Do multi effect guitar pedals (such as BOSS ME 25) sound good with solid state amps (eg. Roland Cube 15x)?
The simplest way a guitar is usually connected is this:guitar > pre-effects > (preamp >) amp > post-effects/fx-loop > speaker/cabinetAn 'amplifier' in general consists of a pre-amp section - where you adjust the volume/tone/reverb etc. knobs, the power amp - the actual 'amplifier', and a speaker in a (usually) wooden cabinet. Vacuum tubes are used to amplify and modulate the signals, and are somewhat unpredictable in their output, especially when hot and overdriven. This is what lends the characteristic "signature" tone to an amplifier, and why a Fender amp sounds distinctly different from a Laney one. Solid state amps use transistors - extremely predictable. Unless there is deliberate modulation of signals, the output will be very flat.Most multi-effect pedals incorporate an amp modelling engine. If that is turned on, the intended output is very much a solid-state amp or a set of speakers or monitors, rather than a vacuum tube amp - the emanating signal is already all 'coloured up', it will sound as intended best through a flat speaker. In the representation above, such an arrangement would mean the effects machine is taking care of everything in between the guitar and the cabinet.If the amp modelling engine is turned off, you would need to plug the output into a tube amp to avoid the harsh dry sound of pure digital, 'unsignatured' output. At this point the machine is doing nothing but adding pre and post effects (e.g., compressor and delay respectively). Also, unless the machine has a separate FX-loop output jack to plug into the amp's FX-loop, the machine will be adding everything to the input signal to the amp, and that's going to sound pretty bad. For this reason, if you plan on using a tube amplifier, it makes more sense to use individual pedals of the effects you need, rather than a digital processor.
What are some good options for multi-effects pedalboards (with built-in expression pedals) for under $100 (used or new)?
If it *must* be Boss or Line6 and it *must* have an expression pedal built-in, there’s nothing new for less than $100.The Boss GT-1 is $200. None of the Line6 below $300 have a built-in expression pedal. The Digitech RP360 XP is a good option, but also $200 new. But used, you could likely find the GT-1 or RP360XP at or near $100.
What are the best multi-effects electric guitar processors under 10k?
The Zoom G1Xon …Everything You need..Great Quality and then again precision sound presets for different riffs with their names mentioned in the presets. Looper, Drum Machine, Bass.etc everything you need to be a solo music making band :p
What are the best features you like in a Boss GT100?
I’ve never had a GT-100, but I have had several other BOSS models that are similar to this model. What I liked the most is the versatility that each one of these pedals had. (I’ve had 3 different models). You can make them do pretty much whatever you want them to do. You can fine tune each setting on each bank to make it exactly what you want. The expression/wah/volume pedal was particularly useful to me. I would have it do a different thing on each setting.What I DON’T like about them is that I’ve only been able to use any of those models for maybe just a few years before it starts to have problems. Granted, I do play a LOT, but I would like to have an effects processor that will last me for more than a decade. They are great for recording because they have different output options. You can get some sweet stereo effects if you are running a right/left out of it in to your board. But, they’re not so great for playing live unless you have enough time to fine tune them for the house’s settings. It will sound different through different sound systems so be prepared to make adjustments as you play in different venues. If you’re planning on including one of these for your live rig, you’ll definitely want to get a super high quality case for transportation. (I ended up making my own aluminum case. I bought the case itself from Harbor Freight Tools. It came filled with foam that I trimmed to meet the exact specifications for the pedal. It keeps it well protected and it locks too.)All in all, I would recommend it. I’m currently using a BOSS processor similar to this. It’s a GT 8. But, it is at the end of it’s life span. The outputs to the amp are starting to go bad. I’m switching back over to stand alone pedals.
How can I make sure that my guitar's live volume stays constant through changes in patch settings? (I use a Roland multi-effect pedalboard.)
