Alan Ratcliffe wrote
[EDIT - got caught up with other things while writing this, and others have posted in the meantime, so apologies if there is repetition]
Decide on the amp first, then take it from there. Big differences in approach between a valve amp with FX or an all-in-one modeller. Modellers usually make more sense in the controlled environment of a church where you often need to get a range of tones at low volumes. A valve amp would be nice, but introduces problems of volume and isolation in a church environment.
Are you DI-ing the GT5 or plugging it into an amp at the moment? If you're DI-ing, then the GT10 will be the easiest upgrade. Small adjustment between the two, because of the similarities in programming and if you know how to get decent tones out of the 5, you'll quickly get even better tones out of the 10. Vox Tonelab or POD are other alternatives, but the programming is different with each and so there is a much bigger adjustment period.
If you're going amp, G-Major 2 + POD Pro (or even G-Major 2 +GT-10) is more than a little overkill in both capability and cost. Especially if you're not using many FX and patches - the T.C. Nova system would probably cover all you need with the same sound quality and more usability than the G-Major. IMO, the G-Major is best utilised in a fully rack system with something like a Triaxis and a power amp (which is a pretty dream rack rig, but $$$ and total overkill for most).
For a few sounds into a small, miked valve amp, a few quality pedals are hard to beat for simplicity and allows you to choose the best pedal for each job, but you lose out on programmability and patch storage.
Just to throw another spanner in - what about the Axe FX Ultra? High quality amp modelling and FX in one.
Well, the amp decision is hard, because I can't buy an amp and an effects processor right now and having someone go to the USA and bring it back for me works out a lot cheaper. But I doubt she wants to be walking around with a guitar amp. ? I've always wanted a tube amp, but you may be right in that having on in a church setting doesn't always work the best. But I do think a small 5/10 watt mic'd will work?
Up to now I have been using the GT-5 in front of my amp. So, amp has stayed on it's clean channel and everything has come from the GT.
That is why I started looking at the G-Major because I wanted to get a tube amp and use the tube sound with effects in the loop, but also wanted patches.
I did look into a triaxis, but yeah, that is WAY out of my budget and probably overkill for what I need it for. Are there not other cheaper preamps that will work in this set up?
Alan, what is the T.C. Nova system? Is it in essence a multi effects processor? What is the difference between that and the GT-10? Is the G-System the same, just a whole lot better?
I have just looked at the Axe FX Ultra, and wow, I really like it. However, it looks to be a lot more than the other options? At this point I think I'm willing to spend around R5000-R7000 on all this. The G-Major and the GT-10 are about $499 new in the USA.
