Pedal board or multi effects?

dkilpatrick

dkilpatrick

Makes guitar faces
Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Messages
1,206
Location
Boston MA
So I'm looking to change my current effects setup. Over the years I've used both pedals (most of which I've sold off) and multi effects processors. I've got the guitars (Prsi) and the amps (Mesa) now I need to complete my rig with effects.
Here's my delema- where do I start? If I go the pedal board rout I would basically be starting from scratch and there are so many different pedals on the market compared to 15-20 years ago. Or do I get something like the axe effects II which has every type of effect in one rack mount box? Also I could probably build a pedal board a couple of times for the price of the axe effects. I've seen some really nice board set ups on this forum and wondered if anyone had any experience with the fractal vs a pedal board. As for you pedal board guys out there, what pedals are your favorites and what is it about them that you like? I'm undecided, but I think I might be leaning toward the fractal just for convenience. No wires and switching out different pedals for space and the time it takes to source each one.
 
I personally like the MultiFX units by Boss. I've used the GT-6 and GT-10, and I'm considering an upgrade to the GT-100. I run these in 4CM set up, and only use FX - not amp models (although I've heard the modeling is much improved on the GT-100). I think these are great sounding units, are programmable (I have banks of preset FX configs for songs), and are very cost effective. Plus you're still getting the organic tube tone from your amp - as opposed to an SS modeler which I believe makes a big difference.

If you build from individual pedals... by the time you buy a nice board, power supply, and a tuner - you've already paid for a GT-100 which does all of that plus infinitely more. That said, it's definitely fun to experiment with various pedals, but I find that it's remains very limiting, very expensive, plus introduces many potential points of failure and noise to your overall signal chain... and does it really sound any better? My opinion is no.
 
As I got older, my taste became more...well...picky. The higher-end multi-effect units are fantastic quality and can do almost anything, but I grew tired of having to tweak the tweaks to get exactly what I want, if that was even attainable. It started in the '80s with rack mount delay units and it mushroomed into my current board. The discrete pedals allowed me to pursue overdrives that a digital system could never touch. Then with the advent of Strymon's product line, I got compact size, insane tweak ability and amazing sound quality. I came very close to getting a G-System, which sounds darned good and has provisions for outboard pedals. But the G is pretty big and if I had to schlep a pedalboard to bring a multi effect and regular pedals, then screw it...I'm going with the exact pedals I desire. It took abut 3 years to find the right combination but it's pretty sweet (and I will still probably add to it).

You our can go only multi-effect, only pedals, or a combination. If you have a stack of disposable cash, pick one and just get started with what strikes your fancy. Change whatever and whenever you want. The used market will help you flip gear. Because, ultimately, only your ears will know when you've found the right solution for you.
 
I love my pedalboard, but it has been an evolution of several years, several pedals, and several layouts. Mostly because I'm a tone tweaker, and I will swap pedals if I'm not getting what I want. But it has consumed a lot of time and money. If you can find a multi fx unit you genuinely like tonally, and you're more into simplicity than tweaking, do it. If I had to start all over again, I would seriously consider a single unit.

But, if the gear whore in you wins, I've been digging Wampler's dirt pedals a lot lately, as well as TC Electronic delay and reverbs.
 
I've done both. Several times! Like Boogie, in the late 80s I was all about rack gear, then back into pedals, then multi-effects, then pedals, etc. Back and forth!

I'm happy with where I am now, and here's my take on it:

Dirt, Boosts, Grit, OD, Fuzz and other Grinders - analog works best here. Digital dirt boxes still don't have the tone (for me). It's either too harsh, or something's missing, especially in the attack portion of the waveform.

Compression - I prefer analog, but there are some good sounding digital algorithms.

Modulation and Delay - here's where digital boxes can do a great job (with a few exceptions, as an example, I've yet to hear a digital re-creation of a Univibe that sounds like a real photocell Univibe.

I'd suggest a pedalboard that combines the dirt boxes you find that you like, along with digital effects for modulation and delay. There are some good boxes on the market by Eventide, TC Electronic, Line 6, Strymon, Axe FX, etc, that are very good sounding for this stuff.

This is the approach that TC Electronic took with their top multi-effects floorboard system as well, and I think they did it that way because they realize how difficult it is to get good sounding digital distortion that works well in the context of a guitar amp.

For the most part my own board is analog, except for an Eventide H9, and for delay I still use a tape delay, but I'm probably pickier than most.
 
I use a Gmajor rack mount. I've had it for a while now and would love to upgrade to something better.

My rig is versatile as the g major has a switching relay so channel switching can be a part of any patch which is very handy. My midi controller has a bypass button that can be programmed as on/off or momentary so I can use it as a channel switch as well OR set my amp up as rhythm/lead.

My expression pedal is set up for 3db boost for leads and if I need to switch patches after a lead the next patch will default to normal level even with pedal still set for boost.

