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Post by walshb 🦒 on Feb 1, 2021 12:51:41 GMT -5
The HX Effects I purchased last year is so versatile, I've found few things it won't do. Line 6 keeps upgrading the software, and adding more effects to an already great unit. All the different reverbs, delays, OD's, compressors, wahs....all built right in. Nothing all that new, I know....and it's certainly not for everyone.
If you are using a multi-effects unit, do you find there are also individual pedals that you just can't do without?
Do you think individual pedals are a better choice? NTTAWWT!
Just wondering where people here stand regarding effects in general?
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gdw3
Halfnote
Insert clever statement here
Posts: 81
Formerly Known As: Gordon
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Post by gdw3 on Feb 1, 2021 16:48:32 GMT -5
If I were to start over, I'd start with a multi-effect and supplement with pedals that I thought either it didn't do well, or that I wanted immediate individual control over.
My one problem with multi-effects is when players have every sound that they use be highly processed, with lots of stuff in the chain. In my opinion, sometimes you need as dry a sound as you can get. Raw is good at times. I think multi players tend to forget about that, because there are so many choices.
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Post by Blacksunshine on Feb 1, 2021 16:58:20 GMT -5
I tried multi-effects units at various time in my career, and always came back to individual pedals.
Maybe the modern stuff is better, but I was never super happy with multi-effects boxes or racks.
YMMV, good luck!
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Feb 1, 2021 17:00:29 GMT -5
I’ve alternated between the two over the years, usually against the prevailing trend.
My first multi effects unit was a Boss ME6 in the early ‘90’s, quickly followed by a Zoom 9150, then an original Pod and FBV controller. I played quite a few gigs with these set ups, through my Marshall JCM900 half stack, but in an early attempt to “simplify” I got my first modelling amp, the Fender Cyber Twin as a “once and for all” final solution.
That didn’t last very long though, and I soon went back to amp + pedals again for a couple of years, mainly a Fulldrive II, Line 6 MM4, OCD, MI Crunchbox, etc.
Looking to cut down on size and weight, I got a Fender Mustang III about 8 years ago, and absolutely loved it. I must have played 200-300 trouble free gigs with it, but I ended up also using pedals with it, OCD, Bogner Ecstasy Blue, EHX Soul Food, which sort of defeated the objective.
Still looking for the perfect “one box” solution, I bought a Katana 100 last year, and although I’ve only played 3 gigs with it, I’ve been hugely impressed with it, but…….
I am now leaning towards an ultra-light “pedal platform” amp such as the Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb with individual pedals, and with this in mind I’ve just bought a Line 6 M9 to cover the Modulation and Delays. I’m also considering augmenting my current pedals with a couple of Way Huge OD pedals.
In the meantime quite a few guys I know are going down the Helix route. I haven’t played one yet but I’ve played a Kemper (good) and an AxeFX (sensational), but they are way beyond my current budget.
As I say, I always seem to be going in the opposite direction to the herd. 😊
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Feb 1, 2021 18:10:58 GMT -5
I’ve alternated between the two over the years, usually against the prevailing trend.
My first multi effects unit was a Boss ME6 in the early ‘90’s, quickly followed by a Zoom 9150, then an original Pod and FBV controller. I played quite a few gigs with these set ups, through my Marshall JCM900 half stack, but in an early attempt to “simplify” I got my first modelling amp, the Fender Cyber Twin as a “once and for all” final solution.
That didn’t last very long though, and I soon went back to amp + pedals again for a couple of years, mainly a Fulldrive II, Line 6 MM4, OCD, MI Crunchbox, etc.
Looking to cut down on size and weight, I got a Fender Mustang III about 8 years ago, and absolutely loved it. I must have played 200-300 trouble free gigs with it, but I ended up also using pedals with it, OCD, Bogner Ecstasy Blue, EHX Soul Food, which sort of defeated the objective.
Still looking for the perfect “one box” solution, I bought a Katana 100 last year, and although I’ve only played 3 gigs with it, I’ve been hugely impressed with it, but…….
I am now leaning towards an ultra-light “pedal platform” amp such as the Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb with individual pedals, and with this in mind I’ve just bought a Line 6 M9 to cover the Modulation and Delays. I’m also considering augmenting my current pedals with a couple of Way Huge OD pedals.
In the meantime quite a few guys I know are going down the Helix route. I haven’t played one yet but I’ve played a Kemper (good) and an AxeFX (sensational), but they are way beyond my current budget.
