I'm sure this might have come up but I want some opinions.

[katsumura78]

So I bought a mark 4 a few months ago and will finally get to play it in like 2 days max. Anyways, I need effects for this beast and I really have no idea which route to go. I want like petrucci kinda chorus/flange sounding stuff and some sweet *** delays. More or less I want all the effects that I can think of but I dont know if I should go the g major with a gcp or a used g system and that 4 cable method everyone talks about. Well I think I would have to do the 4 cable with the major regardless. I want to know everyone here thinks.

 

[t0aj15]

IMO the Digitech GSP 1101 has em all beat. All the efx you'll ever need in one box. I use a GCP to control it.
http://www.digitech.com/products/GSP1101/

 

[Geiri]

The digitech is nice but if you want the unit that will end your search forever go with the G SYSTEM.

It simply can't be beat.

 

[t0aj15]

The digitech is nice but if you want the unit that will end your search forever go with the G SYSTEM.

It simply can't be beat.

Nonsense. IMO the G system is over rated and way over priced. If you want to spend that kind of money then you may as well just go with the Fractal Audio Axe-Fx.

 

[jdurso]

if you have the money get the axe-fx as mentioned or the eventide eclipse or the tc gforce. but be prepared to edit thos units because they can go real deep to create some mind blowing stuff. as far as the more affordible stuff if your only looking for a flange or chorus you might want to invest in some quality pedals. if your looking for more than that the the gmajor is pretty popular, also look into the eventide modfactor. also dont be afraid to get a couple of units/pedals that can get the job done. in my experience something like the TC M300 or M350 is amazing in terms of reverb and delay. whereas some of the eventide stuff is better at some of the whackier stuff. all depends on your budget and what you need out of the unit. i spent too much time buying all around multifx where i just end up using reverb and delay and chorus sometimes if its good. thats not to say i wouldnt put an eventide eclipse to good use but again most of eventide's line relies on changing pitch (harmonizer) and time related effects (reverb, delay, chorus) which is why i like their stuff so much.

 

[Geiri]

I don't think the axfx and G sys are quite in the same leage. The Axfx is a preamp/processor and stunning at that. The G sys is just an effects processor with a control board,so if you were to say buy any processor you would have to buy a controller right ? Well if we're talking about a nice processor plus a controller that in it self isn't so far from the G sys price. But what is additional in the G sys is you can have it controlling your entire rig amps, stomp boxes 'n all with just one unit. Plus as we all know the tc effects are stunning. I haven't tried the ax fx but from what I've read it is one evil good machine and is probably worth every penny.

But if Steve Vai ditched his rack for a G sys and not the Axfx that should tell us something. Thats a guy who has been using all the great brands and is a wizard at effects tweaking as well as guitar playing.

But each to his own, IMHO the G sys is worth every penny.

 

[jdurso]

I don't think the axfx and G sys are quite in the same leage. The Axfx is a preamp/processor and stunning at that. The G sys is just an effects processor with a control board,so if you were to say buy any processor you would have to buy a controller right ? Well if we're talking about a nice processor plus a controller that in it self isn't so far from the G sys price. But what is additional in the G sys is you can have it controlling your entire rig amps, stomp boxes 'n all with just one unit. Plus as we all know the tc effects are stunning. I haven't tried the ax fx but from what I've read it is one evil good machine and is probably worth every penny.

But if Steve Vai ditched his rack for a G sys and not the Axfx that should tell us something. Thats a guy who has been using all the great brands and is a wizard at effects tweaking as well as guitar playing.

But each to his own, IMHO the G sys is worth every penny.

the Axe-fx while a preamp has as good, if not better fx that the gforce. i would put the axe-fx almost on par with the higher priced eventide stuff and it can be used as just an fx processor. although i am waiting for the day they put out just an fx processor which they claimed is in the near future and will have a street price around 800-900 which IMO is a killer value. im not knocking the gforce because tc verbs and delays are stunning but all the other fx in the axe-fx (especially the ultra) are better quality.

 

[Geiri]

That's what I'm saying.

If one were to buy an axfx as an effects unit you'd be spending alot of money on the preamp section as well. Thats why I say the G sys and axfx are in separate leagues. But if fractal produces an effects unit with out the preamp section then they are in the same boat.

I'm not knockin' the axfx but for me playing through an expensive mesa amp I have no need for digital preamps. If I were on the other hand goin' digital again it would be fractal all the way.

No more line6 for me.

Peace

 

[jdurso]

That's what I'm saying.

If one were to buy an axfx as an effects unit you'd be spending alot of money on the preamp section as well. Thats why I say the G sys and axfx are in separate leagues. But if fractal produces an effects unit with out the preamp section then they are in the same boat.

I'm not knockin' the axfx but for me playing through an expensive mesa amp I have no need for digital preamps. If I were on the other hand goin' digital again it would be fractal all the way.

