Older tech mfx - what are you using that's still good?
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I have some newer stuff (HX Stomp, Kemper, etc.) but I still have my old Axe FX Ultra and my even older Digitech GSP1101. They still do the job and still sound very good.
I still love the Tonelab as you know ... also fixed an AD120 head the other day and enjoyed playing through that.
Yamaha Magic Stomp is still great, as is Alesis Q20
I'm not a fan of the Pod Go though still own one, or Helix or the Kemper, not tried the Quad Cortex. For modern digital I like Nux.
If it sounds "solid" and doesn't have any strange artefacts when I play distorted chords with more than a root and 5 then I'm quite happy. And the old stuff does that so it's fine for me.
Yamaha Magic Stomp is still great, as is Alesis Q20
I'm not a fan of the Pod Go though still own one, or Helix or the Kemper, not tried the Quad Cortex. For modern digital I like Nux.
If it sounds "solid" and doesn't have any strange artefacts when I play distorted chords with more than a root and 5 then I'm quite happy. And the old stuff does that so it's fine for me.
still use one of these, Ibanez UE400:
Another vote for the Digitech gsp1101
Strymon Iridium - it’s been out for five years now. With better IRs loaded it sounds surprisingly good.
Its a good piece of kit to be sure but it's an amp/IR modeller so I wouldn't really call that old tech* or an mfx though.(* It's only a year older than Pod Go) .richardhomer said:Strymon Iridium - it’s been out for five years now. With better IRs loaded it sounds surprisingly good.
I missed my Boss ME5 so I bought another. It wasn't as good as I remembered.
Some of those old Zoom units had some suprising good sounds .. I was doing monitors for an Elvis tribute show once and the guitarist was using one for clean slap back sounds .. sounded great
My reliable Zoom G3.
At the time it was the only mfx unit I could find that has a looper, a drum machine (that actually syncs with the looper), could do preset/stompbox mode (which is independent of the looper so you could switch presets w/o interrupting your loop), has loads of amp sims where you can swap cab sims, has 3x independent screens for each stompbox within view, the list goes on. For a digital unit its not power hungry and was cheap brand new too.
In fact I struggle to find a cheap mfx unit today that can do all of the above. The G3 for me is the perfect mfx unit every built (for my needs).
At the time it was the only mfx unit I could find that has a looper, a drum machine (that actually syncs with the looper), could do preset/stompbox mode (which is independent of the looper so you could switch presets w/o interrupting your loop), has loads of amp sims where you can swap cab sims, has 3x independent screens for each stompbox within view, the list goes on. For a digital unit its not power hungry and was cheap brand new too.
In fact I struggle to find a cheap mfx unit today that can do all of the above. The G3 for me is the perfect mfx unit every built (for my needs).
I had listed my old Ibanez PUE5 (1980s analogue multiFX) here and on Ebay and Facebook, but no-one wants it.
Then just for a laugh I set it up - 4CM with wet/dry amps and it's awesome again. :) The digital delay is ropey TBH, but the rest are classic Ibanez FX that people pay proper money for: CP9, SD9 and CS9.
Then just for a laugh I set it up - 4CM with wet/dry amps and it's awesome again. :) The digital delay is ropey TBH, but the rest are classic Ibanez FX that people pay proper money for: CP9, SD9 and CS9.
Yes i forgot that one as well, excellent bit of kit especially after they updated it to have 6 effects. It was also the first one i ever used that allowed you to put the effects in any order.LionAquaLooper said:My reliable Zoom G3.
At the time it was the only mfx unit I could find that has a looper, a drum machine (that actually syncs with the looper), could do preset/stompbox mode (which is independent of the looper so you could switch presets w/o interrupting your loop), has loads of amp sims where you can swap cab sims, has 3x independent screens for each stompbox within view, the list goes on. For a digital unit its not power hungry and was cheap brand new too.
In fact I struggle to find a cheap mfx unit today that can do all of the above. The G3 for me is the perfect mfx unit every built (for my needs).
Agreed. And way better IMO than the subsequent G3n that out of 6 blocks required two blocks for an amp and one block for a cab. Quite a few effects inc an EQ took two blocks too.thecolourbox said:Yes i forgot that one as well, excellent bit of kit especially after they updated it to have 6 effects. It was also the first one i ever used that allowed you to put the effects in any order.LionAquaLooper said:My reliable Zoom G3.
