter of personal preference. I would add that single effects are more "fun" but that's really a very subjective opinion that I hold.
Answer:
Also with single effects you can combine stuff. I generally have my Keeley BD-2 Phat mod on all the time...it enhances my clean tone, I like the TS9 better with it on, and the DS-1 too. Im not really familiar with the new diigtal stuff but iwth the older stuff, you couldn't combine effects and you definitely couldn't use different brands together in the same pedal.
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just FYI, the Zoom G2 is supposed to be a top notch multi-effect. Alot of people who get them love them.
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It depends on what you want to do.... if you need jus a distortion overdrive or whaw so buy a pedal.... if you need a multieffect at one time like distortion+delay+whaw+reverb and else so buy multieffects pedal......
Answer:
Well all i have is a BOSS GT-3 from ebay.. Which is great for messing around and learning new things. But I think i am going to start getting single pedals because The Gt doesnt sound that good. I mean I know this guy named Tom that goes to my church. When he plays a solo on stage it sounds incredible. And i could see it sounding alot less professional with a multi... So what im trying to say is... If you are looking to go big or record soon then get single effects in my opionoin....