vinorus
Hey guys.
I'm new to this forum and still pretty new to guitar.
Anyway I'm getting frustrated trying to find good distortion and would appreciate any help in getting something to sound decent.
I have an Ibanez SA260, A Peavey Bandit and a zoom g1x. From the research I have done I believe my pedal to be the biggest tone thief in my setup and have therefore been looking to upgrade. I've been looking at the me50 and Tonelab LE. I just want simple, great sounding gear. Don't have big bucks for single pedals and am still trying all the effects to learn what I like and don't, hence looking at multi's. I don't need fancy features (for recording etc) and I don't need it to sound as if I'm playing the best equipment there is. I've heard a friend with an me50 and Marshall AVT50 get some really good sounds and for now that's kind of the quality I'm looking for. I don't need that 100% Authentic tube tone, yet!
Anyway any help will be great. Let me know if you need more info about anything.
Shot
MikeM
I say keep your Zoom until you figure out what works for you. When you do, buy decent pedals. I know at best, I use a overdrive pedal, reverb and maybe chorus. Multi FX are never really good, unless you hit a GT8 or GT10.
inflames
frustrated trying to find good distortion
Line 6 DM 4
I had the same problem for years. I just sold the pedal, but only due to the new amp.
If you have a bet of extra $ get a GT-10. About R5,200.
_-L-_
Manfred-Klose
Welcome to the forum ?
What style of music do you play?
What type of sound are you looking for?
andrewjbryson
If I was you I would keep the Zoom, no point selling it , and you should have some basic reverb/ delay / chorus on there....
Go out to your local music shop and try out any single distortion pedals.
If your into hard rock/ alternative rock
Keep an eye out for things like Ibanez Tube Screamer, MXR Overdrive , Boss
For lower cost option go for brands like Beringer / Digitech
If you looking specifically for multi FX : Try get hold of a 2nd hand GT 6 / 8 / 10
Ive seen some good prices GT6's and they have nice tones
DonovanB
Am I the only one here who despises Zoom products? I tried one of their multi's once and it killed all sustain. The signal just died and I figured those things must be tested for 2 seconds on design. I really dislike them.
One thing I liked about the ME50 is that you can set it up to use it like individual stomp boxes. so It makes switching easy. But the Tonelab comes with preset sounds. I reckon starting out with a good tone already done for you is a major plus. It saves a lot of confusion.
I have a Boss GT8. I won't look back after buying that. It really is as much bang for your buck as you could get. We've just had this discussion
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/guitar-gear/multifx-pedal-choice/
vinorus
Thanks Andrew, I'm planning on going the stomp box route in the future but for now I'd still like to be able to play with a large variety as and when I chose, and due to $$$! I'm liking the Tonelab over the GT's simply because I've heard their distortion/overdrives are better which is what I'm really after. FX's are just a bonus for now...
Manfred, Thanks for the welcome ?, I play in my church youth band and I'm the only guitarist (electric or acoustic) so I've got to cover quite a range of sounds but we've mostly got a heavyish, rock vibe going. My 3 favorite distortions on the Zoom at the moment are the metal zone, the Peavey 5150, and the OD-1 for lead stuff. The amp also doesn't have a bad distortion, in fact i probably use that the most. I'm not sure exactly what sound I want but i love chunky distortion which is nice for muting.
I've only just started delving into effects recently which is why I'm still leaning towards a multi unit for now. Gives me time to experiment with different sounds in my own time and I've only got 2.5k max to throw around anyway (if I sell the Zoom). The effects I do use so far tho are the chorus, reverb and delay, all of which I find adequate on the zoom for now.
Donovan you can get great sustain from the Zoom as long as you don't use the ZNR. I do that and simply tolerate the white noise when not playing...
CDee
I use a ME-50 and it works well for me. I like the fact that you have almost all the Boss stompboxes in one easy to use unit. I find it great for experimenting with different sounds. Then when I find something I like I save it and I can access it again later. Playing with it in church is ok if you have the sounds set up already, trying to get a sound that works on the stage between songs is not going to work. I have my pedal setup for certain song types. Bank 1-1 is for Hillsong type songs, 1-2 is for clean chorusy stuff, 1-3 U2 type delay stuff etc... (Get a PS5U switch to use with the ME-50, you can use it to go to banks using your foot and you don't have to bend down and press the small bank up/down buttons when changing)
PS. Welcome to the forum ?
vinorus
I also like the me-50 coz it looks real simple to use.
