Looking for all-in-one Multi-FX unit, No modeling...

[napalmdeath]

I'm retiring my RP1000, as it just colors the tone, even in the loop with FX only. I'm not concerned with modeling, so the Boss GT-100 is on the list, as is the TC Nova Drive. I like the layout on the Boss, and ease of use building your of post and preamp. It's kinda high on my list. Line, not so much. They make everything complicated...

Suggestions??

 

[Chris6870]

Line 6 M9 or M13 or Fractal FX8. No modeling, just effects.

 

[steve_k]

FX-8, unless you need something in a rack format. Recently went down that rabbit hole. It's a good hole

 

[maddnotez]

Fractal stuff is pretty much studio level shit. I hear it's some of the best.

But for the price of the FX8 why not get the modeling with it in the AX8?

Not sure what extra Effects or features the FX8 has though.

 

[japetus]

Digitech Space Station pedal

 

[RockyStar]

TC Electronics G-Force

 

[mudf00t]

You know... I spent a bunch of money looking for a multi-effects unit that would sound the way I wanted, with great effects and fairly easy to use. Even though the Helix and the AX8 both have modeling, they also have great effects... but they both are way expensive. At the end of the day, they are both pretty awesome but you have to ask yourself, like I did, if they are worth the money. Certainly, they aren't that expensive when compared to putting together a pedal board... I have have TONS of pedals and the total cost of those pedals makes the cost of the Helix or AX8 seem cheap. However, I ran into lots of other problems with pedal boards including "tone suck", buffering, random noise, cable spaghetti, blah blah blah.

Some of the stuff I like to play doesn't require many effects... some of the stuff I like to play requires a TON of effects. Herein lies the quandary.

One of the things I hated about racks back in the day was all of the freaking fiddling I had to do to get things "just right". Mostly, this was due to playing covers. However, I used to be happy with my sound when I finally got it set right. I want to say that I went almost a whole 6 months at one time where I didn't really change anything. That is freaking amazing because pretty much every guitar player I know rarely goes 6 months without changing something. And then my band broke up and I joined a new band and *sigh*.

Well, here I am now with thousands of dollars in pedals, thousands of dollars in the Helix and AX8 - not really happy with either of them - and I traded a combo for an old rack unit that I have been fiddling with for a couple of weeks. Of course, these old effects units don't really have the fidelity of the newer stuff, there can be delays when you switch channels, etc. So... I bought a TC Electronic G Major 2 to try and while I was at it, I grabbed a Voodoo Labs GCX switcher and a Ground Control Pro. Total cost in used gear was $852 shipped.

The quality of the effects in the G Major 2 is just crazy good and it's much cheaper than any of the above-mentioned solutions. Hope this gave you some info without being confusing.

 

[Racerxrated]

Even cheaper are the Rocktron Intellifex, usually 1-150 used. Not as good as the Axe stuff but probably the best sounding/transparent for under 500.

 

[glassjaw7]

I've been waiting for an updated M9 with Helix quality effects. Would be an instant buy for me. (Pleeeease tell me it's coming!)
The FX-8 looks great too.

 

[Halikus]

Fx8 is the only fx unit I've ever been able to use in 4cm without ground loops, a nightmare getting unity gain and most importantly no noticeable tone suck. Infact its the only fx unit iv ever tried that does not suck the soul and complexity out of my pickups.

AX8 while having the same effects as FX8 and AXEfx for that matter does not have the seriously amazing DAC's of the FX8 and does not play half as nicely with a real amp. Also since the 2nd hand FX8 price plummeted due to the cosmetic upgrade that is the FX8mk2 you should get a cracking deal.

 

[Shask]

Fractal stuff is pretty much studio level shit. I hear it's some of the best.

But for the price of the FX8 why not get the modeling with it in the AX8?

Not sure what extra Effects or features the FX8 has though.

I think this was said right above, but the FX-8 is MADE for 4CM. It has circuitry designed around being transparent. The AX8 doesn't have that and would theoretically change the tone of the amp more.....

