Looking for Guitar FX Pedal Advice

ShriekingSheet

I currently have a DD6, a Boss Super Overdrive, a DS-1 (obviously) and recently got a Boss SL-20 Slicer, which is pretty cool. I play a Mex Tele with a Hotrod Deluxe amp in this style of guitar/electronica music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9wBdtLl89k).

My Overdrive/Distortion needs aren't all that intricate. I don't require various styles of gain, just a boost or some fuzz here and there. I have the amp channels & footswitch too. I use delay plenty, and need the tap funtionality.

Aside from those basics, I like to get as many out-there sounds as possible. The SL-20 is good for this. I'd like other options like a Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Tremolo etc, but I would only need them sparingly, so it's hard to justify forking for the individual Boss stomp-boxes.

My plan? If I get something like an ME-70, it'll do me for Overdrive and Delay, plus I'll have two more adjustable options for Phaser/Mod etc, and a wah-type pedal, and keep the SL-20 and footswitch.

I've two questions>

For my basic enough needs, am I grand to replace the DD6, SD1 and DS1 with a multi FX unit?

If yes, is the ME-70 the way to go, or is there as much to be said for the ME-50, or the flagship GT thing.

Antomus Prime

Speaking from my own experience, there was never a sound or effect I couldnt get from my old Boss GT6 multi effects unit, it was brilliant and I rue the day I sold it! Thats right I said Rue!!! I had planned on upgrading to the GT8 but the one i was after sold before I could take it and havent seen one advertised at a reasonable price since. But you should be able to pick up a GT6 for around €100-€150.

Theyre also very easy to program and very user friendly

Ravelleman

There's so much more to the world of effects than Boss.

Generally, I prefer to focus on the effects that I use most and make sure that I have quality stomp boxes for those rather than worrying about the things that I might need. I reckon it's better to make sure I have a great sound for those than a mediocre sound for everything. That's why I went from a Pod XT Live to some TC Electronic pedals and a few boutique pedal I've picked up over the years.

YMMV, obviously.

ShriekingSheet

Antomus Prime wrote: »

Speaking from my own experience, there was never a sound or effect I couldnt get from my old Boss GT6 multi effects unit, it was brilliant and I rue the day I sold it! Thats right I said Rue!!! I had planned on upgrading to the GT8 but the one i was after sold before I could take it and havent seen one advertised at a reasonable price since. But you should be able to pick up a GT6 for around €100-€150.

Theyre also very easy to program and very user friendly

Nice one. That's what I suspected. I know there's a lot said about the intricate superiority of the stomp boxes over multi fx, and I do agree. I'm just thinking for live use, it'll be more of a benefit to have the range of options, than marginally better drive/delay.

Antomus Prime

Ravelleman wrote: »

There's so much more to the world of effects than Boss.

Generally, I prefer to focus on the effects that I use most and make sure that I have quality stomp boxes for those rather than worrying about the things that I might need. I reckon it's better to make sure I have a great sound for those than a mediocre sound for everything. That's why I went from a Pod XT Live to some TC Electronic pedals and a few boutique pedal I've picked up over the years.

YMMV, obviously.

There's nothing mediocre about a GT6

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Nice one. That's what I suspected. I know there's a lot said about the intricate superiority of the stomp boxes over multi fx, and I do agree. I'm just thinking for live use, it'll be more of a benefit to have the range of options, than marginally better drive/delay.

Well as a fan of Boss I used to use separate stomp boxes but then when I read into the GT series I found out that all the sounds from their stomp boxes can be gotten on it. And with the multifunction expression pedal on it its perfect for gigging

ShriekingSheet

Ravelleman wrote: »

There's so much more to the world of effects than Boss.

Generally, I prefer to focus on the effects that I use most and make sure that I have quality stomp boxes for those rather than worrying about the things that I might need. I reckon it's better to make sure I have a great sound for those than a mediocre sound for everything. That's why I went from a Pod XT Live to some TC Electronic pedals and a few boutique pedal I've picked up over the years.

YMMV, obviously.

I've always used Boss, but I'd be delighted to hear your thoughts on other options.

Agree with you on ensuring your core sounds are good. I have a good guitar and amp. The difference in "quality" of a ME or GT unit's delay and drive, versus the DD-6 and SD-1 is something that I'm throwing open to the floor.

For live use in small Irish venues, I'm not awfullly convinced of the subtle superiority of stomp boxes being worth it, over a high-end multi unit. For recording, I pretty much borrow any effect/amp/guitar I need. I'm more live focused for this thread here.

