Mark IV: What's In Your FX Loop?

[davec69]

I spent a lot of time putting together, what I thought was the perfect pedalboard to compliment my DC-3. A nice large SKB PS-45 filled with pedals to cover every tone that I could think of. it turned out to be a great pedalboard.

A couple months ago, I picked up a Mark Iv, and all of the sudden, that SKB pedalboard and many of the pedals became obsolete, so I downsized to a Pedaltrain II, and sold off many of the pedals.

Now, I feel that I want to get rid of the Pedaltrain, and move to:

Wah - > Compressor - > Boost - > MKIV

And stick a rack unit in the loop for modulation stuff. The current top two contenders are:

TC Electronics G-Major w/ GMinor footswitch
Lexicon MPX G2 w R1 Foot Controller

Mainly because I know both these units are top notch quality. I have no intention of using the preamp section of the G2, so the G-Major is currently topping the list.

Can anyone reccomend alternate rack unit that works well in the MKIV fx loop, or tell me and problems that you've run across with either of the above units?

 

[eltrain858]

Mark IV: What's In Your FX Loop?

Pedals :lol:

 

[wads3]

I was using a multi effects unit in the loop of my mk iv combo. I wasnt completely happy until I switched to a few TRUE BYPASS effects in the loop. I couldnt be happier now!

in front: wah--->tuner--->phase 90---> compressor--->amp
in loop: visual sound H2O (outstanding!!!)---> mxr/custom audio elec. boost pedal

 

[stevehollx]

I have a G-Major. If I were to do it again, I'd get one of those Rocktron units (I forget if it is the Intelliflex or the Repliflex). Not crazy about the chorus on the G-Major..it seems to clip the high end. And the build quality of the knobs, I'm sure you've heard about.

My bandmates' Lexicon MPX1 has a KILLER chorus/phaser/flanger, but it's interface either just plain sucks or has a really steep learning curve.

Even if you get the G-Major, the G-minor isn't what yo want to control it with, since it changes the effect instantaneously. Pick up a cheap ART MIDI footcontroller if you want to save cash. $40 for 5 bank selects andn two arrows.

 

[Platypus]

an analog delay.

 

[hazbin]

xpression

 

[thindave]

A G-System...

 

[disassembled]

What would be the point of getting true bypass effects for the Mark IV's loop? You can turn the loop on/off from the footswitch to achieve the same thing. I use a Boss half rack SE70 in my Triaxis loop and that's works great for everything I could ever ask for. I am not heavy on the effects so they aren't very important but sometimes it's cool to run the 20 tap delay, some verb, chorus, etc. If i don't want any effects I just bypass the loop and the tone is untouched.

I think most of the boss stuff sounds decent (se50,se70, vf1, gx700, etc) and will get you where you want to be without costing too much.

Greg

 

[eltrain858]

What would be the point of getting true bypass effects for the Mark IV's loop? You can turn the loop on/off from the footswitch to achieve the same thing.

not if you have multiple effects in the loop but only want to use one or two at a time

 

[wads3]

I like the true bypass pedals because I leave my loop on all of the time. The reason for this is that I have the mxr boost in the loop for leads and like to be able to hit it for a clean volume boost at any time. Clean meaning "non colored". I have never found a volume boost pedal that will give you a db boost in front of the amp..... There is something to be said for higher end pedals in my opinion.

 

[ursinus]

none 8)

I use the di and feed it to a g-major, then out of the g-major to a Simul 395. All controlled with a Beringer FCB1010 foot controller.

In front of my MKIV I use a Silver Machine Wah>keeley compressor> thc Chorus> BB Preamp>MKIV :shock:

 

[disassembled]

I guess to me it's just adding a lot of cables if you are bringing all of the effects out to the floor which is, in turn, degrading your tone anyway. I am not an effects heavy player so I guess it is hard for me to grasp the need for them unless you're in a cover band and are trying to please the audience by getting as close to the original song as possible.

