Yamaha Magicstomp II

[Rich_S]

Thanks go out to ArtieToo for pointing out the blowout special on these at MF. $80 - what a deal. I finally got to try my new Magicstomp tonight. Loading up the software was kind of a pain, but I got it working and set up a decent patch of a basic medium-gain Marshall sound. As with most modeler/multieffectors, there's so much flexibility it takes a while to dial in sounds.

This is going to be my headphone practice amp - I'll stick with my 18 Watter and pedal board for "real" playing. But for $80 its great.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Yamaha Magicstomp II

Yeah, I browse through the MF Clearance section once in awhile. I saw those Yamaha's, and also the Demonizer and Womanizer pedals for $200, which are usually twice as much.

How are the amp sounds on the unit? I already know Yamaha makes great FX.

 

[Artie]

Re: Yamaha Magicstomp II

Hey Rich; Glad you like it. I've got mixed emotions about mine. The things it does well, it does great. The things it does bad, are almost inexcusable. For example, the inability to switch between the "user" and "preset" banks is a major pain. When I get to user patch 99, I have to scroll all the way through the preset banks to get back to the user banks. They should have a toggle switch to select between these two.

Also, its a shame that they didn't allow for programming the range of patch selection. My 20-year-old Yamaha FX500 allows this. For example, lets say I set up my 12 favorite patches. On my FX500, I can set the scan range from 43 to 55. On the MagicStomp, you must scan through all 198 patches.

One other thing that I find annoying is that in the "Performance" mode, I can set up my three favorite patches and have direct access to them. But you can't activate more than one at a time. It would be great if I could set a nice reverb, leave it on, and then select distortion on or off. Unfortunately, selecting the distortion patch, kills the reverb patch.

Now . . . having said that, what it does well, it does great. Yamaha has always been known for killer reverb algorithms, and this pedal is no exception. Chorus, delays, flange, phasor . . . all those things are outstanding. The spring reverb is amazing. As a matter of fact, the reverb in my new H&K amp is weak. I have my MagicStomp patched into the effects loop and just leave it in "Performance" mode with my three favorite reverb patches. I love it.

I wouldn't buy this if it cost more than $80, but for that price, its a pretty good deal. Even with its shortcomings.

 

[Dan-ola]

Re: Yamaha Magicstomp II

Has anyone used it as an amp modeler? I have been looking for an "amp-in-a-box" unit for a while now that I could use to record with, use for headphone practice, and run thru a PA for church gigs, just not sure on the amp models. The samples at the Magicstomp site sound mesa-mesa but they do have patches from Ty Tabor, Geogre Lynch, and John 5 so I figured between those 3 there should be some great sounds :fingersx:

Anywho, I was thinking $80 might be worth taking a chance but any feedback you guys have would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Dano

 

[Artie]

Re: Yamaha Magicstomp II

I'll mess with the modeler and write something up later this weekend. I haven't messed with that part of it much yet, because I have my J-Station - which hasn't been turned on since I got my H & K amp.