Equalizers

inflames

Hi all,

This is kind of a follow up question on "Noise Gate": http://www.guitarforum.co.za/effects/noise-gate/
With that post it was clear that the GT-10 route would be best for my needs.

So what do you guys/gals think of EQ's?

Q: Pedal vs. Rack?
I know that the Boss EQ's are incredible and allot of you on the forum use them. The thing is that I am trying my best to stay away from stomp boxes all over the floor. So rack would suit me best. Would you then still say the GT-10 EQ would be best?

I friend suggested I stick a Boss stomp EQ to the Marshall head. Over my dead body would I stick anything on that head (it is sacred you know!). Can you imagine I walk into a place with that head and a EQ stuck to it? People might think it's a bomb ?

I'm still going to go the rack route for the TubeTamer, Korg DTR-2000 tuner and Power Conditioner, so I have rack space left ?
I'm now considering the GT-Pro. Alan, I know you had one, so would you say thumbs up or down? Remember I don't care about any of the amp modelings. Only echoes, delays etc ?

[edit]
Stupid question Alan, but would I still be able to run the GT-Pro in my effects loop? :-\ Ok, I know the answer, just need to know for sure!
[/edit]

If you take my Noise Gate and EQ requirements into consideration, would you suggest the GT-Pro?
Also keep in mind that the main reason for not getting a TC Electronics G-Major2 is that I need to have a headphone Jack for practice.

So obviously when practicing I would not be able to use the JCM2000, but the GT-Pro or GT10.

Thanks for all the help and discussion!

Gearhead

The only reason for not going for a G-Major would be going for a G-System or a G-Force ?
If you walk into a gig carrying a Marshall head, people know what's going to happen regardless of the pedals ? ?

But seriously: if you need a headphone amp, get a headphone amp and don't buy the wrong effects box.
Also don't get me wrong: I'm not saying the GT-Pro/10 is better or worse (it might be but I can't judge that and if I could it would still only be my opinion) but I'm saying you need to buy the right gear for the right reasons. If I want to practice silently I just plug in my Amplug AC30, and if I need effects I plug the Amplug into the effect out. Thatsit.

The big advantage of going rack is that stompboxes don't talk to each other. Meaning: if you need a bit more mids when you switch the chorus on for clean tone and a more scooped eq for '80s chorus distortion, you already have a problem with stomp boxes since you can usually only switch between in or out of circuit. The next step is: for real '80s sounds you want the chorus before the distortion and not the other way around. Again possible but hard with stompboxes. Never mind the silly example (who would want to sound like '80s commercial rock?) but remember that not all effects boxes let you string effects together in any chain any order. Eq is actually the first thing that you want to put in at another place (or more than one place) in the chain since it lets you emphasize the effect on a certain frequency while keeping it clean on others. Most effects units also do not allow for an unlimited number of effects at the same time, so have a look there as well.
The main reason for racks going out of fashion is that people tended to buy a large rack and then fill it. With today's effects units, you don't need to move around your rack with a forklift unless you're called the Edge: 4 up with one free slot is fine. Less is more.

inflames

Thanks for the reply Gearhead.

The strange thing is that the G-Major2 just grew on me, and I know I will be perfectly happy with it.

If you walk into a gig carrying a Marshall head, people know what's going to happen regardless of the pedals

Good one!

At the moment I have no effects in my loop, so that is the number 1 issue. The second issue is playing at night, I can't just fire up the marshall as I please ?
I also don't feel like going the computer route, I spend most of my life in front of one writing code.

So I personally think the GT route would be best. I'm not after the perfect tone, I already have that in the marshall ?

I depreciate the advice on the EQ, very interesting stuff!

Tokai-SA

Hey Lean

Well, you can use an EQ in the loop if you want, you'll be EQ'ng the pre-Amp tone before it hits the Poweramp...but do you really need an EQ?
If you really want an additional EQ then a separate EQ pedal will be far better than the EQ options you'll get in a "multi FX" unit. (PJH is selling an EQ in the Classifieds)

For me the essential pedal in the loop is a delay pedal...everything else can go upfront.

Hows the Tube Tamer?
I just got my Weber Micro Mass...it works pretty well, I'm liking it...check how small it is, not much bigger than a pedal, but it's only a 15watt attenuator...notice how the knobs are on 3, that's heavy attenuation...too much actually.

AlanRatcliffe

Q: Pedal vs. Rack?

Try what's in the GT first. Definitely no need to go pedal - what's in the GT far outstrips the pedal units and have the added benefit of staying internal, so no need to go through the extra A/D-D/A stage of the effect send to use them and you can drop them in anywhere in the FX chain. You can do better with a rack EQ, but only by going real high end (Pultech, Drawmer, etc.) - and you lose out on some flexibility. I added in an Alesis MEQ231 to my rack at one point (2 X 31 band graphic EQ in 1U), but soon ended up pulling it out - it didn't add anything but phase distortion.

I know that the Boss EQ's are incredible and allot of you on the forum use them.

I'm one of those guys that dislikes the GE-7 - I find it to be a tone killer. EQ is something that's easy and cheap to do, but difficult and horribly expensive to do right (especially in a small format like a stompbox).

I'm now considering the GT-Pro. Alan, I know you had one, so would you say thumbs up or down? Remember I don't care about any of the amp modelings. Only echoes, delays etc ?

While it won't compare with a T.C. or Lexicon Multieffect, it'll do the job nicely and the PC-based editor is great. The one thing against the PRO is it's a GT-8 in a rack unit, not a GT-10, but aside from the ability to have effect blocks for quick editing (and obviously the footpedal), there's not much I would miss from the 10 if I wasn't going to use the modelled amps.