At the time it was the only mfx unit I could find that has a looper, a drum machine (that actually syncs with the looper), could do preset/stompbox mode (which is independent of the looper so you could switch presets w/o interrupting your loop), has loads of amp sims where you can swap cab sims, has 3x independent screens for each stompbox within view, the list goes on. For a digital unit its not power hungry and was cheap brand new too.
In fact I struggle to find a cheap mfx unit today that can do all of the above. The G3 for me is the perfect mfx unit every built (for my needs).
Came here to suggest the previous generation Zoom stuff, but you've all beat me to it! Still use my Multistomp plenty. G3 was a fantastic product. Some of the tones were great - standouts include the Rat, Sweet Honey Overdrive, a few of the fuzzes, the tremolo, reverse delay and reverb, Carbon copy delay and the autoswell is fantastic.
Preferred the tone/sound quality to the Line 6 stuff at the time (M9) though L6 had the edge with usability. Still holds up, imo.
Preferred the tone/sound quality to the Line 6 stuff at the time (M9) though L6 had the edge with usability. Still holds up, imo.
I Still have a Roland GP100 From 95.
Its racked up and ready to gig,
Live wise its been my main processor since then.
It still sounds great to my ears and i often get compliments on
the sounds from it, All be it, its had nearly 30 years of Tweaking !
Its racked up and ready to gig,
Live wise its been my main processor since then.
It still sounds great to my ears and i often get compliments on
the sounds from it, All be it, its had nearly 30 years of Tweaking !
I use the Zoom G5 on every gig. I actually have two because I broke a screen on the first one, and also the patch change buttons are malfunctioning. Sadly, on the second one, the left right buttons stopped working this week, but you can use the foot switches to do the same functions and they are solid.
I use one patch only setup this: fuzzface, tremolo, vibrato, bend, digi delay, spring reverb, chaos delay.
It’s mainly the chaos delay I keep it for, as I could get better versions of the other effects from individual pedals. It saves me from getting into cork sniffing and posh pedalboards, which are let’s be honest, for the pleasure of the player, not the audience!
As far as sound quality- it’s fine. A bit digital into a desk, but lovely through a tube amp. I have to get my drive sounds from external analogue pedals as the models on the zoom are all crap except for the fuzzface and the big muff.
As far as sound quality- it’s fine. A bit digital into a desk, but lovely through a tube amp. I have to get my drive sounds from external analogue pedals as the models on the zoom are all crap except for the fuzzface and the big muff.
I bought the newer version which had more convincing drive pedals but sold it because it didn’t have the chaos delay.
If I’m playing pit shows I do it all with the zoom, because sound quality doesn’t matter so much when your guitar is as quiet as a wasp’s fart. I tend to use the Guvnor model for dirt, and the detune model for chorus. The wah effects are great too and the real tube boost just makes it all sound fatter if you’re going into something without tubes.
I know some people here love the Vox Tonelab - I had one for years and used to tour with it. I used a big Roland midi foot controller with it and used to go straight to desk or into hired backline. I used to get lots of compliments on the sound.
I know some people here love the Vox Tonelab - I had one for years and used to tour with it. I used a big Roland midi foot controller with it and used to go straight to desk or into hired backline. I used to get lots of compliments on the sound.
When I used it at home and for recording however, I eventually became dissatisfied with harsh artefacts in the distortion. I tried different 12ax7 tubes in the power amp, but nothing seemed to solve it, and I assumed my ears had just tuned into it.
If only Zoom would make the chaos delay into an individual pedal…then I’d be happy.
If only Zoom would make the chaos delay into an individual pedal…then I’d be happy.
Me being ‘ironic’ about how soon this stuff becomes ‘obsolete’. Clearly a ‘65 Deluxe, an AC30 or a Plexi would be considered ‘classics’ - yet in digital terms the Iridium is ‘old hat’.Voxman said:It’s a good piece of kit to be sure but it's an amp/IR modeller so I wouldn't really call that old tech* or an mfx though.(* It's only a year older than Pod Go) .richardhomer said:Strymon Iridium - it’s been out for five years now. With better IRs loaded it sounds surprisingly good.