This would be a lot of tap dancing with pedals.
 
Pedals! The rabbit hole is deeper and more fun. Pedalboards are modular, and more personal. Multis... useful but technology becomes obsolete. I doubt a tubescreamer ever will.
 
Hey how do you deal with signal loss? I'v recently went to a two amp one cab and a G system. Never had much problems with the G system and one head but now with this Radial head switcher I seem to be loosing some low end and push. I use the best cabels. Do you have this problem, or did, if so, what can I do?
 
Boogie said:
As I got older, my taste became more...well...picky.
Click to expand...

I am also really picky about my tone. I prefer analog pedals. There are plenty of high quality pedals on the market to choose from and it's fun to try out different ones.

The Fight said:
Hey how do you deal with signal loss? I'v recently went to a two amp one cab and a G system. Never had much problems with the G system and one head but now with this Radial head switcher I seem to be loosing some low end and push. I use the best cabels. Do you have this problem, or did, if so, what can I do?
Click to expand...

You can add a buffer.
 
(looks at giant collection of pedals)

Do what I say, not what I do: think about what sounds you are after, and think what's missing from that sound. Then get that. Only that.

I personally think that we are in the golden age of pedals -- so figure out what you want, do your research, and then get just that. It's probably out there.

That said, there are some really nice combo pedals -- my two favourites are both by TC Electronic -- the Nova system and the G-System.
 
I have a POD HD500 which has some great useable effects in it, but decided to build a pedal board anyway. My HD500 is primarily used as a bass rig now.

I've heard great things about the Line 6 M5 and M9, as well as the Tech 21 Fly Rig 5.

The benefit to multieffects units is easy switching between multiple effects (banks). Of course, this could be accomplished with a loop pedal, but your options are limited on what you can do with it unless you really want to shell out some cash and run midi.
 
As I get older, I got tired of carrying pedalboards, and went the TC Nova System route.
Compact (compared to the G System), great effects, analog drive, I stick it at the front of a fairly clean amp and I am all set.
Only pedal I kept is an early Keeley DS-1 which I sometimes put in front of the NS. Overkill but fun :)
 
WEDGE said:
Never used a multi so here is a stupid question........can you still run things both straight into the amp and also through a loop or are you stuck with one or the other?
Click to expand...

With the TC Nova System it is either in the loop, or at the front.
The TC G System supports both at the same time (4 cable method). You can run some effects before the amp and you can choose to run some at the loop at the same time.
I believe most amp modelers/effects units can do that as well.
 
The Fight said:
Hey how do you deal with signal loss? I'v recently went to a two amp one cab and a G system. Never had much problems with the G system and one head but now with this Radial head switcher I seem to be loosing some low end and push. I use the best cabels. Do you have this problem, or did, if so, what can I do?
Click to expand...

As Tahlee mentioned, a high quality buffer makes all the difference. And here I'm not talking about the ten cent buffers that come in every Boss pedal, I'm referring to a dedicated circuit made for the purpose. There are several very good ones on the market.

Even the best cables have capacitance, throw in a switcher and cables between G System, switcher, and amps, and you can lose a bit of signal. Oddly enough, it's mainly higher frequencies that are lost, but even with bass signal, the impact often depends on hearing the pick attack that is, of course, a higher frequency signal. So it seems like there's less bass and punch, but really, it's the note definition that's missing.
 
Last edited:
I have quite a few pedals, and for recording, I tend to hook up only what I need for the track I am recording. For my everyday rig I use with my band however, I just use a Line 6 M13 (with 1 expression pedal for the wah patches etc.) and a volume pedal. The M13 has every kind of effect I want in an easy to use format. I get my distortion from my Mesa MK V, and so I really only use the M13's distortions to push the Boogie lead channel a little over the top for solos, or for the occasional old school fuzz on the clean channel. The delays, modulations, compressors and pitch effects in the M13 work great for me. I wire it up with 4 cables to allow some of the effects to be in front of the amp and others in the FX loop.
I've found that the subtlety of lots of boutique stomp boxes is largely lost in a loud band situation, and I'm too lazy to deal with all those different boxes day in and day out.
I'm sure others here, like some of my musician friends, will vehemently disagree, but it works for me.

Tom
 
Thank you for all the comments, I've been using a Boss GT6 for many years and I'v always felt that is was missing something in the tone department. LSchefman, I think you hit it on the head about analog drive and digital modulation. After some extensive you tube and internet research I think I'll go for pedals, but keep it simple.
Here is what sounds good to me:
In front of the amp - volume pedal - Movall Rocket train ( Boost/overdrive/compression combo) - Mesa flux drive ( for more saturation when needed)
In the loop - Strymon timeline - Strymon big sky
luckily my local PRS dealer has all of these except for the Movall. I plan to spend some time play testing before I purchase.
 
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