Manfred-Klose

I know that the Boss EQ's are incredible and allot of you on the forum use them.

i also dislike the boss ge-7, i went the mxr eq route, still have the pedal, but dont use it anymore, vintage piece of gear.
(i grew out of my scooped mids phase ?)

inflames

Hows the Tube Tamer?

Don't have one yet, but will pretty soon place my order with Graeme for a rack mountable version.
Thanks for the input Lance.

Try what's in the GT first. Definitely no need to go pedal

Thanks Alan, just what I wanted to hear.

you can drop them in anywhere in the FX chain

That is one of the cool things of a FX unit that I like.

You can do better with a rack EQ, but only by going real high end (Pultech, Drawmer, etc.) - and you lose out on some flexibility

Wow, the Drawmer website has some cool gear, and impressive quality. Once again the discussion leads to Multi FX being better for my needs.

While it won't compare with a T.C. or Lexicon Multieffect, it'll do the job nicely and the PC-based editor is great. The one thing against the PRO is it's a GT-8 in a rack unit, not a GT-10, but aside from the ability to have effect blocks for quick editing (and obviously the footpedal), there's not much I would miss from the 10 if I wasn't going to use the modelled amps.

Thanks Alan, then again if you put a foot controller down for the GT-Pro, you could have just bought a GT-10. The GT-10 is cheaper than the Pro. My main concern was that the Pro is a GT-8.

I also dislike the boss ge-7, i went the mxr eq route

I read allot of reviews that agrees with you on the MXR being the better pedal.

Thanks all for the info.

Does the GT-10 also have a PC based editor like the Pro?

inflames

Can I please have more cow bell ?

Have a look at http://gtx.tinfoilmusic.net/GT10-download.html

This looks great for editing your FX loop on a PC.

arjunmenon

Hey Lean, this is just my opinion, but i'm finding the EQ (incl the parametric one) on the GT10 quite useful.
It has really helped tighten up my sound (7 string - bitch of a mission to get the low B sounding good).
Will put up some clips when i get the opportunity.

AlanRatcliffe

No, the GT-10 only has a patch librarian. The GT Manager inflames posted a link to can edit patches too (but at additional cost). The Boss patch editor for the GT-Pro is one of the few things the Pro has to justify the price difference (also the USB connection - which the GT-10 now has), which is really mostly due to a much smaller production run.

Just remembered: Another thing the GT-10 has over the GT-8/pro is the dual parallel effect chains.

DonovanB

Alan Ratcliffe wrote No, the GT-10 only has a patch librarian. The GT Manager inflames posted a link to can edit patches too (but at additional cost).

that GT editor doesn't cost anything. Its free...

Gareth

Hi,
I also believe in the rack route, I'm kinda clumsy sometimes, and don't want to mash a button or LCD or anything, I got the same rack that Alan's been through, GT-Pro / DEQ230 no phasing probs, but my wiring is a little weird (I want an X-over on steroids) really opens up my sonic spectrum but then I play bass ? I had a Proel piece of sh1t eq but it did have midi which is what I lack ATM but I digress ....

EQ is IMO one of the fundamental must have FX, The GT-Pro and no doubt 10 has loads of EQ options but having a good separate/dedicated EQ is ALWAYS going to come in useful.

Both GT's also handle the standard 4 cable wiring method ... again a rack is much tidier unless you build yourself a mini snake, this open up the option of having the eg. wah and overdive before the signal hits your amp with the delays and reverbs running through the loop (with an eq before and after if you need it)

The GT-Pro comes with a really nice PC editor thats very intuitive but allows you to dig right in.
Lastly have a browse through
http://www.bossgtcentral.com/forum.php
and you should find all you need to know.
I'm very happy with my setup BTW which also includes a FCB1010 footpedal to change patches and a couple of on/off pedals to kick in /out fx within a patch. (still need a mini snake :-[ )

inflames

Thanks for the post Gareth.

The GT-Pro and no doubt 10 has loads of EQ options but having a good separate/dedicated EQ is ALWAYS going to come in useful.

Valid point and that DEQ230 looks delicious!

again a rack is much tidier unless you build yourself a mini snake, this open up the option of having the eg. wah and overdive before the signal hits your amp with the delays and reverbs running through the loop (with an eq before and after if you need it)

Can you explain this in more detail. I'm no snake wizz, but my understanding is that a snake is used to tidy up cables and not able to split signal.
Is this a GT-* feature where you can send signals to the pre-amp and to the effects loop? Meaning 1 cable to your amp input and 2 to the effects loop? This way your guitar plugs into the GT-* and not the amp input.

_-L-_

Gareth

Can you explain this in more detail. I'm no snake wizz, but my understanding is that a snake is used to tidy up cables ...

I'm no wizz neither but that's as far as my understanding goes, it can be any type of cable grouping, audio and/or data (not power) wrapped/bundled together to make things tidier and easier to deal with. ... Heatshrink is fairly good for DIY jobs.

[quote} ... Is this a GT-* feature where you can send signals to the pre-amp and to the effects loop? Meaning 1 cable to your amp input and 2 to the effects loop? This way your guitar plugs into the GT-* and not the amp input.
[/quote]

Thats about it
guitar -> GT* (whatever fx) GT* loop-out -> amp in (there's your main EQ ? ) amp loop-out -> GT* loop-in (whatever fx) GT* output -> amp loop-in (ideally master volume) -> speakers.

Again I prefer the neatness of a rack for that kinda setup, but regardless, if you want to use multiple FX you're gonna want a snake and patch-leads.

Hope This Helps

inflames

This weekend I had the pleasure of putting a Boss GE-7 in my effects loop.

Holly balls of fire, that was insane! With the TS9 running and the GE-7 the distorting got tight!
I think that might have been the perfect metal sound I have ever heard!

I'm so getting one!

I tried the GT-10 in the effects loop and used the EQ, but not with the same results.