Author Topic: Guitar harmonizers? (Read 4013 times)

AngusYoung01 · « **on:** May 15, 2008, 11:54:25 AM »

Does anyone know a good quality harmonizer at all?

Basically, something that will play as I do, a third (for example) up. All I know of is the Eventide Harmonizer, and at £950, thats pretty steep.

What would be a good alternative?

Roobubba · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:01:53 PM »

I think my G2.1u multi-effects unit has a harmonizer. Also an Intelligent harmonizer which you can set to the key you're playing in. It's far from perfect sounding, but it's not totally horrific!

But that's probably not what you're after :(

Roo

gingataff · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:26:27 PM »

How about a Boss PS-5?

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:31:42 PM »

Will that play my original guitar signal at the same time, so as to create the sound of two guitars?

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:50:25 PM »

What about a Digitech Whammy? It's a Harmoniser but and it's also good for octave, chorus and Whammy!

HairyChris · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:51:47 PM »

The PS-5 will, it has a wet/dry balance... I've got one, fwiw. It's OK for subtle effects but the intelligent shifting has some very tight usage parameters.

I'd definitely recommend trying before buying but it might do what you want. In fact, if you do and decide to buy drop me a line as I don't really use mine much & could probably be persuaded to let it go on the cheap..! ;)

Roobubba · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:52:46 PM »

Angus, the Zoom effects unit does play the original note as well.

Roo

waves · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2008, 12:53:47 PM »

Quote from: Canadian Steve

What about a Digitech Whammy? It's a Harmoniser but and it's also good for octave, chorus and Whammy!

The whammy would harmonise it, but it wouldn't be intelligent, it would just stick a note however many cents above each note played in.

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2008, 01:13:12 PM »

Quote from: HairyChris

The PS-5 will, it has a wet/dry balance... I've got one, fwiw. It's OK for subtle effects but the intelligent shifting has some very tight usage parameters.

I'd definitely recommend trying before buying but it might do what you want. In fact, if you do and decide to buy drop me a line as I don't really use mine much & could probably be persuaded to let it go on the cheap..! ;)

I'll definitely check this out then. So it's quite a clever bit of kit?
And I'll try it, and let you know

And Thanks Roo, but I'm not a fan of Zoom at all, I'm more after a single dedicated unit, like the Boss. Cheers anyway though man :D

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2008, 02:27:54 PM »

Quote from: AngusYoung01

Does anyone know a good quality harmonizer at all?

Basically, something that will play as I do, a third (for example) up. All I know of is the Eventide Harmonizer, and at £950, thats pretty steep.

What would be a good alternative?

There is no alternative to the Eventide, just as there is no alternative to a Lexicon. These are benchmark products made by companies that specialize in one area of digital effects.

If you're recording, there still is no substitution to playing the harmonies yourself. I have a BOSS PS5. The only setting I like is Detune, which isn't a harmonizer.

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2008, 02:36:32 PM »

On record, I'll record two guitars the traditional way, but I want to recreate those harmonies live too. Basically, we're kicking the rhythm guitarist out of my band because he can literally hardly play the guitar, so it'll just be me. He couldn't play anything (and mimed alot too) so it's not like he cpould have played harmony with me anyway.

But for live playing, will the Boss unti work fine?

Roobubba · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2008, 02:38:09 PM »

no sweat, Angus! It's certainly not a high-quality effect, but as with all of these multi-effects units, some of the effects can be really quite good. I do use my zoom all the time, but for my plain distorted sound, I basically have it on bypass (not quite, but not far off), as the sound of the pickups through my amp/cab is just so brutal as it is :)

Good luck finding something!
Like TO said, the best way when recording is to play the harmony yourself on another track, but clearly that's not something you can do live (in some cases)!

Roo

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2008, 02:50:08 PM »

Cheers dude :D I just don't want to come across as an effects snob or anything :lol: Just prefer the old school stuff.

I'll be honest, I want an Eventide, but there's no way I'll ever afford one

waves · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2008, 03:25:09 PM »

You could re-write all your songs so that every time there were guitar harmonies there is also the riff one time before. Then, you could use a loop station!

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2008, 03:36:34 PM »

Erm, no :lol:

Author Topic: Guitar harmonizers? (Read 4013 times)

TwilightOdyssey