Question:
So after seeing a bunch of recent posts on "what would u recommend" I've decided to post one of my own.
I've had this really simple multi-fx unit (Zoom gfx-1) that I got a while back. I was looking to get something really cheap in terms of effects and at the time I was playing through a Squier Strat and practice amp. I didn't understand why people would pay $100 for a single distortion pedal when I could get this thing that supposedly had everything for the same price.
Recently, I've been trying to find that nice tone using a Legacy through a Classic 30 combo amp. Like one of the threads in the amps section, the tone I dialed in at home was not the same as when I tried it at church with my worship team (separate issue). My concern was that when I was playing, it sounded very "thin". My lead guitarist wasn't there for this informal jam session so it was myself, keyboard, drums and bass. For some songs I tried to get the keyboardist to fill it out a bit using the pads but it was still very empty sounding.
Now when I was trying out some delay and chorus-type effects on my gfx-1, I noticed that it changed the tone coming out of the amp when engaged. I don't know much about effects so i tried using guitar->fx->amp and also sticking it through the fx-loop. Both times it changed the tone even when the only effect I had active for that particular patch was a simple delay. I guess I'm wondering if this is a common problem for all fx, if it's my particular fx unit or for multi-fx units. Would individual pedals fix this problem?
What type of effects would some of you use/recommend, who lead worship or play rhythm using an electric, to maybe give a more fluid/sustained sound?
Answer:
I don't know about that Zoom unit, but in general you have to set a couple things to get the unit to be what I would call "transparent"; meaning it doesn't color the sound just being there with no FX on.
One thing with any type unit is the signal level, since they are a preamp. Increasing or decresing the level to the amp's input will change its character. I like to set them to where their output is about the same as a passive guitar.
Some units have software type settings for different applications - maybe the choices would be named something like amp, line level, direct. That may be a signal level change, and/or an eq sculpt. My GNX2 has like 6 different "target" choices, which is a global setting for all patches. They are slightly different in signal strength, but also in freq content. For me the "direct" was the most transparent sounding option. I also have the amp and cab sims turned off since I'm using it in front of a guitar amp & speaker.
If that is a modeling unit, and you use it in front of a tube amp, you want to turn off amp and or speaker/cab modeling or sims.
Answer:
I have the Zoom505II , and you have to tweak it alot to get at least semi-transparent tone.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Anderich So after seeing a bunch of recent posts on "what would u recommend" I've decided to post one of my own.
I've had this really simple multi-fx unit (Zoom gfx-1) that I got a while back. I was looking to get something really cheap in terms of effects and at the time I was playing through a Squier Strat and practice amp. I didn't understand why people would pay $100 for a single distortion pedal when I could get this thing that supposedly had everything for the same price.
Recently, I've been trying to find that nice tone using a Legacy through a Classic 30 combo amp. Like one of the threads in the amps section, the tone I dialed in at home was not the same as when I tried it at church with my worship team (separate issue). My concern was that when I was playing, it sounded very "thin". My lead guitarist wasn't there for this informal jam session so it was myself, keyboard, drums and bass. For some songs I tried to get the keyboardist to fill it out a bit using the pads but it was still very empty sounding.
Now when I was trying out some delay and chorus-type effects on my gfx-1, I noticed that it changed the tone coming out of the amp when engaged. I don't know much about effects so i tried using guitar->fx->amp and also sticking it through the fx-loop. Both times it changed the tone even when the only effect I had active for that particular patch was a simple delay. I guess I'm wondering if this is a common problem for all fx, if it's my particular fx unit or for multi-fx units. Would individual pedals fix this problem?
What type of effects would some of you use/recommend, who lead worship or play rhythm using an electric, to maybe give a more fluid/sustained sound?
There is actually a few things to address here...
First, a multi fx unit is digital. What this means is that the unit converts an analog signal (nice and good) into a digital signal (1's and 0's, sterile), moves it through the different effect processes and then converts it BACK to analog. Most of the FX units have cheap analog-digital convertors so you are losing a ton...A TON!! of tone that way. This is why you are unhappy with the sound, and why it sounds sterile and thin.
Second, even if a multi fx unit says that it has a "boss ds-1 distortion" in it, it doesn't!! It has a *digital emulation* of the analog circuit which the boss ds-1 uses, but it isn't the same thing. Analog signals respond and sound differently than digital, and some analog circuits respond, sound, and react better than other analog circuits, which is why there are $100/$200/$400/etc pedals available...you get what you pay for! That is why people are willing to buy a perfectly good pedal and send it off to be 'modified'. They can be made much better!
Think of it as food. Does microwave pasta (ala microwave meal) taste as good as a custom prepared italian pasta with the finest ingredients of the same name? Of course not. So it is the same with nearly anything.
That said, the Dano and arion pedals are AWESOME for the price, if I was on a budget I would buy 5 of those pedals rather than invest anything into a multi fx.
YMMV!
Hope that helps!
Brian
Answer:
My 2 cents as a Classic 30 owner and worship team lead guitarist would be to use the amp overdrive for your overdriven tones. The overdrive is footswitchable if you have one available. I'm not clear if it is your amp, the church's amp or somebody elses. If you want to wet the signal up a bit you should only need a delay pedal. I agree with Indyguitarist... I would spend the money on some individual pedals rather than a modeler (I have one but don't use it for playing with a band). A delay pedal and an EQ (which can also be a boost) would be a good start. I don't know if you can overide the amp sims on the Zoom pedal you have. It may have a "direct" model or something like that which allows you to use the delay, etc without simulating an amp. I had a Zoom 505II at one time but I gave it away to another guitar player in the church.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Dbmaj7 My 2 cents as a Classic 30 owner and worship team lead guitarist would be to use the amp overdrive for your overdriven tones. The overdrive is footswitchable if you have one available. I'm not clear if it is your amp, the church's amp or somebody elses. If you want to wet the signal up a bit you should only need a delay pedal. I agree with Indyguitarist... I would spend the money on some individual pedals rather than a modeler (I have one but don't use it for playing with a band). A delay pedal and an EQ (which can also be a boost) would be a good start. I don't know if you can overide the amp sims on the Zoom pedal you have. It may have a "direct" model or something like that which allows you to use the delay, etc without simulating an amp. I had a Zoom 505II at one time but I gave it away to another guitar player in the church.
The amp is my own. I do have a footswitch to channel select and I totally agree with using the amp's overdrive. With the style of music we play it's more than enough and I don't need an additional od or dist boost.
There is a noise reduction/amp modeling setting on the Zoom that I turned off. I have been playing around with some delay and chorus and I'm liking a few combinations (although I think the tone is still altered when they are engaged). I do have a Boss CE-2 pedal so maybe I will look into trying a decent delay pedal and see what kind of a difference they make compared to the delay/chorus combinations on the Zoom.
btw, thanks to all for the tips.