Favorite multi-effect/floor units

[Mor Paul]

So, since I don't have any effects, and just one small amp, I'm considering getting a floor unit. So far, the best reccomendation is a Line 6 POD X3 Live, since it has plenty of effects, can do dual-amps, can do multiple instruments (bass/guitar, and I may consider using the stereo output jack on my tele to split my pickups to different outputs for some dual-amp fun)

It can't be extremely expensive, so $400 and under is best, and I'd like a lot of variation with effects.

What are your recommendations?

 

[dmraco]

pod is not bad...some times they can sound synthetic.  I personally like the boss GT10.  Very functional and easily edited.  Presets are good too.  New they are about $450...you can find them used for under $350.

what type of amp are you planning on running it on?

 

[mayfly]

I'm not a fan of the pod.  I recommend you give a tonelab a try instead.

 

[Rick]

Yamaha Magic Stomp, though I returned mine after it caught on fire.  I've used the POD's, the Boss Units, Alesis, Digitech and Zoom.  I think they are useful in learning what sound you want, and I encourage you to try a bunch of them.

Ultimately, I'm down to three pedals.  Think of it like this, you're sculpting your sound, hacking away the bits that don't work, till you get to the sculpture you like.  So try a bunch.  The ones I liked the best were the Magic Stomp and the POD, probably POD is best.  It's a pretty rare bird that can spot the difference between the processed POD sound and the natural sound.  I say no worries with the POD.

 

[Kvebbs]

I've been using the POD X3 Live since it was availiable, and I like it! Practical to bring everywhere, loads of possibilities, noiseless if you need it, reliable... If I was to change it I think I would try out T.C. Electronics G-Major unit, I know Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree uses it live and his sound is killer I think! Still nothing beats the chunk from the gain channel on a normal amp arty07: ... the clean-and combo sounds however the Pod does just fine...

 

[m4rk0]

if you want a steal, get the tonelab st! I have seen it for around 180, and if it is anything like the SE or LE, it should be fantastic!
oh and it has a USB output, so you can play your f-chord directly in your pc!

I may be getting one myself

http://www.voxamps.com/us/pedals/tonelabst/

 

[Tonar8352]

Don’t do it Max!  :evil4: :evil4:
The best floor effect in the world is a pre-1968 Blackface Fender Super Reverb and a guitar cord.  :laughing7: :laughing7: :laughing7:
Save your pennies and get the grail. :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

 

[blue313]

I have a GNX-2 for a floor model type.  Some of the amp models are nice.  The digital delays and octave effects are VERY good.  The stomp box models are mostly crap.  IMO I could replace it with a Digitech Whammy and never look back.

I've tried the X3 bean model and the Tonelab LE at GC.  Between the two I'd go with the Vox unit. 

Are you using a Line 6 Spider still?

 

[mayfly]

Don’t do it Max!  :evil4: :evil4:
The best floor effect in the world is a pre-1968 Blackface Fender Super Reverb and a guitar cord.  :laughing7: :laughing7: :laughing7:
Save your pennies and get the grail. :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

Being the proud owner of a 66 super reverb and several good guitar cords, I cannot disagree with Tonar.

However, I still think that you should give the tonelab a try.  Ideally, you should line up several at your local guitar joint and hear them all.  Then make your choice.

 

[Mor Paul]

Don’t do it Max!  :evil4: :evil4:
The best floor effect in the world is a pre-1968 Blackface Fender Super Reverb and a guitar cord.  :laughing7: :laughing7: :laughing7:
Save your pennies and get the grail. :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

Ha, I need to find out what I like. Instead of cycling through many amps and effects, I think a floor unit will be good for finding what I really like.
Also,
I don't have a space where I can overdrive an amp, so that gives a tube amp less variation.

I should be getting a job by next year, then the tube amp purchases can be had  :toothy10:

I'll be trying GC soon. Maybe even this week.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have to agree with Tonar and Mayfly.  But, since those amps do not show up all the time, and a lot of the time people want a ton of cash for something that has been kicked to hell and back, there is the build your own route.  Now, even this is daunting, rightly so.  But, I know it is way out of your league price wise, this avenue is something to keep an eye on.  A modified Hoffman AB763 board in a used reissue amp (super or deluxe reverb)  You get to take out the less than original insides and add back something that is a chip off the ole block.  Add a long three spring reverb tank to it, and you have a nice modern amp that uses the grand sounds of yesterday's classic amps.  Fun project as well.

