Pedals v.s Processors

I kno this can be a never ending debate but maybe if the more experienced lot share their experiences then evry1 can benefit from it..one versatile multi effects processor?..or an arsenal of individual pedals?..what wud u prefer?..

 

pedals are anytime better. Processor is Nothin But a device which tries to get the sound that a pedal does. There are Lot of pros and cons involved in choosin a processor or pedals.
-Pedals get bulky to carry around.
-u investin in low end pedals Wudnt make u sound good same goes for a processor too. Quality comes for a Price
-a good processor gets u all the tones that u want whereas to get the same tones in pedals u got to invest a Lot
-i hav myself switched from pedals to a processor for the above reasons.

 

so if ur gettin ur first electric then a processor is better?..cuz its more economic ryt..also the kind of music u play has a role?

 

Having an arsenal of pedals can be expensive, isolated power supplies aren't cheap either.
Not a lot of processors out there that do everything right or everything in itself either. Most dedicated rack units that do one specific effect can be difficult to replace with a stomp box. TC 2290 delay comes to mind here as do the expensive Lexicon units for reverb. Eventide offers stompboxes with their algorithms almost from their studio units but they usually cost about $499 new and have large power requirements. Fractual Axe-fx would be the one to get if you want studio quality effects that are flexible to use in any way or order.

The debate ends up being useless depending on individual needs. If all you want is a tuner, wah & OD pedal running in front of the amp turned up loud, then buying the most expensive processor out there for it is dumb. The cheaper processors are good to try out different effects without first buying dedicated pedals for them, that way you get to decide whether you are going to be liking and using a specific effect alot or not.

 

Jus to giv u an idea here is what most of the guys do. In the initial stage of learning they buy some low end guitar wit a cheap processor. Now after a year or So when u start gettin better and u understand the tone a Lot better then u Jus Dont like the tone from UR processor anymore coz u get exposed to Lot of different good high end procs and pedals during that time. And then they put up their old cheap proc for sale and buy pedals or a high end processor.

I Wud suggest if u hav the budget invest in a good processor right now. If not then save up and then buy. Dont rush. Or else if u Dont hav the budget then get a good amp ONLY.

Tell us UR budget and we Wud b able to help u better.

 

Comparing pedals to processors is not justified IMO as the processors these days like the Axe Fx, Eleven rack, POD HD series and many more offers amp modelling along with stomp box effects. So it's a different ball game altogether.
You want sound of a mesa boogie or any other expensive amp but you know you can't afford one, go for a processor. It'll get you closer to that territory. Most of the people who perform live use multi fx units as they are easier to carry rather than lugging the entire pedalboard along with the amp head. Saves them a lot of real estate as well.
And processors are not bad at all. With a little tweaking you can get any sound you want or at least close to that. There is nothing like a "ultimate rig". You'll always want more.

Keep GASing !

 

A counterview:

Processors are better anytime. Pedals are nothing but devices that try to get the sound that an amp does. There are a lot of pros and cons involved in choosing the processors or pedals. However, Processors are finicky digital computers. Anything can fail: code, firmware, chip etc. Slight failure and your processor become junk. Pedals will give limited tones but usable. And you won't spend/waste your time tweaking and playing with processor knobs.





I am all in for creating confusion. It leads to resolution of the conflict by the individual, not by the mob abound the individual.

 

I use both together (because of a limitation in the particular mfx i have). Sound wise the analog pedals win hands down but mfx are quite close. Digital stomp boxes are pretty much the same as a mfx, i.e both have DSPs running some code. I think its better to get a good mfx and then add few good analog pedals for the effects you like most.

For a first electric, i say spend the maximum share on the guitar and the balance on a mfx unit. Don't shy away from the seconds market.

In guitar world no gear is the only you will have (as long as you playing i.e.) and as mymusicmyguitar too has pointed out buy good stuff rather than trying to save a buck.

Do note if you are getting mfx chose your amp accordingly otherwise you may not get the desired tone.

Whats your total budget for guitar + amp + pedals/mfx ? Have you already purchased the guitar and amp ?

 

Guys above have already said a lot about the stuff and that's pretty much it,
Another reason why pros go for pedals is because they have all the control they want out of them as they can play with the tones of each effect individually and that's boundless scope for you if you are creative enough and plan to do play tones never heard before...
Many pros also choose pedals over expensive processors and rackmounts is because they don't need all the effects that mu fx has to offer and stick with conventional tones.

Let me tell you one thing, the tones in Multi fx processors aren't always sucky... Some high end rack mount effects processors, guitar workstations and guitar synths provide tones way superior than many pedals....

Pedals can also be modded to get the tone of your desire (although I doubt there's much scope regarding that in a country like India)..

Lastly, let me tell you something, there are plenty of pros out there who prefer to use stacked rackmounts instead of pedals... Many of them even include multi fx processors in their pedalboard (for example, Synyster Gates uses the Boss GT8, Kiko Loureiro and Dave Mustaine use the zoom G3 and so on)
So it always depends upon what you think about each of them....

But one thing is very obvious, as the others have said, you need to shell out a hell lot of money for superior tone, be it from pedals or multi effects... Pedals require a large power supply source (unless you got plenty of batteries) and are less ergonomic than mu fx processors...

 

"Dave Mustaine use the zoom G3" :RollLol: :RollLol: :RollLol:

 

I did see that in his gear on wikipedia or somewhere... I'm not joking....

 

Not in live gigs but there is a YouTube video DM demoing the G3. Another part is Zoom pays money to DM, they also have DM pedal so all that makes sense.

One more thing on the rockstars using pedals: When they started out playing that's what they had and i guess they don't want to change after 20+ years. I am sure the newer breed is more open to mfx's. I guess Motherjane use GT100

 

He endorses Zoom G2.1DM that's all. He get's paid and he don't have to use it. There are many people who endorses a product but never use it.

 

Not in the live gigs and not even in the studio and yes just for demoing.

 

And frankly i dont think G3 alone will be sufficient for live use. G5 on the other hand should be good for live use.

 

will u get a good processor wid sumtin around 10k?..i was thinking the digitech rp255..

 

jst for perspective..

Rig Rundown - Red Hot Chili Peppers' Josh Klinghoffer - YouTube

he is definitely a pedal guy...

 

Tonally speaking, the cheapest "good" processor i've used or played is the Boss ME 25... If you buy it now, it's gonna cost you at least 13ks (due to ruppee weakening)...

Digitech RPs don't strike too well tonally, same with the floor pod (at that price range) IMO.... They sound too "artificial"....
At least thats what I think...

I suggest you start looking for a second hand deal on an me 25, ax3000g, zoom g2 or g3... You should get them in very good condition within ur budget....

 

Zoom G3 is 12600/-. I had purchased it online in January this year. One of the local shops in Bangalore had quoted 11.5 for it back then. If you can increase your budget by 2k you will enter a different league of mfxs. Based on my experience around 5k is where mfxs start add 2k and you get expression pedal and more memory and interface options. upto 3 more k and you get a little more effects and a very minimal improvement in tone. It's only above 12k that the DSPs and Firmware start to improve.

To draw a parallel: i10 car ranges from 5L to 7L but even the top-end one is still an i10, at 7L i20 starts which is a category better. A lower end i20 may not have leather seats and BT Stereo but its got a better engine and tyres. Hope you get the drift.

NOTE: Make your decision on processor fast as due to the falling rupee the prices can shoot up by 20%

 

No point in investing 10k on a processor you're anyways gonna upgrade. Get a used Zoom G2 for 2-3k and be good for now. My 0.02$