G-Force

[Anonymous]

Anyone got one? Worth the price? What did you like/dislike about it. Can you run detune with different parameters left and right? Can you have different delays (lets say 250ms and 500ms) on each side?

I think I want some kind of nice rack mount multi-effects unit that does intelligent pitchshifting and different delay times in stereo, Chorus, flange, etc...

I've had an Eventide H300-D/SX... how does the G-Force compare? Anything else I should be considering?

I will be running a line out to the efx unit and a stereo power amp to two cabs. I'll have a dry cab as well straight outta the amp. Efx loop compatibility is irrelevant to me...

Steve

 

[mentoneman]

me like.

here is one of the web's gforce gurus sites with killer clips:

http://www.simeonharris.co.uk/gforce.htm

he's got some great examples of the multi-fx power of the unit, and it's ability to create dynamic envelope or internal LFO modulated sounds, but i'd argue that the eventide eclipse or lexicon has an advantage in the fullness/lushness 3-D catagory, but both of those don't come close to the switching speed of the tc--ie lack of glitch time for live apps-and ease of programming.

but heck if you're talking buying one new, i'd probably go with the axe-fx, which sounds like it has rich eventide level fxs plus the added benefit of high quality amp sims...so you could sell off the eventide 3000 and your pod and replace them with a superior product...

 

[Bantam Menace]

I've had one since they came out...almost 10 years! For me, it's that rare piece of gear that never needed upgrading and I've never had an itch to try anything else. Because of that I can't compare it to other units.

Check out the manual online if you haven't yet, but there are seperate parameters for left and right delay and detune. I've always run it in a series loop and have no complaints with coloration or loss. Set up properly there is zero lag time between preset changes.

It's been rock solid and I've had zero problems with it....I wish I could say that about more gear!

My only complaint....the tuner kind of sucks.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info fellers...

Yo Pat - What Lexicon unit were you speaking of?

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

but heck if you're talking buying one new, i'd probably go with the axe-fx, which sounds like it has rich eventide level fxs plus the added benefit of high quality amp sims...so you could sell off the eventide 3000 and your pod and replace them with a superior product...

Unfortunately, me no longer have H3000-D/SX. Sold it long ago... The Axe-fx is an interesting option though and I could sell my PODXT Pro to cover some of the cost...

Steve

 

[chunktone]

I don't think the G-Major has intelligent pitch-shifting. That's the main reason I don't have one.

 

[Digital Jams]

My only concern is the future of axe-fx but will admit the future at this point looks very good. I say this because Eventide 3000s are still going for over a grand in the used market 15 years later. Granted the processing power of the fx destroys a 3000.

 

[Robotechnology]

I don't think the G-Major has intelligent pitch-shifting. That's the main reason I don't have one.

G-Force (and G-System) have intelligent pitch shifting.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think the G-Major has intelligent pitch-shifting. That's the main reason I don't have one.

We're talking about the G-Force though, which does...

Steve

 

[lordriffenstein]

I own and love the G-Force, I'll never sell it, it is simply the best suited unit for a guitar gig. Eclipse and the likes are great units but to much for guitar rigs imho. The axe fx is great as well but if you don't need the modelling stuff, the GForce is the one!

 

[saxxamafone]

i like my gforce alot and doubt i'll sell it

However, i like the overall sound of my fireworx better

 

[amiller]

I've had my G-Force since they came out and have had NO maintenance issues. I like the verb and delay. I'm not a big fan of it's chorus and other FXs...I found them a bit thin. The intelligent pitch shifting is pretty good but I still perfer to have two guitar players doing harmony parts.

I also notice that it alters the tone of my amp...makes it a little brighter. It's not much and in a live situation it's never been an issue...I don't notice it. Having said that, I take it out of the loop when I'm recording.

I also inherited a Lexicon MPX1. I think the FXs are fuller and higher quality, however, it's a bear to configure and setup. I always have to get the manual out to figure out what the hell's going on. I also think the G-Force intelligent pitch shifting is MUCH better.

All and all, I perfer the G-Force especially in a live rig.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

lol...every time I hear G-Force, I can't help but think of:

 

[Jakem]

How does the pitch shifting work when doing bends and chords?

 

[Anonymous]

I think I'm gonna give the Lexicon MPX1 a try. Much cheaper than a G-Force or Eclipse, but seems to have really high quality sounds. I don't mind spending a little more time programming and I'm not gonna be switching presets alot between songs. Gonna simplify my rig...

