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  • Bedroom Guitarist : Multifx vs Amp+Pedals (Part II)

Right-o, here's Part II, if you missed Part I - check it out here: https://community.guitartalk.co.za/d/26795-bedroom-guitarist-multifx-vs-amp-pedals-part-i


Next, RTFM. Each manufacturer's multifx is a different beast - knowing how to bypass the unit or what options you have when bypassed (e.g. tuner on w/output muted) is the first thing I want to know from the manual. Also, figuring out if there is a Master EQ section is good to know if you quickly need to dial in/out something to spice up your rig for a venue/rehearsal space. And DO spend some time reading up on the forums with fellow users, I've gotten a lot of tips n tricks from reading up fellow owners tales of woe and success.

Lastly, if you are going to gig the multifx - the tones you carefully sculpted at bedroom volumes will likely not sound great at gig volumes or in the band mix. Likely it'll be a bit fizzy or overly bright when the volume's cranked? You might just need a tweak of eq, back off the gain or (as I have had to do), simplify the patch. If your unit has a master eq section, you'll be a happier camper!

There's always going to a tone debate amp+pedals vs multifx. The gap is ever closing. Circa 2018, at bedroom volumes, multifx are hard to beat. Kemper's sound great and that Boss Katana 50w is mind blowing at the price.

For the bedroom guitarist - my multifx for the $...It would be a amp! (facepalm). The Boss Katana 50 (or 100 if budget allows). At 200USD, the 50W humbles the competition and is just loud enough to hang with a drummer. And if quiet is your thing, it scales down to a bedroom friendly 0.25w. All it lacks is a *&ing looper and tuner. ?. Unfortunately the optional pedalboard on the 50W is a bit rudimentary, can only change between 4 presets. Though the 100W has a pretty decent one which is more pedalboard style.

My second choice (budget/size) would be a POD x3 bean. It has all the sounds/functionality of the POD x3 live in a tiny thing that can run off batteries. Work well with literally any instrument you choose - acoustic, electric, bass, violin - swiss army kife style. Add a floorboard + stand and it'll gig. One downside, I don't see them all that often 2nd hand though...and still no *(&-&21! looper.

I'd think about the zoom g1on too, it's cheap and has a looper, tuner and a drum machine (winning!). Though I'd probably get the POD x3 for guitar rather. Line6 does pretty decent gain tones and having two signal chains to blend is VERY useful - something I really miss in other products.


For the bedroom bassist - I'm leaning towards the zoom b1on/Zoom B3. The b1on is R1200 w/o psu. Comes with a drum machine AND a 40s looper. Someone was listening! ?

If you were gonna gig some bass, the choices widen out. TC Electronics BG series w/toneprints is the katana style option. Pedalboard style, the Zoom B3 or Sanmsamp flyrig are both cool. If all you want is some drive and lots of volume, a fender rumble is still the business.


Honorable Mentions:

Boss ME50 - Bombproof like a Boss with old skool pedalboard style usability. Still relevant today!

Sansamp Flyrigs - New school usability. Comes in more variants than ice cream - the bass one looks like fun!

Ibanez Powertrio - Simple, old n cool (but switches are fragile).


You've probably noticed I'm a Boss/Zoom/Line6 fan - these are the products I've used (in anger). Not that others don't work well or are great alternatives. But for my purposes of bedroom entertainment... ? I've found those to work for me ?

V8 All it lacks is a *&ing looper and tuner

Yes indeed. Adding a looper will make this Amp perfect. Heck, even a looper pedal to go with it. On that note, the Boss website lists three pedals to go with the Amp:
1. Metal Foot switch - which I assume is used to go from one preset to the next
2. Volume Pedal - To stand out in the mix with your epic solo?
3. Expression pedal - To control effects parameters. Probably stuff like wah, delay, chorus etc.

These pedals however are 'generic' and have not been made specifically for the Katana

  • V8 likes this.
  • V8 replied to this.

    wern101 Likely you could only use one of those pedals with the Katana (afaik it only has on input for footswitch)?

    I can get around the tuner (use a clip-on), and it sounds good enough that I'd forgive the 'missing' looper too. But paying the SA 'premium' (+40%) for a new one I can't forgive.

    V8 But paying the SA 'premium' (+40%) for a new one I can't forgive.

    Yeah this does suck. We tend to pay through our ears for stuff here. Price my local gave my on Friday was R4200.00 for the amp and the RC 1 looper for R3500! ?

    • V8 replied to this.

      Price my local gave my on Friday was R4200.00 for the amp and the RC 1 looper for R3500

      That about the going rate for a Katana 50 locally - they launched at R3500 but that didn't last long. But that RC1 price is silly, they get blown out on takealot a few times a year at around R2k.

        wern101 Price my local gave my on Friday was R4200.00 for the amp and the RC 1 looper for R3500

        That about the going rate for a Katana 50 locally - they launched at R3500 but that didn't last long. But that RC1 price is silly, they get blown out on takealot a few times a year at around R2k.

        V8 But that RC1 price is silly

        I know! I was rather upset, to put it mildly. But those are retail prices i guess. Or at least the price to have it in your local store 400km away from the nearest 'wholesale' distributor.

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