Suggestions for out front no loop/or loop effects pedals?

[Kapo_Polenton]

Here is yet another recurring theme and question !

I currently have a Gmajor2 as my effects unit but I am not totally in love with it's sounds and I don't have a foot switch to control various presets. I'm looking for something versatile for live and home use. When I record, I'd probably just use digital effects in Reaper or Cubase so I have control over a dry mix anyway. Can anyone suggest a unit that would work well for these purposes? Some thing to consider:

The amp I would play live is a 2204 JCM800 combo so there is no effects loop. I don't want to use the effects unit for it's amp sims in anyway, just for chorus, some delay and verb. Maybe some flange here or there and possibly light overdrive to boost the amp.

At home I play through my Randall Lynchbox and it has a serial and parallel effects loop but it is line level so pedals don't work well in it.

This means that I'm likely stuck looking for something that sounds great in front of the amp. Most important would be the delay and verb I think as those two things are used most.

What do you guys think? Or is a good old shool pedal board with A/B switch and some creative pedal dancing still the way to go? Maybe I should just buy a foot controller for this Gmajor. I'm open to ideas.

 

[geetar_geek79]

i don't know, but reverbs or delays in front right before the amp gain doesn't sound good to me. if it was me, i'd have to go the wet/dry route but that would involve a lot more equipment. if you really want to use the amp, i'd use it as a clean amp and stick an RP1000 in front of it and get my distortion and effects from there. the RP1000 or GSP1101 actually sounds good recorded as well.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

That is my worry as well.. you almost need an amp with an effects loop if you want a nice simple setup for live use. Maybe this is why a lot of people just go direct to the board with floor effects units?

 

[petejt]

Effects loops are useless unless there's a stereo poweramp involved.

 

[Gainzilla]

Effects loops are useless unless there's a stereo poweramp involved.

Youre going to have to elaborate on this train of thought for me Pete. Personally, I wouldnt use an amp without an FX loop if I had a choice in the matter

 

[fek]

I use a RP1000 with the 4CM and a RM100. I only use reverb, delay, and some light chorus on occasion but it sounds pretty good to me. Is that because they are not actual pedals in the loop but a multi unit?

 

[Shark Diver]

I've been using a Hiwatt/Soldano hybrid as a clean amp with pedals in front. TC Flashback for delay, WET reverb, Maxon PAC 9 Chorus and an MXR Micro Flanger for fx. Himmelstrutz pedals for drive and boost. All fx after drives of course. I also have a Clinch EP Pre in the chain.

I'll put this up against any amp out there, and I've been around the best amps ever on record.