MultiFX Pedal Choice

Tauriq

Okay after much deliberation on my part I've decided to invest my money in a MultiFX Pedal.

I don't have any effects pedals other than my Boss DS-1.

Now on Gumtree there seem to be quite a few MultiFX Units going around. In your experience which MultiFX pedal would you recommend?

Now I'm no expert with these things so Ease of Use is a priority. At the moment I have no plans to do anything fancy with it but at a later stage I probably would wanna be able to tinker for improved results.

I have a budget of about R3000.

Tauriq

I would also like to be able to connect it via USB to my computer.

inflames

I know there is a Boss GT-8 for sale on Gumtree cape town. R2000

You can't go wrong with the GT-8!

Manfred-Klose

For R3000(or maby even R2500) i would go for a boss gt-8, i see there is lately alot of them on cape town gumtree, altough it doesn't have a USB connection for pc.

I would also like to be able to connect it via USB to my computer.

Do you wanna record with it?
If so, send your boss line out to the soundcard.

TomCat

The Vox Tonelab ST has USB connectivity. I believe a new one is close to your price range.
http://www.voxamps.com/us/pedals/tonelabst/

AlanRatcliffe

+1 for the Tonelab ST. On top of the things Tom mentioned, it's also an easy unit to use.

The Boss GT-8 is a powerful unit, but it's not got USB - for that, you'll need the GT-Pro or the newer GT-10. They are real powerhouses FX wise, but are also much more difficult to operate.

DonovanB

Alan Ratcliffe wrote The Boss GT-8 is a powerful unit, but it's not got USB - for that, you'll need the GT-Pro or the newer GT-10. They are real powerhouses FX wise, but are also much more difficult to operate.

I have never looked back since getting the GT-8. Recording with it is easy enough and while it seems hard to use at first, if you develop your understanding of Effects it becomes way easier.

the GT-10 is apparently way easier to use.

DonovanB

Damn that tonelab is nice...

The Valvetronix series was developed with painstaking attention to detail. The valve circuitry features a real 12AX7 vacuum tube

cain

The tonelab is nice. The key is "What do you want to do".

The most difficult units to work are Line6, they will give you the most tonal freedom but unless you sit down for hours, days or months perfecting a sound it wont work for you, the boss GT8 is almost as bad, i think the simplest would be a Tonelab, the tonelab should have a more natural sound because of the valve tho. Id like to try out one of these new ones out *mental note to leave credit card at home*.

DonovanB

I'm not sure hey. Looking at that tonelab it looks as bad as the GT8.

The GT8 is simple to me. The presets are very helpful and not bad at all. and there is a handy guide in the manual. I've ust rearranged the presets into my own order. In each bank I have a clean sound, a delay, a lead channel and an extra effect. SO on one I have Clean Jazz, Acoustic sim, Lead and Delay. another I have Clean Stack, a big reverb sound, Lead and delay and so it goes on. I have even mimiced the sound of Lindsey Buckingham on one bank. Makes my life so simple. I know whatever bank I'm in, no 3 is lead.

the GT10 uses icons to help you dial your tone in for whatever genre or sound you want.
I'd also like to spend some time trying it out though. Its a nice size. Is there a guitar show/expo in SA at all?

cain

Nope, not that i know off.

The problem with the GT8 is that it has more choices, more choices = more frustration for many. Not that any of them come close to the pod, which you have to use a small LED to config anything ☹

AlanRatcliffe

The Tonelab is like the old (V1, V2) PODs - a few simple, amplike controls and selection for the different amp emulations and effects. Ideal for the guy just getting into modelling and FX, IMO.

The GT-8 I had no problems with, I don't think I even cracked the manual... BUT I've been using Boss Roland effects units for decades and had basically followed their operating systems as it developed from model to model (let alone the Japenglish manuals and torturous menus of older Roland gear like the GM-70 and the D-series synths - If you can program a D-50, you can program anything!). Given knowledge of anything from a Boss SE-50 onwards, the menu system of the GT-8 is an easy one to figure out. But stepping back and looking at it as a person new to both the Boss menus and effects, I think it's too complex a beast for a newbie. Many pro players have no idea what they are doing with them - I've helped a few sort their sounds out. Roland got a lot of complaints in that department and their response was the system used in the GT-10, which is much easier to use.

DonovanB

Francis Viviers wrote The problem with the GT8 is that it has more choices, more choices = more frustration for many. Not that any of them come close to the pod, which you have to use a small LED to config anything ☹

I think the Tonelab ST is more easily compared to the Boss E20 or ME50. The tonelab LE is supposed to compete with the GT8.

I like the idea of having song patches, so if you identify the sound of a certain guitarist you could emulate it quite easily.

WIth the GT10 being easier to use, I dont think I would want one, I've got used to using the complicated ones...

nick_D01

hey dudes

gonna throw a spanner in the works and mention the digitech gnx3 or gnx 4 ? . actually had a gt8 and i'm totally won over by the big display thats on the digitech, of all things. also they come with built in 8 track recording. and drum machine. and the implementation of their control interface is great. actually tauriq if i may, the music store that i work at has a gnx 3 that we could flog for close on that amount, so just let a dude know.

guitarboy2828

nick_D01 wrote hey dudes

gonna throw a spanner in the works and mention the digitech gnx3 or gnx 4 ? . actually had a gt8 and i'm totally won over by the big display thats on the digitech, of all things. also they come with built in 8 track recording. and drum machine. and the implementation of their control interface is great. actually tauriq if i may, the music store that i work at has a gnx 3 that we could flog for close on that amount, so just let a dude know.

Nick, Digitech stuff has a whole ton of features and they are all great features, but their tone and quality is no where near the boss or the vox.. So personally, i wouldn't venture near the digitech stuff.

DonovanB

the display isnt that great..

why is it that every multi effets pedal I look at looks as confusing as hell...

TomCat

DonovanB wrote Is there a guitar show/expo in SA at all?

MediaTech is coming up at Coca Cola Dome 23 to 25 July.

They are including a MI (Music Industry) section this year for the first time.

TomCat

Personally IMO I think ME's just give information overload in a stage situation.......(Getting ready to duck from the rotten tomatoes about to fly in my direction..... ? ?)

Maybe I'm just old fashioned......

DonovanB

TomCat wrote MediaTech is coming up at Coca Cola Dome 23 to 25 July.

They are including a MI (Music Industry) section this year for the first time.

Well there is a bridal fair, home exhibitions, car shows across the country even a sexpo wth some doos painting with his willy. why not have a music expo? for all musicians and dj's etc? there should be a big enough market? Im sure someone will even play guitar with their genitals to get people to come...

TomCat wrote Personally IMO I think ME's just give information overload in a stage situation......

elaborate? I are confussed? ???

Bob-Dubery

DonovanB wrote Well there is a bridal fair, home exhibitions, car shows across the country even a sexpo wth some doos painting with his willy. why not have a music expo? for all musicians and dj's etc? there should be a big enough market? Im sure someone will even play guitar with their genitals to get people to come...

I suppose if the strap is long enough then slide wouldn't be too difficult.