Each patch is going to have its own settings including the volume. What you’ll need to do is go in and manually change the volume for each patch and make them the same between patches that you use.I had this same problem when I was using my Boss effects processor many years ago (now I just use pedals, they’re easier to make adjustments) but anyway, that’s what I’d recommend.Effects processors are nice and have a lot of bang for the buck, you just have to take time with them. Learn the system, learn what they’re capabilities and limitations are and figure it all out.If you do this, you’ll be able to get some awesome guitar tones. And if you need any help with anything your currently learning (chords, scales, etc) visit my website and check out my instruction books on Amazon. And if you have addt=itional questions, feel free to reach out.Best of luck to you,Dwayne Jenkins www.dwaynesguitarlessons.com
In what order should effects (like Noisegate and distortion pedals) be placed in a patch of a guitar processor?
To make it simple: noise gates are mostly placed in the beginning of the chain. There are several professional solutions, which also place a second noise gate in the effects loop; it would pair up with the “analyzer” gate in the front and only remove the unwanted frequencies that are overamplified by the pre-amp.In general, I’d say “whatever sounds good”, but in 90% of the cases, this is the order that would do the trick:GuitarNoise gateWah/ Phaser / Vibrato - Modulating effectsCompressor - Signal volume normalizationOverdrives, Volume Boosts (like Tube Screamers) OR Distortion PedalsEQsPreamp / Aplifier -> Effect loop outPitch shifter - Pitch Shifter, Harmonizer, Octaver etc.Modulation - Chorus, FlangerMore leveling - EQs, Compressors, LimitersNoise gate for unwanted artifacts from effectsDelay & reverb effectsEffect loop in -> PowerampThis is not some law cast in stone, but rather based on how most effects work. For instance, delays in the beginning of the effects chain tend to cause problems for most modulators and distortion when placed before them.Likewise, a modulated signal will most of the time sound weird when fed into the preamp. Also, pitch shifter and harmonizers tend to sound better when applied after amplification, because they have less / clearer fequencies to deal with.
Why does my BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver sound grainy/crackly?
Make sure you have shielded cables that are high quality. Make sure the problem is the pedal and not your amp. Put a fresh battery in pedal, if youre using an adapter to power pedal, stop. Those thing cause interference alot. Use surge protection. The outlets in the US are supposed to be a steady 110 or 220 volt current (think thats right) but the reality is that currents are ever changing and can cause probs. Make sure the prob isnt your guitar or amp by plugging direct and cranking it up to see if it hums or crackles, ground wire could be loose. Also turn off any onboard effects on amp and run into clean channel, sometimes those onboard effects cause cracks, hums especially when cranked.I play single coils too. If you have more than one pickup, select two together to create hum cancelling. Or abandon the pedal and use your dirty channel on amp with almost zero gain and higher volume. That can create the breakup sound of a blues driver too, without interference. The clearest sound is using as few pedals as possible and going right into amp.If you use pedals, Id reccomend a passive di box (I go straight into amp but use the di). The di balances freqs and can eliminate squalling. They are cheap, I use a 50 buck rapco horizon. Id place the di at the very end of pedal chain just before going into amp. I reccomend passive di over compression because comp squshes my sound more than Id like and Id rather use my picking techniques to be my dynamic leveler.
Help with guitar pedal boss me 70???!!?
