Guitar effects

[Tokkes]

Hi guys,

my entire guitar playing career (+15 years) I have been looking for an effects unit that would serve my needs. Now, I started out with a GP8 by Roland (Status Quo uses that and since my uncle, a huge Quo fan, said it was great ) but never used it. Didn't sound like I wanted. Then I went to a combination of Boss pedals, not OK either. Thing is, I just need an effects unit that can add some extra quality to my amp sound (Marshall JCM2000 TSL100), especially to the clean channel (and maby some chorus or delay and stuff to the distorted channels). Now, I had a Roland GT6 for about a year, but I definitely don't want an effect unit that has amp modeling and that includes an extende range of distorted sounds (I'm very hapy with the sound of my EBMM Morse in combination with the Marshall for that). So that went out the door as well. Now, in the end, I'm ended up with nothing, and that's not OK either.

So, I started looking around and found out about the TC Electronic stuff (I believe they also sponser the battle of the bands ). Now, the question is: are there people on the forum that have TC electronic stuff? I'm espcecially interested in the G Major or G Force. I had the opportunity to test the G Major, but because of the price of the G Force, the stores don't have it in stock here in Belgium. So, what do you TC electronic owners think of those? Is the G Force worth it's money (about 1000 $ more than the G Major) so I would think it has a zillion more functions? Or is the G Force just too professional and is the G Major enough for a simple guitar player's need?

On the other hand: if anyone can give good advice on other effect units, let me know. The thing I most likely want is kind of a rack unit with a lot of effects (delay, chorus, reverb, ...) that is not equiped with a load of distorted sounds as well.

Really appreciate all possible help since this is an issue that has been bugging me for years now. I'm still off playing with a rather dry sound (bit of reverb excluded) and that leave out a load of other nice possibilities I presume.

Thanks,

Tom.

[SteveB]

Tom,

You might try to find an old Alesis Quadraverb rackmount unit. They have some nice reverb & delay settings that may be just the thing you seek. Plus, you can probably get one dirt cheap.

There are several on eBay at the moment.

[Pundix]

Tokkes,

I've never used the TC stuff, but from the effects units I have used I've found Rocktron to be the best sounding. The Rocktron units (Voodoo Valve, Prophesy) do have a wide range of distortion sounds, but you don't have to use them. You can create the effects you want with the unit.

On another note, over the years I've found that if you are trying effects to impove an amp's clean sound because you don't really like the amps clean sound to begin with there really isn't anything that is going to make you like it. Marshall's have a great distortion channel, but (with a few exceptions) I haven't liked the clean sounds they produce. It's always been much easier to find an amp where you really like the clean and then use effects to give it the distortion sound you want. There are some great pedals and rack units out there for distortion, but clean is tough. That's more an amp thing than anythihng else.

Happy hunting!

Ron

[slukather]

Originally Posted by Tokkes

Hi guys,

my entire guitar playing career (+15 years) I have been looking for an effects unit that would serve my needs. Now, I started out with a GP8 by Roland (Status Quo uses that and since my uncle, a huge Quo fan, said it was great ) but never used it. Didn't sound like I wanted. Then I went to a combination of Boss pedals, not OK either. Thing is, I just need an effects unit that can add some extra quality to my amp sound (Marshall JCM2000 TSL100), especially to the clean channel (and maby some chorus or delay and stuff to the distorted channels). Now, I had a Roland GT6 for about a year, but I definitely don't want an effect unit that has amp modeling and that includes an extende range of distorted sounds (I'm very hapy with the sound of my EBMM Morse in combination with the Marshall for that). So that went out the door as well. Now, in the end, I'm ended up with nothing, and that's not OK either.

So, I started looking around and found out about the TC Electronic stuff (I believe they also sponser the battle of the bands ). Now, the question is: are there people on the forum that have TC electronic stuff? I'm espcecially interested in the G Major or G Force. I had the opportunity to test the G Major, but because of the price of the G Force, the stores don't have it in stock here in Belgium. So, what do you TC electronic owners think of those? Is the G Force worth it's money (about 1000 $ more than the G Major) so I would think it has a zillion more functions? Or is the G Force just too professional and is the G Major enough for a simple guitar player's need?

On the other hand: if anyone can give good advice on other effect units, let me know. The thing I most likely want is kind of a rack unit with a lot of effects (delay, chorus, reverb, ...) that is not equiped with a load of distorted sounds as well.

Really appreciate all possible help since this is an issue that has been bugging me for years now. I'm still off playing with a rather dry sound (bit of reverb excluded) and that leave out a load of other nice possibilities I presume.

Thanks,

Tom.

I use a G-major with my 5150ii, it's probably the best effects unit l have used, sound wise, it doesn't add unwanted distortian like my old boss me-8, the effects are nice and clean, crisp. Although l don't use that many effects on it anymore, l used to but have gone back to a basic guitar amp sound, and just use a bit of delay on my lead sound, some delay maybe some chorus for my rhythm channel, and some chorus on my clean channel.

But what l've heard, the g-force has some more features than the g-major, but it's a great unit. I'll recommend it. If you want more info on it, let me know.

Scott.