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Multi effects or single pedal?

22K views 432 replies 42 participants last post by  High/Deaf 
#1 ·
Now we're getting serious. I know absolutely nothing about either of these. What would you suggest for a stupid newb? lol Something not too complicated. I don't even know what specific sound I am looking for! Or, do I really need one?

I did try EVH phaser pedal and loved it. I am looking for that big ballsy in your face sound but also Angus Young tone NO or hardly any distortion.

Could some one direct me to a site where I can do some homework? I have to start at the bottom and work my way up!

I did try Cheezyryders at our last jam together and it was a little complex but OMG what a great sound and tone but I didn't even know what I was doing or what button I pushed. He just handed me his LP and said "go nuts" and I did without knowing anything
 
#3 ·
Are you the sort who would use several different effects at once, or are you simply wondering if something could provide you the convenience of many things to choose from in a convenient package?
Yes and no. I don't want a board where I am paying for something that I will rarely use or even want for that matter!
 
#5 ·
AC/DC tone is derived from amps. If you don't think you need any effects, then simply don't buy any pedals. If you know you really want reverb/delay/lead boost/compressor/flanger/tremolo then start looking into what's good on a budget (there's a few brands on the market that fall into this category new and used).

I knew I liked delay from the first time I borrowed my teacher's multi-fx pedal, and now many years later I own three different units. Though my board has 10 or so pedals, most of them are reverb and delay.

edit: this is a hilarious yet very informative explanation of effects:

http://www.analogman.com/monkey.htm
 
#6 ·
After getting back into playing electric after many years I was a bit out of touch with the current available effects. My only experience with pedals was with a waw and tubescreamer. I bought a Zoom MS-50G to help me figure out which sound I wanted and if I even wanted pedals in the first place. It came with 55 effets and I found it very usefull to sort out what I like and did not like.

https://www.long-mcquade.com/18399/Guitars/Guitar_Effects/Zoom/MultiStomp_Guitar_Effects_Pedal.htm

Now they have this one which is even cheaper with 100 effects.

https://www.long-mcquade.com/48653/Guitars/Guitar_Effects/Zoom/G1on_Guitar_Multi-FX_Processor.htm
 
#9 ·
I will recommend the way I got into this: start with a multi effects unit, will be cheap and you will learn all basics about effects, different amps and signal chains using virtual representations. Once you have a better idea of what they are, how to use them and which ones you need or like, go for the real deal.

Boss multi effects are pretty good, a Line 6 POD XT live will serve as well.

Now, once you decide to jump on the real deal you might want to try different brands/model of the same effect until you find the one that vibrates with you. Ask again when you are there. Forums helped me put together my pedalboard.
 
#10 ·
Yeah...multi effects are the way to go when trying to figure things out at first. Once you find an overall sound that you want, some specific effects will really serve to enhance the sound...compression for instance or some minuscule delay on those leads. I currently have a number of analogue pedals as well as a POD HD300 (very underwhelming). I'm a bit of a tone nutcase, so I really have a hard time with many of the digital effects and much prefer the analogue side of things with both pedals and amplifiers (tube).

I'm still working at this stuff after 30 years of playing hard rock/metal and still haven't figured it out yet. I'm probably way too picky.
 
#12 ·
There are lots of good overdrive and distortion pedals, but they aren't always cheap. I prefer to get my dirt from an amp, however there are pedals from $120-$180 that will get some really great tones in front of clean amps.

If you're interested in trying the multi route, I suggest seeing if you can rent or borrow one. You should know fairly quick what you're after.

The good news is it's possible to assemble a nice little board with everything you need for around $250 (if you're not afraid to go used on some or all components).
 
#16 ·
I still prefer individual pedals personally, mainly because i find them easier to tweak, but as Mike says multi's are pretty damn cheap these days and things like the Zoom G3 or G5 sound pretty damn good.
 
#22 ·
There's lots of good analog drive/distortion pedals for cheap. Soulfood, Danelectro TOD, MXR stuff. They may not have the GP cache, but they still do what their supposed to do.

I would go with a multi-unit, especially for mod and delay. And especially to start off, just for the ease of use. I think many of us have been huddled over a pedal board, wigglin' wires and swearing, 3 minutes before we open. No ground loops, no wiring problems, just not as much flexibility. Or cache.
 
#23 ·
I used to have a Digitech RP255 and running it through an acoustic amp it sounded excellent. For some reason it wasn't as good through a little tube amp I had.
 
#25 ·
Line 6 M5 has some hing like 128 effects; essentially everything in all their modeller pedals in one package. Only 1 effect at a time, but a nice wide assortment, with 20 user presets and up to 5 controls per effect. Acceptable distortions. Usually about $150 new.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Quote GWN!"I bought a Zoom MS-50G to help me figure out which sound I wanted and if I even wanted pedals in the first place. It came with 55 effets and I found it very usefull to sort out what I like and did not like."

https://www.long-mcquade.com/18399/Guitars/Guitar_Effects/Zoom/MultiStomp_Guitar_Effects_Pedal.htm

They seen to have these on sale a lot! If you can hold out the MS-50G goes for about $90.
Great pedal for a "one off, do all" that can be stacked. Takes a bit of time to program to get it usable in a gig situation, but a bit of fun.
 
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