Suggestions on first rack mount effects unit please

[jutsin]

Hey guys,
I've recently switched over to a rack setup, and now am contemplating getting a rack effects unit. I have a pedal board, but it sucks to lug around and to do the tap dance. I have been looking at a lot of different units, and have narrowed it down to the Digitech GSP 1101 or the G Major 2 (although other suggestions are still welcome). I would like the rack effects unit to do everything (delay, flange, reverb, chorus, wah, whammy, phaser, eq)- so that I don't need to have a few pedals left on the floor.
I don't really need the preamp portion of the GSP 1101 at all since I have a Piranha and an MP-1. And I don't really plan on using any distortion (outside of the Piranha and MP-1) much either. So it's solely effects that I'm going for. Which of these do you guys prefer? Any big differences in tonal quality? I've read that the G Major 2 has some lag when switching presets, have you found that to be the case?
Any input is appreciated!
justin

 

[RJ2213]

i love the g-major, i want to try the g-major2. and to me tc electronics have cleaner sounding effects than most digitech units, but digitech can sometimes do more extreme and odd effects.

 

[Turumbar82]

I agree that the TC electronics are cleaner effects. I was going through the same decision process you are between these too. I ended up getting a g-major (that freezes up on me all the time). I love the effects and it switches the channels on my preamp which is great. I have heard the digitechs are more reliable. You would be able to do four cable method with the digitech too and use some of those effects in front of your preamps and just bypass the modeling preamp in the digitech. Part of me still wants the digitech. I'm sticking with what I have for right now but I may end up getting the digitech in the future.

 

[surferdeac]

I like my G major - probably the best in its price range IMO
No more tap dancing for me

Tc Electronic makes very good electronics all around. I have never had any reliability issues (knock on Wood) with my unit.
The g major's knobs are somewhat fragile at least they feel that way, but i treat it like a baby

've read that the G Major 2 has some lag when switching presets, have you found that to be the case?

I don't have any problems with my g major with regards to this.
If this was the case Tc would most certainly try to create an upgrade for its software
If you're really concerned about this so called Lag you could always call them or email them and inquire about It?

 

[stephen sawall]

Axe Fx Ultra ?

 

[lailer75]

the flange and phaser in the t.c.`s are nothing to write home about. that said the reverb,delays,pitch shift are all very nice. i can`t comment on the gsp, but if you can do 4 cable method i`d be looking into that

 

[ryjan]

Axe Fx Ultra ?

$2500!
Id look at the Boss GT-10. Multi effects, midi controller, floorboard all in one unit.

 

[stephen sawall]

Axe Fx Ultra ?

$2500!
Id look at the Boss GT-10. Multi effects, midi controller, floorboard all in one unit.

Why not buy the best the first time. If you buy used and it is not for you .... you can sell it and break even or make money if you know what you are doing.

 

[Danimal]

I've had the G-Major and sold it. It sounded pretty good but was difficult to edit and the volume and wah effects were post preamp so they sounded pretty horrible. It also had no rotary speaker effect which I have come to embrace. I had the RP1000 (floorboard version of the GSP) and the effects were very good but it didn't have MIDI, rendering it essentially useless to me. The benefit to the GSP it that 4cm everyone's mentioning. It would put the wah in the correct place BEFORE the preamp. Its post effects, especially choruses, were very well done. Without MIDI I didn't play around with it too much to see about the extent of tone-sucking but it didn't seem to do much.

So if it's strictly between the TC and Digitech, I'd go with the Digitech.

 

[jdurso]

Axe Fx Ultra ?

$2500!
Id look at the Boss GT-10. Multi effects, midi controller, floorboard all in one unit.

Look into the Axe Standard... you can probably find one now near $1000 but that $1000 is going to blow away just about anything out there other than the high end Eventide and TC effects as well as the Ultra. Trust me the FX in these units blow away units like the GMajor 2, GForce, GSystem, and anything Boss or Line 6 ever dreamed of putting out.

 

[dmt]

I would be very happy with even an older Eventide Harmonizer... those things are bomb!

 

[jdurso]

I would be very happy with even an older Eventide Harmonizer... those things are bomb!

the ONLY and i do mean only is the switching lag. They werent really built with live guitar playing in mind. Other than that they are stellar.

