I Keep Going Back To My Multi-Effects Unit

[stevieb]

Bought a DigiTech RP-7 more than a decade ago, because I didn't want to go thru several rounds of single-effects pedals to find what I liked. About two years ago, I realized I only used a few effects and a few patches, so I copied my top four to User positions i thru 4, made a few minor tweeks, and started using those about 99% of the time. A year or so ago, moved away from it and set up a pedalboard with (in this order) tuner, Ibenez Tube Overdrive, Dunlop Wah, and Digitech JamMan, going into a Deluxe Reverb (giving me 'verb and tremolo.) When my GF played organ with us for a while, I made a patch that "B-3'ed" the organ from a keyboard (careful tweeking of noise gate gave the organ sound swell, plus rotary speaker in stereo)- having my pedal board meant she could use the RP-7.

But now my pedal board has a sick power supply, and is bigger and bulkier than the RP-7- so I am using the RP-7 more.

I find the Learn-A-Lick is easier to use for working on hard stuff than the looper (easier to slow down for drills.)

So, even though some folks like to diss multi-effects pedals, I keep finding uses for mine.

Anyone have similar experiences?

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by stevieb

Bought a DigiTech RP-7 more than a decade ago, because I didn't want to go thru several rounds of single-effects pedals to find what I liked. About two years ago, I realized I only used a few effects and a few patches, so I copied my top four to User positions i thru 4, made a few minor tweeks, and started using those about 99% of the time. A year or so ago, moved away from it and set up a pedalboard with (in this order) tuner, Ibenez Tube Overdrive, Dunlop Wah, and Digitech JamMan, going into a Deluxe Reverb (giving me 'verb and tremolo.) When my GF played organ with us for a while, I made a patch that "B-3'ed" the organ from a keyboard (careful tweeking of noise gate gave the organ sound swell, plus rotary speaker in stereo)- having my pedal board meant she could use the RP-7.

But now my pedal board has a sick power supply, and is bigger and bulkier than the RP-7- so I am using the RP-7 more.

I find the Learn-A-Lick is easier to use for working on hard stuff than the looper (easier to slow down for drills.)

So, even though some folks like to diss multi-effects pedals, I keep finding uses for mine.

Anyone have similar experiences?

Yep, I do both. I actually have two completely separate rigs. I can just be so much more productive with my recording (or just playing around) time, by keeping two separate rigs ready to go without moving stuff between them.

So on my "blues/funk" rig, I have an ME-30 multi FX and 5 other individual pedals. On my "rock/fusion" rig, I have a PODxt Live and 6 pedals. I live the convenience of the multi fx, but I like the sound and/or functionality of certain individual units better--so I straddle both worlds.

[tc4b]

I have an ME-30, and grew to loathe it for guitar, left it alone. Now I have a fulltone ocd, crybaby, and a korg tuner (and a tube amp) and I'm very very happy.

Recently, though, I've been using the ME-30 on keys, and I LOVE it. I like to torture a good rhodes sound mercilessly with it, lots of fun.

[Light]

I said I never went the multi-effects rout, which is true, but I could ALMOST go the "we don't need no stinking effects!" way too. I'd miss my DD-20, but that's all I've got in the chain.

I've got tremolo and a boost in the amp, but were not going to count those because they are built in.



Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[guitarboy229]

Yea I Got This Digitech RP-200, and its been like 3 years since I plugged the thang in, but I'll tell ya, it does have some nice sounds in it... Its Great In The Studio...not so much live.

[wbcsound]

I have the opportunity to play through a different rig every month or so due to the reviews I do for www.frugalguitarist.com so I might be playing a small tube amp and a stompbox one day and a floorboard direct the next and have learned to be comfortable and find usable tones playing through nearly anything. That being said, I've been realy enjoying the non-traditional temp synched and synth effects of the Boss GT-10...

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by tc4b

I have an ME-30, and grew to loathe it for guitar, left it alone. Now I have a fulltone ocd, crybaby, and a korg tuner (and a tube amp) and I'm very very happy.

Recently, though, I've been using the ME-30 on keys, and I LOVE it. I like to torture a good rhodes sound mercilessly with it, lots of fun.

Yeah, I gotta admit, I don't use the ME-30 for much--a volume pedal and a bit of delay. I've got a Tubescreamer, a Holy Grail reverb and a crybaby on the same rig, so I don't need the Me-30 for much. It's a simple case of putting it to some use since I have it...

[starbuck26]

I inherited a GT6 from a friend back when I was in college. I buried it in the backyard about 3 years ago.

Not really. But i should have. I gave it to my 9 year old cousin.

[Anfontan]

I have a RP-200 that I used for a short time with a band in the early 2000's. I organized the favorite settings in the lowest numbers but I still had to tap dance on it way too much for something out of the ordinary-like a bizarre sound that I thought would add some character to a song.