As I say, I always seem to be going in the opposite direction to the herd. 😊
I knew you had purchased the M9 due to the other thread. How are you liking it so far? I've also done the merry go round between just a few pedals, sometimes a large SKB pedalboard, to different multi effects like the Boss ME-50 and ME-70, but it seemed like there was always something they couldn't do, so I'd end of combining them with a couple of other pedals. |
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Post by Cal-Woody on Feb 1, 2021 19:08:13 GMT -5
I have had a few multi-effects units and liked a lot of what they could do, but it drove me crazy trying to get all the levels set so that they wouldn't have intense volume levels or just too quiet for the mix. That's why I like my pedals, because I can adjust their effect and not worry so much about how loud each were compared to my amp settings.
So, no more effects units and just run my pedalboard through the amp. Of course, I have all of my time based effects going through the effects loop and the distortion units going through the front of the amp. Always sounds as I expect them to and it is easy to adjust to taste!
I did learn that if you turn off the amp settings in the effect chain, you get just the effect without having a lot of adjustments to use the effects by themselves....
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Feb 1, 2021 19:25:33 GMT -5
When I was playing in a band, individual pedals made the most sense because I could select one or more effects to replicate the sound of the guitar on the tunes we were covering. A wah, overdrive, phaser, chorus, and delay were all I used, into a clean amp. I rarely used the wah. Since I no longer play in a band, a multi-effects unit makes the most sense because most of my playing is home recording. I use a POD HD; yeah it's old, but it sounds great. I have no need for impulse response hoo-hah and plugins, which are nothing more than the software version of pedals; you can spend a crap ton of $$$$ on that stuff if you allow yourself to slide down that rabbit hole. I know people that have more money sunk into plugins than they do for hardware. When I play a jam with others, I use a FlyRig ver 1. It has pretty much anything I need to have fun.  |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Feb 1, 2021 19:36:14 GMT -5
I am now leaning towards an ultra-light “pedal platform” amp such as the Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb with individual pedals Have you tried any of the Quilter stuff? They make 100 and 200-watt heads that are the size of a large effects pedal. They sound fantastic, and are perfect for pairing with a pedalboard or multi-effects unit. They also offer a 45-watt version. These are plenty loud for any bar gig. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IB45H--quilter-labs-interblock-45-45-watt-headAdd a really good 1x12 or 2x12 speaker cab and you'll have a totally effective, reliable, and small portable rig. |
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TBird
Wholenote
Posts: 298
Formerly Known As: greg1948
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Post by TBird on Feb 2, 2021 8:36:11 GMT -5
I'm a multi-fx guy, have been on and off for years. I had individual pedals too for awhile, but I eventually went back to MFX. I've had the Line 6 POD Live, Boss ME 20, a small Digitech unit, Mustang Floor, Line 6 HX FX, Helix and M5 stomp. Obviously, I do like the sound of the Line 6 gear. I just like the convenience and streamlined look of the multi units. The big issue is the programming of the MFX boxes. It can be tedious and the manuals can be confusing. Good thing there are YT videos on most aspects of the units.
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Feb 2, 2021 9:21:04 GMT -5
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Feb 2, 2021 9:24:33 GMT -5
I am now leaning towards an ultra-light “pedal platform” amp such as the Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb with individual pedals Have you tried any of the Quilter stuff? They make 100 and 200-watt heads that are the size of a large effects pedal. They sound fantastic, and are perfect for pairing with a pedalboard or multi-effects unit. They also offer a 45-watt version. These are plenty loud for any bar gig. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IB45H--quilter-labs-interblock-45-45-watt-headAdd a really good 1x12 or 2x12 speaker cab and you'll have a totally effective, reliable, and small portable rig. Thanks Peegoo. Having heard how great they were here on MT2, I had the chance to pick up a Quilter Aviator 1 x 12 for peanuts (£275 I think) about a year ago, but stupidly declined and have regretted it ever since.  They are super-rare over here, and in fact I haven't seen another one for sale since then |
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Feb 2, 2021 9:32:12 GMT -5
I knew you had purchased the M9 due to the other thread. How are you liking it so far? I've also done the merry go round between just a few pedals, sometimes a large SKB pedalboard, to different multi effects like the Boss ME-50 and ME-70, but it seemed like there was always something they couldn't do, so I'd end of combining them with a couple of other pedals. I've only played with the M9 for about an hour, but I'm liking it so far 
As I say, I've previously had MM4, AM4, DS4, Pod and M5, so I'm fairly familiar with Line 6 effects.
I like that you can set the M9 up with 6 effects on each "scene" and use 3 simultaneously. For example Delay, Chorus and Comp. I cant see me ever needing more than 3 effects at once. I particularly like the Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Rotary, Vibe and Delay effects. I don't think I will be using the OD/ Distortions much, but who knows.