What I normally do is when I'm at home i'll play around with distortions with a song in mind, then at practise I'll quickly cycle through them and choose the one that suits best.
I actually just missed an me-50 for R1400 with power supply and the PS5U! Bleak.
TomCat
Hey Vinorus...Welcome to the forum.
What I have just done for a guy at our church is add a Proco Rat to the front end of his ME. Can't remember exactly which ME he has, but it is your typical run-of-the mill compact type.
He uses the ME for reverb, delay and chorus and adds crunch with the Rat. Before, his OD sound was very noisy and thin. With the distortion potion removed and running through an external distortion, his sound is much bigger and thicker.
I,m not saying that the Rat is the way to go, but you possibly could look at a suitable distortion/OD pedal and use it in front of your Zoom.
Gearhead
You might consider that most overdrive/distortion pedals try to mimic great amps - imho good tone starts with having a good amp. Lotsa guys are trying to get lotsa pedals to sound good playing through a mediocre amp (I'm not saying anything about yours in particular 'cause I haven't heard it) and they all wind up with few pedals and a good amp.
You could think of upgrading your amp in a less expensive way than buying new: buy second hand or build a diy kit...
TomCat
@ Gearhead +1
What Gearhead has said makes a lot of sense. Your guitar only contributes part of the overall tone. A major portion of your tone is from your amp.
If you can afford it, look at a good tube amp or if budget is tight either the Vox Valvetronic amps or even a Vox Pathfinder 15R (Approx R1500.00). Solid state amplifier that has good tone and handles external effects and pedals well.
When you audition effects; also audition them through different amplifiers as well. The difference in tone and character will vary greatly between different amplifiers.
One thing IMO is to avoid the Marshall MGX series of amplifiers. Not great tone IMO.
WantzChas
I try to lug my amp and guitar with when buying stuff when possible.
vinorus
Thanks ?
You guys have all been really helpful.
I think what I'm gona do for now is lend every piece of equipment I can from friends and see where I find the biggest tone improvement. No point in going out and buying some fancy ass amp (or guitar or pedal) if there's nothing wrong with what I've got. I'll find the weakest link and upgrade that.
DonovanB
vinorus wrote
Thanks ?
You guys have all been really helpful.
I think what I'm gona do for now is lend every piece of equipment I can from friends and see where I find the biggest tone improvement. No point in going out and buying some fancy ass amp (or guitar or pedal) if there's nothing wrong with what I've got. I'll find the weakest link and upgrade that.
thats a fantastic idea. I'd always hoped someone would start a mobile music shop or the like so you could try the item out in your situation, not a shop that somehow things sound better in.
DonovanB
vinorus
Yeah I saw that. The boss MT-2 got me more excited though. I've seen GT's go for around the same price as that, would rather hang on and get a deal on one of those.
DonovanB
That is a bit pricey though.
I loved the DS-1. It was my favourite distortion.
Gearhead
vinorus wrote
I'll find the weakest link and upgrade that.
To clarify: I was trying to say that anyone will have a hard time finding the weakest link if the other stuff one tests with is less than perfect. The other day I borrowed a lead from a fellow band member that I played through before, but this time with a much better guitar and amp. It sounded awful in comparison to my own; I never picked that up the time I was playing through it the first time.
Reality is therefore that one always keeps upgrading this or that. Doomed.....
vinorus
Reality is therefore that one always keeps upgrading this or that. Doomed.....
I know what you mean gearhead, For now though I'm just going to find out what's gona give me the biggest improvement for the money. I'm using top quality leads so hopefully by trying out other equipment I'll find out if it's my pedal, guitar, or amp that is holding me back the most. And it'll also give me a nice idea of what sound I'm looking for in the future and what equipment will help me find that.
I'd always hoped someone would start a mobile music shop or the like so you could try the item out in your situation, not a shop that somehow things sound better in.
Yeah, I like that idea, would be so much less admin.