If you don't need a multieffects processor then it probably wouldn't do you any good to buy one just for delay and chorus.

Greg

 

[ursinus]

I guess to me it's just adding a lot of cables if you are bringing all of the effects out to the floor which is, in turn, degrading your tone anyway. I am not an effects heavy player so I guess it is hard for me to grasp the need for them unless you're in a cover band and are trying to please the audience by getting as close to the original song as possible.

If you don't need a multieffects processor then it probably wouldn't do you any good to buy one just for delay and chorus.

Greg

This shouldn't be a problem with high quality effects that have true bypass and high quality cables. BTW I don't use the effects all the time, but rather use them as my material requires. Some of my songs need the wah, some need only the compressor and chorus. Some songs don't use any effects pre-MKIV and the G-major just adds a bit of reverb and delay. Some of my songs use the whammy on the G-major with the expression pedal of the FCB 1010 controller. I think you get my point. Effect IMO are just like type of paints that painters use. The notes are the colors, the processors are oil, charcoal, water, etc.... the amp is the canvas...... 8)

 

[phantomlord2oo]

All I got in my loop is the ISP Decimator pedal which is only on the LD channel. Now, if the Mark IV had 2 loops I'd have a delay in the other loop with a wah out in front of the amp.

+Mike+

 

[jvk]

Didley squat

 

[davec69]

I'm leaning more towards the **Diddley Squat** direction, myself.

I've had some of the best pedals available. All true bypass. But with the mark IV I can toss out all of my OD pedals. The MKIV does everything that I need.

I do want a good reverb and modulation (chorus&phaser, ect.) capability though, which is why I'm considering the rack effect path.

 

[Platypus]

The difference with the Mark IV and other amps I've owned is that I *needed* the pedals for them but not for the Mark... that said I still like having the tonal versatility of lots of fuzzes and ODs.

davec69, if you haven't tried a nice transparent OD on R2 you should give it a shot, I run my OCD as a volume boost with very little gain and it gives it just a touch of something that I prefer having on for leads on R2. I also like having a Lead channel style solo ability and rhythm ability with a slightly more open sound and R2 is PERFECT for that for me.

 

[Shep]

I have a delay thought the Loop and i have the loop switch so it's on when i have Rhy1 and lead.. before the amp i have a morley Bad Horsie 2 wah,boss volume pedal,boss tu-2,boss SD-1,Ts-9,modded Sd-1 by franklin pro mods, phase 90,a boss octava and a boss master switch..

 

[Russ]

Right now...

NADA!!!!

 

[jzerza]

Hi Dave,
I see you said you put together a pedalboard to compliment your DC3. I just bought a DC3 combo and was wandering what you had put together? Before I got the Boogie I was playing through a Fender Blues Deville 4x10. I got pedal crazy and put together a huge board so I could have a bunch of sounds - Here is what I had--- (All Boss unless noted otherwise) TU-2 tuner-V Wah-OC-2 Octaver- NS2 Noise supressor-CS3 Compressor-TS808 Tubescreamer-BD2 Blues Driver-MT2 Metal Zone-BF2 Flanger-PH1r Phaser-CE2 Chorus (love it!)-DD3 Delay-BBe Sonic Stomp. E ball volume in loop

As you can see I got a bit carried away. I have already sold off a few, but now with my DC-3 I don't know what to do - This amp sounds amazing all on it's own!!! I'm considering getting rid of my Overdrive pedals, I don't know if I will ever use them with this amp. I don't want all the crap to affect my amps tone when they're off so maybe go to true bypass stuff. I must keep my CE2 and Ph1r (both silver screws in mint condition) and need a delay (maybe change to an analog one ????) Maybe get a Keeley Java Boost and Keeley compressor?

HELP ME!!!! can you give me some advice. :shock:
Not trying to Hijack your thread, just thought you might be able to give me some ideas. Thanks