Budget Rack Effects Recommendations

[4406cuda]

Line 6 HD500X

 

[Elric]

The biggest concern for me is final quality. There are tons of affordable multi effects pedals that offer really great features but I wish there were more units that focused on doing a couple dozen things very well as opposed to doing 300 things kind of bad. I just don't like overprocecessed sterile digital sounds.

Ideally I need a delay, chorus, reverb, flanker and phaser maybe.

In that case, WTF are you doing looking at cheapo rack units from the 80s/90s?

And why do you think you need a distortion? If the unit sits in the FX loop and does not support the 4 cable method (which most of the non-roland units from that era won't) you won't be able to use the distortion with a head, anyway because it'll be post preamp. You are better off getting a unit like the intellifex and dedicated dist pedal in front; or better yet, ditching the rack unit, an build a traditional pedal board built from a few inexpensive but solid units (you only need a few as you noted).

 

[Purpleibby]

Man, I've been down the road your going many many years ago....

Imo an intellifex, or better yet an intelliverb(I used to have this one) is what you want. Replifex sucks, had it and was dissapointed. Not all of the intellifex units ae created equally though. Different versions have longer/shorter delay times. Also I would supplement it with another unit. A good sleeper unit that kills isthe Roland RSP550. It still sits nicely in my fx rack with eventide and lexicon units. This has those lush choruses(dimension c is in there and many other chorus algorithms)warm delays and a spectacular rotary sound and much more. Those can be found for around 150.

Depending on what algorithm you use on your intellifex you will run out of juice so another processor will round things out. Also do yourself a favor and skip any kind of digital overdrives and distortions, they suck....they just do........stick to analog pedals and you'll bee happier.

So to recap, Intelli+roland+analog ods.....also for the most part phase and flange are better analog/pedals too..

If you cannot find an RSP some of the half rackspace boss processors are nice too. Roland had some nice effects processors back in the day...sometimes dedicated to one thing processors sound better than their multi counterparts.

I know the all in one solution for 300 bucks seems like the dream, but you'll end up with shit....you'll be throwing your money away... You can get those two rack units I told you about for close to your budget and they'll be keepers for life and add a nice analog pedal from time to time to do the rest. I had to build my rig a piece at a time spanning years but all of my stuff are keepers. Don't throw your money away and be patient.....it will be an investment....and your tone and wallet will be happier in the long run.

 

[s_swanson]

Man, I've been down the road your going many many years ago....

Imo an intellifex, or better yet an intelliverb(I used to have this one) is what you want. Replifex sucks, had it and was dissapointed. Not all of the intellifex units ae created equally though. Different versions have longer/shorter delay times. Also I would supplement it with another unit. A good sleeper unit that kills isthe Roland RSP550. It still sits nicely in my fx rack with eventide and lexicon units. This has those lush choruses(dimension c is in there and many other chorus algorithms)warm delays and a spectacular rotary sound and much more. Those can be found for around 150.

Depending on what algorithm you use on your intellifex you will run out of juice so another processor will round things out. Also do yourself a favor and skip any kind of digital overdrives and distortions, they suck....they just do........stick to analog pedals and you'll bee happier.

So to recap, Intelli+roland+analog ods.....also for the most part phase and flange are better analog/pedals too..

If you cannot find an RSP some of the half rackspace boss processors are nice too. Roland had some nice effects processors back in the day...sometimes dedicated to one thing processors sound better than their multi counterparts.

I know the all in one solution for 300 bucks seems like the dream, but you'll end up with shit....you'll be throwing your money away... You can get those two rack units I told you about for close to your budget and they'll be keepers for life and add a nice analog pedal from time to time to do the rest. I had to build my rig a piece at a time spanning years but all of my stuff are keepers. Don't throw your money away and be patient.....it will be an investment....and your tone and wallet will be happier in the long run.

The RSP intelliverb is great, sort of a hopped up blackface intellifex. It's completely ridiculous how many reverb/delay parameters they allow you to control on that thing! They might be tough to find though, and sometimes they go for a fairly high price. There is one on ebay right now for $500 obo.