I had a G5. Sold it, bought a G5n, sold it and got a G5 again but sold it again. I made a decent profit on every sale too.Littlejonny said:I use the Zoom G5 on every gig. I actually have two because I broke a screen on the first one, and also the patch change buttons are malfunctioning. Sadly, on the second one, the left right buttons stopped working this week, but you can use the foot switches to do the same functions and they are solid.I use one patch only setup this: fuzzface, tremolo, vibrato, bend, digi delay, spring reverb, chaos delay.It’s mainly the chaos delay I keep it for, as I could get better versions of the other effects from individual pedals. It saves me from getting into cork sniffing and posh pedalboards, which are let’s be honest, for the pleasure of the player, not the audience!
As far as sound quality- it’s fine. A bit digital into a desk, but lovely through a tube amp. I have to get my drive sounds from external analogue pedals as the models on the zoom are all crap except for the fuzzface and the big muff.I bought the newer version which had more convincing drive pedals but sold it because it didn’t have the chaos delay.
I quite liked the G5 but it had insufficient floor control. Some folk had modded it though with an additional footswitch section which was very cool. I liked that you could kick in an adjustable tube driven gain boost and or looper in any patch independently of other patch settings.
Although the G5n sounded better and had better floor control, Zoom went backwards because everything had to be programmed per patch (gain boost and looper were no longer global). Amp and cab models that took up a single slot in the G5 took 3 slots in the G5n, and loads of single slot fx in the G5 now took up two slots in the G5n. So the 9 slots could be used up really quickly.
Although the amp, distortion and cab models weren't the best in the G5 they were adequate, and the fx were reasonably decent. I don't remember the chaos delay, but it was many years ago.
Yup, they dropped the ball on the G5n. The G6 is not well loved either. I hope they listen to customers for the next generation.Voxman said:I had a G5. Sold it, bought a G5n, sold it and got a G5 again but sold it again. I made a decent profit on every sale too.Littlejonny said:I use the Zoom G5 on every gig. I actually have two because I broke a screen on the first one, and also the patch change buttons are malfunctioning. Sadly, on the second one, the left right buttons stopped working this week, but you can use the foot switches to do the same functions and they are solid.I use one patch only setup this: fuzzface, tremolo, vibrato, bend, digi delay, spring reverb, chaos delay.It’s mainly the chaos delay I keep it for, as I could get better versions of the other effects from individual pedals. It saves me from getting into cork sniffing and posh pedalboards, which are let’s be honest, for the pleasure of the player, not the audience!
As far as sound quality- it’s fine. A bit digital into a desk, but lovely through a tube amp. I have to get my drive sounds from external analogue pedals as the models on the zoom are all crap except for the fuzzface and the big muff.I bought the newer version which had more convincing drive pedals but sold it because it didn’t have the chaos delay.
I quite liked the G5 but it had insufficient floor control. Some folk had modded it though with an additional footswitch section which was very cool. I liked that you could kick in an adjustable tube driven gain boost and or looper in any patch independently of other patch settings.
Although the G5n sounded better and had better floor control, Zoom went backwards because everything had to be programmed per patch (gain boost and looper were no longer global). Amp and cab models that took up a single slot in the G5 took 3 slots in the G5n, and loads of single slot fx in the G5 now took up two slots in the G5n. So the 9 slots could be used up really quickly.
Although the amp, distortion and cab models weren't the best in the G5 they were adequate, and the fx were reasonably decent. I don't remember the chaos delay, but it was many years ago.
@Littlejonny the G6 isn't a bad unit, and it has some nice features, but it's just way underpowered and runs out of DSP far too quickly.
The G11 has some great features too but again even this is too underpowered. Aside from 5 or 6 decent quality special amp models and IRs that together use up 50% of its dsp, the other regular amp models are meh. Zoom are sadly way behind the curve with mfx, with offerings that are too little, too late and (for the G11), over priced.
The G11 has some great features too but again even this is too underpowered. Aside from 5 or 6 decent quality special amp models and IRs that together use up 50% of its dsp, the other regular amp models are meh. Zoom are sadly way behind the curve with mfx, with offerings that are too little, too late and (for the G11), over priced.
Likewise. It was a pain to edit, it lacked some of the modern features we've come to rely on (eg an onboard tuner) and the overdrive/distortion really didn't sound as good as I thought it would.Sporky said:I missed my Boss ME5 so I bought another. It wasn't as good as I remembered.
I've just acquired an ME-90, for several reasons concerned with the limitations of my (as I'm sure you all know ;) ) favourite ME-50. This afternoon I spent a fair bit of time comparing them.