 

[t0aj15]

The benefit to the GSP is the 4CM everyone's mentioning. It would put the wah & distortions in the correct place BEFORE the preamp. Its post effects, especially choruses, were very well done. So if it's strictly between the TC and Digitech, I'd go with the Digitech.

Ditto, IMO the GSP 1101 is the best unit in this price range.

 

[dass101]

I own the GSP1101 and also had my hands on a GMajor (v1) No doubt about it, the Digitech wins. The interface of the G Major made me feel lika an idiot, probably the first electronic device that succedeed that :d
The GSP otoh feels like a bunch of pedals, with very logical layed out parameters and menus. Great user friendly setup wizards, etc.
The GSP also does 4CM, but some (including me) feel that it adds some noise in the chain. It depends on how much gain you use, if that noise is bearable or not.
Strictly as a post effects unit, the GSP has great sounds, with a very user friendly approach. The GMajor also does great sounds, with much more control over the parameters, but because of that is a nightmare to use.
If you come from a pedal world, and want to keep it simple, the choice is easy, GSP 1101

 

[LegGodt]

Have you considered the TC Electronic G-Force. I have one and I love it. I replaced 3 Rocktron Processors in my rig.

 

[dmt]

I would be very happy with even an older Eventide Harmonizer... those things are bomb!

the ONLY and i do mean only is the switching lag. They werent really built with live guitar playing in mind. Other than that they are stellar.

How much switching lag are we talking about? Is it across the board for all effects? Which units is it common to? Newer models have that problem as well?

 

[jdurso]

I would be very happy with even an older Eventide Harmonizer... those things are bomb!

the ONLY and i do mean only is the switching lag. They werent really built with live guitar playing in mind. Other than that they are stellar.

How much switching lag are we talking about? Is it across the board for all effects? Which units is it common to? Newer models have that problem as well?

Sorry for not getting back to this sooner.

The lag in the older h3000 and h4000 models is around half a second to a little over a second depending on what your going from and to. What i mean by this is if your going from a simple delay and reverb to something over the top that uses more fx blocks your making the unit have to recall more, therefore more lag. If its going from similar effect to similar effect it shorter but still not instant like you would get out of a POD or Axe-fx. The Eventide Eclipse has a reduced lag but from what i've read still has a semi-noticible lag which is why a bunch of guys switched to the Axe-fx. I've heard with the new Eclipse 4.0 update the lag is gone but havent tried it.

With that said if your looking into the Eventide products to use for live guitar playing i would strongly suggest the eclipse as you get the eventide sound but with a unit built around a guitar rig. If it doesnt have to be Eventide i would look at the Axe-fx as the fx are just as good... the Ultra is more comparible to your standard eventide fx as the standard doesnt have all the crazier stuff (ring mod, synth, etc.) but has the same killer verbs, delays and chorus.

 

[surferdeac]

Axe Fx Ultra ?

does this rack come equiped with a relay switch that can be controlled via MIDI floorboard to change channels on your amp???

 

[jdurso]

Axe Fx Ultra ?

does this rack come equiped with a relay switch that can be controlled via MIDI floorboard to change channels on your amp???

No... but to be honest with you I would look to something like the RJM Amp Gizmo or RG-16 for switching. You could even get the mini-gizmo which could hide in your rack without taking a rack space which will control both your amp AND what ever midi fx your using (like the axe-fx).

 

[surferdeac]

Thanks Jdurso

I guess i will have to do some research on these relay switching devices and how they would work in conjuction with my DMC ground controll pro, MY amps channel-switching input, and a Axe Fx rack mount

Ya know I have become real comfortable with my rig, I run my g major into my amps effects loop along with a MIDI - dmc ground controll pro floorboard. It has become real convienient for me (I like using both of my amps channels) to have amp channel switching capabilities (via relay switch) so i can take my various eddited g major effects and have them simply organized so for live playing I got 2 clean rhythyms 2 clean leads,2 dirty rhythyms and 4 dirty leads all in front of me at my feet. When i need a boost in any of my 10 favorite created effects I just use my stiletto ace's solo boost foot-switch to add overall volume.