My turn...what's a great rack effects processor?

[glpg80]

TC have a problem with their A/D converters and always have had.

Every piece I've ever owned ( and still own ) had failed.

Bought the G Force and it lasted 2 days.
They sent me a G major to use while it was in for repair and it was faulty straight from the box !!
I also use the C300 and it's converters have also failed twice.

Everyone I know who has the G Major2 has also experienced problems.. inc the guy from the Sam Hill band.. his G Major 2 appears to have failed.

I still use the G Major and C300 as I can't afford to upgrade, but if I can ever afford to replace them, I won't go with TC again.

When you say the converters fail what exactly is the symptom? No sound at all? Just curious because I've had my GM2 now for 2 years and gigged/practiced with it hundreds of times with no issues (at least as far as I can tell).

+1

ive spoken to TC electronics personally and never, not once, did anything of problems arise in the conversation about their AD/DA.

 

[Mark Day]

My G Major II would lock up and not pass audio, display would go screwy too. One of my original G Major I's did the exact same thing.
I took the chip out of the G Major II and reseated, it would work for a few days and go back to locking up again.

Mark

 

[glpg80]

My G Major II would lock up and not pass audio, display would go screwy too. One of my original G Major I's did the exact same thing.
I took the chip out of the G Major II and reseated, it would work for a few days and go back to locking up again.

Mark

i owned and gigged a g major for 3 years in between two different bands and never had a single problem. sold it here on the forum too, and the seller never had any issues either.

just saying you will get lemons with anything that is mass produced these days. to not expect it is asking for trouble. welcome to low cost/budget mass production IMHO.

 

[jasonP]

TC have a problem with their A/D converters and always have had.

Every piece I've ever owned ( and still own ) had failed.

Bought the G Force and it lasted 2 days.
They sent me a G major to use while it was in for repair and it was faulty straight from the box !!
I also use the C300 and it's converters have also failed twice.

Everyone I know who has the G Major2 has also experienced problems.. inc the guy from the Sam Hill band.. his G Major 2 appears to have failed.

I still use the G Major and C300 as I can't afford to upgrade, but if I can ever afford to replace them, I won't go with TC again.

When you say the converters fail what exactly is the symptom? No sound at all? Just curious because I've had my GM2 now for 2 years and gigged/practiced with it hundreds of times with no issues (at least as far as I can tell).

+1

ive spoken to TC electronics personally and never, not once, did anything of problems arise in the conversation about their AD/DA.

No manufacture is going to tell you that they have had problems even when they are.

I've owned g-major I and it sucked hind tit. Had to have it sent out to the factory for repair. I really didn't think it sounded that great and the effects didn't sound very warm.

I own a lexicon now and the reverbs and delays and chorus sound more natural and warmer to my ears. This unit is built a hell of a lot nicer to. Negitive's are that there is delay changing patches.

 

[Hacksaw]

whats the word on the rocktron xpressions?

 

[Code001]

whats the word on the rocktron xpressions?

Basically just a Replifex or Multivalve but without the ability to switch channels on an amp. You're better off getting one of the two aforementioned units. Personally, I think the Intellifex kills them in terms of delay, reverb and chorus, but the Replifex/Multivalve/Xpression have more effects and are meant to be more like normal stomp boxes than rack style effects.

 

[Hacksaw]

well that explains the cheaper costs. I use one of the rocktron midi loop8 units for switching the channels.. so the amp switching wasnt a need for me. I was curious, as it looked intersting


thanks.

 

[Greazygeo]

What I always find weird is using a high end, hi fidelity digital fx processor into a limited bandwidth guitar cab thats done by 6k.

 

[roadifier]

All my g majors (I & II) work perfectly, for all the time I have owned them, I never once had a problem with them, and they sound pretty good with my rigs too. My old G majors never have had a problem, and my new ones haven't had any problems yet.

 

[Jimmie]

A friend of mine told me I need to step up and get a really good rack effects processor. I currently use a Rocktron Intellifex and Replifex. I mainly use delay, reverb and chorus. I rarely use anything else. Give me some hints on something really killer...both high-end and the middle-high end.

Ultra Highend = Call Bob Bradshaw.

 

[Ventura]

A friend of mine told me I need to step up and get a really good rack effects processor. I currently use a Rocktron Intellifex and Replifex. I mainly use delay, reverb and chorus. I rarely use anything else. Give me some hints on something really killer...both high-end and the middle-high end.

Ultra Highend = Call Bob Bradshaw.

Ya, but try getting a hold of him. And when you do, good luck getting an ETA

V.

 

[screamindemon]

G- Major sucks balls !

IMO my Rocktron gear sounds way better !

 

[Jimmie]

A friend of mine told me I need to step up and get a really good rack effects processor. I currently use a Rocktron Intellifex and Replifex. I mainly use delay, reverb and chorus. I rarely use anything else. Give me some hints on something really killer...both high-end and the middle-high end.

