guitar effects pedals

[bassist_25]

What I learned yrs ago is to buy equipment u can grow into. When I started buying stuff; that I had already outgrown; it became a roadblock in my playing. When my sound got bigger our crowds got bigger.

Also on a related subject - As you upgrade equipment, you become cognizant of what's a bottleneck in your rig. It kind of goes back to what I said about cheap floor processors in front of expensive guitar rigs. When you have a high-end rig, it really shows where the bottlenecks are. My rig isn't a boutique rig or anything, but it's what I'd consider a pro rig. There have been times I've considered adding some sort of cheaper piece of rack gear in it, but I've thought, "Yes, but I'm just going to comprimise the tone I'm getting now. If I'm going to add something extra in the rack, I might as well put something of at least equal quality in there." I got a cheaper Shure wireless system one year for Christmas, and I've probably used it for three gigs; I can hear the slight degradation in tone. Now if it were a higher-end Shure or an X-wire or something, that may not be the case.

And I can respect the Marshall, Chad. I think they make great amps; I just think some cats buy them and try to make them do the tight-bottom/high-gain thing and it sounds like ass to my ears when they do that. I'm not in love with the Marshall tone (the same way I'm not in love with the Ampeg tone when it comes to bass), but I can respect a quality Marshall sound (the same way I can respect a quality Ampeg sound).

[VENTGtr]

Hi Dawn, one word friend, tubes. Ditch the solid state head and
go tubular!

Just to make a coupl'a points, be sure YOU like the sound of the thing. PERIOD.
Just because an amp has tubes doesn't mean it's goin' to sound good and just
because one is solid state doesn't mean it's going to not have as good a tone.

There are plenty of garbage-sounding tube amps around. People get stuck on
the idea that only tube is good. Many jazz guys, Ty Tabor, even Darrell from
Pantera used S.S. and the technology has come a long way since the 70s/80s.

Remember that tubes, don't care how expensive an amp is, sound better driven,
which normally means volume. I'll bet every sound guy on here will tell you they
end up telling guitarist to TURN DOWN their back line so they can get them in the
mix. AND, how many venues want it QUIETER! Yet, people still buy the Dual
Sextuplet Rectalizer Quastimoto 10,000 with Nitros boost...and have to keep the
volume around 1...which sounds like asterkoshën.

Also, if you're using the GT-8 for it's amp models, which are really nice, you quite
probably DON'T want to use a tube amp. It will colour the sound too much and
can just muddy things up. Granted, like anything else, this will not ALWAYS be
the case, but it's something to watch for.

I'm not huge on Marshalls as it is, BUT with the GT-8, you can probably set up a
perfect clean sound on the amp, then a good-sounding setup through the GT-8
(Heck, it's Jimi's. He prolly knows a ton of good ones. Just one to match that
Ampeg he's selling would be awesome).

Could even just run through the FX Loop if you liked the sound of it.

Looked at the GT-8 and some others a bit ago. Seems a good, quiet unit, plus
the solo boost is nice option. Think I put in another post that what got me interested
in them was seeing that John Ashton (Psychedelic Furs. How'd I forget him in the
best guitar sound thread. Sheesh) had been using the GT-6, then went to the GT-8.

[Killjingle]

I agree with Dave. If u just use the MG for power and the GT for its distortion u might have something usable there.

[webmiztris]

I think there was some confusion in this thread...I DID NOT buy the GT8. All I bought was a BBE Boosta Grande pedal, and I didn't receive it in the mail yet so I can't comment on it, but looking at all of the reviews I've read on it, it's an awesome pedal and should do exactly what I wanted (boost the volume, fatten the tone, yet not change the overall sound at all) for solos, etc.

