Multi-Effects vs Stomp Boxes

  • Thread starter Thread starter OlliePope
  • Start date Start date
O

OlliePope

New member
I'm new to the wide world of guitar pedals and effects and wanted to get opinions on how to get started. I know most people will argue that stomp boxes sound better and are https://100001.onl/ https://1921681254.mx/ generally better quality, but I feel overwhelmed as a beginner pedal user to invest upwards of $50 per pedal. As someone who doesn't know what effects I want to permanently invest in, I am inclined to buy something like an Zoom G3Xn or a Mooer GE200. Advice, opinions, concerns? Thanks for the help!
 
Last edited:
This is "Right Talk" , so you'll get guitar players who give their heart to playing. That said, we love to check out different stuff and a all-in-one box = boring.
 
It’s a balancing act between what is considered “good enough” in pedal form and what is a “no compromise” for top tier rack effects.

I have a damage control timeline I use for delays and effects that’s a pedal, albeit top tier. For reverb there was nothing I liked more than lexicon reverbs in rack form, so that’s the route I went.

For chorus I have analog rack for stereo. Mono chorus has its place but it’s all personal preference.

$50 for a pedal is cheap by effects standards.

If you’re looking to get a unit that can grow with you, I suggest the eventide H9 series. They sound good enough and take up little room on your pedalboard. There are cheaper options and better options if you’re a knob tweaker as the user interface is cumbersome.
 
I would say the amp matters too, since you want a good FX loop for time-based effects/modulation. Reverb, delay, chorus, flange, always in the loop for me.

This said, I have both pedals, and a Digitech RP1000 that I've had for years. I prefer pedals, but still use the Digitech more because I like the expression pedal as my master volume, so to speak.

Try an RP500. Cheap, and reliable.
 
Thing I like about individual effects is you're forced into those limitations.
The top multifx units have endless things you can tweak which many players get lost in the detail.

Tom Morello is a good example of someone who selects a few individual effects and then finds ways to make them work.
 
Individual stomps that each specialize in one thing if you want the absolute best tone.

All in one if you want the easiest route.

98% of your audience won't know the difference either way so ya gotta factor that in too.
 
A multi effect is the best way to try hundreds of pedals for a fraction of the cost. What amp do you have and how do you plan to set up the effects?

I like Digitech, I have an RP1000, RP360XP and some iStomps. Unfortunately Digitech is basically dead. The most up to date are the RP360XP and iPB-10.

Line 6 has really good options. HD500x or POD Go would be my choice.
 
I prefer multi effect. I hate tap dancing to turn one one off,turn three on and change the amp channel in the middle of a song. Also with pedals, you get one sound. You spend $400 on a nicw delay pedal, but what if you use different settings? You really going to twiddle the knobs between songs? With a quality multi effects, you get limitless options and can make all the changes with one stomp.
 
I own a bunch of vintage Boss and recent MXR/Ibanez pedals. The Fractal Audio FX-8 floor processor pretty much allows me a programmable combinations of effects, has a variety of effects to choose from, relays or MIDI to change amp channels, run 4 cable method to the amp's effects loop with the chorus/delay/reverb in the effects loop, eliminated the patch cables between the effects, and just run a single AC cable & power strip to power the whole thing. I have scenes programmed with my presets for my cover band gigs which makes things a lot easier.

Guitar George
 
Last edited:
Years ago I started with a multi effects box and figured out what effects I wanted, then got the stomp boxes. Multieffects have really come along way since then, so to me that is the way I would go.
 
I would suggest starting with a smaller multi-fx unit like the ones you mentioned, or an HX Effects, etc. It will allow you to experiment and discover all the different options without spending a fortune on individual stomp boxes. Also, there's less hassle with patch cables and routing options too.
 
Depends on your budget.

HX Stomp would probably be my least expensive recommendation for a multi.

If you aren't willing to spend that much, go one cheap mooer or mosky mini at a time.
 
I’m not clear by your post, but if you’re looking to try different effects such as reverb, delay, chorus, etc… because you’re not sure what you want, then I’d try a multi-effect first. Something cheap just to learn the different types of effects and what you like, the TC Electronic Nova System can be found very cheap and works well.

If you know what you want but not sure what’s best for you, for example you want delay, reverb and an overdrive sound but not sure what to get, then I’d recommend buying individual pedals.
 
I ended up with an H9 a couple years back when I was looking for something to replace my TC Major 2. I think it's a great starting point. It covers a ton of bases, albeit you can only run one "algorithm" at a time. Some of the algorithms are multi-effect, but it's a bit limiting compared to the Eclipse, FX8, HX, etc., where you can string more effects together.

Both Eventide and Strymon have pedals that are more narrowly focused on reverb, modulation, delay, and they're outstanding. I prefer the multi-effects approach over individual pedals, but to each their own. The processing power that's available in some pedals now exceeds what you'd have gotten in 1-2 rack spaces 10 years ago. Very cool stuff.

You should check out Pedal Genie if you haven't already. I use them whenever I have the itch to try out new pedals.
 
Donnie B. said:
Individual stomps that each specialize in one thing if you want the absolute best tone.

All in one if you want the easiest route.

98% of your audience won't know the difference either way so ya gotta factor that in too.
Click to expand...
Nope. Not true at all, if you get a quality all in one rack unit. I’ve had a Lexicon PCM 81, and an MPX1 that sound better than any dedicated pedal. Now I run a pair of Roland SDE 3000s as I like the coloration they give vs the Lex.
But no individual pedal will give me the tone these rack units provide, period.
 
I replaced a large, expensive pedal board (for bass guitar) with an Axe FX. It sounds fine and is much more convenient. It does not sound as good as the fancy/expensive pedals that I had, though. I just can't argue otherwise.

So I think it just depends on what you want and how picky you are. Bass is not my primary instrument, and "good enough" doesn't bother me for it.

For guitar through, I'm much pickier. That said, I don't use many effects with guitar, and the AFX amp modeling sounds great to me, so I still use it for guitar. But if was a bit guitar FX junky and have specific FX boxes that I really liked, the all-in-one box isn't likely to do it for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top