Ultra Highend = Call Bob Bradshaw.

Ya, but try getting a hold of him. And when you do, good luck getting an ETA

V.

maybe Brad needs to come to the rescue? Some things just shouldn't be so difficult to obtain.

 

[Shark Diver]

A friend of mine told me I need to step up and get a really good rack effects processor. I currently use a Rocktron Intellifex and Replifex. I mainly use delay, reverb and chorus. I rarely use anything else. Give me some hints on something really killer...both high-end and the middle-high end.

Ultra Highend = Call Bob Bradshaw.

He doesn't make fx units.

I emailed him about his new midi pedals. They are # weird - 17-24 is on the bottom. 1-9 is toward the top. exact opposite to any other pedal I've ever used. I told him I am use to, and would like my 1-8 presets buttons on the bottom. He told me that it shouldn't matter and dismissed me.

 

[Digital Jams]

Eventide Eclipse. Thank me later

Yeah Dave this is the one to get IMO if you have the extra funds.

Cheaper I like the Lexicon MPX1, the reverbs are outstanding but it does have the patch switch lag not that it should matter in your case unless you are planning to play out again.

 

[Digital Jams]

Eventide Eclipse. Thank me later

Not enough horsepower when one looks dollar for dollar against the Ultra. Serious. And this is coming from an Eventide fanboi.

Peace
V.

What the heck were you doing to find a lack of processing power??

Lexicon PCM70 as someone stated is very cool, way overkill but very cool in the verb department.

 

[MrDan666]

Eventide Eclipse. Thank me later

Not enough horsepower when one looks dollar for dollar against the Ultra. Serious. And this is coming from an Eventide fanboi.

Peace
V.

What the heck were you doing to find a lack of processing power??

I was thinking the same thing!

When Angus brought over that Eventide Eclipse, i was blown away at how much better it sounded compared to anything else i have tried. It literally made the whole rig sound like a frickin 5.1 surround system haha

 

[Gainfreak]

As a person who used to buy the latest and greatest effects processors when they first came out Ive been going back to the easiest route which is to use either a couple of good pedals or a cheap rack processor. It has been my experiance that in a LIVE situation no one including yourself will be able to hear the difference once it comes through the PA and for home use it will suite you better for recording appications IMHO. Do yourself a favor and watch the Lukather video where he pretty much says the same thing. Now on the other hand If you are doing this just because you want to try something different then I totally understand !!! (George also mentioned a great point )

These days,I currently switch between a few pedals or a Rocktron Xpression and Ive been able to make the Xpression do whatever I want and I have no idea why some people bash it because I think it SMOKED the TC Gmajor box.(all IMHO) The weakest link on the thing is the pitch shifting for harmonies but Rocktrons never had great pitch shifting and Ive owned the original intellifex and online versions.

You can really go nuts with all this stuff and you really have to assess the situation and see what it is that you really want to do.
With that said and based on your clips, you already have a tone that everyone digs and adding a GREAT rack effects processor would probably get you the same results as you are currently getting! Again, its totally up to you but I personally don't think you need it

Here is another thing that I have noticed. When you are using a rack effects unit in an effects loop the a2d convertors will be REALLY important, but if you use a slave rig, its less noticable, so going top of the line in a slave rig might not be necessary. Again all IMHO.

 

[steve_k]

Eventide Eclipse. Thank me later

Not enough horsepower when one looks dollar for dollar against the Ultra. Serious. And this is coming from an Eventide fanboi.

Peace
V.

What the heck were you doing to find a lack of processing power??

I was thinking the same thing!

When Angus brought over that Eventide Eclipse, i was blown away at how much better it sounded compared to anything else i have tried. It literally made the whole rig sound like a frickin 5.1 surround system haha

Dan,

Careful with the Eclipse. It sounds great and is probably one of the best on the market. But, I found there to be some latency in switching that I couldn't work with. There may be some way to overcome it. Not sure if anyone else noticed it.

For the money, its the old US made Intellifex for me. I haven't even had to adjust the pre-programmed presets. Just switch off the Hush routing and save. Great piece of kit....

Steve

 

[craftm1]

Stick with the Rocktron stuff Dave, it's served you well. I've also used the Replifex and Intellifex for many years with out issues and even purchase a few used ones off the bay for back ups just in case. Last year I started looking in to getting a "TC G major 2" but after trying one out for two weeks (I used a buddy's) I couldn't see or hear in this case any improvements and in fact my Rocktron gear sounds better to my ears (may just be that I'm used to them) . I also didn't want to go through the learning curve and set up time. Then after reading all the issues Mark Day has had over the years I decided to just stick with my current set up. I did purchase a few TC pedals, (Flash back delay, and their Reverb pedal) to stick in the loops of one of my patch loops just for gigles, but as of yet haven't incorperated them in to my set up.

The Rocktron gear is rock solid (8 years and counting since I've starting using their gear) and seem to be some what timeless as well.

Just my 2 cents.