Pedalboards or multi-effects (Tonelab SE, Boss GT-8)?

[two4motion]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum, what a great site by the way... I just wanted to get some opinions on an upcoming purchase I'm planning to make.

Here's the story:
I've been playing guitar off and on for roughly 15 years. The past year, I've really dove back into it, with the vast majority of my playing being done at my church. I'm playing a red Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite that I bought in the mid 90's through an a amp I bought last year, a VOX AD30VT. I bought VOX's optional VFS-2 Footswitch to toggle between clean and distorted channels and effects. However, this, as you may imagine has limited my sound quite a bit.

Now, I'm in the market to go with either some pedals or multi-effects solution like the Tonelab SE or the Boss GT-8. I realize I didn't list the Pod XT live, I'm not opposed to it, just have focused more on the other two. Also, I should point out that I eventually will most likely upgrade the amp.

As for individual pedals, my main concerns would be cost, portability, consistency in sound quality. However, I realize that many, if not most, feel that individual pedals give a richer, warmer, and overall better quality sound. So, I'm really open to either solution.

The main effects I use (and/or plan to use) are:
1. various distortion (overdrive and heavier)
2. delay (I really like the dotted 8th note sound, e.g. U2's The Edge in Where the Streets Have No Name) I'm intrigued by the Boss DD-20
3. Wah and Volume pedal
4. compressor
5. tuner
6. flanger
7. tremolo
8. tuner

Any opinions, advice would be greatly appreciated. I haven't owned any effects in quite some time (roughly 10 years). Thanks in advance!

[two4motion]

Original post:
"After a lot of study on this and other sites, I've decided to go individual stompbox route. Mainly, because of the versatility."

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Added comments:
Well, now I don't really know what to think after reading dagosto and FRETPICK's comments. I've got some time to figure this out (I'm saving up cash for this purchase, but since my wife and I just had our first child, this is going to take a little longer than before).

So, I'm kind of back to square one.

I'm definitely open to hearing more opinions if anyone else wants to weigh in on this.

[dagosto]

One thing about trying to get your tone with a bunch of stompboxes is that the more you hook up, the more you need to worry about whether or not the pedals are true bypass. The more pedals without true bypass switching the more your tone will be comprimised with low level distortions and loss of phase clarity across the frequency spectrum. I know that Boss pedals are not true bypass so you may want to limit the amount of those that you use.

[FRETPICK]

I'd buy the BOSS GT8. An all in one solution + the it has advance features so the better you get at programs the more your gain.

Your utilize what you need & have scope for uncharted territory.

[two4motion]

First of all, thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.

dagosto, if I don't go the multi-effects route, is there any brands other than Boss that you might suggest me shying away from having too many of?

FRETPICK, do you have experience (or do you own) the GT-8? I just was wondering, I haven't got too much input from people who have actually spent a significant amount of time with it.

Also, for what it's worth, I should point out that I feel I'm relatively computer savvy, so anything that ties in software wise is a plus. I use a PC mainly, but Mac's occasionally, so operating systems aren't really an issue, although... dare I say it, I actually prefer the PC.

[Ol'boy rivers]

I'll say... It depends what you're going for. If you want flexibility, Cheaper price, Easy and such, Go for the Boss multiprocessor. I myself wouldn't just because I am EXTREMELY picky with what I sound like. Sure, No doubt could you coax some cool sounds from it... But I prefer pure, BRAWN tone. If it I was, I'd start collecting boutique pedals. ( I have already. ) Visual sound, Voodoo lab, My two favorites. ( My Jekyl and Hyde, Route 66 being my two main distortion and tone pedals. ) It's not the easy route to go.. But it sure does sound good.

[subsonic bob]

although... dare I say it, I actually prefer the PC.[/quote]
You must not do any computer based recording huh? As far as effects go, I prefer an old Fender tube amp and a chorus pedal. I use the chorus for clean sound and drive the tube amp for disturtion. I do like the old MXR distortions too but, I think for what you want you'd be better off with a studio quality multi-effect processor of some sort.

[German]

hello two4motion

pedal effects will depend on money and quality of your sound
money: because either your bought a effect processor (rack) or few pedals or stomp boxes, there is a budget required to get your gear.


Foot controllers or multi effects, are good but you can get the sweet sounds sometimes, the digital sounds will never get close to an analog. multi effect are good because you can carry different effect chanins, programable paths, etc etc, play with the presets path, create your owns,,,but in the end...the sound rules.

By the other side, stomp boxes are a good option two, maybe not as versatile as multieffects I mean as much effects you want in your chain, the most pedals you need to buy. Theres is some programable effect for digital effects that can save space.

In the end, what I recommend to people is that your sound taste will never found in a forum, what i like is not what you would like...my advice is: go to a music shop and try the different effects they have, using of course an amp relate to yours or bring your own amp and stuff. This will take couple of ours and the salesman will walk a lot bring the pedals but,,,dont worry you are the customer who decided in the end..

good look