Multi-FX Pedal Recommendations

[NotScott]

I am a minimalist when it comes to pedals and only use a few, proven stomps and only when needed so, I am not up on the latest and greatest stomp tech. I would much rather prefer any gig where I can just plug a guitar straight into one of my amps and go. However, I was just hired by a new band that will require some stage processing between multiple guitars so, I have a decision to make.

Choice 1 is just use my Kemper for everything and program exactly what I need. This would give me more consistent FOH results and all of the processing I could ever use. But I have never liked the sound of my Kemper through any stage monitor system so it is typically been a buzz kill on stage. I do like the Kemper Kone in one of my 1x12s and so far, that has been a revelation in digital amps sounding and feeling like a real tube amp on a hot stage. However, I am not sure I want to gig with the Kemper again due to some programming issues I encountered with it when I last used it live.

Choice 2 is use my trusty Carol-Ann Tucana amp with my minimalist pedal board. On my pedal board, I have an EarthQuaker Dispatch Master combo verb and delay pedal. If I can find a small pedal to replace the Dispatch Master that can provide me with a minimum of independent reverbs, delays, and possibly harmonizers, that would be great. An isolated, balanced output to be used for my acoustic guitar would be ideal. The plan would be to run the pedal through the FX loop on the Carol-Ann and then ship the pedal direct out to the FOH to be used solely for the acoustic.

So are there any multi-FX stomps out there that fit my above criteria and are reliable, sound great, compact, easily programmable and don't cost a kidney donation? Thanks!

 

[KStopper65]

Boss ME-80

 

[NotScott]

Boss ME-80

Thanks for the prompt reply!

That appears like it would work. It has enough processing and outputs and is priced right. However:

1 - I don't like the record out being a mini plug. Assuming I have to use that for the acoustic output, I guarantee that will be broken before the unit makes it to the end of gig 1. I would have to get into the programming to see if I could use the right out for the acoustic and still mute the left out through the amp loop.

2 - It is about as big as my current pedal board and I at least need space for my Lehle volume pedal and my Shure wireless receiver.

What else ya got?

 

[tzd]

Am I understanding correctly that you want to connect your acoustic guitar into your Carol-Ann amp input, and have the effect pedal sit in the Carol-Ann's FX loop, and have the effect pedal send the acoustic guitar's output to FOH, like this:

Electric Guitar -> Carol-Ann - fx send -> Multi Effects Pedal -> fx return -> Amp's speaker
Acoustic Guitar -> Carol-Ann - fx send -> Multi Effects Pedal -> FOH

?

 

[NotScott]

Am I understanding correctly that you want to connect your acoustic guitar into your Carol-Ann amp input, and have the effect pedal sit in the Carol-Ann's FX loop, and have the effect pedal send the acoustic guitar's output to FOH, like this:

Electric Guitar -> Carol-Ann - fx send -> Multi Effects Pedal -> fx return -> Amp's speaker
Acoustic Guitar -> Carol-Ann - fx send -> Multi Effects Pedal -> FOH

?

Yeah, I wasn't clear about that.

Actually, I would prefer to use an alternate input on the multi-FX and bypass the CA with the acoustic. I will just send it out to FOH and monitors. If need be, I have a Whirlwind ABY box that I could use to switch FX inputs between the CA loop and the acoustic.

I am thinking maybe a Line 6 HX Effects may do the trick. I am just thinking it through out loud here on the fly. If there is a better way to do this, I am all ears. Thanks!

 

[tzd]

If you can figure out how to do the switcheroo between your acoustic and electric, you can get one of these used for under $300:

Boss MS-3

I have one of them, and I just stuck it into the FX loop of my Mesa Boogie, sounds great! It has Delay, Reverb, Harmony and a hundred more effects. (It even has Slow Gear, that vintage Boss pedal that now goes for $500 used. It can also be used to switch channels on your amp, if your amp has a footswitch input.)

I was also able to tap the SEND out of the L1 loop in the pedal itself to direct the signal from the pedal into my QSC K8 speaker.

So, sounds like it can be made to do what you want!

 

[NotScott]

If you can figure out how to do the switcheroo between your acoustic and electric, you can get one of these used for under $300:

Boss MS-3

I have one of them, and I just stuck it into the FX loop of my Mesa Boogie, sounds great! It has Delay, Reverb, Harmony and a hundred more effects. (It even has Slow Gear, that vintage Boss pedal that now goes for $500 used. It can even be used to switch channels on your amp, if your amp has a footswitch input.)

