Out dated effects?

Patrick2 · #1 10-26-2011, 12:57 PM

I'm a dinosaur when it comes to guitar effects and/or electronics. After not playing any guitar at all for approx 12 years, I started playing again approx 3 years ago . . . but, mostly jazz arch tops . . either without plugging in to an amp, or when I do plug in it's just me, the guitar, a cord and an amp. I currently have a DigiTech 944 Chain Reaction, rack mount, that I used "back in the day". It's at least 25 years old. Are they and the effects they produce pretty much out dated?

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #2 10-26-2011, 12:58 PM

What effects are you thinking of? I'd say, first of all, easy on the chorus.

Patrick2 · #3 10-26-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

What effects are you thinking of? I'd say, first of all, easy on the chorus.

Hey Big Daddy . . . yeah . . I knew I should have been more clear after I hit the "Submit reply" button. When I play jazz, it will continue to be just me and a cord. I used to love to cover some Allman Bros stuff, blues, classic rock . . . that sort of thing. That's what I'm using the effects for. I guess I could use the parametric EQ on the Chain Reaction 944 to tweak the desired jazz tone . . . but, I prefer to just go directly into the amp. I've got a few really nice jazz amps that need no assistance. Got an Evans, a 1970 Fender Princeton Reverb and a 1970 Pro Reverb, brought to black face specs. I do still pick up my Strats and Les Pauls (H150) occasionally . . as well as 335 (H535) type semi hollows. I can over drive the Fender amps without effects . . . but, I just though I'd take the temperatures of a few of you old rockers, like myself. I just haven't kept up with all of the technology.

jmstritt · #4 10-26-2011, 01:47 PM

I am not very familiar with the particular unit that you have, but I have had the chance to play around with several of the older Digitech rack units. I would say that to my ears (this is just my personal opinion) the modulation sounds have a very digitized 80's quality to them. That may or may not be what you are looking for. I would be wary of using it, beacuse to my way of thinking, such a unit would cover up the natural tone of your guitar and amp.

Processing has come a LONG was. You can buy a Boss ME-25 now for $200 and it will far outdo anything that you could have bought ten years ago at ANY price range in terms of sounding good, being user friendly, and all of the ins and outs.

Just my two cents,.

jorgemg1984 · #5 10-26-2011, 02:31 PM

In my experience some old analog pedals are great - but you do have a lot of companies that can get built you an original pedal with lots of variations - RATs or Tube Screamers are good examples.

For the digital stuff I don't see any reason for the 80s being better... technology should be much better these days! (although people do use Lexicon reverb racks a lot despite all the good reverb pedals that exist today.. that might be the exception!)

Soon · #6 10-26-2011, 03:39 PM

You have some great amps but you might be interested in a Fender Blues Jr. Gain set low you have a good jazz amp with built in reverb. Up the gain and your Les Paul will give you a good Allman Bros. crunch sound. Not very expensive for a tube amp.

NSJ · #7 10-26-2011, 05:19 PM

I have these three things chained together to my amp (Henriksen Convertible)

1. Delay
2. Reverb
3. Preamp (Semour Duncan Twin Tube)

The basic goal is to gently sweeten/thicken the tone, without OVERDOING it. Using these, in combination with the Henriksen settings, seems to do the job quite nicely.

I'm thinking of adding a Volume pedal to the proceedings, as well as a Loop pedal.

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #8 10-26-2011, 05:38 PM

Some effects defy being outdated!

YouTube Video

jorgemg1984 · #9 10-26-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSJ

I have these three things chained together to my amp (Henriksen Convertible)

1. Delay
2. Reverb
3. Preamp (Semour Duncan Twin Tube)

The basic goal is to gently sweeten/thicken the tone, without OVERDOING it. Using these, in combination with the Henriksen settings, seems to do the job quite nicely.

I'm thinking of adding a Volume pedal to the proceedings, as well as a Loop pedal.

Which delay and reverb? Loop pedal means LEHLE!

NSJ · #10 10-26-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Which delay and reverb? Loop pedal means LEHLE!

Electro-Harmonix delay and Reverb.

what is "LEHLE!". ???

jorgemg1984 · #11 10-26-2011, 06:47 PM

Lehle Gitarrentechnik PURE SOUND - NO NOISE - MORE TONE

Or you meant a loop station pedal? I thought you meant a loop for the delay and reverb (since the Henriksen doesn't have one)

NSJ · #12 10-26-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Lehle Gitarrentechnik PURE SOUND - NO NOISE - MORE TONE

Or you meant a loop station pedal? I thought you meant a loop for the delay and reverb (since the Henriksen doesn't have one)

Loopstation pedal.

jorgemg1984 · #13 10-27-2011, 04:33 AM

Oh my bad then, sorry. I like the RC-20 Boss pedal but I just use it at home for practice.

ooglybong · #14 10-27-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Some effects defy being outdated!

YouTube Video

Ha! I don't think I'd ever use the Ravish sitar pedal for any kinda straight-ahead jazz (my interpretation of that, I suppose, but never say never, right?). But for jamming around with rock-based stuff, I think it sounds interesting, and it seems to have pretty good sound quality for what it's trying to be—certainly when compared with past "sitar" FX.

Rez Abbasi plays an actual electric sitar on his albums (and others as a sideman) every now and then, but that's not "standards-based" jazz, either. I've tried an electric sitar by Rogue, but the intonation and sustain were problematic to say the least. I did play a Jerry Jones model years ago, and that one was spot-on and a blast to play. For those mildly interested in the sound, though, this pedal might actually suffice here and there.

Has anyone actually tried one of these Ravishes (sp?) in the flesh?

Larry