I hear everyone telling me to go with tubes, but to be honest with ya (and maybe it's because I just haven't been playing long enough yet), I can't tell the difference. Put a solid state by a tube and I don't even think I could pick out which was which. So for that reason, along with the fact they cost way more and I don't know a THING about changing tubes, etc., I'm in no hurry to run out and get a tube head. If I can't tell the difference, chances are pretty good the drunks in the bar can't tell either, so that's not a real big concern of mine! LOL

[Killjingle]

for the style of music u are doing I think solid state is fine. Let me clear up the confusion that I started. I simply wanted to tell u that the MG Marshall series head is just not their best. Thats all. I think ultimately as u start your quest for tone that particular piece of gear being changed will be the one will make the biggest difference in your tone.


If u like u can bring your head up to my prac space and a/b with it some different heads that I have there just to have something to compare to. I have no prob with that.

[VENTGtr]

Dawn,

Actually, I'd be interested in your thoughts on the boosts when you get and
give it a go.

You're right in that, especially with a lot of the seriously huge amounts of gain
some amps have pushed through them, and that SS gear has gone through
years of evolving (Depending on the amp), the differences aren't always all
that obvious. Granted, a nice driven tube amp can be more responsive to
your playing, but that again can depend on its quality, etc.

And, ya, there's a TON of things to go through tube-wise to maybe get to where
you want. Choice of pre amp and power amp tubes, biasing, English, German,
Russian, Chinese, new, old, new old stock that's been sitting in a warehouse since
1952, how a Mesa MKiv handles a Svetlana and if it works to your ears and style...
a whole lotta garbage. Can be fun...but time consuming...and pricey.

I've, for a long time, been into TubeWorks stuff (And am using it again nowadays).
Have a tube pre on one side and a MosFet clean that I can setup to get a nice grit
when I want. PLUS, for my ears, the MosFet adds warmth to the Tech21 GT-2 I
have going now. Don't really touch the tube side much at all anymore (Though like
it much).

If u like u can bring your head up to my prac space and a/b with it some different heads that I have there just to have something to compare to. I have no prob with that.

'At actually sounds like a pretty fun freakin' day.

Anyway, again, let us know how the Boosta Grande works out.

[Killjingle]

I would be interested too on the Boosta Grande.

[VENTGtr]

Kind'a sounds like a new high-amount-of-caffeine-fueled Taco Bell menu item.

[webmiztris]

lol, yes, I will be sure to let you all know how the Boosta Grande works out....

I wonder if it comes with sour cream?

[rickw]

VENT, you're absolutely right about this amp talk. I didn't mean to imply that all tube amps are good and/or all ss amps suck. Not the case at all. I should have been more thorough in my post. And Dawn, it's up to your ears. Play as many amps as you can with that 1960 of yours. One will surely knock you out. When that happens it doesn't matter what the brand name is, tubes, transistors, whatever. It's yours.

[VENTGtr]

I should have been more thorough in my post.

Nah, you were fine. You know how it is with some and their tube-snobbery
though. They'll play through their blazey mud box but it'll be "great" because
it has several mismatched, should'a been replaced years ago tubes.

Guess the OTHER huge component that we may be ignoring, is speaker choice.
I just got a Lopo 2x12 cab. Put a new Eminence Mod of some type and an older
Eminence (I prefer Eminences) in. They sounded similar. Older one was a bit
warmer, which makes sense, but they were close enough that I figured some
variety was called for. Was about to go to "That place which is not to be mentioned"
to get a Celestion Greenback (They, the Hellatones that Avatar mods, and, of
course, the Celestion Golds, are all versions that could alter my aversion). BUT,
"that" place only had 16ohm versions.

SO, I ran over to Wiggus' place, got an Eminence he had sitting around, threw it
in. Was great. Still warmer, a bit darker, looser. Pretty much enough of a difference
but a good match. Anyway, the "Mod" is meant to be a bit cleaner as far as not
colouring the sound. With my odd setup it works great, the other Em adds a bit
of it's own tone, so it's a good pairing to have options.

Not being a Marshall guy I don't really keep up on their stuff or know how well
they tend to match heads and cabs nowadays.