I have a BOSS GT-10 and I get a great extreme metal tone out of it and the ME-70 has the same Distortion and Overdrive effects in it so you should have no problem. I'm not a really big fan of Line 6 amplifiers. In my opinion, they sound artificial and thin. You need a thick sound for the darker, extreme metals. However, you should not be relying on the amplifier for your tone. All the amplifier should do is provide you with volume for the sound coming out of your effects processor. So, let me suggest that you create the sound you want by plugging headphones into your ME-70 and listen to it that way in order to find the perfect effects sound. Then when you use your amp to amplify that sound, first do it with a completely clean amp setting. I amplify my GT-10 through a 500 watt, Stereo Power Amplifier. It have no effects just two very clean channels driving a pair of JBL JRX115 2-way speaker cabinets. Ok, here is what you need to do to get a great extreme metal sound. It's all in the distortion and the overdrive settings but, you can color it with EQ and to vary it for different songs, I sometimes add Chorus, Harmonies with the Pitch-shifer, Flanger, Delay, Phaser, or Tremolo. You will need to start with the distortion and overdrive effects a neutral setting and then adjust each of them them one at a time until it sound like what you want. If it does not appear to be dark enough then add some EQ and turn up the low (bass) and drop the treble or high tones slightly. To thicken it up, add either chorus or 2 note unison using the harmonist and pitch-shifter effects. Also try that with harmonies in 5ths. Then Try adding a Flanger to see what that does to the sound. Turn off the Flanger and add Delay. Then turn the flanger on with the delay. Then turn off the delay and the flanger and add in a Phaser effects. Try tremolo with the delay. Try the phaser with the tremolo and mix and match other effects like the flanger with them. Just pend some time with the ME-70 and really get to know what it is capable of doing for you. When you have a sound you like try it with your amp on a clean setting. Then try adding distortion to the amp and see if that helps or hurts the sound quality.
I really want to make my electric guitar sound like a real lead guitar and not plucky!?
Hello there, Most beginners under estimate the importance of the amp and speakers in how they sound. A great guitar played through a lousy amp or lousy speakers will sound lousy. A mediocre guitar played through a good amp and good speakers will sound decent. You could take my Fender Strat and play it through your amp and it will sound no better than your guitar does. You could take your guitar and play it through my vintage Marshall Lead and it will sound amazingly different. I am not a fan of the small practice amps. The speakers in those always make you sound thin and tinny. I suggest you want for a used 1x12 combo amp when you can afford to upgrade your gear. A combo amp is where the speaker and amplifier is in the same cabinet. 1x12 means it has one 12 inch speaker. I have never heard a lousy speaker in a 1x12 by Fender, Vox, Crate, Peavey, Marshall or Line 6. When ever you can, pick up a better amp and speakers. Now, what can you do in the mean time? Yes, get a distortion pedal. Boss DS-1 is a good basic distortion pedal that is not too expensive. Danelectro also makes some decent sounding pedals that are not expensive. Take a look at the used pedals on ebay. You may be able to pick up something cheap there. I always watch it for bargains. Also, if your amp has a line out jack, you can improve your sound by getting an external speaker cab and running the signal through there. External speaker cabs can be pricey. Just not enough used ones on the market to drive the prices down. You want something that will hold a single 12 inch speaker. You might watch yard sales, flea markets and the like for an empty car speaker box that hold one 12 inch speaker. Then get a 30 watt Celection speaker. Sometimes the Rocket 50 is on sale cheaper than the 30s. Running your amp through a better speaker will give you a fuller sound. Do get a distortion pedal first. Later,
How can I play electric guitar without ruining my neighbors life?
I guess it might sound weird, really, but most of my electric guitar practising goes unplugged. I feel the clean tone wood gives you enough sound to discern your play, strengthen your fingers or shred or practise any other technique. I don’t feel the need to amplify the sound (with any effects whatsoever) until i get good, or am going live or want to finally listen to what I’ve practised or “play along” with the song/mp3. I plug it once i’m done with a good practice ( believe me there’s a different feeling when you play that song on the amp for the very first time and SOUND GOOD ). The headphones plugged into my smartphone and the songs/metronome app do most of my work. This way i’m the only one who bears all the squeaky harmonics/ relentless out of tune bends, legatos... This saves my neighbours from listening to most of these out of tune cacophony. Again, if you still want to do it, you can any day use pedals and connect to PCs. But i would still suggest to “practice” unplugged until you get good. This saves your neighbours from 90% of the bad sounds that you make.Secondly, i don’t get it why your headphones get too loud after being plugged into the amp? What about the master volume on your amp? Lower it down? Doesn’t the volume in your headphones change when you change your amps master volume? Headphones anyway don’t give you the sound your speakers give. It gets annoying after a while.