G-Major/Midi Guys... Look here.

[PapaHett]

Hey Guys,

Any of you with Rack, G-Major, or Midi Rigs set up.. Once you have it fully configurated etc, How easy is it to use? Not only easy, but how 'enjoyable' is it to use, setup and teardown?

Back when i had my G-Major, i was never really happy with the setup. Partially down to the fact that i had; no rack case, no controller, and very little organisation. Although, when i played with the G-Major, i really enjoyed it.

I'm considering getting another one, but this time.. Getting a Ground Control Pro, and a GCX Switcher with it. As well as a Power Strip, and Rack case. Then spending some serious time getting it all nice and neat, and be able to switch in and out overdrive pedals from the front, as well as Delay etc from the loop.

How do you guys find your big rigs, using Midi switching or Rack units etc?

Thanks
-Conor D-

 

[PeteLaramee]

I love my gmajor and I think it's very easy to use. I have it in a head/rack case. I usually use this smaller case w/out the wheels (I ended up selling the larger case) with my modded dsl, gmajor, power supply, wireless, and Axess-Electronics grx4 to control my Boss DS1 and Cusack Screamer. If I can figure out how to do it than an untrained monkey could figure it out. My set up takes about 3 minutes.

 

[PapaHett]

Hey Pete.

Thanks for the reply.. I appreciate it.

The smaller case you have is exactly what I would have been going for. It looks to be a nice size, but looks a little on the thin side. How managable are those cases? The top one looks like it might sit in the back seat of a car, which would be ideal for me.

Idealy i'd love to have everything in a case similar to yours, carry or wheel it in. Plug in up front, Plug in the furman to a wall, Connect the GCP. And work away.

What are you using to switch the rigs?

 

[meanstreet]

I like my G Major and have used it for about 5 years now. I keep in a 2 space rack with a Furman Power Conditioner. I put that on top of my straight 4x12 cab and my head on top of it. Once I got it set up to where I want it, I very rarely tweek it anymore (unless setting up a new patch I need) and it's essentially plug n play for me now. Certain effects are better than others, but most are good. I use it with a Behringer FCB1010 to control it.

 

[again with this]

Hey Guys,

Any of you with Rack, G-Major, or Midi Rigs set up.. Once you have it fully configurated etc, How easy is it to use? Not only easy, but how 'enjoyable' is it to use, setup and teardown?

Back when i had my G-Major, i was never really happy with the setup. Partially down to the fact that i had; no rack case, no controller, and very little organisation. Although, when i played with the G-Major, i really enjoyed it.

I'm considering getting another one, but this time.. Getting a Ground Control Pro, and a GCX Switcher with it. As well as a Power Strip, and Rack case. Then spending some serious time getting it all nice and neat, and be able to switch in and out overdrive pedals from the front, as well as Delay etc from the loop.

How do you guys find your big rigs, using Midi switching or Rack units etc?

Thanks
-Conor D-

A MIDI foot controller is a must to get the full benefit from the GMajor. I keep mine in a 6-space roller rack with a power conditioner and amps. It's very portable, like an oversized head. I use a Roland FC-200 to control the MIDI to the GMajor which also relay switches my amps. Once the presets are set, it is very easy to use.

 

[Gainiac]

You sound like your headed in the right direction. Just got the GC pro and the gcx, controlling the effects and amp switching instantly is awesome!! it takes a little learning curve to program them up, but once you get your basic sounds worked out an get everything 'talking' to one another out of the way, its a blast, and a downright necessity for live work, IMHO, where seperate amp/sound processor/pedals are concerned. Makes life damn near wonderful!!!!

 

[PapaHett]

Thanks for the input guys.

I guess i'm going for the whole 'Plug and Play' thing. I want to be able connect a few cables, and be ready to roll.

As well as the G-Major, I've thought aswell of going for a GCP, GCX and all seperate pedals. It would work out 'alot' more expensive, but it would probably allow me some movement in effects. But doing so would add; Tuner, Noise Gate, Phaser, Chorus, Delay to my bill. Along with some OD Boxes and Clean Boosts.

Either Way. Time to get some money together.

 

[PeteLaramee]

Hey Pete.

Thanks for the reply.. I appreciate it.

The smaller case you have is exactly what I would have been going for. It looks to be a nice size, but looks a little on the thin side. How managable are those cases? The top one looks like it might sit in the back seat of a car, which would be ideal for me.

Idealy i'd love to have everything in a case similar to yours, carry or wheel it in. Plug in up front, Plug in the furman to a wall, Connect the GCP. And work away.

What are you using to switch the rigs?

