Multi-mods vs individual pedals

BintyTwanger77

Currently have a Mobius covering modulation, and an H9 which covers some pre-dirt mod (mainly filter) and pitch. Just wondering whether moving to individual modulation pedals is worth it: it will give me more options for stacking, but wondering how often mod stacking will happen. It's also, very importantly, a question for me as to whether individual mod pedals will sound better, or whether I should just stick with what I have. A couple of pedals I've seen can cover more than one (Glou Glou Rendezvous, CB Wombtone and Warped Vinyl). Mods-wise, on both the Mobius and H9 (although the H9 certainly has other uses), I mostly use filter, phaser, vibe and trem, with only the occasional bit of chorus for Cure/Cocteau Twins sounds, and the occasional bit of rotary/leslie.

What are everyone's experiences? Do people have individual mod pedals or multis, do you stack different types of modulation a lot, or is that a rarety in the sounds you use?

meltedbuzzbox

For the best possible sound I think individual pedals always trump multi's. 
However for praticality I use a MD500 and a H9. 
I cant say I ever stack mods that often. I tend to use vibrato with a few things on the H9 and maybe a touch of dimension C. 
But I don't stack phasers or anything. The stereo electric mistress does chorus and flanger together and that sounded nice but I have never mimiced it out side of that pedal. 

When I record stuff though, if I have a moogerfooger that does the effect I want I will always use it over everything else. 

Gadget

Why switch?

Keep your Mobius for now and just buy / borrow some separate mod pedals to try as an alternative.

If separates works better for you, sell the Mobius.

If the Mobius works-out best, you still have it.

BintyTwanger77

Gadget said:

Why switch?

Keep your Mobius for now and just buy / borrow some separate mod pedals to try as an alternative.

If separates works better for you, sell the Mobius.

If the Mobius works-out best, you still have it.

That was how I was looking do it, just test the waters but hold on to the Mobius for the moment.

robinbowes

meltedbuzzbox said:

For the best possible sound I think individual pedals always trump multi's. 

Not always. Sometimes.

R.

Gadget

BintyTwanger77 said:

Gadget said:

Why switch?

Keep your Mobius for now and just buy / borrow some separate mod pedals to try as an alternative.

If separates works better for you, sell the Mobius.

If the Mobius works-out best, you still have it.

That was how I was looking do it, just test the waters but hold on to the Mobius for the moment.

The only trouble is (if you're like me), you'll like both, end up keeping both and have an even emptier wallet

BintyTwanger77

Gadget said:

BintyTwanger77 said:

Gadget said:

Why switch?

Keep your Mobius for now and just buy / borrow some separate mod pedals to try as an alternative.

If separates works better for you, sell the Mobius.

If the Mobius works-out best, you still have it.

That was how I was looking do it, just test the waters but hold on to the Mobius for the moment.

The only trouble is (if you're like me), you'll like both, end up keeping both and have an even emptier wallet

Yes. Yes, that is a distinct possibility...

Ah, who needs to actually pay off credit cards these days? 

lasermonkey

I like my flange to sound like flange and my chorus to sound like chorus, so I've never been much of a fan of those Mistress-type pedals that are kinda half and half. I also always have chorus after flange, as it removes any metallic harshness and adds extra swirlies to the whooshing, my favourite combo being the Boss BF-2 followed by a CE-3 in stereo.
Mmmm. Swooshy.

BintyTwanger77

meltedbuzzbox said:

For the best possible sound I think individual pedals always trump multi's. 
However for praticality I use a MD500 and a H9. 
I cant say I ever stack mods that often. I tend to use vibrato with a few things on the H9 and maybe a touch of dimension C. 
But I don't stack phasers or anything. The stereo electric mistress does chorus and flanger together and that sounded nice but I have never mimiced it out side of that pedal. 

When I record stuff though, if I have a moogerfooger that does the effect I want I will always use it over everything else. 

I suppose stacking mods might be interesting if you’re recording, but it would seem to matter less playing live.

Roland

I think there’s always going to be a live vs recording divide on this. Ease of switching vs sound quality

BintyTwanger77

Roland said:

I think there’s always going to be a live vs recording divide on this. Ease of switching vs sound quality

Do you think the nuance of stacking modulation pedals can be lost in a live context?

robinbowes

I think the nuance of most of the stuff most guitar gearheads obsess about is lost in pretty much every context

Doesn't mean it's not fun though. I still GAS for pedals even though I don't use them (I use a Helix). 

R.

Teetonetal

Considering what you have with h9 and mobius switching to individual pedals will equal little to no sound quality gain and potential expense.

It's an awesome rig. Quit worrying about it and use it.

BintyTwanger77

Teetonetal said:

Considering what you have with h9 and mobius switching to individual pedals will equal little to no sound quality gain and potential expense.

It's an awesome rig. Quit worrying about it and use it.

Not worrying but pondering 

Teetonetal

BintyTwanger77 said:

Teetonetal said:

Considering what you have with h9 and mobius switching to individual pedals will equal little to no sound quality gain and potential expense.

It's an awesome rig. Quit worrying about it and use it.

Not worrying but pondering 

Then quit pondering! It causes holes in wallets!

BintyTwanger77

Teetonetal said:

BintyTwanger77 said:

Teetonetal said:

Considering what you have with h9 and mobius switching to individual pedals will equal little to no sound quality gain and potential expense.

It's an awesome rig. Quit worrying about it and use it.

Not worrying but pondering 

Then quit pondering! It causes holes in wallets!

SIR YES SIR! (also, worth a LOL)

sgosden

robinbowes said:

I think the nuance of most of the stuff most guitar gearheads obsess about is lost in pretty much every context

Doesn't mean it's not fun though. I still GAS for pedals even though I don't use them (I use a Helix). 

R.

The nuances of different modulations are lost on a crowd. They all just make the guitar sound "a bit wobbly". 

thomasw88

I ditched all my mod pedals when I got a mobius. Never felt any desire to go back.

Roland

BintyTwanger77 said:

Roland said:

I think there’s always going to be a live vs recording divide on this. Ease of switching vs sound quality

Do you think the nuance of stacking modulation pedals can be lost in a live context?

Definitely

vasselmeyer

I think the Mobius is one of the best mod pedals on the market, despite its age. Mines going nowhere. With that and an H9, you can cover pretty much anything you could imagine.

Sporky

meltedbuzzbox said:

For the best possible sound I think individual pedals always trump multi's. 

I think it's more like a game of rock-paper-scissors-snake-thingy-spock.

For any given modulation pedal you can probably find one that's "better", and eventually it goes round in a circle and you have a spiral of betterness.