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Posted by: Becca Jun 9 2014, 05:11 PM

a few weeks ago when we were discussing the train wreck that is my pedal board , I was advised to get a switching system to stop my tap dancing routine when playing live and changing pedals. I am going to get one eventually but I have no idea how they work. What is the sort of things I need to bear in mind when buying one? I assume the peds all plug into the switching system and that I can select some peds on one switch and others on other switches. How does it know to do this? Will I have to change the 6" patch leads I currently use for something else? What can you guys tell me about these systems.

Posted by: Spock Jun 9 2014, 05:26 PM

Are you using stomp boxes? If so, there is a really cool unit you can get that will engage multiple pedals at once, and you can have different configurations. One of my friends has one and I had considered it myself, but eventually went with using a Line 6 unit.

I have forgotten what it's called, but I've put in text message to him about it and will let you know as soon as I hear something back.

Posted by: Becca Jun 9 2014, 05:38 PM

QUOTE (Spock @ Jun 9 2014, 04:26 PM)

Are you using stomp boxes? If so, there is a really cool unit you can get that will engage multiple pedals at once, and you can have different configurations. One of my friends has one and I had considered it myself, but eventually went with using a Line 6 unit.

I have forgotten what it's called, but I've put in text message to him about it and will let you know as soon as I hear something back.

hi Spock. yes I am using stomp boxes, mostly analogue, I'm an old fashioned gal.

I think my EHX Memory Man is digital but the others are all analogue. I dont know if that makes any difference. actually I am not sure if the EHX Riddle is analogue or not. I always thought it was but I can't be positive.

Posted by: Spock Jun 9 2014, 07:32 PM

Here it is...

Carl Martin Octa-switch

Posted by: Becca Jun 9 2014, 07:56 PM

QUOTE (Spock @ Jun 9 2014, 06:32 PM)

Here it is...

Carl Martin Octa-switch

That is exactly the sort of thing I have in mind. So I could patch say my comp plus my Rothwell OD into one switch. Would I then be able to use , say my comp in combination with my tremelo unit in another patch? How many peds could I put on one patch? See, I have no idea about these things. I like the price of the Joyo unit that I have seen but apart from specs I cannot find any info on its day to day use. Thank you Spock, for sourcing all the info above. you are a top man

Posted by: Spock Jun 9 2014, 08:10 PM

I'm pretty sure that once you get everything plugged in, you have 8 switches that can be configured to any pedal combination you like.

Posted by: Becca Jun 9 2014, 08:17 PM

QUOTE (Spock @ Jun 9 2014, 07:10 PM)

I'm pretty sure that once you get everything plugged in, you have 8 switches that can be configured to any pedal combination you like.

Thats really cool. er, I just checked the price on that Carl Martin Octaswitch.

Here in the UK a second hand one on ebay is over £300!! A tad rich for my taste I fear but I have no doubt its a top quality piece of kit. I guess you use the digital multi effects gear, How are finding it?

Posted by: Spock Jun 9 2014, 08:36 PM

Yes, I love having the Pod HD500X. It was a learning curve to get it hooked up an working with the Marshall though, but I got it figured out. I still have all my pedals, just keep them in a drawer. It seems every few years I want to go all analog, but the deciding factor for me was because of the exact issue you are having with your pedals.

I was either going to have to get one of these units or bite the bullet and learn how to bypass all the preamps in the Line 6 and only use it's effects in the effects loop of my amp. I also liked the Pod because it is a great stand-alone unit. It's a little more expensive at $500. Here's the thread in which I like to pull all my hair out trying to understand the process...

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=51483

I guess for anything, whether Mutli-FX pedals or something like the Octa-Switch unit you're going to have to spend at least $300, I haven't found a way around that. Even a smaller Line 6 or Boss is $30o on the low end.

Good luck though. Finding the right FX for you and how to incorporate them into your set-up is as much of a never ending process as learning guitar is.

Posted by: Becca Jun 10 2014, 03:03 AM

QUOTE (Spock @ Jun 9 2014, 07:36 PM)

Yes, I love having the Pod HD500X. It was a learning curve to get it hooked up an working with the Marshall though, but I got it figured out. I still have all my pedals, just keep them in a drawer. It seems every few years I want to go all analog, but the deciding factor for me was because of the exact issue you are having with your pedals.

I was either going to have to get one of these units or bite the bullet and learn how to bypass all the preamps in the Line 6 and only use it's effects in the effects loop of my amp. I also liked the Pod because it is a great stand-alone unit. It's a little more expensive at $500. Here's the thread in which I like to pull all my hair out trying to understand the process...

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=51483

I guess for anything, whether Mutli-FX pedals or something like the Octa-Switch unit you're going to have to spend at least $300, I haven't found a way around that. Even a smaller Line 6 or Boss is $30o on the low end.

Good luck though. Finding the right FX for you and how to incorporate them into your set-up is as much of a never ending process as learning guitar is.

Jeez Spock that link totally twisted my mind. I guess the hard work is in setting up how you want it for max results. It certainly seems to me that you are getting the most out of it. I am an analogue girl i suppose. Thats why I had to ask about the loop switcher. It all seems like witchcraft to me.Anyway I wont be getting one anytime soon now, my hubby got towed back home today due to the radiator blowing out in the car

That's an unexpected bill we could do without. DAMMIT!!

Posted by: Spock Jun 10 2014, 12:01 PM

OUCH!!! I know that feeling.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 10 2014, 03:09 PM

Hi Becca, there is a cheaper option by joyo, and I heard good things from them. I have some Joyo pedals and do their job very well.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jun 11 2014, 04:19 PM

Here's a quick video showing how to make presets on the GEC438 Loop Switcher:-

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 12 2014, 07:08 AM

Bingo!! The joyo pedal switchers have good built quality and and they are much cheaper than many other options You could of course start with a used mult fx unit and foot pedal controller. For example, I bought a Digitech mult fx unit with a midi control pedal for only $150 which is about the price of the joyo 8 channel effects switcher

The plus about a multi fix unit is that you can have, for example, a different delay setting on your clean channel than you have on your lead channel. That's one of the BIG limitations about a pedal board. Unless you put two delay units on it, you get one delay setting for everything. One Distortion setting, for everything, one chorus setting for everything. It's always struck me as extremely limited. That said, I actually use both I use my pedal board for very specific stuff to add to certain patched in 11 Rack For example, if I want TWO OVERDRIVES in one patch. I use the 11 Rack overdrive, then I stomp on my boutique FUHRMANN pedal overdrive as well

QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Jun 10 2014, 10:09 AM)