Multi-effects/effects question

[Mr. C]

Okay, I have a BOSS ME-50 that I recently purchased because I wanted to have the effects it has and figured that would be the way to go. When I play it through my Peavey Classic 30 on the gain channel it's hard to control the feedback and frankly I'm not real pleased with the way it sounds (that's with a distortion/overdrive pedal selected). When I run it through the clean channel I'm still not overly impressed. In fact, overall, I like the amps distortion without the pedal. Is it typical to run a distortion/overdrive pedal on the clean or gain channel? I thought the purpose of a d/o pedal was to push the tubes more while on the gain channel What I like about this pedal is that I could preset patches which I think would be especially useful for chorus and other modulating effects without having to have a separate pedal for each effect which would = $$$. Anyways any help, suggestions, thoughts, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks to all.

[Flamin Lip]

Throw the presets out! Most of the ME patches are WAY TOOOOOO over the top for my taste. You can run it through either channel. My advice would be to create simple patches..... if ya like the OD from your amp but need delay.... set up one patch just for distorted delay. etc. etc.

Bottom line? With these multi fx boxes.... less is usually more. Just because you can throw 5 different effects into the stew doesnt mean it will taste as nice as if you only used 2 effects.

Take some time and really work out what you want it to do, and it will be fine.

[pikingrin]

Originally Posted by Flamin Lip

Throw the presets out! Most of the ME patches are WAY TOOOOOO over the top for my taste. You can run it through either channel. My advice would be to create simple patches..... if ya like the OD from your amp but need delay.... set up one patch just for distorted delay. etc. etc.

Bottom line? With these multi fx boxes.... less is usually more. Just because you can throw 5 different effects into the stew doesnt mean it will taste as nice as if you only used 2 effects.

Take some time and really work out what you want it to do, and it will be fine.

+1 for that... I had the same issue with my GT-6 when I got it a while back. Presets were crap, way too many effects, and the settings where out there. The problem is with these multi-fx processors, in my opinion, are that just because they have 30+ effects, we seem to want to pack as much in one patch as possible. Simple is best...

[acidrock]

Originally Posted by Flamin Lip

Throw the presets out! Most of the ME patches are WAY TOOOOOO over the top for my taste. You can run it through either channel.

Bottom line? With these multi fx boxes.... less is usually more. Just because you can throw 5 different effects into the stew doesnt mean it will taste as nice as if you only used 2 effects.

That's it right there.

There are so many multi-effects out there now and you can get good sounds out of most of them,the Classic Thirty is a nice amp too.

[EdWonbass]

I have the same pedal except it is the bass version and I never use presets. I tried to set up a few but I basically just like using it as 3 different stomp boxes. Although it is a bass processor I have a couple of patches that I set up just for guitar and the sound pretty decent. Of course these patches are just distortion/fuzz type settings with maybe a little delay or chorus thrown in.
If you throw too much into a patch it won't matter what amp you use. Let the amp do the talking.

[acidrock]

Originally Posted by EdWonbass

I basically just like using it as 3 different stomp boxes. .

That's probably the best way to think of it.It saves you from having to bend over and futz with the knobs and you don't have a mess of chords and power supplies to give you headaches.Get a sound you like just save it!

[Mr. C]

Actually I don't use the presets...what I meant is that I like the idea of being able to make my own patches using the different effects available. The main question I had is about the distortion/overdrive pedal. But, maybe my answer is not to use it since I like my amp's distortion anyways. I just thought the overdrive should push the amp more, but to me it sounds like crap and the feedback (+ noise) is uncontrollable. So I'm thinking, do I keep this pedal just for the ability to make my own patches with modulation and delay effects...I know only I can answer that, but just thinking out loud.

[acidrock]

Try compression.

[Dani Pace]

I have a DOD FX7 (not the same but similar) which I use mostly through the clean chanel. Like you, I prefer the overdrive from the amp better than what I get from the efx unit. About the only efx I use are delay and compressor so I would probably be better off with a couple of boxes rather than the multi unit. The main advantage I have found is when I need a certain effect for a song I don't have dig through a box of stomp boxes to find the one I need. Multi efx pedals have their place, mine sits on the shelf most of the time.

[pinhedgtr]

I don't know if you have an effects loop in your amp, but that's the way I run mine. If you do, set it up so that there is no audible difference when you turn on/off your effects loop with the effects, then just use the delay/reverbs and modulation effects and let the amp provide the distortion. Hope this helps.

B

[Mr. C]

pinhedgtr, sounds like a good idea.

One question still unanswered: Isn't the purpose of an O/D pedal to push the tubes more even when on the gain channel?

[acidrock]

Originally Posted by Mr. C

pinhedgtr, sounds like a good idea.

One question still unanswered: Isn't the purpose of an O/D pedal to push the tubes more even when on the gain channel?

You can push your tubes with anything that has a hotter signal than the one coming from your guitar,just a simple volume booster or even EQ can drive your tubes more.I use my supercomp to get a hair more drive out of my amps.I have a friend who uses a Microamp pedal just to drive his amp a bit more.

I think the main thing is to look at your total package,guitar/pickups/effects/amp.The Me50 is there to add to your sound,not be your sound.

I've had all kinds of effects over the years but now I'm finding my favorite sound is just plugging into the amp.

[pinhedgtr]

Originally Posted by Mr. C

pinhedgtr, sounds like a good idea.

One question still unanswered: Isn't the purpose of an O/D pedal to push the tubes more even when on the gain channel?

Yeah, you can still use a distortion on there to boost your gain channel a little more, just set it real light as to not cause all kinds of crazy feedback.

B

[ryansanders]

All multi-fx pedals I have used sound like crap on the distortion channel, unless your just using some delay or something. I personally don't like using them that much.. Something about the sound just doesn't suit me, unless I am going for some heavy rock.

I play mostly blues and lighter stuff.. so I prefer just a pedal or two straight into a tube amp.

[hoops]

The problem I have with multi-fx pedals is you usually can not seperate the pedal up to go into the input and the FX loop. I like my wah, overdrive and compression into the input and the chorus, reverb and delay into the FX loop. Lets face it most FX sound bad going into the input.

[Rezzonator]

[QUOTE=Mr. C]I just thought the overdrive should push the amp more, but to me it sounds like crap and the feedback (+ noise) is uncontrollable. So I'm thinking, do I keep this pedal just for the ability to make my own patches with modulation and delay effects...QUOTE]

My trick: choose on your ME a modest type of distortion (like the bluesdrive), keep the gain low and set the volume high. In this way it will work like a booster for your amp.