Best effects solution

[Jonny333]

Hey guys,
I'm setting up my rig from scratch as I don't own any individual pedals (besides a wah). I'm using a diezel herbert which I love and want to compliment with the right setup. I currently also have a boss gt-8 but am finding it way to digital sounding and tone sucking. I want something that is purely focused on effects for my current tone. (Therefore don't need any distortion/od pedals or patches). I think I am going to go down the rack route rather than pedals (but still have an open mind) and was going to go for single effects rather than multi, after my experience with the gt8. However, I have been researching and found the G-major 2 which seems to be everything I'm looking for.
Just wondering what you guys think of this unit and if you think it would be the best choice for me, or if you think I should be buying single effects to build up a chain. Also if you want to recommend other similar products or ways of setting up my rig please let me know
Also I am focused on getting really good quality standard effects such as reverb, delay, chorus...etc, and don't care too much for all the other 'special effects' such as crazy gimmick type things.
Thanks guys,
Peace.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I love my gmajor 2, sounds great, not too expensive, no tone suck once the levels are correctly set, laptop patch editing.

Do it!

 

[PaulyPanacea]

ive used a GMajor with my Herbert for years...no issues...no tone suck...easy to use..and cost effective.

 

[Jonny333]

Cool, thanks guys, and you think it's better than going down the individual effect route? Also how complicated is it to use?

 

[PaulyPanacea]

its easy as pie..as long as you take a little time & read the manual. simple to setup & such. & sounds better IMO than stomps..less noise @ least & less hassles.

 

[phil b]

With any multi effect unit you are going to run into limitations. It all depends on what your budget is and where your "tolerance point" is. A tc 2290 is a smokin' delay and used on countless albums and live rigs. Its also three times the price of a Gmajor. How do you plan on using the effects? Series for chorus and parallel for delay?? Thats also something to think about when building your rig. If that stuff doesnt matter than it makes choices ALOT easier. Gmajor is a very easy unit to program with ZERO dropout when switching patches {which is a big deal if you change patches often}. There are plenty of pedals that will sound better than the sounds from the Gmajor but again, its based on price.
If you are going to go the pedal route then you also have to think about tap dancing on a ton of stomp boxes if you change sounds alot . The alternative to that is to use a looper with a midi pedal, but thats a whole 'nother story. You can always look at something like the Intellifex that you can get used for about $125. Its a great sounding unit with some quality effects. Once you learn that and figure out exactly what you want/need/use, you can then upgrade and sell that unit for what ya paid for it. Or.. ya might find that its all ya need and ya got away cheap!

 

[DvE]

Hi,

I was in exactly the same situation as you a few weeks ago. Having a Herbert, wanting good fx's for clean playing and solo, but no crazy stuff (we play metal, so the most time its just dry channel 2+ )
First wanted to buy a G Major, but than I got a good deal on a used G System. I have just started to experiment, but it's not just plug & play...
Cool thing about the G-System is, that you have a good midi switcher as well and can integrate single effect pedals as needed later on. Maybe it is a little bit overkill for what I am doing, but if I dont like it, I can easily sell it for the price I bought it.
My current thing is in which position I should use the noisegate and why I do need a noisegate whereas Pauly says his Herbie is dead quiet with similar settings

 

[Anonymous]

While it is always going to be a matter of money vs. tone of effects vs. type of effects, I have gone from Boss individual pedals to large digital racks, to pro touring boards with individual effects to a smaller pedalboard, have used the 4-cable method, and now have bought a TC Nova System.

I was not into using the midi capabilities I had on the VH4 and Herbert.

I have an Einstein combo I use, and a Schmidt on the way. I decided that the K.I.S.S. principle has worked best for me with the least amount of sound degredation. To that end, I bought a Furman pedlaboard and placed a Goodrich volume pedal with a built in buffer in it
with a wah to use going into the amp input.
I use the Nova System specifically for time-based effects in the serial loop of the Einstein.
I have a Pedalsnake to hook up all of the cables and it makes set up and break down very easy, quick, and neat.

On the TC Nova System, which has many of the G-Systems tones, I followed the manual in setting it up and it only took me one half hour to get it going perfectly. I only needed 3 patches and set each one up in a pedalboard mode to be able to turn each effect on and off by itself. It works perfectly, has a great tonal value, and is so compact that if you only use the NS by itself and without a pedalboard of some type, it is the most compact, powerful effects system I have found with quality tones.

The best way to get each effect to be unity gain with the amp is to pull out one of the cables used in the loop after setting the volume levels, and compare that to the amp without effects. You can easily get the balance you need at that point every time for every effect in the patch.

While midi people love the ease of use, in the end, the person using the effects will be the ultimate judge. I find that I don't have to change effects all the time as I use only certain ones sparingly, such as delay, reverb, modulation, pitch, compression and boost, and not all on at the same time.

In this case, less is often more.

Choose the type of setup you want (rack, multi, or individual pedals) carefully and don't just assume anything. I thought about what I wanted for about 3-4 months, asked people for information and I wasn't able to try out anything prior to buying what I did, but I was really happy with the results.

Good luck. This is not an easy decision to make.

