Current guitar rig - 2011
By popluar request I am uploading a picture of my current guitar set up for all those who have been asking.
It is extremely simplified this year, after far far too much pedal hoping, tone 'suck' of all those pedals and general discontent.
Plus getting fed up of carrying around a massive pedalboard and case!
All this fits nicely into the EHX Pedalboard bag!!
Pedal choice and why
- Electro-Harmonix Micro Q tron
I simply love, it really does help give you the funk
- Tc electronic Nova System bk
is simply amazing, as those of you who know my gear, I have been using a G-Major since 1999, and the Nova System is the G-Major in pedal form (ish), it improves on a number of features, includes a fantastic analog drive channel. It just makes life so easy, the way the patches are laid out, the fact you can switch effects in and out like individual pedals. The sound quality is out of this world (although I am well aware that it is not to everyone's taste as it is pristine! The delays are simple wow! Sadly missing are filter effects, but to be honest in the G-Major they were quite weak anyway, not like the Q-tron!
- I have swapped my Jim Dunlop Crybaby for a Vox V847 Wah Pedal
over a year ago, I was only my 3rd Crybaby and was still having problems, I like the sweep of the Vox more to be honest!
- Blackstar HT-DUAL Valve Two Channel Distortion
, why? Well reason one....two extra channels on the amp, reason two.... two extra channels :) Also it has a nice valvey sound, but because I can do classic crunch and searing lead in the same pedal, enuff said!!
I have had all this gear for a while now I will be continuing my reviews again as it has been a while since my last one.
I love my Marshall JMP-1 andMarshall EL34 50-50 to bits, but as I mentioned, taking a 4 unit rack (with TC-Electronics G-major and Behringer FCB-1010 foot-controller) and Marshall 1936 2 x 12 cab, floor switch and pedals was just getting a bit much, I knew there had to be an easier, lighter, and smaller solution. Enter the Tech 21 – Trademark 60!
I have been using the Trademark 10 and Sansamp GT2 for many many years, and think they are great in the studio (and the Trademark 10 can hold it’s own at most rehearsals!), but obvsiously it is a bit small for a gig. So last year I picked up the Trademark 60 after getting rid of the Line 6, and I haven’t looked back. I have written a full review on the Trademark 60, click here for details. It is an amazing amplifier, and does have 90% of the sounds I am looking for (doesn’t do metal metal to well….but then again I am playing less of that these days!), so I am very content!
I have also been gigging with the Blackstar HT-5, which i really love, it is an amazing amp. Been only 5W it sounds amazing when itis cranked, but running clean, there is just not enough clean headroom sadly. I have been using it mic'd up and fed through the monitor, but at one gig there was a slight issue with the multicore and my channel went down and the amp just couldn't cut it, I might not as well of been playing. So in hindsight best to use a more powerful amp. I am keen to get a valve combo, and i am currently looking at the Orange TH30 1 x 12 combo, Cornford Roadhouse 30W 1 x 12, Egnater Tweeker and Blackstar HT--40. Sadly it is difficult to try out some of the amps in Manchester, and I am not sure how I feel about buying an amp on spec, but the Cornford does look amazing, and I would love a Cornford!
Currently my set-up goes as follows
Ibanez/ESP –> Pedal Board consisting of……
Any questions, just fire them this way!
Peace
Neil