 

[Purpleibby]

Yes, I loved that unit(intelliverb)..I'd still have it today if it weren't for the fact that the holder that kept the dsp chip seated in it's socket broke out of the blue.....and that damn wall wart was a boat anchor lol. I should have specified it was the RSP550 that you can get for 150. Two different RSPs lol. Hell I got mine for 90 bucks. Either way I think a nice intellifex would suit this guy nicely. The 8 voice chorus is worth the price of admission!

 

[axe2grind]

Ok. Thanks again everyone for your help. I think I get the direction I need to go in now.

I have just a couple more questions -

I found a Lexicon MPX-500 in my price range. How does that unit compare to the Rocktron and TC units?

Lastly, some opinions on which distortion pedal would be a good compliment. I was thinking either an MXR Super Badass or ProCo Rat 2..

 

[shredhead7]

Ok. Thanks again everyone for your help. I think I get the direction I need to go in now.

I have just a couple more questions -

I found a Lexicon MPX-500 in my price range. How does that unit compare to the Rocktron and TC units?

Lastly, some opinions on which distortion pedal would be a good compliment. I was thinking either an MXR Super Badass or ProCo Rat 2..

I haven't tried a Lexicon personally, but they are known for their reverbs. I imagine the delay and reverb are probably outstanding and it is probably transparent. The knock that I've heard against them is that they are slow to change patches (maybe not every unit). Along those lines, what are you considering for a midi floor pedal/controller?

As to the distortion pedal, what are you looking to do with it? Boost an already overdriven channel, add distortion to a clean channel?

 

[Dave L]

The Rocktrons are basically the only rack multi-FX units that really work without parallel loops or mixer set-ups, because they were made for guitar players and have the analog dry. Most rack multi-FX is originally for studio use where the dry tone is a non-issue, and this can really mess up your tone especially when looking at older and/or cheaper units with shoddy D/A-A/D and narrow bandwidth.

Also, of the usual suspects I think it´s only the Replifex/Xpression/Multivalve family, the Lexicon MPX1 and 2 and the G-Force and G-Major that have instant preset switching, because they have the computing power permanently split between the different sections and don´t have to load up new stuff.

 

[axe2grind]

The Rocktrons are basically the only rack multi-FX units that really work without parallel loops or mixer set-ups, because they were made for guitar players and have the analog dry. Most rack multi-FX is originally for studio use where the dry tone is a non-issue, and this can really mess up your tone especially when looking at older and/or cheaper units with shoddy D/A-A/D and narrow bandwidth.

Also, of the usual suspects I think it´s only the Replifex/Xpression/Multivalve family, the Lexicon MPX1 and 2 and the G-Force and G-Major that have instant preset switching, because they have the computing power permanently split between the different sections and don´t have to load up new stuff.

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[axe2grind]

Ok. Thanks again everyone for your help. I think I get the direction I need to go in now.

I have just a couple more questions -

I found a Lexicon MPX-500 in my price range. How does that unit compare to the Rocktron and TC units?

Lastly, some opinions on which distortion pedal would be a good compliment. I was thinking either an MXR Super Badass or ProCo Rat 2..

I haven't tried a Lexicon personally, but they are known for their reverbs. I imagine the delay and reverb are probably outstanding and it is probably transparent. The knock that I've heard against them is that they are slow to change patches (maybe not every unit). Along those lines, what are you considering for a midi floor pedal/controller?

As to the distortion pedal, what are you looking to do with it? Boost an already overdriven channel, add distortion to a clean channel?

I would like the ability to do both but my primary need would be to distort the clean channel of my amp since my lead channel has a lot of gain on tap.
I play everything from blues to classic rock to 80s and 90s metal.

 

[charvelstrat81]

For transparency and just a overall good tone i like the rocktron
intellifex and replifex.
I bought both for a total of $250 a few month back.
they also make a pirahna preamp which i had and just sold.
You can get all three for under $400