Robben Ford Discussion

[StratCat]

Hi all,

One of the things often discussed here is the pursuit of tone, mainly involving expensive amps etc.

However, there are certain instances where the use of an amplifier gets impractical. Sadly, many of us are dragged - usually kicking and screaming - into the world of the amp simulator (cue spooky music).

For me, 25% of my gigs are spent with a full band, usually on a roomy stage. So I get to use my trusty Kitty Hawk (all valve) rack system . Or my Rectoverb.

75% of my gigs are however spent doing duo/tri gigs, on small stages with barely enough room for a pedalboard let alone extra rack boxes and cabinets. The fact that I am also carting around the PA means not much extra room in the car either. And it's bloody hard trying to fit 2x60W of EL34 power into a mix with a sequencer.

So I resort to the amp simulator (actually a Boss GT3 Multi FX unit).



Now, it's a good unit, it sounds ok, and the sheer practicality of it makes it very much worthwhile. But I haven't fallen in love with it. I yearn for more tone...

I also use one of the new Yamaha MagicStomp boxes live for my Godin Nylon string and for the piezo bridges on my electric guitars, a use for which it works well. Have tried with "normal" electric guitar and it has better tone in the clean sounds than the GT3, but is otherwise impractical (not enough buttons).

I also have an old POD which is permanently attached to the computer.

Maybe on the more recent Boss/POD units, they've done a better job or given more options for better simulations, esp in the clean sounds.

Does anyone have any feedback on the later units? How about other equivalent units? Rocktron make a MultiEffects unit with a speak sim (but no overdrive sim) that I'm interested in - intending to use with my Kitty Hawk preamp. Or maybe buy a Mesa Recto Preamp...

Sorry to be so heavy on the gear list, but I guess I'm not the only one grappling with this issue. I fell in love with the Kitty Hawk stuff when I first got it, also with the Rectoverb and various guitars I've owned over the years. I'm just yet to fall in love or be completely satisfied with any of these amp simulator/multi fx units...

... so my search for the ultimate in *simulated* tone goes on.

Thanks - Chris
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because I rock, and that's important.

[iamthewalrus]

I have a friend who plays guitar in a small coffee shop every Sunday with a trio - drums (it looks almost like a child's kit!) and bass. They do an fusion imrov thing and my guitarist friend leaves his Marshall at home and uses a POD with pedal and a BF Princeton. Sounds absolutely great in that situation!

Cheers,
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iamthewalrus
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[telefunk1]

I jammed with a cat a few months ago who used a POD with a Tech 21 amp (with 1-12) - he was real happy with the setup and felt it gave him a ton of options. He does a variety of gigs, too, and needs the versatility.
I can't comment on his sound/tone because there were 5 guitarists on stage all playing at the same time (at least that is what it felt like). I checked the Tech 21 web page and they have a very cute 30 watt amp with a Weber 10 loaded.

[PierreL]

I have a POD xT, and it is a cool tool. Useful tones , some nice pedals sims, and the effects are ok. I have read that the Vox Tonelab was better for some aspects, warmer and more realistic, but I haven't tried it.

[Lou2]

I've used a POD onstage for a couple of years. I'm in a 5 piece, and also have the enviable duty of mixing the band (from the stage), so I need to hear the fronts- I can't have the luxury of a loud amp behind me since I have to hear the mix at all times. (5 vocals, 2 keyboards, bass and drums).
I recently decided to upgrade, and tried both the PODxt and TonelabSE. While nothing can really replace a real amp, the Tonelab is much closer in my opinion. While the POD has fairly good tone, the Tonelab has fairly good tone + feel.
It's in that nice area right between clean and crunch that the TonelabSE shows its stuff. It responds more like a real amp as you cross over that line. And that line is where I like to play- letting my picking style/attack and guitar volume push over into more drive. Very responsive.
My son who plays in the metal zone, finds the Tonelab a little too clean. For saturated distortion, the POD has more features and sustain, but it lets less of the guitar's personality come through.

"there are no wrong notes, only correct notes but played at a very bad time"