Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

Frogman

Frogman

New member
Recently joined a gigging cover band, and I'm flirting with the idea
of a multi fx unit.

I am playing through a '71 Deluxe Reverb


I don't necessarily want a thousand bells and whistles that I will
never even use, but something with different delays, chrouses,
tremolos, etc that are EASY to program and PRACTICAL to use live.


Also on a budget.


Ideas?




*also, would a modeler like a Boss ME-50 or Pod XT Live sound bad through an
all tube amp?
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

I don't have experience with many, but I do own the Boss GT-8. Any modeler like this can have the amp models turned on or off, in other words, you can save patches with just effects. If I wanted to stick with the natural sound of my amp, that's what I would do.

I don't know how much experience you have with multi-effects units, but the presets are generally organized in "banks," like pages of a few presets each. The GT-8 has 4 presets in each bank so you could have up to 4 presets for each song ready to go without having to push any extra buttons. I think it's a great for gigging.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

pod to PA , frik the amp
pod has literally dozens inside

well ok use the tube amp as a low volume stage monitor

this dude I know had one of the big Stacks that blew up
while waiting on getting repaired he got a POD to get by
never bothered to repair the amp

ok I use a Digitech modeler
an RP something with a couple of switches and a foot pedal should give you all you need
there was a video on a "four Cable method of hooking it up
that would get your preamp effects before the amp
and your post amp effects in the loop

but dang the 71 aint got a loop does it

my GNX has an amp send and stereo line outs and returns in 1/4 and in XLR
headphones / usb / mic input
Google GNX3000 they are about $250
the GNX4 is about the same
the RP1000 is around $500
the GNX's are discontinued and harder to find
 
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Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

The last time I plugged into a multi FX unti was over 10 years ago when I first started playing. It was a korg AX1000. Great for what it was. It sounded very decent too. I'm sure FX units have gotten even better over time.

I never cared for Line 6's sound of digital modelling. I love the way Line 6 stuff looks, but not the sound.

Boss recently released a new floor unit, I thinks its the ME10? I remember being very impressed with the deatils but have not tried it yet.

What effects are you using? Why not go pedals? Usually, an FX unit just leads to a plethora of pedals.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

ive never heard a multi fx unit that i liked as much as stand alone pedals. you have a nice amp, it would be a shame to cover up its inherent tonal qualities
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

SabbathFan0220 said:
I don't have experience with many, but I do own the Boss GT-8. Any modeler like this can have the amp models turned on or off, in other words, you can save patches with just effects. If I wanted to stick with the natural sound of my amp, that's what I would do.

I don't know how much experience you have with multi-effects units, but the presets are generally organized in "banks," like pages of a few presets each. The GT-8 has 4 presets in each bank so you could have up to 4 presets for each song ready to go without having to push any extra buttons. I think it's a great for gigging.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that you can run most of the GT models in manual mode, as I do. It makes each pedal on the board a single effect. It's just like a normal pedal board. You can even tell the thing which pedal you want that effect to be on, and the order you want them in.

I stopped using the patches a long time ago. They work better for my needs in manual mode.
 
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Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

I wouldn't recommend it, but I have a podXT live I'll sell you if you plan to go that rout. The power supply input is a little touchy, but I've never had it die on stage or anything. Easy fix, too. I just don't use it.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

Easy and practical for the stage...good sounds.

Boss ME-50

Can't get any simpler to set up and use, and the tones are just fine.

top_M.jpg
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

I personally can't stand multi effects units. I have been in many cover bands and never felt I needed a multi unit. Challenge yourself to do more with less. I know I can be in just about any cover band with a one or two channel amp and a few key pedals. I just started a new cover band and am actually getting rid of some stomp boxes. However, I am tired of spending on expensive analog boxes and second guessing what I have so I might save money and sell all ky stomp boxes and just get a line 6 M9 since it functions like real stomp boxes, no patches, etc. Plus they sound great. I had all the usual suspects, Boss GT multi, Digitech, TC Nova and hated them all.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

I have been very happy with my TC Electronics G-major. It has what I need without unusable extras.

The TC Nova System is a newer, floor mounted multi-effects unit. I would expect that it is similar quality to the second generation G-major effects units.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

First you have to weigh your practical need for such a device, or even pedals. Obviously you can't do a very good cover of a song that featured a given effect if you don't have that effect, but there's a lot of stuff you can do (or not do) in a live situation that you can't (or can) do on record. Only the guitar snobs would notice if you weren't using a phaser for Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, but I think everyone would notice if you weren't using a wah for Voodoo Chile.

You'll probably find that all you need is an EQ pedal for feedback/room tweaking and/or boosting for solos, a wah (only for songs that feature it), a volume pedal (both for swell effects and for overall master volume control), and maybe a delay pedal (if you're doing songs that feature it prominently).

A chorus can be nice to have, but it can also be overdone. What you hear as lush and full might be excessive to the audience, and overpower the rest of the band.

Remember, it's a band, not you and your backup players.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

In the end, you have to do what is right.....try some and if it works for you...awesome!

I believe in many cases, you can get away with a tuner, wah, OD and delay and play all night. :)

My band plays 90s rock, hard rock and grunge and I am thinking of replacing my pedals with a Line 6 M9 or replacing everything with an M13 and just use that and my amp's channel switcher.
 
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Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

I used to use my POD XT Live allot for playing open mics. It works through an amp but I like the sound of single effect stomp boxes better. The main thing I liked about using the POD XT was not having to lug around an amp and how quickly I could get setup. With just a 15 or 20 minute time slot it kept me from wasting time setting up.

The nice thing about the PODs is the editing software makes it really easy to tweak the patches; the down side is there a pain to edit using the controls on the POD. Even with the software I find it much easier to get sounds I like out of my stomp boxes then the POD.
 
Re: Simple, quality Multi FX Unit

I like the Vox/Korg tonelabs. Much better than the line6 stuff.
 
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