 

[Jonny333]

Thanks for all the great replies. All really helpful opinions. I am on abit of a budget though and therefore don't think I could afford something like the G system. From what you guys have said I'm feeling like i'm still leaning towards to the G major 2 and then maybe including some single pedals around it, as my main concern with getting a multi effects processor was that it would be less articulate and suck more tone (though this does not seem to be the case from what you have said). C-4, I looked up the Nova, but i'm guessing apart from the distortion, overdrive and pedal format, that it does not offer much more than the G Major 2, or am I wrong?
If I did go for the G Major 2, which additional pedals would you guys recommend to accompany it (taking into account i'm using a herbert play a wide variety of styles).
Also if I bought a FCB1010 to control it, would that work well with it and still allow me to activate single pedals with?
Please keep any alternative effect units or setups recommendations coming as i'm still open to concideration
Peace.

 

[HerbieBoogie]

ive used a GMajor with my Herbert for years...no issues...no tone suck...easy to use..and cost effective.

hey pauly do you use the gmajor for reverb as well?

 

[Anonymous]

Jonny333,
I use the effects section of my Nova System for time-based effects only and then just sparingly.
I use the amp for the saturation I desire. Your Herbert should really not need any outside foot toys such as another type of distortion pedal.
Unless you need really wild effects, I suggest that you consider keeping it simple, at least in the beginning, until you play for awhile and see if you really need additional pedals.

You may be surprised to find out that you have plenty of gear already with just the time-based effects and the Herbert.

 

[Jonny333]

Thanks C-4,
That's what I was saying in my original post. I'm in no need of distortion/od pedals or patches due to the great tone already produced by the herbert. Purely concerned with getting a good reverb, delay, and then some light colouring effects like chorus...etc. I found a G-Major 2 in mint condition for 200 pounds so think I am going to get it as I can always sell it for the same price if it doesn't work out. How is the reverb on the G-major though?
Are there also any particular single pedals you advice to bring out even more tone in the Herby?

 

[gbsmusic]

Thanks C-4,
That's what I was saying in my original post. I'm in no need of distortion/od pedals or patches due to the great tone already produced by the herbert. Purely concerned with getting a good reverb, delay, and then some light colouring effects like chorus...etc. I found a G-Major 2 in mint condition for 200 pounds so think I am going to get it as I can always sell it for the same price if it doesn't work out. How is the reverb on the G-major though?
Are there also any particular single pedals you advice to bring out even more tone in the Herby?

The delays, reverbs, and chorus' are all great!! The pitch shifter is improved also!

 

[Jonny333]

Ok Great
Definately gonna get it then. Unfortunately it will arrive after I go back to Dubai so could be a while before I get to try it!

 

[PBGas]

I've always been a fan of pedals. It's a bit more complex in finding the right ones that you want, the right cabling and the right fit on a board but when it is all complete, it's great! As well...you aren't tied down to one system. If you want to change out a pedal, you can. The big thing is to use high quality cables. I have a varied set of pedals in my board - EVH MXR phase 90, Voodoolabs Tremolo, Dunlop Uni-Vibe, Boss Super Shifter, Ibanez Chorus, Peterson Strobostomp 2, and Ernie Ball Wah as well as my custom Switch doctor footswitch. It all comes together and works nicely. My setup and teardown is very simple. I run some of the effects out front and others in the serial loop. I zip tied the cables together in one bundle and put some wire wrap around it all to make it one unit coming from my pedal board.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[Anonymous]

Jonny333,
I am finding the delays, reverbs, chorus, and all the time-based effects on the Nova System are terrific and commercial sounding (as in sounds like a studio quality sound).
I am sure TC has used the same effects in the rack units as well, so you should be really well off with a G-Major II.
If midi is not important to you, the Nova System will eliminate the need for a controller unit, although, it does have midi connections on the unit.

Good luck to you and keep us up-to-date on your effects search.

 

[Ventura]

Awesome thread... I've ben toying with going the digi-route as of late, but seriously can't seem to let go of my FX panel box. I've kept it all in the BOSS line up, with their V Wah, OD, Chorus, Flange, and DD all in a BOSS carry case. Simple wiring, simple everything - whole thing cost about $500 new loaded with the FX I wanted and only wanted.

Funny thing is, it's hard to use when the tone is so luscious as is

V.

PS - let us know which route you went and what your thoughts are on what you got!! Thanx.

 

[gbsmusic]

I just bought a G-Major2 and hooked it up last night and once you get it set up it works so great! I paid $399 new with the promo GC has going right now and for what you get you wont find a better bang for your buck!! I dont think you could do it for $600. I love it!!!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I just bought a G-Major2 and hooked it up last night and once you get it set up it works so great! I paid $399 new and for what you get you wont find a better bang for your buck!! I dont think you could do it for $600. I love it!!!

glad you like it I love mine!!! have you tried the computer editing with the vyzor software?

where did you get it for 399? i paid 499!

 

[gbsmusic]

I just bought a G-Major2 and hooked it up last night and once you get it set up it works so great! I paid $399 new and for what you get you wont find a better bang for your buck!! I dont think you could do it for $600. I love it!!!

glad you like it I love mine!!! have you tried the computer editing with the vyzor software?

where did you get it for 399? i paid 499!

Guitar Center, I should say I did the trade in trade up deal, I traded a Boss Metal Zone they gave me $25 trade in for it and then I got 15% off the GM2 for the trade up part.