I'm looking for a new toy - one of those all-in-one guitar multi-fx units with amp simulation , an expression pedal and a headphone socket.
Mainly something to practice with at home using headphones.

I've seen Zoom, Digitech, Behringer and Korg models and checked out reviews on Harmony Central, but still undecided. Think I'm leaning towards the Korg AX1500G, tho' Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanx!

I have the Korg and I like it. About the only sound I haven't been able to really get out out of it is a super-crunchy rock sound, but I bought a Boss Metal Distortion pedal and hooked it up to the Korg and that solved that.

I had the Johnson J-Station and it was awesome. Never had the pedalboard, but it was a great multi effects for the price. And then I bought the Zoom pedal board w/expression pedal and was totally let down on the sound. TOOO bzztytzy digital.

And THEN I bought a PODxt and I am happy. It cost more than the others, combined, but you will be happy. And you can grow with it. It's pro-level. Why buy something that you'll get rid of in a year?

Thanks for the advice.
I'd love a Pod XT, but where I live it's going to set me back US$500, whereas the Korg is only US$150.
I'm a failed musician who went and got a 'proper' job years ago. Don't need anything pro-level, this ain't going any further than my spare room!

yonipuja said:

Well. I'd suggest grabbing a J-Station off of ebay for $75 and buying a crybaby wah. But that's my opinion. The Zoom seemed to be more suited for metal or painfully-clean jazz crap, but nothing in the slightly-dirty range. No SRV or Sly Stone tone (that's what I call the slightly dirty amp tone - from "Thankyou...") but the J-Station could dial up some killer stuff, and the bass amp models were flat-out incredible.

Go here:
http://www.soundclick.com..._music.htm

and check out OH FACE. Those are all J-Station models, the clean, dirty and bass sounds. IS IT SO BAD is also all J-Station I think. Again, it's that slightly-driven fender tone that I just couldn't find on the Zoom, the Korg (Pandora) or some of the others. The POD does a decent job, but for THAT tone, I like the J-Station more.

Good luck!

beauhall said:

You've described one of the tones that's really important to me here and confirmed what I was thinking when I heard a friend's Zoom distortion. Very helpful.

Hmm, wasn't aware of the J-Station as an option. The major music stores here in Japan don't carry it. Looks like they had a Japanese distributor at one point so I might be able to pick one up second hand. Thanks again!

Boss GT-6.

I'm a big Boss fan, but I have to give it to the Vox Tonelab SE. Best sounding unit on the market in the price range.







bigger pic for close up

If you're looking for a new "toy" literally, I suggest the Zoom 505II. Probably set ya back about fiddy bucks.
[Edited 7/11/05 12:31pm]

BlaqueKnight said:

That's kewl. I've never seen that.

The gt-6 has some kewl vox reproductions.

Line6 now has POD XT Live, which is cheaper than the POD XT, and includes a pedalboard.

Been using the Boss Me-50. It's cool, though i like my Crybaby wah-wah (which I hook up to) better than the one that comes with the unit.

I have a zoom mark11 which is cool, loads of features! The best bit is that you record onto a flash card then concert and burn onto cdr. Oh it also has a drum machine in it!

ME-50 is great if you are a BOSS fan,

Don't know much about Korg, though the prices are usually good,

I also have a bedringer V-Amp floor based effect unit, its cheap, and again loads of amp sims & effect,

After all that I still prefer stomp boxes only from BOSS!!

There's nothing like seeing a row of BOSS pedals, ready to be played...

The Blues Driver -BD2- is currently my favorite

Thanks for the info, BK. I've been doing a lot of 'net searching on VOX amps 'n stuff, 'cause I've been listening to a lot of Brian May/Queen this week. I love his sound.

I'm gonna check that unit out...

JesseDezz said:

I totally agree

JesseDezz said:

Cool. The reason for the "warmth" is because as far as I know, they are the only company that puts a tube in their effects preocessor. If you click on that pic I posted above, you can see it on the processor behind the plastic on the front. The newer Vox amps (the Valvetronix series) stomp all over the Line 6 amps because of the combination of digital & analog technology. I don't knoww why the other companies aren't following suit since the hybrid route is clearly the way to the best of both worlds, but oh well...I plan on picking one up myself in the next couple of weeks.

yonipuja said:

I have the Digitech- what's cool about that is it has the built in drum machine,
I would recommend the expresion pedal as the Digitech has some of the Whammy effects on it.