GT-8, XT Live, Digitech GNX 3000, KorgAX...........?

[Dakine]

Sam,
my opinion is the amp modelling is pretty useless unless you use headphones,powered speakers or a neutral amp like a keyboard amp. That being said the GT8 is still way more tweakable but the Tonelab may have a sound edge.

With effects, I say Boss hands down.

[sambo]

hmmmm

yer what you were saying about modelling useless unless blah blah blah.. check this out

http://www.bossgtcentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4982

the kx1200 keyboard amp they talk about is only like £166... and seeing as im on an amp hunt... i was thinking:

tonelab or GT-8

+

kx1200

=

awesome

[Dakine]

Sam,
you certainly could go that route (bear in mind if you play live venues you could run the effects straight through the PA).
Seeing as you are 15yo and have the patience/interest of said age I think this may be a great idea.
I can tell the enthusiasm you have for your Zoom and the GT8 makes that look like a Christmas Cracker prize.
The effects and amp/cab/mic'ing possibilities of the GT8 are HUGE and would certainly entertain you for a long long time.
Also, if later you start playing more gigs and decide on an Amp you are only out the keyboard amp (if thats how you went) as the GT8 is still a great effects unit.
I had'nt thought about it, but in your situation and knowing you a little, I think you would love that combo and get ALOT of pleasure from all you could do with it. And let's face it, this whole thing (music) is about having FUN! or should be.


Nick

[Dakine]

Sam
this is just hearsay/somthing I read but, I read Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) only has amps on stage for show and actually goes through an amp modellor into the PA system.

[sambo]

yer i really am starting to see the advantages of this way now. like you said lol it would be like some kind of christmas present... id sit there all day figuring out EVERYTHING there is to know bout the GT-8... i always do that, i love to find out how to do things- reading manuals lol how boring.


and like you said, the keyboard amp is all i would lose....

plus, standalone amps (valve ones- which is what i would get) are a new thing to me... and although im eager to jump on the bandwagon that may not be the right thing for me... especially as im still discovering what exactly im into playing....

i think im most likely gonna go down this route now... i could have the gt-8 and/or the keybord amp by the end of the easter hols!!!!

[Kilby]

plus, standalone amps (valve ones- which is what i would get) are a new thing to me... and although im eager to jump on the bandwagon that may not be the right thing for me... especially as im still discovering what exactly im into playing....

i think im most likely gonna go down this route now... i could have the gt-8 and/or the keybord amp by the end of the easter hols!!!!

Another experimentation route would be this http://www.behringer.com/IAXE393/index.cfm?lang=ENG which they allege will be £93 inc vat

Nope I'm not taking the p1ss by the way, as I suffer from new toy syndrome (though much effort is saved by not having money to spend on them).

Though their delivery dates where pretty off the mark when they released their current pedal range.

Rob...

[Dakine]

Sam
why not do this (and I wish I had had these opportunities/choices at your age myself).
Download the GT8 manual from the web

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/_support/om.cfm?ln=en&dsp=0&iCncd=692&iStcd=4

and then this user guide

(Boss GT-x setup)
http://www.bossgtcentral.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=1

And have a read. It will be alot easier than anyone trying to tell you what it can/cannot do.

Then, you will have a better idea.

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/options.php?id=8371

some amps here that have been recommended.

Also, read this (stereo effects are easy)
http://www.thestompbox.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=10

Knowing what I do about you, I think this may entertain/have more fun, with this type arrangement at your point in life.

Nick

[sambo]

wow for 93 bloody pounds thats AWESOME..... of course it may probably sound like shitee.... but who knows...

[hunter]

I agree with Tinus' post earlier on. The Tonelab rocks. Speaker sims aren't hell fantastic but deliver good enough results. Check some of the clips on my other thread, which are all TLab onto Harddisk http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3356

In the end it's matter of taste, on the Line6 stuff, I miss richness and complexity, they sound a little lifeless to me.

[Searcher]

vox tonelabs are supposed to be very similar/almost on a par with the GT-8's.... anyone ever cmpared the two?

Yup.  I played through the GT-8 and a few other effect units before buying the ToneLab SE.  IMO, there's no better amp modeller out there at the moment than the Vox ToneLab SE.  I am able to pick the difference between the POD Pro gear and a real amp in blind tests and I was happy with the Vox.  I hate most effects units and amp modellers bug me most of the time, but I liked the Vox.  It even feels like a tube amp to play through--I can't say that about any other modeller.  The ToneLab is the only modeller ever to have a valve in the power stage, rather than the preamp.  This may account for its authenticity.

The Digitech stuff is the worst I've tried.  And I didn't just try it in a shop; I took it home with me over night and played it like crazy.  Real nasty sounds, IMO.  The effects might be ok through a decent amp, but the modelling is awful.

The POD stuff does heavy sounds better than the Vox does, I think.  The Vox is more suited to clean and overdrived sounds (similar to Vox amps, I suppose).

The BOSS GT-8 is very complex.  There's no competition between it and the Vox when it comes to programability.  If you want a diverse effects unit, look no further.  Again, I'm not that thrilled with the amp modelling, but to be honest I didn't get to mess with it as much as I'd like to.

My order of preference, for what works for me:

Vox ToneLab SE
POD XT Live
BOSS GT-8
(I haven't tried the Zoom or any other recent stuff)
Digitech GNX





Or was it a GT-6 I tried . . . ?  Hmm. It's been a year now.

[sambo]

hmmm

thing is i need diversity because im not really decided on a specific style of music i play yet....

if i was using my head i guess maybe i would say vox cause my band is a 'classic rock' sound and that would make sense....

but then i personally prefer harder rock-metal and even my band is starting to dabble in that now...

how does the POD compare to the Boss and Vox in general?

and im looking at primarily the pre-ampness of these units NOT the effects cause im probably gonna be selling my amps to run whichever unit i get through a keyboard amp or PA type system...


i know where i can try most of these units- in Coda near me... so some time in the holidays ill pop over there to check em out

[willo]

I thought you were getting an ENGL?

[sambo]

so did i  :?

ive confused myself

[sambo]

im not sure now....

anyone been converted from amps to modellers or other way round?

apart from maybe the authenticity issue, what are the pros/cons of each way? (real amp or modelling that is)

[willo]

so did i  :?

ive confused myself

he he...well my best opinion would be, sure be aware of all the options, but (and I really don't mean to sound nasty here) take most of what people say on here with a pinch of salt. Don't disregard it, but remember that all we have are our personal opinions which invariably differ from person to person. It's not that any one piece of kit is better than an other; simply that one person prefers it. But it might be that one thing works for you that works for no-one else. I think the problem with the internet is that, for musicians, it has encouraged us to buy things without trying beforehand, and sometimes this leads to disappointment - a great pedal that doesn't work with one person's particular amp, for example. I know I've had my fingers burnt!

So just take your time and try to 'try before you buy'. :)

IMO, the best bet out of what you have currently listed is the ENGL. I think, in all honesty, if you bought a digital unit, in 2 or 3 years time you'd be wanting a valve amp - particularly if you spend time around the internet where almost everyone will tell you that valve is better (I would agree with that, but the point I'm trying to make is that with so many people saying that, you might find yourself wanting a valve amp in the near future). Plus, if an amp can do tight distortions and sparkly cleans, that's about all you're ever going to need, and it seems like the ENGL can do that.