Steve

 

[mentoneman]

lexicon does have a great lushness to it.

one of the gforce's greatest features imo is the envelope and LFO modifier section.

it's tricky to get down initially, but once you do, it really allows you to mold the way the effects react in a more human dynamic way.

particularly the ducking stuff, and the way you can shape/draw the slope of the decays/mix level with that cool edit window, which tracks your input level at the high/mid/low points, and lets you bend the tracking slope which controls a particular effect, relative to the input level (in the envelope modifier mode)

so let's say when you hit the device hard with a strong note, you program the delay/verb level to drop down to zero to reduce clutter, then as the note is held and the input level begins to fade, you can increase the amount of delay/verb quickly, if you make the tracking slope rise steeply on the graphic window, by programming a high number (60-80%) at the mid point control, or shallow/subtle increase to the mid point of your note's volume with a lower number (30-40%) on the mid point control;
the gforce "watches" your input level like a hawk, visually represented as a cursor on the LCD window, sliding right to left under the graphing window, and even lets you select the "glide time" of the tracking of the note!

-then you can continuously make the effect get stronger as the original note dies, like a conventional ducking envelope, by programming a high number (90-100%) to the low input measurement
OR
you can make the effect swell a little more and *then* taper away more naturally with the dying note by telling the gforce to track again with the note, by actually "bending" the tracking wave (which represents the fx level) down to follow the input level via a slope control option, which is like a fine tuner for the whole shebang.

the other options are choosing internal LFO generators to modify effects, which create a more random unpredictable motion to the sounds, or programming external modifiers like expression pedals to your effects.

it even has a jack on the back which you can plug an expression pedal or momentary contact pedal into, to control tap tempo, or wah, or tuner, etc...

confusing? well it is until you stare like a goldfish at that LCD for a few trillion hours spinning the magic knob with the manual in your lap...then it is your friend.

 

[Anonymous]

lexicon does have a great lushness to it.

one of the gforce's greatest features imo is the envelope and LFO modifier section.

it's tricky to get down initially, but once you do, it really allows you to mold the way the effects react in a more human dynamic way.

particularly the ducking stuff, and the way you can shape/draw the slope of the decays/mix level with that cool edit window, which tracks your input level at the high/mid/low points, and lets you bend the tracking slope which controls a particular effect, relative to the input level (in the envelope modifier mode)

so let's say when you hit the device hard with a strong note, you program the delay/verb level to drop down to zero to reduce clutter, then as the note is held and the input level begins to fade, you can increase the amount of delay/verb quickly, if you make the tracking slope rise steeply on the graphic window, by programming a high number (60-80%) at the mid point control, or shallow/subtle increase to the mid point of your note's volume with a lower number (30-40%) on the mid point control;
the gforce "watches" your input level like a hawk, visually represented as a cursor on the LCD window, sliding right to left under the graphing window, and even lets you select the "glide time" of the tracking of the note!

-then you can continuously make the effect get stronger as the original note dies, like a conventional ducking envelope, by programming a high number (90-100%) to the low input measurement
OR
you can make the effect swell a little more and *then* taper away more naturally with the dying note by telling the gforce to track again with the note, by actually "bending" the tracking wave (which represents the fx level) down to follow the input level via a slope control option, which is like a fine tuner for the whole shebang.

the other options are choosing internal LFO generators to modify effects, which create a more random unpredictable motion to the sounds, or programming external modifiers like expression pedals to your effects.

it even has a jack on the back which you can plug an expression pedal or momentary contact pedal into, to control tap tempo, or wah, or tuner, etc...

confusing? well it is until you stare like a goldfish at that LCD for a few trillion hours spinning the magic knob with the manual in your lap...then it is your friend.

While I think that all sounds bitchin', I'd say most likely that I'll take the line out from my amp, set the MPX1 for a stereo chorus and 250ms (l) and 500ms (r) delays completely wet, send it to my 2/50/2 and out to a couple cabs left and right and be done with it. Send the dry amp to a center cab for wet-dry-wet setup and blend the volumes of wet and dry as necessary...

Steve

 

[mentoneman]

While I think that all sounds bitchin', I'd say most likely that I'll take the line out from my amp, set the MPX1 for a stereo chorus and 250ms (l) and 500ms (r) delays completely wet, send it to my 2/50/2 and out to a couple cabs left and right and be done with it. Send the dry amp to a center cab for wet-dry-wet setup and blend the volumes of wet and dry as necessary...

Steve

it works for mike landau, and he is THE MAN.

 

[Anonymous]

While I think that all sounds bitchin', I'd say most likely that I'll take the line out from my amp, set the MPX1 for a stereo chorus and 250ms (l) and 500ms (r) delays completely wet, send it to my 2/50/2 and out to a couple cabs left and right and be done with it. Send the dry amp to a center cab for wet-dry-wet setup and blend the volumes of wet and dry as necessary...

Steve

it works for mike landau, and he is THE MAN.

Steve

 

[amiller]

How does the pitch shifting work when doing bends and chords?

Never really had a problem with bends, however, you can not do chords.