FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Guitar Effects Chain

Question:
I need some advice. I want to buy a guitar multi-effect box. But the problem is I don't know anything about them. I used to have a Zoom 9002 (those ratty little jobs that you had to wear in your belt). It was infantile. The distortion sounded stupid. The compressor was weak - and so on and so forth (no offense to all those Zoom 9002 lovers). The biggest problem was that it sounded absolutely fantastic when I used the headphones - but things were quite different when I plugged into an amp. Anyway I now want a professional multi-effects processor. My requirements are - 1. I want a mature Overdrive and distortion. (Don't ask me what I mean by mature - use your judgement. Just remember I am a tube freak) 2. I want the box to have wah - and if possible - a noise gate. 3. How about throwing in a decent harmonizer? 4. Built-in pre-amp. 5. I would prefer a rack type system. Forgive me - O' Those Who Know - if I'm asking too much. Just chalk it up to my ignorance. I now need some expert advice - and some prices. If possible also tell me a little about remote jack systems.

Answer:
The best thing to do is to split your requirements (functions) in two: 1 For overdrive and distortion you can try an ADA-preamp. 2 For other effects try Rocktron Intellifex (very good chorus). For reverb/delay Lexicon and Alesis are very natural sounding. This leads to a related question: if you have individual components like this (rather than a multi-effects box in which the effects chains are carved in stone) in what sequence do you typically hook 'em up? What's best to put in first, then second, then...etc.? Which leads to a related-related question: are there any multi-effects boxes in which you *can* change the built-in sequence of effects in the chain? I swallowed the fully programmable hype that accompanied the introduction of the Boss SE50 a couple or four years ago only to discover that you can't make up your own preferred effects chain out of the effects the box provides. These are preset, though there are a fair number of them, and if you want a chain that isn't among these presets (e.g. a chain including compressor, EQ, reverb and flanger) you're out of luck.