But I'm no expert, hence the inquisitive topic.

il gatto

Am I odd? I have no Boss pedals. Had a Metal Zone borrowed from a friend and loved it but never actually bought my own.

ShriekingSheet

Researching various multi effects units, I'm even more confused now.
Not really understanding the difference between the likes of the ME-70 and the GT-8.

MilanPan!c

You wouldn't catch me dead with a multi-fx thing... used 'em and found them to ruin the sound of any am/guitar combo I had.

It's a bit more effort and whatnot to research and buy individual bits, but the sound is SO MUCH BETTER.

Plus you can tweak the various components when need be...

YMwon'tV

punchdrunk

MilanPan!c wrote: »

You wouldn't catch me dead with a multi-fx thing... used 'em and found them to ruin the sound of any am/guitar combo I had.

It's a bit more effort and whatnot to research and buy individual bits, but the sound is SO MUCH BETTER.

Plus you can tweak the various components when need be...

YMwon'tV

yeah what he said!

pedals all the way (there's a reason so few pro bands use multi fx these days)

ShriekingSheet

Yeah, I have decided to hang on to my Overdrive pedal. I really like the SD-1.

I guess what I am looking for is something to cover the less serious stuff. The phaser, flanger, octaves, wah etc. Things that I'm only going to throw in once in the set.

I've no interest in the amp modelling boll*x.

Maybe I should just look out for second hand stomp boxes on adverts.ie.

ShriekingSheet

What about something like a Marshal Regenerator pedal?

MilanPan!c

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

What about something like a Marshal Regenerator pedal?

It's awful.

You don't need to buy everything all at once. Slowly buy and trade your way up to a decent rig. Buying an endless stream of mediocre pedals will give you mediocre result.

Start with a few different decent drive pedals, or a decent drive and a decent delay.

Most importantly, make sure you don't have a ****e amp. No point in buying decent pedals if your amp is awful.

artvandulet

MilanPan!c wrote: »

You wouldn't catch me dead with a multi-fx thing... used 'em and found them to ruin the sound of any am/guitar combo I had.

It's a bit more effort and whatnot to research and buy individual bits, but the sound is SO MUCH BETTER.

Plus you can tweak the various components when need be...

YMwon'tV

I got fed up of the effort, the heavy pedal board, the patch cables etc etc.
I bought a TC Nova system. Happy to be seen with it dead or alive. Preferably alive.
Op, I briefly tried a GT8 and a POD XT Live but the seperate pedals were still clearly better. It wasnt until I got the Nova that I was happy to clear a lot of pedals. Ive heard good things about the PODHD and the M9/M13 though. You should check them out.
If you like Boss, dont fight it and just get one of the GT's.

MilanPan!c

artvandulet wrote: »

I got fed up of the effort, the heavy pedal board, the patch cables etc etc.
I bought a TC Nova system. Happy to be seen with it dead or alive. Preferably alive.
Op, I briefly tried a GT8 and a POD XT Live but the seperate pedals were still clearly better. It wasnt until I got the Nova that I was happy to clear a lot of pedals. Ive heard good things about the PODHD and the M9/M13 though. You should check them out.
If you like Boss, dont fight it and just get one of the GT's.

To me, the extra effort is worth it.

The number of times I've seen bands clear rooms because people couldn't deal with their grating distortion... Well too many to remember.

On top of that, if you're an original musician, why not try and get a original and personal variation of a sound. It's not like I'm talking avant garde drone or space rock, but for whatever style of music you play, try and make it your own and be as distinctive as you can be.

Plus decent gear usually creates sounds that sit better in mixes, and therefore the whole band sounds better.

Yes, a 300 euro OD seems extravagant, but consider it's real value when the whole band sounds better and you make more fans, influence more business folks, etc.

Treat this seriously and good things can happen.

Squidgy Black

OP, keep your distortion pedals, and get a decent quality multi-effect like the TC Nova for just reverbs/chorus/delay and the likes. Distortion is something that I find when digit is horrible, but the modulation effects are as good as the stomp boxes.

artvandulet

stetyrrell wrote: »

OP, keep your distortion pedals, and get a decent quality multi-effect like the TC Nova for just reverbs/chorus/delay and the likes. Distortion is something that I find when digit is horrible, but the modulation effects are as good as the stomp boxes.

Thats one of the main reasons I like the Nova. The OD and distortion section is all analog.

