Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

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JonPorobil
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Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by JonPorobil »

Last week at a gig, my Johnson J-Station died. I've got it in pieces in front of me right now trying to determine whether it's fixable, but I'm pretty sure it's not worth the repair cost anymore. It was a rugged beast and I treated it like one. It served me ably for eight years. I have no regrets.

So let's talk replacements.

I'm kind of an odd duck about this, because I don't care much or at all about the amp modelling. I only used maybe a third of the J-Station's features, and I'm pretty sure I never once used it as it was intended. I'm a keyboardist, and haven't plugged my guitar into the J-Station since 2004. Let's see if we can find something (in the $100-$300 range, preferably, though I'd go as high as $400 if one product stands out as absolutely perfect) that suits my needs better.

I need a device - preferably one device, but if I need to complicate the chain with two or three, then so be it - that has the following features:
1.) Fine volume control. I'll be running a keyboard to it which only has 9 volume levels, so a knob, slider, or pedal with fine volume control is a requirement.
2.) Flanger. My band's style ranges from mainstream to prog, and I find that a nice flange fattens up the organ tones nicely.
3.) Delay. Preferably with tap control.
4.) Reverb. Preferably a couple of different settings, with fine control for wetness.
SIDE NOTE: One of the features of the J-Station that I haven't seen replicated in other multi-effects pedals is that delay and reverb are controlled by their own independent knobs, meaning they could be layered and adjusted on top of other effects. Put into practice, I frequently play with flanger + reverb + delay, each with its own independent wetness control. This feature combination comprises about 70% of my playing with Groove Think, so it's an absolute must.

Other effects I use, but rarely enough that I wouldn't really miss them if I had to get a device without them: wah, compression, gate, tremolo, pitch/detune.

I know a lot of manufacturers make floor devices with pedal controls - that would be nice, though I'm accustomed to carrying around a table to prop up the J-Station, so I wouldn't mind a hand-controlled device, either.

Anyone have any suggestions? Manufacturers you're fond of where I can start the search? I'm poking around online and having a hard time determining the extent to which effects can be layered (specifically, flanger + delay + reverb, which I use all the time, so it's important to me).
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito

Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
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JonPorobil
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by JonPorobil »

This looks freaking perfect: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... ects-pedal

Anyone have any experience with Line 6 pedals or processors?
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito

Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by Spud »

A little odd that reverb type (spring or room) is controlled by which amp you are modeling, but ok.
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JonPorobil
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by JonPorobil »

Spud wrote:A little odd that reverb type (spring or room) is controlled by which amp you are modeling, but ok.
Good point. Spud, I know you've had to repopulate your toy box a few times over... Have you used any Line 6 equipment? It's got mixed reviews on the website, but the few musicians in my workplace seem to think the company is reputable.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito

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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by Spud »

No experience with Line 6. I am sure there are songfighters who have used at least the Floor Pod. It's just been a couple of slow days on the board. Maybe they are all over at facebook, eh?
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by signboy »

The Line 6 stuff will totally do what you want, including per-effect wet/dry. Just be prepared to spend some time setting up your patches in advance, they are not built for realtime tweaking. Kinda lame that it looks so perfect, I was gonna try to sell you my Pod XT :P
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

signboy wrote:The Line 6 stuff will totally do what you want, including per-effect wet/dry. Just be prepared to spend some time setting up your patches in advance, they are not built for realtime tweaking. Kinda lame that it looks so perfect, I was gonna try to sell you my Pod XT :P
This. I swear by Line 6. Everything from hardware to software to underwear.

....Seriously, I have a pair of Line 6 boxer briefs. I had a choice of that, a t-shirt, gig bag or coupons. Umm, are you freal as to what I'm choosing? Cha. :P
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by RangerDenni »

dunno if you've looked on cl, but i think someone in Leander is selling a BOSS ME50 I believe for a couple hundred. Yes. You might could talk him down, even. It was a few days far down for sale on the list and dunno if it's got the specs you want.
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JonPorobil
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by JonPorobil »

I bought the Line 6. Just finished giving it a test run. I like it so far, but I need to spend some more time with the manual. I've already figured out (and saved) a great flange + delay + reverb setting like I was describing above. Now I just need to figure out the lighter organ tone, and how to get the wah on my clavinet without it sounding like it's underwater.

This will work nicely.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito

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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by RangerDenni »

congratumalations!! :)
"Really interesting how the point you’re making slowly emerges like Martin Sheen from the mud in Apocalypse Now..." ~j$
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

RangerDenni wrote:congratumalations!! :)
I'm no rocket exorcist, but..... that's cute. :P

....Jon, Line 6. 8)
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JonPorobil
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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by JonPorobil »

I field-tested the Line 6 at the Battle of the Bands last night. It does sound noticeably different from my J-Station (at least, noticeable to me), but not necessarily worse. I need to practice dynamics management with the foot pedal, as there were a few instances of jerky volume shifts, but those were all user error. Sonically and mechanically, the new pedalboard worked perfectly.

And, incidentally, we won the battle. :D
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito

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Re: Multi-effects processors (recommend me one)

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

Congrats, Jon!
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