Some suggestions pls?

Arno-West

So, SAMRO finally paid me my outstanding royalties for the last 2 years and I have decided to finally retire my faithful Zoom GFX-707 from live work. After 12 years and about 1500 gigs I think it's about time.
I do not want to go the pedalboard route for various reasons I'm not gonna get into now. I basically use 4 sounds for live playing: A dirty sound for rhythm, the same dirty sound but with a bit of delay and 20% more volume for solos, a clean tone with a smidgen of chorus and the same clean tone with more volume for clean solos.
I would like a multi fx unit with either 1 or 2 expression pedals for some wah and whatever. It must be user friendly, easily programmable and sturdy enough to withstand 1000 stompings per week.
My budget is R3000. Must be new, not going the 2nd hand route.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

makepeace

Why don't you look for a Vox Tonelab SE? Looks to be worth its salt. Saw one for secondhand on gumtree not too long ago.

Other than that, the Boss ME70 and 50's are quite staple workhorses.

AlanRatcliffe

Boss ME-25 is nice & simple to use and affordable.

I'm not sure what the pricing is going to be like, but the new Fender Mustang Floor should be good. Looks solid as they come - basically the Mustang III, iV or V amp without poweramp and speakers.

sharonzaz

3k is not much but perhaps the POD HD 300 would be about
there after a discount.

I had the HD500, sold it cos im using my iphone at gigs for that now
but NOTHING comes close to the sound of a POD HD.
nothing.

singemonkey

Out of interest, Arno, why aren't you going for pedals? Seems with the limited range of changes you're after, pedals would be ideal - four or so. Three if you get a drive pedal with a boost switch. Too bulky? Too many connections to worry about?

Arno-West

sharonzaz wrote 3k is not much but perhaps the POD HD 300 would be about
there after a discount.

I had the HD500, sold it cos im using my iphone at gigs for that now
but NOTHING comes close to the sound of a POD HD.
nothing.

I can get the HD 300 for about 2000 from Anton, I hope. Is it any good tone-wise?

Arno-West

singemonkey wrote Out of interest, Arno, why aren't you going for pedals? Seems with the limited range of changes you're after, pedals would be ideal - four or so. Three if you get a drive pedal with a boost switch. Too bulky? Too many connections to worry about?

Yes, too many cables etc, power supply-issues, but mainly because no built-in tuner! I am pedantic about tuning and to spend close to R1k on a Boss pedal tuner, will irk me. Yes, I'm a cheapskate as well.

Tokai-SA

Arno West wrote
sharonzaz wrote 3k is not much but perhaps the POD HD 300 would be about
there after a discount.

I had the HD500, sold it cos im using my iphone at gigs for that now
but NOTHING comes close to the sound of a POD HD.
nothing.
I can get the HD 300 for about 2000 from Anton, I hope. Is it any good tone-wise?

That would be a brilliant deal...you'll love the tones of the HD series...go for it.

greetings

It sounds like you could do with 3 or 4 pedals. You can get the Planet Waves tuner pedal for pretty cheap, cheaper than the others.

If not, go for the HD300. I just don't think it will be as good as a couple of separate pedals for your application (especially with regards to drive sounds), as you don't use lots of effects.

greetings

Oh and I forgot, do you need the amp modelling on the HD300? (and for R2000, you have a deal)

AlanRatcliffe

Most of 'em have amp modelling.

The HD300 sounds great, but once again, the big limitations with the HD300 are on the effects side with ordering, so make sure it can do what you need it to. Basically if you need to use more than one effect in one effects block together, you're stuffed. Mostly in the first block (comp, drive, pitch, spring reverb, et. al). The HD500 would work in that case, but with a bit of a price jump.

sharonzaz wrote but NOTHING comes close to the sound of a POD HD.

Big statement. I wouldn't say that. The next generation modellers are all pretty good and if you look in the higher end...

DonovanB

Arno West wroteI am pedantic about tuning and to spend close to R1k on a Boss pedal tuner, will irk me. Yes, I'm a cheapskate as well.

What about the polytune?

greetings

Donovan Banks wrote
Arno West wroteI am pedantic about tuning and to spend close to R1k on a Boss pedal tuner, will irk me. Yes, I'm a cheapskate as well.
What about the polytune?

Polytune is over R1k, I think.

sharonzaz

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Most of 'em have amp modelling.

The HD300 sounds great, but once again, the big limitations with the HD300 are on the effects side with ordering, so make sure it can do what you need it to. Basically if you need to use more than one effect in one effects block together, you're stuffed. Mostly in the first block (comp, drive, pitch, spring reverb, et. al). The HD500 would work in that case, but with a bit of a price jump.

sharonzaz wrote but NOTHING comes close to the sound of a POD HD.
Big statement. I wouldn't say that. The next generation modellers are all pretty good and if you look in the higher end...

I'm obviously talking about multi effect pedals with amp sim
Not the amp/pedal setup.

greetings

sharonzaz wrote I'm obviously talking about multi effect pedals with amp sim
Not the amp/pedal setup.

I think Alan is talking about higher-end modellers such as the Axe-FX? The POD HD is certainly not the best, although it is one of the better ones.

aja

+1 for the vox tonelab. Since you will only be using a few sounds instead of a vast array of whack effects, rather go for something simple that will give you good solid tone.

I don't buy into the whole valve thing that vox is promoting, I just think that the tonelab sounds great!

Norman86

i dont believe that Arno uses amp sims...

MikeM

+1 to the HD ? Sounds like you don't need something uber powerful, so it should do the trick.

Arno-West

Norman86 wrote i dont believe that Arno uses amp sims...

I don't. I've got an amp. Why would I sim one? Nah, just want a bog-straightforward multi-FX Box, do you still get those? Or am I showing my age here?

Norman86

funny enough... there is also the Zoom G3 to consider!

www.zoom.co.jp/products/g3/

The G5 is also out in the states at least..
and there is a new G3x coming out soon with an expression pedal!

should also note the G3 is available from musicmadness at retail of R1800

http://www.musicmadness.co.za/zoom-g3-guitar-effects-and-amp-simulator/