I was also able to tap the SEND out of the L1 loop in the pedal itself to direct the signal from the pedal into my QSC K8 speaker.

So, sounds like it can be made to do what you want!

I will have to do some research on this unit. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[NotScott]

I ordered an HX Effects. It is the right size, sounds good in demos and does everything I could want. There is a promotion going on for the unit with a free Relay G10 wireless and my boy at Sweetwater always hooks me up with even better deals.

I will post a review after I have a chance to play with it. Thanks for the help gents!

 

[tzd]

Let me know how long your G10 transmitter battery lasts before turning red.

 

[NotScott]

Let me know how long your G10 transmitter battery lasts before turning red.

will do. I use a Shure system for my other guitars but I needed another output into the processor for the acoustic so this solves a need and free is free.

 

[James Carney]

I ordered an HX Effects. It is the right size, sounds good in demos and does everything I could want. There is a promotion going on for the unit with a free Relay G10 wireless and my boy at Sweetwater always hooks me up with even better deals.

I will post a review after I have a chance to play with it. Thanks for the help gents!

I was going to recommend the HX. It’s really is unbeatable In the price to feature ratio.
My lead guitarist had a Boss ME-50, and it was dope as it was all physical knobs.

 

[tzd]

will do. I use a Shure system for my other guitars but I needed another output into the processor for the acoustic so this solves a need and free is free.

The G10 transmitter used to last for 6 hours on a full charge, but after 4 fire incidents, they rolled out a firmware that drastically reduces the runtime. My transmitter drops from 3 to 1 bar in less than 2 hours of use after the firmware update.

 

[Thundergod]

As others have said, boss ME80
There really isn't many others that do what it does:
Easy to use, no menu surfing required
Can be set to manual mode with one of the footswitches
Manual mode has 2 possible configs: either keep everything like it's in the patch you were using or work with how the knobs are set
Cheaper than a good delay pedal
Not the greatest sounding pedalboard but does sound great if you set it right
Now this is the main reason I recommend it: it will run for days on AA batteries. No need to move an adapter.

 

[NotScott]

As others have said, boss ME80
There really isn't many others that do what it does:
Easy to use, no menu surfing required
Can be set to manual mode with one of the footswitches
Manual mode has 2 possible configs: either keep everything like it's in the patch you were using or work with how the knobs are set
Cheaper than a good delay pedal
Not the greatest sounding pedalboard but does sound great if you set it right
Now this is the main reason I recommend it: it will run for days on AA batteries. No need to move an adapter.

Thanks, but I went with an HX FX. It does everything I need.

Honestly, I hate FX and think they just get in the way of the tone of my amps. I would rather leave them up to the FOH or recording engineer. It is easier and more convenient for me and it sounds much better than in-line processing. However, some of the material I am doing requires some FX and I may encounter an engineer lazier than me so it has become a necessary evil.

 

[Freddy G]

If you can figure out how to do the switcheroo between your acoustic and electric, you can get one of these used for under $300:

Boss MS-3

I have one of them, and I just stuck it into the FX loop of my Mesa Boogie, sounds great! It has Delay, Reverb, Harmony and a hundred more effects. (It even has Slow Gear, that vintage Boss pedal that now goes for $500 used. It can also be used to switch channels on your amp, if your amp has a footswitch input.)

I was also able to tap the SEND out of the L1 loop in the pedal itself to direct the signal from the pedal into my QSC K8 speaker.

So, sounds like it can be made to do what you want!

I have this pedal as the heart of my rig. It's great for what it does. The ONE thing that really pisses me off though is that it doesn't have midi IN. I would love to be able to control IT!

 

[tzd]

I have this pedal as the heart of my rig. It's great for what it does. The ONE thing that really pisses me off though is that it doesn't have midi IN. I would love to be able to control IT!

Hi Freddy I actually found out about this pedal from reading YOUR post!

It does have MIDI out to control others, but not MIDI in to be controlled, because IT'S THE BOSS!

 

[NotScott]

I am an analog Neanderthal when it comes to my gear choices playing shows, so the footswitches work fine for my needs. But I understand the complexities of some modern productions and how convenient MIDI would be in that unit, particularly at that price point.