No more line6 for me.

Peace

right but look at the gforce or gsystem new... priced between 1400 and 1700 right? its 1750 for the axefx and 1900 for the ultra.... gsystem is a toy compared to the axe fx in terms of fx so throw that out the window and now compare the axefx's ability to the gforce...now we're comparing apples to apples. to me the axe-fx blows the gforce out of the water in that it can do thinsg the gforce cant and sounds better at the thinsg they can both do. so $50 more for a better sound and better editing?? no brainer

and i do get what your saying about it being a preamp BUT all you have to do is turn the preamp off and all you have is the fx and its in the same price range as a gforce. is it a waste to buy a unit liek the axefx just for fx? to me no because in its price range it can do as much as the gforce and almost as much as the eventide harmonizers. either way your spending a lot to get that type of quality.... and once the axefx becomes readily availible you'll start seeing them drop down to 1000 on the used market which again is comparible to the gforce.

 

[fbomb]

you guys both have valid points,but here could be the tie breaker Gsystem has a foot controller AXEFX does not.now the Gsystem is $1750 and the AXE FX is
$1700 and $1900 for the Ultra, plus what $100 -$300 or more for a controller,if i dont need a preamp im going with the Gsystem all the way.

 

[Geiri]

jdurso my man

Your point about comparing gforce o axfx is very valid. But it seems to me that you're overlooking what the g sys has over the other two. The controlling ability. It allows you to control your tube rig as if it was a digital unit. That is assigning stompboxes and whatever toys you'd like to a preset and eliminating the tapdance to one stomp of a button.

That is what makes the G sys work for me.

But peace brother I'm really not that much of a tweaker. Some verb and delay and I'm a pretty happy camper.

 

[crisis]

I have just bought a TC Nova Delay and Modulator which do about all the effects I will need. I too wanted to cover most bases and I also wanted presets I could change during sets for different songs but didn’t want or need pre amps, distortions , modellers etc. I have only played around with them so far but on the face of it they offer all the flexibility I need. I will be exploring them more on the weekend though. Ant they are fairly cheap for what you get.

 

[jdurso]

jdurso my man

Your point about comparing gforce o axfx is very valid. But it seems to me that you're overlooking what the g sys has over the other two. The controlling ability. It allows you to control your tube rig as if it was a digital unit. That is assigning stompboxes and whatever toys you'd like to a preset and eliminating the tapdance to one stomp of a button.

That is what makes the G sys work for me.

But peace brother I'm really not that much of a tweaker. Some verb and delay and I'm a pretty happy camper.

i hear ya man... i really dont like using anything crazy but you gotta hear the verbs and delays on the axefx. you can create just about any thing you can think of but as you pointed out you need to be a tweaker. i definitely wasnt knocking the gsystem because TC makes great products and its flexibility is definitely worth it. i just prefer using my rg16 for my switching (which it does an amazing job with) and leaving my units (tc m2000 and eventide timefactor) to the fx. definitely more than one way to cure the pedal dance jig

 

[6L6C]

Lots of views and lots of good points.

If you are on a budget I really recommend the GSP 1101 effects sound great does not color your sound to speak of does the 4 cable method and a program so you can program the unit with a laptop. This unit delivers right down to some stomp box models that sound pretty good. The 1101 also has some licensed Lexicon reverbs and also TC Electronics chorus.
One thing that makes the 1101 different as far as programming it is kind of somewhere between a stomp box and a full blown processor, so you can get sounds very quickly. If you are coming off the stomp box environment the 1101 has more than you are use to. On the other hand if you have been using allot of rack gear since 1988 like me on a programming level you might find it a little limiting (use to sitting down with the calculator and working out delay times for delays, chorus and so on (but enjoy it!) But sound wise sweet! So who cares?

I have been doing something a little different lately which has been working out pretty dam good.
The 1101 has those stomp box models I mentioned before mostly the overdrive I’m interested in a compressor and noise gate, a pretty good sounding wah also but I can’t part with my rack mount Crybaby. Anyway the geek in me misses working out delay times to the millisecond, so why not use both. So I threw a Rocktron Xpression into the mix. So I’m only using half of the 1101 it handles everything before the preamp basically any effect that deals with dynamics, compression, and overdrive and so on. All of my time based are being handled by the Xpression which is in the loop of the amp, chorus, flange, delay, and reverb. There are times I do like say chorus and flange in front of the preamp and the 1101 can handle that. But the way I have it wired reverbs and delay are not available to me with the 1101 (I’m literally using half the unit)

 

[dmotisko]

I think that you would be better off finding a few good choice pedals. Pedals seem to sound better anyway. Do not get me wrong the TC stuff is nice if convenience is what your after but to me effect processors alter the tone and sound of the amplifier way to much.