The clincher was when I read that Brian Ray (Paul McCartney's guitarist) has one on his touring rig. If it's good enough for him...…
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 2, 2021 11:01:32 GMT -5
If I was a younger man that was still gigging in a non-pandemic world, I'd try my Avid Eleven Rack in a rack mount stage rig mode. Currently I use it exclusively for recording. My rarely used pedalboard has all individual pedals, specifically tuner, compression, 2 dirt boxes, EQ, delay, reverb and trem pedals for when I plug into my Pro Jr or VHT Special 6. What I really feel like doing is getting a Princeton Reverb or boutique facsimile and fashioning a small pedalboard with tuner, dirt and delay. This would be for the increasingly unlikely scenario of a jam with unmasked fellow musicians. The reality is a Katana or the like would be the smartest, but I'm gonna stick with those glass things that glow just because I've earned the right to be a fuddy duddy for my remaining spins.
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Ayns
Wholenote
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Post by Ayns on Feb 2, 2021 11:19:56 GMT -5
I think a Princeton Reverb/ Tweed Deluxe + 4 or 5 pedals would be the ideal gig rig. It's what Mike Campbell has been using for decades.  |
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Post by reverendrob on Feb 2, 2021 12:44:01 GMT -5
The thing is in modern stuff, you can make both individual pedals *AND* multis do things the others won't.
Built-in FX loops (that are series movable by patch) in the multis help as well, but that function is also available to the unwashed masses with stuff like the Boss ES-5/8 for individual effects.
And there are some bizarre "hybrids" where the "Multi-effect" only does one thing at a time.
Truthfully I could probably be happy with a Katana, a guitar synth, a couple of my sonic destroyer fuzzes, a Bee Baa (for the treble boost), the Lexicon Vortex, and my Space Echo...but I'm glad I don't have to be.
FWIW I still use my first multi-fx (a Boss ME-6B) because the analog filters in it are still damn amazing.
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pnutz
Halfnote
Posts: 83
Formerly Known As: "Most folks just call me Jimm."
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Post by pnutz on Feb 2, 2021 15:55:47 GMT -5
When I was playing in a band, individual pedals made the most sense because I could select one or more effects to replicate the sound of the guitar on the tunes we were covering. A wah, overdrive, phaser, chorus, and delay were all I used, into a clean amp. I rarely used the wah. Since I no longer play in a band, a multi-effects unit makes the most sense because most of my playing is home recording. I use a POD HD; yeah it's old, but it sounds great. I have no need for impulse response hoo-hah and plugins, which are nothing more than the software version of pedals; you can spend a crap ton of $$$$ on that stuff if you allow yourself to slide down that rabbit hole. I know people that have more money sunk into plugins than they do for hardware. When I play a jam with others, I use a FlyRig ver 1. It has pretty much anything I need to have fun. Goo, I use two of the original Fly Rig 5s as a basis for two different boards (one live, and one kept at a practice space) and a Richie Kotzen FR for a third (live) rig in a different band. All the boards have added effects that the FRs don't, but the effects on the FR are great. |
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Feb 2, 2021 20:57:11 GMT -5
When I was playing in a band, individual pedals made the most sense because I could select one or more effects to replicate the sound of the guitar on the tunes we were covering. A wah, overdrive, phaser, chorus, and delay were all I used, into a clean amp. I rarely used the wah. Since I no longer play in a band, a multi-effects unit makes the most sense because most of my playing is home recording. I use a POD HD; yeah it's old, but it sounds great. I have no need for impulse response hoo-hah and plugins, which are nothing more than the software version of pedals; you can spend a crap ton of $$$$ on that stuff if you allow yourself to slide down that rabbit hole. I know people that have more money sunk into plugins than they do for hardware. When I play a jam with others, I use a FlyRig ver 1. It has pretty much anything I need to have fun. Goo, I use two of the original Fly Rig 5s as a basis for two different boards (one live, and one kept at a practice space) and a Richie Kotzen FR for a third (live) rig in a different band. All the boards have added effects that the FRs don't, but the effects on the FR are great. I had never heard of this unit until now. It looks pretty good, and it might be a great rig to leave at band practice. Hmmmm..... |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Feb 2, 2021 22:13:54 GMT -5
Goo, I use two of the original Fly Rig 5s as a basis for two different boards (one live, and one kept at a practice space) and a Richie Kotzen FR for a third (live) rig in a different band. All the boards have added effects that the FRs don't, but the effects on the FR are great. I had never heard of this unit until now. It looks pretty good, and it might be a great rig to leave at band practice. Hmmmm..... You don't have to leave it at band practice. It fits into the accessory box in a typical Strat/Tele case. But as I remember, you're a Les Paul guy, so yeah, you're out of options |
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Feb 3, 2021 17:09:23 GMT -5
I had never heard of this unit until now. It looks pretty good, and it might be a great rig to leave at band practice. Hmmmm..... You don't have to leave it at band practice. It fits into the accessory box in a typical Strat/Tele case. But as I remember, you're a Les Paul guy, so yeah, you're out of options I AM a Les Paul guy, but I also love my #2, which is my Strat! |
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Feb 3, 2021 17:51:01 GMT -5
individual for me but im old school and only use wha tube screamer and tuner
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Post by chimpo on Feb 4, 2021 22:02:33 GMT -5
I have a Digitech GNX4 that I rarely use because I find I'm spending more time tweaking sounds rather than playing. It's not an in-ya-face control either because changing settings isn’t just matter of tweaking knobs. I always struggle to get levels right as well. Not an intuitive box at all.
