Stomp Box vs Multi Effects Processor
September 21, 2008 by Chaz
Tech Education
I’m 15 years old and have been playing guitar for about three years. Recently, I’ve become obsessed with the vas array of effects on the market. I currently own a DOD flanger and a Vox distortion booster, but I’m hell-bent on getting a wah, delay, octave, phaser and a million others. My dilemma is that I don’t know whether to get a truckload of pedals or a single multi-effects processor.
I am willing to spend more money to purchase individual pedals, but I don’t want to if I can get the same sounds from a single unit. I was hoping that you could tell me the advantages and disadvantages of each, and if there’s a multi-effects of each, processor you would recommend. Thanks
Shane
xxxx@rocketmail.com
Good question, Shane. You would think a flanger’s a flanger whether it’s in a stand-alone box or one of several effects in a mutli-effects processor, right? Wrong! I can’t tell you exactly why this is, but to my ears stand-alone effects pedals always seem to have a purer, more realistic tonal quality than multi-effects units. And bet your ass the guys who make multi-effects boxes put plenty of research into making their all-in-one jobs more believable-sounding. Pedals probably sound better because their electronic circuits can be optimized to produce one sound, as opposed to a circuit in a multi-effects unit that has to produce many different effects and tones.
Recently, I reviewed the BOSS GT10 multi-effects processor, and was rather impressed by the quality of the sounds and the lack of “synthetic-ness” it possessed. Multi-effects boxes can be very useful in certain situations. For example, in a home studio it’s great to have a large variety of sounds to draw from and the ability to go direct so you don’t wake up the neighbors. As you pointed out, multi-effects processors are more economical in terms of how much you get for your money. Good sound, however, should always be a priority; worry about the quality of the effects, not just the quantity. All things considered, I’d take my time, build slowly, spend the extra dough and go for the pedals. Unless, of course, you’re loaded, in which case you should just buy everything.
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Been looking for articles to which I can convince myself whether to go for multi-effects or stomp boxes. The lines “Good sound, however, should always be a priority; worry about the quality of the effects, not just the quantity. All things considered, I’d take my time, build slowly, spend the extra dough and go for the pedals.” motivates me to go for single pedals. Nice article! Cheers!
That’s right. While effects processors are decent for anyone who want a bunch of effects without much cost, stomp boxes are the better way to go in the long run.
What are the top effects that you want to buy first?
Hi, thanks for your reply. I would like to start with reverb, delay and distortion and currently looking on these effects:
- Electro Harmonix Holygrail Reverb
- Boss DD-5
- AC Booster
- Ibanez TS9
Would appreciate if you could comment and recommend some other effects you think is good to have.
Cheers!
I was thinking about buying the Boss ME-70. I ve been playing guitar for over 2 years and i want ilarge variety of boss effects. Would you recomend me this over single effect stompboxes.
I was thinking about buying the Boss ME-70. I ve been playing guitar for over 2 years and i want ilarge variety of boss effects. Would you recomend me this over single effect stompboxes. Thanxs.
In the long run (and if you don’t mind spending the extra cash), you should go with the stomp box effects. But it really depends how serious you are about your guitar playing gear. The Boss ME-70 is fine too, but the stomp boxes offer more in the long run.
Well is that its for my b irthday present but Im not really between the ME-70 or a stompbox, Im between a Marshall Mg50fx and the ME-70. What would you recomend me.
Hail,
Playing for 15 years and had 2 multieffects, Digitech Rp-6, RPx-400 Rp-6 @old-school@ was fantastic 10 years ago and still is. Rpx-400 sounds crap but is good as home studio. I’ve used to tried few different multieffects but now have BOSS stompboxes and never ever sounds better. Of course good tube amp i nice gear do the job and main thing is You. For home use i have: Epiphone custom with emg’s pickups, Fender champion 600 5w tube amp – louder than hell !!! BCB-60 pedalboard and from left to right: RC-2,RV-5,CH-1,DS-1,MT-2,AW-2,MT-80(tuner) for effects incl pedal board i’ve spent 330 pounds (ebay) Normally will cost me around 500 just had luck
top multiefect for ex. BOSS GT-10 will cost You 300 second hand. So it looks like more less same money for it just need to be patient and looking for bargain !! Good luck
Hello everyone, I’ve been playing for about 11 years now. For a hobbyist, i would recommend multi effects pedal. But for performers/regular musicians with gigs, i would suggest individual pedals. They’re much sturdy and would last a lifetime. The buttons on multi effects normally goes bad first. You could lose your patches on a live gig in case of sudden power outage by any means on multi effects. It doesn’t sound good not unless you bring your own amp on a gig. Individual stompboxes has detailed, accurate and warmer sound.
Ive been playing guitar for about two years now and I have a Zoom multi effects pedal. i tested it out and compared stomp box pedals to it, and i couldn’t seem to tell the difference in sound quality. In my opninior, i love multi effects pedals because you dont need to worry about hooking up stomp box pedals in the right order to get the best tone, you dont have to worry about different cables breaking. If you do get a multi-effects pedal, it’s very important to match it with the right amp. I matched my zoom pedal with a raven half stack, and it is sweet.
The half stack gives a good chunky sounds and the pedal always add’s that extra kick im looking for.
Also another benefit i think is that you can make an effect patch you want with a mix of distortion chorus and reverb or w.e, and can save it in. that way live (you need your own amp that you made the effect to match with) instead of going down to adjust your pedals for the next song, you can just simply click a button to the right patch.
My first pedal was a Zoom and I didn’t really like it. Once i started playing gigs and recording the sound began to seem a bit synthetic, though that isn’t to say yours is the same one or sounds bad. For the last few years i’ve been playing through a digitech and i’m again ready to upgrade, and not sure of what to get.
Options seem to be buying a heap of individual Boss pedals and linking them (which could get annoying) or a Line 6 M13 which is a stompbox combo… i’ve heard mixed reviews about this pedal though. A boss GT10 is also an option, but i havent played one yet…