Ravelleman

I had two main problems with the Pod XT Live. The first was the quality of the distortion/OD patches, which all had that ´buzzing bee in a jar´type of quality to them. The second was the fact that all the visual feedback from adjusting the controls was reduced to a tiny digital screen. For an effects unit, which apparently has such sonic potential, I found this very counter-intuitive. Going through a never ending list of options for all your effects on a minute screen gets boring very quickly!

MilanPan!c

artvandulet wrote: »

Thats one of the main reasons I like the Nova. The OD and distortion section is all analog.

Yeah, but analogue isn't the only consideration... at this point I care about the type and vintage of the transistors in my fuzz (as it really change the character of the sound and how well it stacks into OD.

There's so many scenarios where being able to add and take away things or change pedal order or twist knobs on the fly, etc., make a big difference to what the audience gets... plus ALL those multifx, unless you're talking Cornish stuff, suck tone like nobody's business.

It's just not for me.

And, as an audience member I can tell, from across the room, if someone is using one... well, esp the boss ones... those are so distinctive sounding... ugh...

Ravelleman

MilanPan!c wrote: »

And, as an audience member I can tell, from across the room, if someone is using one... well, esp the boss ones... those are so distinctive sounding... ugh...

I can smell them when they enter the room.

demanufactured

Im sort of stuck in a similar position.
I have a boss gt10 which is a fantastic unit but I have been looking more and more and building my own pedalboard lately.
I have a few pedals already, boss sd1, super chorus, mxr 10 band eq and a few others.

I put the gt 10 in the amps fx loop at the minute with the preamp and od sections of the gt10 turned off , and it works great when using the amps own overdrive and using the gt for delays and whatnot.

Im very tempted to sell the gt and buy a pedaltrain and a dc brick and go from there.

Decisions decisions.

MilanPan!c

demanufactured wrote: »

Im sort of stuck in a similar position.
I have a boss gt10 which is a fantastic unit but I have been looking more and more and building my own pedalboard lately.
I have a few pedals already, boss sd1, super chorus, mxr 10 band eq and a few others.

I put the gt 10 in the amps fx loop at the minute with the preamp and od sections of the gt10 turned off , and it works great when using the amps own overdrive and using the gt for delays and whatnot.

Im very tempted to sell the gt and buy a pedaltrain and a dc brick and go from there.

Decisions decisions.

My advice:

Spend some time online learning about your options. Not all boutique pedals are actually hugely expensive and a LOT of really kickass stuff is only mail-order in Ireland.

Once you've found the pedals you want, worry about the power supply... lot's of newer pedals are not 9v centre negative these days...

demanufactured

I wouldnt really be looking for boutiqe stuff tbh.
I really like joe satrianis pedalboard atm...check it out on youtube

Ravelleman

demanufactured wrote: »

I wouldnt really be looking for boutiqe stuff tbh.

Why not?

MilanPan!c

demanufactured wrote: »

I wouldnt really be looking for boutiqe stuff tbh.
I really like joe satrianis pedalboard atm...check it out on youtube

Satriani is sponsored by Vox, so no real surprise he's using Vox pedals...

I would say I don't REALLY like his tone at this point... way to sterile sounding... I esp hate the sound of the delay he uses... total blah-fest.

Much prefer the interesting tones Gilmour gets these days... but then again, I'm not really a solo person...

Personally these are much more my style

demanufactured

Hehe I like joes tone and his delay

Pedals that I have in mind are probably
Mxr phase 90, a decent delay pedal with a tap function, a POG, a nice fuzz and maybe an octave.or pitch shifter..
But I look at so much.different stuff all the time

ShriekingSheet

Really appreciate all the responses. Very helpful.

Having read through, and spoken to a few people, my gut is telling me that for my own needs, jumping to a multi-fx is not the best option.

I'm pleased that, while I'm not an officianado, my current gear seems to be well organised as regards people's comments on making sure to have a good amp, OD pedal and delay. I love my Boss SD-1, my DD-6 is simple but quality and my amp is a trusty Hotrod Deluxe, so I think I have the basics right.

Beyond that, for more innovative stuff, I'm very happy with my Boss SL-20 Slicer. For the kind of guitar/electronica music we play, it's a great option to have, and syncing via midi to the Ableton PC is dead handy. A mate gave me a Vox wah also, which I must experiment a bit with.

So from here, while I want more options, I won't be going after a catch-all solution to round off my set-up. I'll get one effect, maybe a phaser or something, and gradually build from there. I'll probably appreciate and get to know each effect more anyway by doing it bit by bit.

Nice one.