multieffect

waylon

I was thinking about small, non-expensive multieffect and I have a question. What do You think about using multieffect on modeling amp like Fender Mustang?
I found the:
https://musicsquare.co.uk/150559_ZooM-G1xon-guitar-effect-procesor.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PocketPOD
https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Vox-StompLab-IIG-Guitar-Multi-Effects-with-Expression-Pedal/U23
Which one do You recommend?

Kevin Peat

This is not my field but I like guitarists who only use one or two effects all night long and make it their trademark.

Ibanez Tubescreamer and Wah Wah for example.

I suppose if you are going to play in a covers band you need an array of simulators to mimic other artists. Maybe you want to use one of these boxes as a tone lab to find your own sound - in which case go for the one that offers the best quality and nuancing you can afford - not the vastest number of voices.

The ones with potentiometer pedals seem to me to have... well... potential in regard to nuancing.

Lester

I think a multi-effect unit is a must in a guitarist's training, getting used to what the standard pedals sound like alone and in combinations.

Not ever having played a modelling amp I cannot say which multi-effect unit will work best.

nicholaspaul

I have the Mustang III and have found that I do really like the advantage of having a few amps at my disposal. Yup, definitely for cover bands and people who just like tons of sounds. Nothing wrong with that.

Like Kevin said, pedals with knobs on are a definite advantage. When playing live you WILL want to tweak things. I had a rack mount FX unit (Korg A2) and I knew that thing like the back of my hand. I spent HUNDREDS of hours tweaking it off stage and was still tweaking while playing live. It took years for me to get it so I barely had to tweak anything and could switch sounds confidently. I don't think I'm an habitual twiddler, but you can guarantee there will be differences between playing on and off stage. I'm sure you're aware of that anyhoo.

As far as the Mustang goes, there are pedals and types of effects that will work better than others. Distortion/Overdrive, etc, tend to be hit and miss. But time based effects should be find going in the fx loop.

I would avoid Zoom as they have a reputation for noisy effects. The ones I've had have been quite noisy. I have the bass Stomplab and love it. It is quite intuitive and you can alter some things on the fly, which I like. The two dials are super helpful. Sound wise, I can get anything (and WAY more!) that I want out of it.

But, for the money, I'd go for a Line 6 M5. It can only do one effect at a time but wow, the effects are simply gorgeous. Hey, buy two, and you'd be set! It's true bypass (and even passes a signal when the power is out), can take an external controller pedal and has the knobs to adjust while playing. It would be a good addition to the effects you already have on the Mustang too, as it does a lot of the really-out-there sounds that will make the bass player will look at you sideways during soundcheck ("that's the sound you're going with?!").

[edited: unqualified comment struck through!]

Megi

I will have to politely disagree, at least partially, with you about the Zoom multi effects Nick - for a fair while I had a G3 unit on my pedal board for all the modulation/delay/reverb duties, and it was honestly great, with no noise issues I noticed. And the built in noise suppressor/gate on that works very well also, which was occasionally handy, perhaps with single coil pickup hum in some venues, for example.

It's more recently been replaced on the board by a lovely Boss MS-3, (as you know) which I do feel is a step up in terms of overall sound quality, and has vastly better switching, plus loops for external pedals. But there are still some very nice things about the Zoom G3, and given it's low resale value, I'm hanging on to it. And I still do have a Zoom MS70-CDR on the board, placed after the MS-3, and that is a handy little thing too, with a lot of the same effects as the G3, plus a fair few more. Maybe some of the other Zoom multi's weren't so brilliant though? - I can only speak for the ones I have.

I must admit there is still a little niggle in my brain that would like to try a really upmarket multi fx - the Fractal FX-8 perhaps - said to be very high quality - or Line 6 Helix/Helix LT, or Headrush. The prices for these kind of things seems to be getting lower all the time.

nicholaspaul

What, Megi, you're disagreeing? Well, how dare you! Do you know who I am?
You do?
Oh ok then.
Well, to be fair (or TBF as the krazy kids say...) I am talking about the older Zoom stuff and I'm willing to bet the newer stuff sounds good, as my learned colleague can testify. Thanks for adding that, Megi

You could always go used and get something a couple of years old and save a lot of cash. Since, as Megan/Meg/Megdalene already stated, the stuff is coming down in price all the time so the older things will also. Think about the gear used two years ago - it was good enough then so I'm sure it will be good enough now.
I got an older GT-8 and absolutely love it. It takes a lot of tweaking, but it was a steal at about £100.

Megi

Very polite of you to cross out the bit about noisy Zoom effects Nick, but I'm sure you did have a point - let's just say some of the earlier models might have a bit of a noise issue, but that the more recent ones seem good.

I will add that the newer G3N and related models have all got very good reviews, although I've not tried them - I think there are a few less effects and amp models included on these, but the ones they do include are perhaps a bit improved and/or an effort has been made to focus on the really useful stuff and optimise that. Plus the arrangements for patch switching are apparently a lot better.

Line 6 do seem to have a strong range also - I've had the thought that I could pick up a secondhand M5 myself, if one shows up at a good price (the MIDI switching would work
with the MS-3), and if I was after an all in one multi fx, I'd be interested in the Pod Hd500x (if I have the model number right).

I can remember saving up to buy an Ibanez digital delay pedal for over £100 in the mid 80s, which was a lot more money in today's terms, and now we have multi fx that can do everything you might ever want, just about, for a lot less - incredible really.

Kevin Peat

What you all need is a dog. Mine lies beside me as I type on this blog. Every so often his chin comes over onto the keyboard and he brings up all sorts of whacky tabs and stuff "Edit plan settings" or "Windows stability". I'll have to lie him down next to my effects pedals and get something original !

He was guard dog last night. Helped see off an intruder at 4am.

ESBlonde

I've never gone the multi FX route, there are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly setting them up can be a pain and if you get a nice effect of one sort you might not get a nice effect of another sort and so are limited. Secondly if the unit fails you have no effects all night.
But separate effects means you need quality connectors and a power supply (with battery backup) so it's horses for courses.
I have used a small number of simple effects and when used in combination they produce enough to suggest to the audience what they can hear in thier head anyway. Core guitar/amp tone is the key, then a sprinkling of effects like chorus or flange, delay, overdrive, wah. After that things get more complicated so set good basic effect/tone and just use on off most of the night so you can concentrate on playing (and singing)?

Kevin Peat

Seconded !

nicholaspaul

Thanks Meg You're a gent.
Line 6 make solid stuff. I once played with the Pod XT Live and it was ridiculously good sounding.
Definitely a horses/courses thing. I've always been on the MultiFX bandwagon, mainly for economic reasons, but then I'm also not much of a purist (again, can't afford to be either!) I do believe in buying with a mind to the future, though, so try to make sure things are future proof and do more than I think I need.
Besides, I love setting up all that stuff! I don't expect to use EVERY effect and setting, but with some work, you can get the sounds you want.