When I played an outside gig in the middle of the afternoon, though, I found that the green readout totally disappeared in the bright sunlight-I've stuck with my old pedalboard since-a Boss Harmonist for harmonies, octaves, and light chorus like sounds, a Boss Tremolo for vintage trem sounds, a Digitech digital delay thats at least 25 years old but still works great-and an Ernie Ball volume pedal with a handy volume preset for a rhythm sound-then kick it all the way down for solos!!

[tc4b]

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

It's a simple case of putting it to some use since I have it...

It doesn't have to be for guitar, though

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by tc4b

It doesn't have to be for guitar, though

Excellent point. I'll run my maracas through it...

Seriously, you're right. I've got digital keyboards and an old Fender Rhodes that would be fun to put through it.

[pohaku]

Yeah, I have an old Digitech GSP-7 that must be at least 15 years old by now. Mostly just taking up space in a rack in my studio. Maybe I'll fire it up and see what it sounds like again. I moved to separate pedals (MXR Phase 100, Budha-wah, Keeley Comp, Boss CE-2 Chorus, Matchless Hotbox, Peterson Tuner, Keeley TS9DX and Maxon Flanger) and a small rack with the an Ibanez AD202 Analog Delay, Sansamp RBI, Peavey Valveverb, Rane AP13 preamp and DBX 266.

[Jouni]

I use a VOX Tonelab at home. Otherwise just an OD and delay.

[lpdeluxe]

Last year, after I moved from full-time bass player back to playing lead, I bought a Line 6 Floor Pod Plus for the wah and tremolo (and the potential other uses, as well).

I play Gibsons through Fender amps, so it may come as no surprise that I've pretty much given up on the amp modeling. But it's so nice to have the variety of effects available...I just wish you could select between different effects with a foot switch the way you can with the amp model presets.

No complaints about the sounds, given that I prefer the subtleties of my amps over the "tattooed teenager" presets on the box, and the convenience of having it all in one box is tremendous. The lead player for the band I played bass in was a foot pedal addict, and most of our sound checks was devoted to his changing out of batteries, dead patch cables, and the like.

Multi-effects certainly have their virtues, but in a pinch I'll plug my Les Paul/335/SG into my Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight/Hot Rod Blues Jr NOS and have at it.

[TWANGthang]

I used a digitech rp7 for a long long time..
it was so handy.. and had a tube in it, too.
yeah not every effect was perfect.
but bass.. guitar.. even for vocals and other stuff when home recording, it was just handy and did a very good job.

Now, I don't even use reverb.

guitar amp speaker.

practice wise however, I use the roland micro cube and it's great for that much.
I just don't find the use for effects much.. but I'll probably start collecting pedals again.

TWANG

[antichef]

I had a rack mount alesis something-verb. It must have had 8 bit digital processing or something, it just sounded horrible, even with no effect engaged. I gave it away, but not to my worst enemy

Today my son and I share a Vox Tonelab SE - it's awesome.

[rayc]

I have a Yamaha FX500 that my wife gave me over a decade ago. It has lots of useful & tweakable stuff in it & I use it when a plug in isn't right. It has horrible distortion settings though.
The swelling almost 'cello sound on Wah Wow & After the Burning are from this m/FX unit.

[lbanks]

I have a Digitech RPx400, I use as a processor, a preamp, a simple drum machine, a recording interface and a sound card. I just don't use a multi for performance.

[Daveg62]

TC Electronics G Major is under my tree this year. Sold my Boss GT8 about 10 months ago and just been using plugins through my DAW since then for effects. Looking forward to the G major.

[stevieb]

Originally Posted by Light

I...I could ALMOST go the "we don't need no stinking effects!" way too.

That's "estinkin' ," Light. Gotta get the hispanic accent in there!

[punkin]

I keep rediscovering everything!

I go old school for awhile and rediscover the richness of the amp all by it's self...then seem to toss in an over-drive unit then a fuzz then out comes the wah and before you know it...the T.C. multi-effects box then the almighty biggest sin, the line6 POD. Once tired of searching for "my tone" I go back to the old school and fall in love all over again with my single ended Univalve...so many sounds, so little time.

[stevieb]

Well, thanks everyone for weighing in, but I don't get it: this thread is kinda stale but still getting post, whereas I can't PAY anyone to comment on my "l
Suggestions, Please- Building My Own Little Amp Cab, With TWO Amp Chassis" or "Pro Reverb Vs. Hot Rod Deluxe" threads- and NOBODY needs Velcro??

Oh, I get it... "You are entering... the Twilight Zone."

[Lt. Bob]

It depends on the gig. I'm leaving for a Christmas day gig in a few minutes and I'll be using a Utopia pedal direct into the PA for this one since it's a beach gig.
I WAY prefer my pedal board thru Mesa but the Utopia does well enough that it doesn't bum me out too much to do the direct thing.

I have a RP7 but I've never liked the sound ..... the distortions are too 'buzzy' for my taste plus, I've lost the power supply which has some weird DIN plug on it.

[stevieb]

Lt. Bob, PM me if you want to sell the RP-7.

[Lt. Bob]

Originally Posted by stevieb

Lt. Bob, PM me if you want to sell the RP-7.

PM sent ........