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Advice for a simple and nice rack mounted Multi FX

#21
I'll buy it used for sure. I just hope the G-Major has the same "mode" as the G-Force allowing me to choose bass as main input.
If the G-Major does have that feature, I'll go for it.

You ditched your SVT for the Axe? Did you emulate an SVT sound with the Axe? Is it so convicing?
 
#22
Once I got used to the adjustment in going from a tube SVT with 8x10 to a full range stage rig, I've been loving it ever since, and life is so much better, at least for me.

In fact, for quick grab and go gigs, I use the ZOOM B-3 a lot, and you'd be surprised by the comments I get from musicians in the audience who are trying to figure out where & what the heck my bass amp is. LOL.

Here's a little demo I did a while back on the AxeFxII showing the straight feed DI bass followed by the AxeFxII SVT Model with cabinet simulation (direct recording):



You can peruse my Soundcloud page for various oddball things I've recorded direct off of the AxeFxII over the last few years.

Here's a link to a quick demo video I made using the older AxeFx Ultra and a Crown power amp driving an SVT Classic 8x10 cabinet, using an iPad2 built in mic. It's representative of the way this rig sounded in my rehearsal space, although the recording is very low-end deficient. (this is a downloadable file).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Though I really love the 8x10 cab (now, for rehearsals only, not gigging), it's just overkill for live use. But the sound of the cabinet is awesome.
 
#24
@baxter_x

No, not when used with the real 8x10 SVT cabinet. The biggest adjustment is in how a fully modeled amp/speaker sounds going through a full range speaker system that is typically used for sound reinforcement rather than as a bass rig. It's different. Traditional bass speaker cabinets are quirky in how they resonate and how the speakers radiate sound. Full range PA speakers are designed to reproduce sound faithfully.

When you use speaker cabinet emulation through a full range cabinet, you have to understand that what you're hearing is technically more like listening to a mic'd speaker cabinet through a high quality PA system, or a studio control room. So when using full range cabinets on stage, I'm hearing a very close representation of that amp/cabinet emulation through those speakers, which is quite different sounding and feeling than it would be using the actual SVT 8x10 cab, for example. Not better or worse, necessarily, but different. Better in the sense that it is more controllable, though, and a lot lighter and modular since you're no longer beholden to the actual amp/cabinet to produce "your tone". Instead, you are attempting to simply amplify (on stage or FOH) the tone that lives "in the box" that you've created.
 
#28
baxter_x said:
Yes I have, especially the SPX. But I chose the G-Major as I thought both of these devices were a bit too "vintage".
Click to expand...
They certainly are. I've had a QuadraverbGT since they came out sometime last century! Although it is the GT version, I bypass the preamp as it is pretty poor, but the digital effects are superb especially with the treble/melody side of the Stick . What really makes it stand out are the parallel processing, routing and mixing options.
 
#30
baxter_x said:
I felt like I needed something a bit more "advanced" than simple echo/reverb. The G-Major also has a Octaver, compressor...
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but it is not a simple unit by any means. The Quad does 5x simultaneous pitch shift up to +36 semitones to -24 semitones (you can set up second-inversion minor 7+9 chords if you really want to), flange, phase, chorus, delay, reverb, tremolo/pan (all stereo), detune, 5-band parametric or 11-band graphic EQ and ring modulation all of which can be independently mixed. Plus pretty much any of the effects parameters can be patched to MIDI continuous controllers. Apart from the compressor, which is poor, the GT on paper at least looks very similar to the G-Major. :-)
 
#32
baxter_x said:
... you lost me on that one ;)
Don't forget my expectations in effects are quite simple.
Click to expand...

haha! That wasn't my intent - I was just answering your thing about wanting to do octave / pitch-shift effects - I thought for a moment that perhaps you were confusing the Quadraverb with the Midiverb, which only does reverb, delay and chorus/flange-type things with only 2 editable parameters per effect. For all it's complexity, the Quadraverb is quite easy to operate and has some pretty good patches out of the box to get you going.

Still, you have settled on the G-Major which, on paper at least, looks like a really cool 'Quadraverb for the 21st century'. How are you getting on with it?
 
#33
SteveCS said:
How are you getting on with it?
Click to expand...

I am absolutly happy with it. Great effect unit, despite things I've read. I like pretty much everything, especially the fact that I can control the mute, bypass, and EQ of my SVT 4 Pro from the unit. But he bypass of the unit is perfect, no loss at all! So I don't have to bypass the unit from the amp, I use a preset without any effects.
Effects are great. I'm still messing with it for the moment until I really settle to what I want to hear.
The only little negative thing is the tuner, it doesn't grab the low E and B. But it's not a real problem for me as I tune the A and then use the harmonics on the 5 and 7 fret to tune the E and the B.

All I need now is a nice MIDI controller. I'm thinking about the Voodoo lab ground control.
For a first time in serious multi-effects unit, it perfectly fits to my needs.

I found this review on the board and the guy didn't seem to like for some reasons:
G-Major by TC Electronic review | TalkBass.com

I guess it's mainly due to misuse of the unit. Especially if you use it in a parallelFX loop. The G-Major is better suited for direct use between the preamp and the power amp as stated in the manual.
 
#34
baxter_x said:
I am absolutly happy with it. Great effect unit, despite things I've read. I like pretty much everything, especially the fact that I can control the mute, bypass, and EQ of my SVT 4 Pro from the unit. But he bypass of the unit is perfect, no loss at all! So I don't have to bypass the unit from the amp, I use a preset without any effects.
Effects are great. I'm still messing with it for the moment until I really settle to what I want to hear.
The only little negative thing is the tuner, it doesn't grab the low E and B. But it's not a real problem for me as I tune the A and then use the harmonics on the 5 and 7 fret to tune the E and the B.

All I need now is a nice MIDI controller. I'm thinking about the Voodoo lab ground control.
For a first time in serious multi-effects unit, it perfectly fits to my needs.

I found this review on the board and the guy didn't seem to like for some reasons:
G-Major by TC Electronic review | TalkBass.com

I guess it's mainly due to misuse of the unit. Especially if you use it in a parallelFX loop. The G-Major is better suited for direct use between the preamp and the power amp as stated in the manual.
Click to expand...

Indeed - I use my Quad between pre and power amp (actually it gets there via a mixer, but that is neither here nor there). I find the ability to parallel mix the various effects and select various routing options really gives these units the edge over stomp-boxes in series - it sounds like you are finding the same thing.
 
#35
Absolutly! The ability to swith between diferent routing is very useful. For example, I was experiencing strange behave with the octaver. Little sounds arctifacts and strange behave of the effect. I switched to parallel or semi-parallel, and it was done! Nor more issues.
It's way more simple than with a bunch of pedals.
I also have to say I'm suprised by the sound quality. I've compared the octaver with my Boss oc2, as digital pedals are known for producing "better" quality effect. And I haven't noticed much diference. It was just the same.

I think I'll post my own review of it soon ;)
 
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