Multifx...wherefore art thou?

[Kloppsta]

I have searched high and low and come up fruitless in my search for a multi fx unit.

Yes I know there is the new Helix, the GT100, the FX8 and even the Line 6 M series but none of them seem to tick all the boxes that I need!

It’s strange because my needs/desires are actually very simple. I would have thought I would be among the masses wanting the same thing, but it seems I am actually quite unique! Haha

All I want is a multi fx unit that replicates / replaces my pedalboard which in and of itself is not too complex I think?

Do need
- I will be running directly into the front of my amp (no 4CM nonsense or fx loop business)
- Reverb & Delay are taken care of by other pedals running in the fx loop of my amp
- I want to be able to run all (below) effects simultaneously if the desire strikes
- I want to switch each effect on and off, just like a pedalboard
- I want DSP bypass (i.e. the effects trails naturally decay after the effect is switched off)
- I would prefer a built in expression pedal (although not a deal breaker as I can use an external one if needed)
- An easy UI would be nice! I would prefer not to be menu diving all day. Quick tweaks on the fly with dedicated knobs/switches would be ideal
- A decent software editor would be the icing on the cake but not a necessity

Dont need
- I don’t need amp, cab or mic modelling
- I don’t need the unit to be a USB recording / reamping interface etc.
- I don’t want to spend FX8 / Helix kind of money for features I don’t need and won’t use
- I don’t want to compromise too much on quality (tone wise and hardware wise – i.e. Line 6 M series with is dodgy as foot switches and very sub-par dirt pedal algo’s)
- I don’t need external loop switching, patch changes or MIDI implementation etc.
- I don’t need a built in looper or tuner

The pedalboard I am trying to replicate is:

(Guitar) - Volume > Wah > OD > Fuzz > Comp > Whammy > Octave Down > Phaser > Univibe – (Amp)

I am starting to feel like such a product simply does not exist! I know there is the FX8 which ticks all of these boxes and more, but I don’t want to spend that much. Budget is + or - $1000.

For all you gear junkies and retail pro’s in the know, I would LOVE to hear from you if you know of a suitable candidate?! Cheers!

[H671]

Why not check out some of the Zoom range, I use an older model Zoom GFX-5 and a G2.1u.
The Zoom G7.1, G9.2 and later have the ability to switch off some of the modules and I think that the latest
models G3 & G5 allow you to change the order of the effects. These all have dual purpose volume/whammy pedals.

[jeremyb]

I think you should buy back all the individual pedals you sold, or the axefx's you sold LOL

Do you have a decent(ish) laptop? something like bias effects on that with a usb midi controller? multifx unit OD's and fuzzes are always a weakness tho' IMHO.

[rickenbackerkid]

Have you had a look at the TC Electronic G system or even the smaller one, Nova System. Does almost everything on your list. No Fuzz though.

[hamo]

Have you had a look at the TC Electronic G system or even the smaller one, Nova System. Does almost everything on your list. No Fuzz though.

That's what I was going to suggest, based purely on what Lawrence gets out of his. No wah/whammy pedal though.

[Kloppsta]

Why not check out some of the Zoom range, I use an older model Zoom GFX-5 and a G2.1u.
The Zoom G7.1, G9.2 and later have the ability to switch off some of the modules and I think that the latest
models G3 & G5 allow you to change the order of the effects. These all have dual purpose volume/whammy pedals.

Thanks for the suggestion! I have looked at the Zoom G series but felt again its primary focus was the amp modelling side of things and the effects came in second. I wasn't too impressed (i know, hard to judge based on video demos) with the effects quality. Also not enough foot switches to replicate the pedals i had on my board. (i know you can change banks) i am after a unit that has enough foot switches to replicate the signal chain (in my OP) with 1 effect per foot switch. I dont care for scrolling through banks etc.

[Kloppsta]

I think you should buy back all the individual pedals you sold, or the axefx's you sold LOL

Do you have a decent(ish) laptop? something like bias effects on that with a usb midi controller? multifx unit OD's and fuzzes are always a weakness tho' IMHO.

Dont tempt me. nah, im done with the axe fx and modelers for now.

I had considered a laptop/BIAS setup but too many extra cables and dont want to have to rely on a laptop etc. plus, i dont have a decent enough laptop anyway.

[Kloppsta]

Have you had a look at the TC Electronic G system or even the smaller one, Nova System. Does almost everything on your list. No Fuzz though.

thanks for the suggestion. i have checked the TC stuff out. as hamo pointed out, no wah/whammy on the Nova system.
the g-system is just a bit too big and bulky for my taste. also, its getting a bit long in the tooth now. not a fan of the TC user interface either, its overly complex in my limited experience. not sure that Wah, OD, Fuzz and Comp are strong points for it either?

[Conway]

Boss GT100 would be your best bet, wouldn't it? $899 new.

[handsoffmatt]

To be honest, I don't see why the GT100 won't do what you need.

[Kloppsta]

Boss GT100 would be your best bet, wouldn't it? $899 new.

i had hoped so! but alas, doesn’t fit the bill from what i can tell. It gets about 90% of the way there.

For some reason, Boss decided that they would give you 8 effect slots (perfect!) but some of them are dedicated to certain effects (i.e. Reverb, Delay, Chorus). All of which I don’t need and Boss won’t allow you to change those slots to another effect type.
So you can’t change the chorus effect slot to a pitch shift effect if that makes sense. To assign other effects they only give you FX1 and FX2 slots. So essentially I would have to find a way (not sure it’s even possible) to squeeze Volume, Wah, OD, Fuzz, Comp, Whammy, Octave, Phaser and Vibe out of like 4 or 5 effect blocks and wouldn’t be using the dedicated reverb, delay, chorus etc. effect blocks. So it’s almost like buying a BMW M3 and putting space saver tyres on it. Its capable of so much more but I would be handicapping it but cutting its legs off.

[Kloppsta]

To be honest, I don't see why the GT100 won't do what you need.

Matt, as above (in my reply to Conway) i may very well have misunderstood how the GT100 works.
could i in fact assign each of the 8 foot switches to the following effects?

Expression pedal = Wah
FS1 = OD
FS2 = Fuzz
FS3 = Comp
FS4 = Whammy (to engage + disengage and expression pedal controls the effect)
FS5 = Octave down (i.e. Boss OC2 style)
FS6 = Phaser
FS7 = Vibe
FS8 = Tuner or spare?

[jeremyb]

I assume you've checked out the HD500X?

[Slowy]

The pedalboard I am trying to replicate is:

See, there's your problem right there.

[Kloppsta]

The pedalboard I am trying to replicate is:

See, there's your problem right there.

Isnt that what multifx units are for?