Also...not that that's apropos to Dawn's inquiry at all...just..like...the gear talk...

VIVA BOOSTA GRANDE!!!!! Just FEEL yerself getting pulled into gear-acquisition-
hell.

[Killjingle]

I hope am I not coming off as a tube snob. I just really prefer the sound.

I think with her cabinet choice she has a huge part of that figured out. Maybe she wont like 75 watt speakers forever; but they are a well rounded cab.

[VENTGtr]

KJ,

Don't mean any offense (And, actually don't mean "tube snob" in an insulting
way. Guess it's similar to Mac or PC camps in a sense).

I'd agree that, overall, tube amps sound better when you're using their sound
(And are normally more responsive to one's playing). My point is more that,
often, just with how someone is USING a tube amp (Gain on 10, no mids, an
active Super Distortion pickup, etc.), the audible difference can be negligible
(Especially with the advances in SS/MosFet technology) and that things like
modelers, analog or digital, etc. work better with SS amps. Primarily because
the modeler, and any given cab simulations within, are meant to do just what
the tubes, etc. are doing.

Guess just mean that not any and all tube amps are better than any and all
solid state and there are times when having tube in the setup can be a
detriment in combination with the other gear.

Purely amp-wise, I like hybrids anyway (That's just me though). Get the tube
pre, less hassle in maintenance, more consistent sound at lower levels.

[lonewolf]

lol, yes, I will be sure to let you all know how the Boosta Grande works out....

I wonder if it comes with sour cream?

What do you think of this box?

Do you have to put it in the FX loop to get a volume boost with high gain amp settings?

[webmiztris]

so far I think it's just 'ok. on the clean channel, it works EXTREMELY well, but when it's on overdrive, you can hardly hear the difference at all....btw, I don't use an effects loop - haven't tried it that way - I'm just running a pedalboard into my head. not sure if it would work better in the loop....my new distortion pedal actually works better for boosting leads than the boosta grande does (unless it's a clean solo of course.)

[webmiztris]

OK, I need some more help, guys....now I have a cool powered pedalboard with wah, tremelo, vibrato, distortion, boost and tuner pedals, which is fun....

The problem now is that I'm getting a lot of hum through my cabinet....it's annoying! What do you recommend? I'm looking at the Rocktron Hush pedal, the Boss NS-2 and the Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger so far, but I want to be sure what I get is going to do the job BEFORE I buy it since some of these are so freakin expensive....

Note: I don't use an effects loop....I have my guitar going into my powered pedalboard going into my head's input....please let me know if you think any of these (or other) pedals will do the job without fucking with the tone much, if at all....thanks!

[metalchurch]

Try a Hum DeBugger, and also maybe a ground strip to plug all of your stuff into.

I found a cheap Boss NS-2 for ya, and this would also be a huge upgrade.
Using alot of effects generates hum, especially with stomp boxes lined together.

Boss NS-2:

http://www.guitarsnstuffonline.com/gand ... ac228ad14e

[VENTGtr]

The Boss NS2 and the MXR Smart Gate would both work well. Have
heard different things through the years about to Rocktron, some good,
some that it's not that great. Unfamiliar with the E.H.

With regards to the Boosta Grande, what you MAY be bumping into is,
and this is for lack of a better way to explain it, the drive just might be
maxing out. Sort of hitting it's ceiling. I assume the purpose of the Boosta
is to push the tubes harder, but since you're not using tubes, it's just sort
of maxing out when you hit it. MAY even lose some of what you're wanting.

As for the Distortion pedal during cleaner lead stuff, you may be able back
the distortion off on the pedal all the time and still get what you're looking
for, maybe even more of. May take some messing around with it to find
what you want, but never know.

I used a Boss DS1 for years as a volume boost. Had the actual gain knob
on "0". Even now, after tryin' different things to experiment decided on using
my old Boss OD for the same reason.