I much prefer pedals. Easy on-the-fly tweaking and modular; it's quick and easy to change the order if needed. Visually it's in-ya-face right there in front of you so an immediate visual of where everything is at. And don't forget all the pretty colours...
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Post by zenland on Feb 6, 2021 13:16:47 GMT -5
I like what I own and its a combination of both.
The Helix is for playing out and rehearsal. The GR-55 is for home recording.
Still have a DG Stomp sitting in a drawer collecting dust. lol
Definitely have to spend more time with the Helix and FRFR speaker soon as it needs EQ tweaks.
Don't know that I'll ever sell my pedals because I hate selling anything once I own it.
(Unless they really go up in value!)
Plus, they're a lot of fun and if I go to a Jam it's easy to throw some in a bag.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Feb 6, 2021 14:47:08 GMT -5
individual for me but im old school and only use wha tube screamer and tuner Have you tried a Tuba Screamer?  |
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Post by Stinger22 on Feb 11, 2021 15:46:09 GMT -5
When I gigged I used a Zoom MultiStomp pedal and then a G3 on my pedalboard for my Tuner, Noise Reduction, Delay, Modulation. Did not use a lot of Modulation and could never justify expensive modulation pedals. So for the price of a good tuner and delay, probably less, I got both and more. Never used the amp/sims or OD/Distortion stuff that was all dedicated pedals. Worked great for me.
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Post by squarewave on Feb 12, 2021 21:55:18 GMT -5
My first real dive into effects was with a Digitech RP-1 back in 1992: used that through a Peavey Special, and then a 5150. Moved on to pedals for the years following, up until 2015 when I ran my Bradshaw pedal rig into a Kemper Profiler; loved the amp tones I could dial in, and the consistency. Several months ago I ditched the pedal rig (currently in road cases in my garage) and dove head first into the Fractal Audio Axe FX III with FC-12 controller and haven't looked back. I also have the Fractal FM3 and FC-6 controller for tracking at home.
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Ayns
Wholenote
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Post by Ayns on Feb 13, 2021 8:16:46 GMT -5
I’ve played through an Axe Fx a couple of times, and it was absolutely sensational, but beyond my needs and budget. |
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Post by Leftee on Feb 13, 2021 8:23:06 GMT -5
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Post by squarewave on Feb 13, 2021 10:39:56 GMT -5
I’ve played through an Axe Fx a couple of times, and it was absolutely sensational, but beyond my needs and budget. Oh, absolutely. It is a monster in function and features, and paired with a controller, in price as well. However, I'm fortunate enough to be able to play guitar for a living, so the all the gear I have is part of what provides for the family. I always say that if my wife actually knew the dollar amount in gear that I have, she'd probably have me committed, haha. Side note - I've also pre-ordered the new Neural Quad Cortex; looks like a very promising piece of gear. |
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Ayns
Wholenote
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Post by Ayns on Feb 13, 2021 13:51:07 GMT -5
Side note - I've also pre-ordered the new Neural Quad Cortex; looks like a very promising piece of gear. I've read about these. Sounds amazing. How is it different from /better than the Axe FX? |
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Post by squarewave on Feb 14, 2021 20:30:19 GMT -5
From what I've read and heard from friends who are beta testing the unit, it's not "better" than the Axe3, per se, just a bit different. What will set it apart, for now, is that it can model/profile not only amps, but also effects. I have a couple drive pedals that I really love, and it would be great to create a profile of that and save as an effect - well, with the new QC, it will be possible. Additional features are the very responsive, and high end, touchscreen, WiFi capability for creating cloud-based backups, sharing presets, and installing updates, also the switches also double as rotary actuators that can be assigned to control parameters. Another thing is that four discreet signal paths can be used simultaneously with the four ins/outs so, in theory, a whole band can run on one unit (two guitars, bass, and vocals, for example). It's really quite impressive.
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They are super-rare over here, and in fact I haven't seen another one for sale since then 
