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

Tagged As: Guitar Effects Software

Question:
A while back when I bought my Godin, I purchased a Digitech Genesis3 unit along with the Peavey Tube Amp. I have really enjoyed using it, and its pretty versatile, but its a few years old now, and the circuitry seems to be failing a bit now and then. I am looking for something versatile with a wide range of Amp Model and Cabinet selections / combinations, along with all the standard effects adjustments (speed / depth, mod level, reverb level, delay level, etc). Is there a studio standard which is good quality and relatively affordable? Preferably a desktop unit (as I have a foot controller). Any input?

Answer:
I have been playing guitar for over 30 years and am very much of a effects kind of guy. The TC Electronics unit (G-Major or the new G-Minor) are supposed to be great! If you're happy with the sound of your amp and it does everything you want it to, but you want more/better effects, that would certainly be a way to go. I'm very much a big fan of the sound of Boss effects, but I don't think they're making a rack mount version... although the ME20 might be worth a look. The GT-6 is more of modeler (but you could turn all the preamp stuff off - the effects sound amazing on that unit). I got a L6 Vetta to simplify my live setup - I was playing through a Digitech GNX3 AND a Boss GT-5 midi'ed together and playing through 2 Boogie combo's. The Vetta sounds just awesome. It's the best sounding clean amp I've ever owned. It does the clean Fender sounds and the clean Marshal sounds. I've compared it side by side on the Boogie combo sounds and it nails it. I compared to a Marshal JCM2000 and it was pretty close... I think it does a better job with the older Marshal sounds, although if I had spent some time tweaking it I think I could have got that sound too. The effects on the latest software version are much improved over the previous. And with the Vetta I can layer 2 totally different amp sounds with or without effects. The pedal board fits in the back of the amp and connects with a cat5 cable. I've got a case for it - wheel it in with guitars stacked on top of it, and I'm set up in 5 minutes. DO's direct to the board with multiple simulated mic placements... I'm using the SM57 off-axis setting and it sounds pretty close to me! As you can tell - I'm really liking this amp... it sounds great in the mix, it's got lots of cut but you can dial it up warm too. You have to like to tweak though - and there's so much to tweak that you've got to spend a lot of time on it. Anyway - not to sound too much like a L6 commercial... most of the touring pro's that use an outboard effects unit are using the TC unit. It is pricey, but it sounds great. If you get a chance, check out the Vetta too (make sure it's a Vetta II or if it an older Vetta, that it has the latest version 2 software)... you might change your mind about how happy you are with your one sound if you can have any sound you want, and the effects are all built in and customizable by patch, then!