Designing a new rig

[Tahoebrian5]

Hello Rig talk!

I need some advice for my rig in progress. I was recently using a Mesa mark V with a G system. I got to a point where I decided I hate everything. Listed my Mesa on ebay and sold it that night. Good riddance! I now have an EVH 5150iii and absolutely love the tone. Now I'm planning on ditching the g system and getting serious about my tone and also control.

I'm considering the eventide eclipse. Also considering the axe fx ultra, and a lowly g major. I'm kind of leery of "4 cable" setups having had so much trouble with the g system. One thought is to just have 2 effects processors.. One before the pre amp and one after.

So anyway, I have a rack gizmo on the way to help me change amp channels and give switching options. One main problem I'm stuck on is how to achieve a solo boost. I'm enamored with the idea of having a expression pedal to swell my volume and add delay and reverb for quick lead fills. The idea is that my rhythm patch would be dry with the exp pedal in heel position, when rocked toward the toe position it would control a vol boost and delay level. Anyway I'm really not sure what gear would enable me to accomplish this. I would have a dedicated lead patch as well.. This is just for fills.

Let me know what you guys think

 

[garey77]

I've heard there are latency issues w/the eclipse (not sure if that is still the case though). You could get an Axe Fx ultra and use it just for the effects with your amp, then if your amp poops out on ya at a gig you can turn the amp sims on. Less 'things,' more play time.

 

[Tahoebrian5]

If you're just using the ultra for effects, are guys using the 4 cable setup and any issues?

 

[RJF]

I am not familiar at all with a 5153 but I would suggest a Ground Control Pro to control your rack gizmo and processor. I use a G major 2. Some people don't like them due to problems with them but I have had good luck. One thing I like about the G major is that it has a built in switchable relay 1/4 jack. That can come in handy on amps that are not midi capable, allowing you to use that relay from the G and change channels or FX on off with your amp, while being able to control that relay through midi. I use mine to change channels on my Bogner TJ.

 

[JimmyBlind]

What FX do you intend to use?

My biggest gripe with multiFX are that you don't tend to make use of all the FX & you're forever then limited to the (digital) FX in the box.

Valve amps & stomp boxes are where it's at imo. There's something about putting a relatively budget digital FX processor slap-bang in the middle of an awesome all-tube head that doesn't ring right to me. Even with the ADA claims. I noticed a distinct compromise in tone when running a Gmajor with my VH4.

 

[sgill72]

What FX do you intend to use?

My biggest gripe with multiFX are that you don't tend to make use of all the FX & you're forever then limited to the (digital) FX in the box.

Valve amps & stomp boxes are where it's at imo. There's something about putting a relatively budget digital FX processor slap-bang in the middle of an awesome all-tube head that doesn't ring right to me. Even with the ADA claims. I noticed a distinct compromise in tone when running a Gmajor with my VH4.

I agree. Unless you're running a mixer to make the serial loop parallel.

I'd go with the Rack Gizmo and have all my pedals in a rack with a GC Pro as stated earlier. Best of both worlds. Try to find an RG16 so it'll change channels for you as well.

 

[dpeterson]

Go with the ultra, the flexibility of the routing alone is worth it. Eclipse does a few things really well, but moving this around and what you can have on a patch are limitied, unless you have a programming background.

 

[Tahoebrian5]

Thanks for all the ideas

The rack gizmo will change amp channels as well as control loops so I'm good there. I think I am going to go with the ground control pro. It seems pretty good in function for the price.

On the g major.. I'm thinking of going ahead with one knowing that I can bypass it with the rack gizmo.
For g major users .. Can you control the 6db of overhead level with an expression pedal for a lead boost? That's my main problem is how to handle the boost. I guess I can't bypass the G if I want to use it for a boost. Damn. More ideas please!

 

[BackCrack]

How about a Nobels MV-C?

 

[Tahoebrian5]

I think something like that could work. Unfortunately the website does not mention what type of circuitry is involved. I would want to stick with passive circuitry for the signal path. Good idea though and I'm googling!

 

[RJF]

Thanks for all the ideas

The rack gizmo will change amp channels as well as control loops so I'm good there. I think I am going to go with the ground control pro. It seems pretty good in function for the price.

On the g major.. I'm thinking of going ahead with one knowing that I can bypass it with the rack gizmo.
For g major users .. Can you control the 6db of overhead level with an expression pedal for a lead boost? That's my main problem is how to handle the boost. I guess I can't bypass the G if I want to use it for a boost. Damn. More ideas please!

My G major does change the tone a little bit, but only in a negative way on rhythm playing, at which I just turn off my switchable loop on my Herbert and remove the G major from the signal when I am on my crunch/rhythm patch. On a lead patch with it on adding some reverb and delay, it sounds great. For me, that switchable relay is a big plus.

I'm not sure on the volume thing. If you could switch the G in and out of the signal chain, you could just set the levels high on it so that it adds volume when switched into the chain. Assuming you would keep it out of the chain for everything but leads.

 

[Tahoebrian5]

This is the only thing I can find that has passive circuitry in the signal path

http://www.soundsculpture.com/products/pt_volcano.htm

What do you guys think? I would run it in the effects loop so would basically act like a midi controlled master volume. $250 is kinda steep just to get control of my volume but I think it would work nicely.

 

[Danorexic]

Valve amps & stomp boxes are where it's at imo

I run TC pedals in the loop of my 5153. One VERY happy bunny.

 

[Tahoebrian5]

Valve amps & stomp boxes are where it's at imo

I run TC pedals in the loop of my 5153. One VERY happy bunny.

What do you do for a lead boost?

 

[Tahoebrian5]

Update... I have an eventide H5 on the way. This thing had a midi controllable output level so I might be able to use it for the lead boost.

 

[Dingleberries]

Update... I have an eventide H5 on the way. This thing had a midi controllable output level so I might be able to use it for the lead boost.

I think you're really gonna like the H9, I got one incoming as well. Although you can only use one algorhythem at once, some algorithms have multiple effects. And it's midi capable & can be used with an expression pedal, plus there's almost zero failure possibility.

 

[Stone Heavy Sound]

I would say keep your multi-fx in the effects loop, they are midi programmable and will allow you to control volume, fx blending, etc. Run it through the rack gizmo for true bypass, i.e. if you want to run the amp stock with unwiring the fx box. For the front end, you'd be surprised, but you won't really need more than a few good pedals (a good boost, OD, Wah, maybe Rotovibe), all of which you can run through the Gizmo for bypass or chaining if you want, or just have a small pedal board. A good midi controller is crucial, I use and love the All Access, the Voodoo control is highly rated but fewer buttons.