The ME-90 doesn't sound as good into an amp. It does have some very useful features that the ME-50 doesn't though, so if I keep one or both it will become a decision based on whether I need both for different jobs, or whether I can live with the compromises of sticking with just one or the other.
That's interesting... the distortion models on the Boss units - especially the ME-50 - are very good, *except* for the Big Muff and fuzzes, which are shit.Littlejonny said:
I have to get my drive sounds from external analogue pedals as the models on the zoom are all crap except for the fuzzface and the big muff.
I also remember the reverb being better, especially the gated.ICBM said:Likewise. It was a pain to edit, it lacked some of the modern features we've come to rely on (eg an onboard tuner) and the overdrive/distortion really didn't sound as good as I thought it would.Sporky said:I missed my Boss ME5 so I bought another. It wasn't as good as I remembered.
It was always the Fuzz Face and the MXR Distortion + models on there I really loved in the drive section, albeit I've had both "real" pedals since and neither really sounded the same. But they sounded good!ICBM said:Littlejonny said:That's interesting... the distortion models on the Boss units - especially the ME-50 - are very good, *except* for the Big Muff and fuzzes, which are shit.
I have to get my drive sounds from external analogue pedals as the models on the zoom are all crap except for the fuzzface and the big muff.
It also still looks really cool. Mine lives in a flight case, because obvs when it was new mere mortals couldn’t afford one.Sporky said:I also remember the reverb being better, especially the gated.ICBM said:Likewise. It was a pain to edit, it lacked some of the modern features we've come to rely on (eg an onboard tuner) and the overdrive/distortion really didn't sound as good as I thought it would.Sporky said:I missed my Boss ME5 so I bought another. It wasn't as good as I remembered.
I have a BE-5 too. Which is fun, but not brilliant.
Atomic Amplifire. I must be pretty much the only one left
Can't say I'm using it now, but up to the point where I stopped recording a couple of years back, I was still using an old TC G-Major (first version). Fabulous, sparkly stereo delays and some great modulation effects that I just couldn't get from my HX Stomp.
I've got a Korg A3, '80s rack unit most famous for the U2 "Mysterious Ways" envelope filter/flanger/distortion preset.
It's really cool. All of it. The digital distortions, the fixed chain ordering, the lack of headroom, the lo-fi reverbs, the beautiful chorus sound... I love it so much. I'd take the Korg A3 chorus & reverb over anything in the Line 6 ecosystem, for example.
It's really cool. All of it. The digital distortions, the fixed chain ordering, the lack of headroom, the lo-fi reverbs, the beautiful chorus sound... I love it so much. I'd take the Korg A3 chorus & reverb over anything in the Line 6 ecosystem, for example.
My main fx unit is a Zoom MS-70 CDR (with an original TC Flashback) and that's got to be about 12 yrs old now and it's served me well and for quite a few years and I used a Boss ME-50 in a function band for years.
I also have a Zoom G1Xon and Zoom B1Xon (this one I use direct or as a back up to my bass amp)
I also have a Zoom G1Xon and Zoom B1Xon (this one I use direct or as a back up to my bass amp)
I keep looking whimsically at my 25+year old zoom 3030. But, I don't think I can be arsed to bother with it. I don't think I ever good any killer tones from it. I'd always fall down the playing with the settings rather than playing the guitar. Oddly, I have a far more modern mfx and although infinite more complex, I don't spend as much time trying to perfect the settings. I should sell the zoom really.
Game changers in their day!
I agree about the Zoom G3. It's still great for headphone practice thanks to the looper and drums. And the "space" block is really good to fatten out the sound for headphone use. And the whole thing runs on a few AA batteries.
But just because gear is older tech doesn't necessarily mean it's still not good.
I'm still gigging with old tech which for me are my Vox Tonelab SE and LE units simply because these still sound and feel great, are built like tanks and are just so easy to use with real knobs and selectors. Plus these have long, thick heavy duty PSUs that have a mid cable transformer with on/off switch and a standard mains plug ie no ugly, awkward wall wart. Restrictive in lots of ways of course, but forces you to be bit more imaginative to get the best of what you have.
So it got me thinking if others on here were also still using older tech, and if so what and why they still liked it and haven't been tempted to the 'darkside' of a modern mfx?