Oh...and I guess this does beg the question, have you experienced the hum
everywhere? With all of that stuff, may be more prone to electrical noise, or
even the occasional zap. Might be in need of a power conditioner.

On the upside, if the distortion pedal does what you're wanting, you may
have less stuff in your chain...on the downside..., regardless....welcome to
pedalboard hell.

[Banned]

You might find that a particular pedal is causing the noise, or even a combination of pedals. Does the hum go away if you plug straight into the amp? If it does, add pedals into your signal chain one at a time until the noise shows up. That can help narrow it down.

Dax was battling the same problem a few months ago with his pedalboard, and it turned out that the power supply itself was the culprit!

[lonewolf]

I'd try to isolate the hum (if possible) before looking to buy yet another ungrounded, DC powered box.

Try removing all but the 1st box in the chain and see if the hum disappears. Keep adding the next box until the hum reappears. Once the hum reappears, try that box by itself to see if its an isolated problem. Also try a different cable on that connection to make sure its not the cable.

Also, if you have "true bypass" on your boxes, the total length of all your cables combined should not exceed 30 feet. That will cause noise and degrade your guitar signal.

[metalchurch]

Dax was battling the same problem a few months ago with his pedalboard, and it turned out that the power supply itself was the culprit!

I've had this happen, as strange as it seems.
NEVER count anything out when trouble shooting.
Take your time, make notes etc.. you will figure it out. It is easier sometimes not to look at the big picture and instead focus on one thing at a time.

And also brand new items are not exempt from defects keep that in mind when narrowing stuff down.

Dawn you are having all kind of problems lately what's up with that?

[onegunguitar]

After all the years of my swapping this pedal for that pedal,rackmount preamps,effects,etc..,blah,blah,blah- I've decided to use nothing but my wireless(X2 digital),Monster Power,a tuner and a noise gate. The less you have to screw with the better off you'll be,IMO Effects are cool for sure,but in the style of music I play I found it's just easier and less aggravating to kick in the lead boost in my ENGL and let it rip. The less I gotta hook up the better

[Banned]

I've decided to use nothing but my wireless(X2 digital)

What do you think of the X2? They seem to be the "next big thing" in wireless. Can you tell the difference between the X2 and a cord?

[onegunguitar]

I've decided to use nothing but my wireless(X2 digital)

What do you think of the X2? They seem to be the "next big thing" in wireless. Can you tell the difference between the X2 and a cord?

I think it's well worth the price,I have the rack mount model and I feel is sounds just as good as a cord,maybe even better. I only used it once live so far at Aldo's and it worked great. I'll be trying it at an outdoor event on August 23rd. I figured if I lose just a touch of tone for freedom of the "tangled cord around my ankle" syndrome,I'd live with that, but I can't hear any difference really. THe X2 company was bought out by Line 6( from what I've read) and I don't think they'd waste their money on a crappy wireless system. It's a simple system to use,no unity gain and squelch to mess with,just put the receiver and transmitter on the same channel(1-5) and that's it!!!

[webmiztris]

I'll be checking out Ebay for either a NS-2 or similar (with gas the way it is, I prefer not to drive to Pittsburgh). We've swapped out the power strip and cables and it's not that. The pedals are definitely the culprit. However, even by just plugging my guitar straight into my head, bypassing ALL pedals, I still get a hum on the overdrive channel (the clean channel creates no sound whatsoever when I do this), so it's my understanding that maybe something is wrong with my head? It's not too big an issue by itself, but with the pedalboard plugged in too, it IS getting quite a bit noisy.

onegunguitar: Up until about a month ago I was completely happy with just having my footswitch and tuner, (I played all of my shows for the past year with no more pedals than that), but it DOES sound pretty sweet to have a distortion pedal for some songs and the mellow sound of the tremelo and vibrato pedals on some songs....now that I'm using them, I don't think I can go back!

So basically, if buying an NS-2 or Hum Eliminator will solve my problem, I think it's worth a shot.

Thanks for all the help, as usual, guys!