After that you can worry about effects.

OK, back to being semi serious.  Hope you find something fun for an effects unit, it is a never ending quest.
Patrick

 

[Justinginn]

Tonelab. It's a floor effects unit AND it sounds good.  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[GoDrex]

one of things I had considered was the Tonelab LE and a Tech 21 power engine. I still kind of want a Tonelab for recording.

 

[Volitions Advocate]

I'm going to second what Dmraco said.  I'm a boss GT user and I find that its a lot easier to edit than the Pod XT.  And you have a great deal more functions you can add into a single patch.

When it comes down to it though, playing around with them is your best bet if youc an.  If not. read the manuals online, they'll always give you a good indication of what they can do. but it will be a great deal of reading.
I always do this before buying a new piece of gear.

 

[tfarny]

I am currently loving, loving my ME-70. It does everything I could want from a floor unit but is totally knob-based and requires no programming or reading of manuals. It will save presets and do all of that but it's basicallly a bunch of pedals stuck in a single unit with basic modeling added (and easily turned off).
I have also used the tonelab products and I think they are great, better modeling than the ME-70 (best out there I think), but a different mix of features.

Yamaha Magicstomp? I owned one of those for two weeks, it made everything sound like Chinese plastic toys. Very hard to use too. You kidding me?

And of COURSE a good blackface fender will sound better. It's not that great for midnight practice in the bedroom though, nor is it cheap, and you've still got to get the wah, compressor, and all that rock and roll stuff.

 

[callaway]

This is easy for me---the Line 6 M13. All effects, stupid easy to use (it's just like a huge pedalboard), and no amp modeling or anything. It's just straight effects, which are pretty much excellent. Of course you're stuck with the sound of your amp as there's no modeling, but I don't see that as a loss unless you just want to screw around with a bunch of extremely different styles. But the M13 will sound great in front of any amp and retain that amp's character, so you can always upgrade your amp later. (If you want something small, get a little tube Champ or something.)

Over the last 10 years, I've gone from Pod 2.0 direct to the board, Vetta II both direct and mic'ed, XT Live in front of an 18 W tube amp, to finally the M13 in front of a tube amp. I think the M13 is perfect because you retain your guitar and amp's character completely, but get to color it with pretty much any effect you want.

 

[Mor Paul]

Thanks, guys. I think it's pretty much between the Line6 and the Boss. The tonelab doesn't seem to be on par with the other two as far as flexibility goes. I'm going to try to try them out today.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I have a POD XTLive and it really sounds good.

Click the fall_of_august link under my avatar and half way down the page is a music player with "Fall of August" as it's only song. That whole track was done with my POD XTLive into my pc, including the recording software and drums.

Track was recorded with my Frankenstrat (EVH copy, OFR, SD EVH pup)

 

[m4rk0]

Thanks, guys. I think it's pretty much between the Line6 and the Boss. The tonelab doesn't seem to be on par with the other two as far as flexibility goes. I'm going to try to try them out today.

Right, seems like a lot of players have now replaced all their live gear/amps with just one Tonelab... but obviously thats not flexible enough for max... :icon_biggrin:

 

[mayfly]

Thanks, guys. I think it's pretty much between the Line6 and the Boss. The tonelab doesn't seem to be on par with the other two as far as flexibility goes. I'm going to try to try them out today.

Right, seems like a lot of players have now replaced all their live gear/amps with just one Tonelab... but obviously thats not flexible enough for max... :icon_biggrin:

:laughing11: :laughing3: :laughing7:

Having said that, the tonelab is a bit limited in that you can only have a few effects on at once - you can't have a flanger and a phaser on at the same time for example.  It also limits the signal chain a bit - distortion pedals first, then the amps, then the delay pedals.

Fortunately for me I'm cool with the limitations.