Question:
Well, my birthday is coming up in two weeks, and i've decided that I would like to get a nice effects/modeling board that I can use for recording to my computer, and to replace my normal setup at church (my massive pedalboard into a Line 6 Spyder) as i'm tired of carrying everything, and as we have been having technical difficulties as of late. So here is what I want:
- Amp/Speaker modeling - absolute must as i'll be going direct to the board.
- Effects - self explanatory, and this should be easy. One requirement though is at least one expression pedal for volume/wah duties.
- Price range is an absolute maximum of 300$ for now. I have no income for the next three months, and I due to the aformentioned sound issues, I would like to have this before I next play at church (5 weeks).
To clarify sound needs, I need good cleans and low/mid overdrive sounds. Sound quality takes precedence over features. If I need to I can setup a small board for this and a pedal or two from my board to suit my needs. Ease of use in a live setting is very important. Thanks all.
Answer:
Hmm... Vox Tonelab? It doesn't have many effects, but you could throw in a few of your single effects.
-Nick
Answer:
I just picked up a Digitech GNX3000 for $320 new (after $50 rebate good through this month) off of eBay. I've only had a chance to listen to the presets and haven't put it through all the paces or run it through the PA yet. So far, the presets sound pretty good for the most part. I don't care for some, but I can also create my own patches. 195 presets are a lot!!! I think it will meet your needs.
Yes, I understand why you're doing this - likely for the same reasons I have gotten this unit. Can't wait to play it live.
By the way (and not to highjack the thread), how's the Carvin doing?
Answer:
The Tonelab is a very interesting prospect, but seeing as it goes for 500$, i'm not going to hold any hopes of getting one.
The Digitech...I will have to do some research on those.
I'm thinking i'll make a trip to GC tomorrow just to see what kinds of things are there.
And I still love my Carvin. Great tone, and it is quite beautiful. I've gotten a few slightly envious comments at church regarding it. However, it doesn't do light overdrive stuff very well due to the high output pickups. I'm also starting to realize more and more that I really prefer the single coil sound, strat sounds in particular, so i'm thinking that if I can get a good summer job i'll likely add a Carvin Bolt to my collection within the next year or so.
Answer:
Depends on the tonelab.If your getting the tonelab se yes it will run 500% but if you get the tonelabe the one with out the expresison pedals it will run less.From experince I really like the tonelab great for customizing and stuff some of the stock stuff is good but I made effects on there and everyone was amazed at church what I was using it was pretty cool.
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What about the Korg AX1500G?
I've heard really good things about it, and I'm hoping to pick one up for myself in the next few months.
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No one said the XTL yet...
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its above his price range
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Originally Posted by jamforchrist123 its above his price range
Not from eBay.
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true
Answer:
Originally Posted by PianoMan The Tonelab is a very interesting prospect, but seeing as it goes for 500$, i'm not going to hold any hopes of getting one.
The Digitech...I will have to do some research on those.
I'm thinking i'll make a trip to GC tomorrow just to see what kinds of things are there.
And I still love my Carvin. Great tone, and it is quite beautiful. I've gotten a few slightly envious comments at church regarding it. However, it doesn't do light overdrive stuff very well due to the high output pickups. I'm also starting to realize more and more that I really prefer the single coil sound, strat sounds in particular, so i'm thinking that if I can get a good summer job i'll likely add a Carvin Bolt to my collection within the next year or so.
Yeah, I was thinking the plain old Tonelab, not the Tonelab SE. The Tonelab is $300, I think. I doesn't have an expressing pedal, but it's a good amp / cabnet modeler. Major Tom just picked one up, I've been PMing him back and forth about it. It sounds like a great piece of equipment.
-Nick
Answer:
I'm still "discovering" it...but my first impressions are that its very amp like - very dynamic, it does sparkly glassy clean stuff, just-beyond-clean, edge of distortion, mild OD better than any modeler I've messed with. With an OD setting, it cleans up very well by soft picking, just like a tube amp. I think the dynamics of it are very tube amp-like. Unlike other modelers that I seem to try to find ways of un-muffling the tone, this one's just the opposite; it has high end to spare, and can be harsh with some settings. I have seen complaints of fizziness - some tubes are worse than others, but thru headphones it does have some inherent fizziness, although when I listen in the context of a mix, I don't hear it. I did put a 12AT7 in there, I like it better than the stock 12AX7 for the clean - mild OD stuff, less fuzzy.
First impression = thumbs up for a desktop headphone practice/recording modeler for those who like clean to mild OD, I'm not sure the high gain tone crowd would like it. It does work well with OD pedals. As a Multi-FX, I'd look elsewhere, as it wasn't intended for that anyway. It is a very simple unit to operate, there is a switch or knob for every function. A proper review forthcoming...
The desktop (non SE) is $300, the effects are ok, but this is a modeler with some basic effects thrown in, not a full blown multi-FX with modeling. The Tonelabe SE has gobs more effects and parameters.
Answer:
Score! Yesterday evening my parents offered to pay me a bunch to spend a day doing cleanup stuff around the yard, and they are paying quite well. As such, I think that I may be able to up the range to 400$ safely, which puts the POD XTL and the Tonelab SE in my range. However, after some research i'm leaning heavily towards the XTL, as while the SE sounds like it would be good, I don't have the effects flexability that I need. I am going to go to GC in a bit to try stuff out though. Keep the thoughts coming!
Answer:
Make sure you give the Digitech GNX3000 a very good look. I'm a big Lincoln Brewster fan, so I weighed the PODXLT heavily, but came away with the Digitech. I posted this response earlier in reply to why I chose the GNX3000:
"Leviathon laid out some of the reasons I chose the Digitech. But, one feature I liked was the "learn a lick" function. I've read about the high end "fizziness" apparent in the PODXTL and maybe that was a downside. In reality, I don't expect either one to be clearly above the other. I guess I made a choice based on going through the manuals. The Digitech seemed more intuitive to me. Plus, I've had good experience with Harman Corp. products, DOD Acoustec and Johnson JM50 SS amp for my son, whereas I don't have any Line 6 experience.
Since I already have my tube amp setup and like it, I was really interested in getting into the emulation field so I could make my own decision on what sounds best to me. I like the ease of plugging into the PA and helping out the sound guys mix. I'm very much an advocate of doing what it takes to produce an overall good sound (in a group). If digital does it better, then I'm for it. Don't get me wrong, I still love my tube setup, but tubes have their issues too. I'll report back in a few weeks."
So far, it's been worth it.
Answer:
I think that the POD XTL would be a good choice. I'm too lazy to write out eveythin again. I know this comment might seem Naive/young/weird...but here goes....we don't see any well known musicians playing any other MultiEffects pedal. Plus POD XTL looks cooler. though the VOX looks pretty cool as well.
but yeah, make sure you test everything before you like it.