Should I exchange my Rocktron rack units for Strymon pedals?

[drspearing]

I've got a Rocktrom Intellifex LTD and a Rocktron Replifex and I'm seriously considering swapping them for a Strymon Timeline and Mobius and a reverb pedal. They would be in my rack running in the loop of my amps.

My thinking here is potential sound quality upgrade, ease of use, I can run tap tempos for both out to my board and it will make my rack a little lighter.

Any comments for or against?

 

[thiswaythatway]

Put the Mobius into the input of your amp not the loop. Just my preference.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Dump those Rocktron units; antiquated units that somehow received a revival on forums and have led to an inflated used price value

 

[guitarman967]

Dump those Rocktron units; antiquated units that somehow received a revival on forums and have led to an inflated used price value

Most rack gear is antiquated. That being said, still nothing beats them overall for the use of effects.

 

[drspearing]

For a little more information...

I'm running Flange and Phase out front so that is why I'm putting the Mobius in the loop.

 

[guitarman967]

Btw, both those rocktron units together weigh practically nothing in a rack.
To the OP, Do you use an expression pedal to alter parameters in real time?

 

[sgill72]

Keep the Rocktrons and go pedals up front for phase and flange.

 

[drspearing]

I don't. I also have a rack mounted AC power supply for them that weighs a bit. The only thing I use an expression pedal for is volume via a Volcano unit. I would use the tap tempo a fair amount (if I ran a button to my pedal board). The Replifex has it on the front panel but I can't get to it easily.

I'm thinking the ease of use might be better with all the knobs on the pedal rather than going through the rack pages on the rack units. I know there are pages on the Strymon stuff too but a lot of things are available on the pedal without having to go too deep (at least I think they are).

Btw, both those rocktron units together weigh practically nothing in a rack.
To the OP, Do you use an expression pedal to alter parameters in real time?

 

[Shark Diver]

The Replifex has some pretty good tones. Sounds like you just have a case of GAS.

Buythe Strymon stuff used and try it out before selling the rack gear. That way you can sell the ones you don't want and keep the other. maybe you'll mix and match

 

[drspearing]

I'm sure some of this is GAS related. If I go with the Strymon pieces I will have to dump both rack pieces to add a pedal drawer.

I don't really have an issue with the Rocktron gear really, other than thinking m rack would be simpler and easier to control/edit things. This along with the ability to keep my same pedal board and have a tap tempo for both units on the board.

I'm hoping it will sound better as well as possibly be more reliable.

Any more info?

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Most rack gear is antiquated.

Lol

still nothing beats them overall for the use of effects.

I don't agree, but who cares what I think? You just answered your own OP

 

[Reiep]

Put the Mobius into the input of your amp not the loop. Just my preference.

You can actually do both

You could first give a try with only the Timeline or the Mobius, in order to check if you like it, if it sounds good for you, and then pick the second one if it's OK. It was my plan to get both instead of the Mod/Timefactor, I ditched the Eventides before getting the Timeline first, and I didn't like it Felt dumb.

 

[drspearing]

So, are the Rocktron pieces I bought back in the mid 90's really that good? It's hard to believe that they are better than the new Strymon stuff?

If this is the case I should probably hold tight.

 

[guitarman967]

So, are the Rocktron pieces I bought back in the mid 90's really that good? It's hard to believe that they are better than the new Strymon stuff?

If this is the case I should probably hold tight.

For me they are. It definitely depends on certain senarios. If I was tracking a part with some effects in the studio I might spend some time and see what the studio has to offer first before going with my live rig.
Live, I've come to the conclusion that NO ONE will hear the difference between a delay patch on a Strymon or a Rocktron unit. So I go with what gives me the best flexibility.

That being said I don't think most people use the Rocktron gear to the full extent of it's capabilities.
If you already have a volume pedal on the floor I would highly suggest adding something like an Ernie Ball VP jr to control the two rocktron units. That alone will open up a whole other world of tonal possibilities that can be controlled in real time for performances.
If you're interested in that at all, let me know, I will expand a bit.

 

[sgill72]

I think it's more the Rocktron gear has it's own voice in the world of effects and sounds a certain way some people dig more than other pieces. Goes the same for Strymon...