That case is on the thin side. I wouldn't take it on a plane or anything like that. But it's strong enough for local travel (in the back of my Jeep) and it's light enough I can carry it short distances even while loaded. It's only about 125 pounds fully loaded. I use a Rolls Midibuddy footcontroller and I love it. We can get one for $65 used on ebay here in the states. It doesn't give you instant access to any one effect, but I use all presets so it's fine for what I do.

 

[PapaHett]

That case is on the thin side. I wouldn't take it on a plane or anything like that. But it's strong enough for local travel (in the back of my Jeep) and it's light enough I can carry it short distances even while loaded.

I must email a few companies and try and get a quote for a case. I'm not gonna be taking anything really out of town, but my cabinet already has about 5 pretty bad nicks in it and it's only new. The cosmetics of the cabinet, i'm not overly worried about though. I just don't wanna have bits of pcb fall out of the JVM or anything.. And after spending some pretty big coin on it, It might be worth buying a case.

Again, the thing is it'll most likely have to be transported in a 5 or 3 door hatchback pretty soon. The band i'm in at the minute, my drummer drives a van. So he could move a few more rigs if i wanted.. But he'll be headin' to UNI next year, or else workin'. So this band might not exist for much longer.. Therefore no transport.

I think it could be interested to take the idea of your case. And split it in half; A Live-in Head Case, along with a 4 Space Rack case that's the same dimensions as the Head Case. Looks the part, Easily Connected together, But best of all.. Easily Transported.

Ahh, Lot's of Food for though..

Thanks.

 

[The_Kid]

Hey Papa Hett,

I'm in the same boat you are...I had a Gmajor, and that was my only rack space, but at the time didnt care for the MIDI part of it. I now have a Boss GT8, and while it does everything I want, It seems like I'm running more cables from front to back of stage. I have been thinking about going back to the GMajor route. I had the Behringer FCB1010 board to control it and my amps patch changes before, that roland FC 200 looks cool, as I never used the second controller the Behringer had anyway. I dont use individual effects, I'm a patch guy, so just being able to choose patches is fine with me you know?



If you get a rack case made up that is easy to install and setup, let me know....I'm interested, and kinda tired of the hassle of the GT8...

 

[Gainiac]

Thanks for the input guys.

I guess i'm going for the whole 'Plug and Play' thing. I want to be able connect a few cables, and be ready to roll.

As well as the G-Major, I've thought aswell of going for a GCP, GCX and all seperate pedals. It would work out 'alot' more expensive, but it would probably allow me some movement in effects. But doing so would add; Tuner, Noise Gate, Phaser, Chorus, Delay to my bill. Along with some OD Boxes and Clean Boosts.

Either Way. Time to get some money together.

Im going with the Intellifex. the xpression, gmajor, they're all good choices, I think all have more versitility than pedals, which are generally on/off an thats about it. If your going GCP/GCX, IMHO an all around sound processors the way 2 go. I wouldnt get 2 hung up on the effects, how saturated are you really going to be in a live setting? You really want just enuff onstage so its not dry as Sawdust, anything above a sprinkling is gonna crush your ability to cut thru, and the sound guys gonna hate you. less is more, especially in building a rack, less shit to break down on you the night of the gig...
I vaguely remember reading Lukather years ago re: Bradshaw rig where he was saying that hes got a lot of stuff but one good processor will do many things, that type of thing really seems to be true nowadays, considering how much one box can do considerably well now. All that switching system combo really does is to keep you from doing the 'tap dance' when your trying to switch between pedal effects/amps/amp settings. Whatever works for ya, and what you can afford is the Reality here....

 

[chalnger86]

Went the MIDI rout as well and will probably never go back. I feel like I have more control over my sound than I aver had without it. As for the G Major, I like it. Will probably not ever get rid of it, but will probably augment it a some point. My rig takes up to five minutes to set up, but I'm running a combo amp and always fighting other band mates on stage for space and such. (We run 3 guitars! Kickers is that the lead singer only plays on three songs...just because he wants to. Freaking vocalists ) Anyway, easier to set up and usually quicker if you have a bunch of stuff to connect.

Out of curiosity...

As well as the G-Major, I've thought aswell of going for a GCP, GCX and all seperate pedals. It would work out 'alot' more expensive, but it would probably allow me some movement in effects. But doing so would add; Tuner, Noise Gate, Phaser, Chorus, Delay to my bill. Along with some OD Boxes and Clean Boosts.

If you're going to go the rout of separates, why have the G Major? Just curious. I know everyone has their reasons.

 

[PapaHett]

If you're going to go the rout of separates, why have the G Major? Just curious. I know everyone has their reasons.

The stomp boxes in the loop, would be in place of the G-Major it'd be unlikely that i'd utilize the both. Although stomp boxes up front, I'd have them regardless of what was in the loop.