Multi-FX pedal versus many pedals

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socaldreamer

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Hi all,

Right now I am considering eventually getting either a multi-FX pedal like a Line 6 Helix or Fractal Ax8 as a beginning guitar player to add sounds to my playing. I use Guitar Rig 5 on my computer and guitar which is great fun and has exposed me to the incredible world of FX like chorus, distortion, delays and so forth.

BUT every review I read so far on these multi-FX boards says they suck bad at some key analog effects like distortion and delays.

What would be the best and least expensive route- start with a multi-FX board or just buy a few individual pedals? For what I want to play, I would need about 7-10 analog pedals for dirt/distortion, overdrive, wah, delay, flanger, chorus, reverb, and vibrato/tremelo.
 
If I used pedals I would use pedals dedicated to what effect I'm after. My theory is, They have one job and would do that job better than a unit trying to cover all the bases but, That's just me.. :D
 
I figure something like the Helix or AX8/FX8 would save me a grip over buying individual pedals. I currently have two pedal boards but have been toying with consolidation for a while. An AX8 is very on my radar, especially once I pick up a PRS with a Piezo.
 
Thanks guys,

I think that for now I am good with the Guitar Rig 5 software on my laptop and guitar. But looking at a multi-FX box with a few distortion pedals that fill the gap. I want portable compact gear for the road.
 
I've not got experience with large mutli fx units like a boss me-25 or gt-8 pr anything like that, but I do use a few pedals that have a few different effects on them, such as the Digitech Whammy V, EHX Epitome, I consider those to both be pretty awesome
 
socaldreamer":b0oc5zw3 said:
Thanks guys,

I think that for now I am good with the Guitar Rig 5 software on my laptop and guitar. But looking at a multi-FX box with a few distortion pedals that fill the gap. I want portable compact gear for the road.
Click to expand...
If you have a couple distortion pedals that you really like, you can get something like the Boss MS3 and combine your pedals with the built in Boss effects. And the MS3 is very compact!
 
flimz":3k6vddzu said:
socaldreamer":3k6vddzu said:
Thanks guys,

I think that for now I am good with the Guitar Rig 5 software on my laptop and guitar. But looking at a multi-FX box with a few distortion pedals that fill the gap. I want portable compact gear for the road.
Click to expand...
If you have a couple distortion pedals that you really like, you can get something like the Boss MS3 and combine your pedals with the built in Boss effects. And the MS3 is very compact!
Click to expand...

The Boss MS3 is a great suggestion. Would be a great way to ease into things as the Helix and AX8 are expensive and you already have a few dirt boxes.

I also think the Line 6 Helix or Axe-FX AX8 would be worth checking out. You may find that you don't use many effects and the multi effects unit is overkill and move to individual pedals. Or you could find that you love the variety and the multi effects are the way to go.

When I started playing electric guitar in the Late 90's I went with a rack mount processor (DOD G10) and a foot controller. That gave me a good overview of what effects did and which ones I used the most. I eventually moved to stomp boxes. At this point I am so far down the pedal rabbit hole, that I don't see myself going to multi effects. However, if I was starting again I would pick up a line 6 helix or Axe-FX AX8, but those didn't exist in the late 90's. Its amazing how far multieffects have come.
 
I use to have a large board. Sold off all the pedals and it more than paid for the cost of a new FX8 Mark II

Much happier now and my sound is much better.
 
4406cuda":2i3676fn said:
I use to have a large board. Sold off all the pedals and it more than paid for the cost of a new FX8 Mark II

Much happier now and my sound is much better.
Click to expand...

This all the way. I went to an fx8 and love it. I'm not a pro but I play 2-3 shows a week lasting up to 5 hours per gig. The Fractal sounds flawless. Works great with an SLO as well
 
Agreed...while I still have my large board...it doesn't get much use any more.

4406cuda":1le6sevl said:
I use to have a large board. Sold off all the pedals and it more than paid for the cost of a new FX8 Mark II

Much happier now and my sound is much better.
Click to expand...
 
Moved away from pedals when I got the FX8 Mark II. It's a fantastic unit and I haven't found a sound I can't get with it.
 
with single use pedals you generally find better quality tones as the pedal has been designed for that specific effect. Multi effects, however, are certainly a cheaper option and may be ideal for you. If your looking for a just a few options you should build a small pedalboard and get a couple of single effects first and then build from there.. I use http://guitareffectspedalz.com for pedal info
 
I like the multi-fx unit better. The axe fx ax8 is a great option. with the multi-fx units there are less input and output jacks to get messed up less possible chord faliure between pedals. also much neater but that aside all the fx and drives in a multi-fx unit work well together. you will find that certain pedals do not work well with others. plus a lot of the multi fx are preset digitaly so you don't have to re adjust your pedals at every gig and a lot will have options to have several pedal changes at once no more tap dancing.
 
If you have a nice amp with a great tone, i would get an FX8. I just got one and holly shit, it sounds fabulous. Sold off most of my pedals except a couple that i had since the 80's witch mean a lot to me.

With the editor, it is a breeze to setup patches and so much fun, you will smile at the quality of the sound that comes out of that thing!!!!!!! I sure do...lol

No more tap dancing
 
Currently building my direction - might be all rack with a MIDI management system & floor control, or it might be all rack with some kinda analog switching system; or it'll [likely] be a combination of the two formats... I foresee "most" of my pedals racked and access remotely via foot controller; with my wah, boost, and possibly my PF with ExpPed on the floor with a floorboard foundation.

The only thing I need real time access to is my 1 boost, 1 wah, and my PitchFactor. Delay and verb are set and in the loop - sure, would be great to access my TF via MIDI as well, but like I said, I'm currently building my direction - whatever seems to work in the right place the right way - I'm likely going to map it into the chain that way. I'd rather not spend a tonne of coin on the system as I really use very few effects, even though I siphoned through over 100 stomps, I came away with about 15 or 17 that I feel are indispensable; and of those "indispensables", I'd say 8 to 12 are necessary to have on and access to at all times.

I don't have a jamming or gigging band together currently - so the need to worry about "all options all the time" isn't prevalent. Add to this my ethos of typically relying on the guitar/amp/cab for tone, you can sense it's mostly modulation, delay and some funk/shift stuff that needs to be accessed - my base tone is all good. While I own an OCD, BMP, BBP - I tend not to use dirt as most dirt pedals just compress the tone, this is why I've moved away from dirt stomps and have sought the best in "clean boosts" - as it ups the output incredibly, keeps the tone intact, and then slams the front end of the amp with a huge signal that clips naturally... I prefer this tone.

Long read for a short answer. It's a tough decision but having fought this battle since my first OD pedal in 1979 :lol: :LOL: I am going to let my build of effects access be determined by use and playing ("function") as opposed to "idyllic form" and how it looks. That said, the purpose of my build is to remove as much as possible off the floor, lessen the cables, and be able to put everything in my wheeled rack, and close 'er up when not needed, pull 'er out with ease whenever she is needed - no muss no fuss - access, and logically laid out. Period.

If I had to start all from scratch?? I'd likely opt for a high grade AIO unit for sure. Something upgradeable, multi-configurable, offering active/true-bypass routing, and expandable with exp pedal, or whatever. But ya, I'd opt for this over shelves of pedals, routing management systems, foot controllers, cable routing options, etc. Just one top-drawer AOI unit to get it all done.
 
FX8 here a well. Mine is Mark I. Got one as soon as they were released and haven't looked back.
 
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