 

[Max Haze]

For a lower budget. Have you looked at Digitech GSP1101?

 

[dirtyfunkg]

I had a GSP1101 and experienced tone suck in 4CM. At the time I used it with a Pittbull Ultra Lead, Fryette Sig:X, and a VHT Deliverance 120 with an installed series effects loop.

I've also been looking for a damn good rackmount effects unit that can also provide some decent drive tones for slamming my amp's front-end. I've been very happily using an old Quadraverb in the loop for lush reverbs and delays, but would like to be able to leverage something for the front so that I can jettison my pedals and only have my Rocktron midi controller and expression pedal in front of me for gigs. I'm already using wireless, so just a midi cable coming up front would be heaven for me.

I kind of wish that the FX8 was made in a rack unit as well.

 

[maddnotez]

Fractal stuff is pretty much studio level shit. I hear it's some of the best.

But for the price of the FX8 why not get the modeling with it in the AX8?

Not sure what extra Effects or features the FX8 has though.

I think this was said right above, but the FX-8 is MADE for 4CM. It has circuitry designed around being transparent. The AX8 doesn't have that and would theoretically change the tone of the amp more.....

Fx8 is the only fx unit I've ever been able to use in 4cm without ground loops, a nightmare getting unity gain and most importantly no noticeable tone suck. Infact its the only fx unit iv ever tried that does not suck the soul and complexity out of my pickups.

AX8 while having the same effects as FX8 and AXEfx for that matter does not have the seriously amazing DAC's of the FX8 and does not play half as nicely with a real amp. Also since the 2nd hand FX8 price plummeted due to the cosmetic upgrade that is the FX8mk2 you should get a cracking deal.

Great points and I was unaware.

What are DAC's?

 

[Halikus]

DAC is a Digital Analog Converter, essentially a chip to turn an analog signal to digital or vice versa. What makes most gear unable to work really well in 4CM is the converters are shit. To do 4CM you need to take a guitar signal -> convert to digital -> add pre fx -> convert to analog -> preamp -> convert digital -> apply post fx -> convert digital to analog -> power amp -> cab ->ears. Now with all these conversions going on its really really easy to generate unwanted noise or mess up the levels and gain on that signal or in the case of most gear lose parts of the signal entirely . This is where all the money went with the FX8 and the conversion processes going on produce the best quality signal going the power amp I have come across.

 

[harsh59]

If I were to do a multi fx unit it would be an FX8 .

 

[napalmdeath]

I'm sticking to pedals!

 

[Max Haze]

I had a GSP1101 and experienced tone suck in 4CM. At the time I used it with a Pittbull Ultra Lead, Fryette Sig:X, and a VHT Deliverance 120 with an installed series effects loop.

I've also been looking for a damn good rackmount effects unit that can also provide some decent drive tones for slamming my amp's front-end. I've been very happily using an old Quadraverb in the loop for lush reverbs and delays, but would like to be able to leverage something for the front so that I can jettison my pedals and only have my Rocktron midi controller and expression pedal in front of me for gigs. I'm already using wireless, so just a midi cable coming up front would be heaven for me.

I kind of wish that the FX8 was made in a rack unit as well.

Why not get an Axe Fx?

 

[neilli]

If you're looking for a floor mounted fx unit, I'd recommend the TC Nova System. It's inexpensive, and sounds incredible!

 

[glassjaw7]

If you're looking for a floor mounted fx unit, I'd recommend the TC Nova System. It's inexpensive, and sounds incredible!

The Nova is still a great unit. Biggest drawback is that you can't do 4CM so you either have to use the onboard drive or put a good MIAB pedal before it so you can have the Nova's time-based effects after your gain, or put it in the loop and use the delays/verbs/trem. Some of the other effects suffer in this position though.

IMO, the Nova is a killer backup for a pedalboard. Use the built in drive or grab a good amp in a box pedal and you'll get a good tone out of any amp with a decent clean channel.