I've never really bothered with switchers before, but I'm now in a band that covers a lot of ground and I've realised I'm doing more tap dancing than I want to, so thought I'd dip my toe in the waters of pedal switchers. I've been doing some reading up and research, but was hoping for some more real world based opinions.
I'll have to build a new board around whatever I decide to go on, but the current board is as follows:
Tuner > Lightspeed (always on) > TS > Protein > Revival Drive Compact > Amp
In the effects loop I have:
Flashback > Hall of Fame (always on) > Spark Mini boost
I'd be looking to replicate the same set up, and utilise the separate/split of the Protein via the TRS option. Also, I'm looking to swap the Flashback with a Keeley Halo in the near future, so that needs to be a consideration.
Any ideas what switchers could help me with this? I'll be needing the ability to store pre-sets and change routing options etc.
I will say that I'm not flush with cash, so probably not at the GigRig level of switcher, alas.
This week's procrastination forum might be moved to sometime next week.
Comments
Only the ES-8 will let you swap the order of pedals though.
Since I started using a switcher I haven't looked back. There's so many options.
I have used my Duellist with the TRS to mono cables into two separate loops.
The FXL8 Pro is great, but you're limited to 4 into the loop, 4 in the front and you can't change the order.
I also have a Boss GT-1000 which is a multi-fx and amp modeller if I decide to go direct and not carry an amp with me.
Here is mine. Just got the Line 6 M5 so I need to learn how to control it with Midi.
There is video on YT of a guy who controlled his Halo via the ctrl outlet and a TRS cable might be worth checking out.
I have also seen people use the four cable method with the ES8.
flanging_fed “
Guitar -> Lightspeed (always on so no loop required) -> ES-5 in -> LOOP 1: TS -> LOOP 2: Protein 1 -> LOOP 3: Protein 2 -> LOOP 4: RD Compact -> LOOP 5: To amp input / fx send -> Halo -> ES-5 out -> HoF -> Spark -> FX return.
It's not perfect- you'd have to switch the Spark boost on and off separately (although the ES-5 can boost the output volume and as such might make the Spark redundant)- but it might serve.
If needed, you can add a second loop switcher device controlled by the ES-5. Bright Onion makes a dual loop controlled by a TRS input that could run off one of the ES-5's TRS outs. Alternatively, there are small MIDI controlled switchers with more loops. Still cheaper and more compact than an ES-8, although obviously you can't change the order of the loops in your "slave" switcher.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
Guitar --> ES-5 guitar input
-- "Pre" effect pedals sit here in the signal chain, connected into ES-5 loops
ES-5 loop send (whichever one you choose, they're moveable) --> amplifier guitar input
-- guitar preamp circuitry sits here
Amplfier FX send --> ES-5 loop return that you used earlier
-- "Post effect pedals sit here if you want them, in loops
ES-5 output --> more effect pedals if it's OK to run them at the end of your chain and you can use MIDI to turn them on/off
Last effect pedal --> Amplifier FX return
-- guitar power amp circuitry sits here
That's correct. The point about a decent switcher is that pedals can go anywhere and they are moved about by the logic on the switcher. So in the ES-5 you could go 1-2-3-4-5 or 1-3-4-2-5 depending on your whim. Some switchers have a dedicated FX loop, some just let you pick one and you decide where it goes in your signal path. For those switchers with limited loops, you might want to keep some effects, e.g. delay > reverb out of the loops and so you might have wah-input-1-2-3-4-5-output-del-rev and you can move loops 1-5 anywhere or use one of them for your amp send-return.
I sent mine back and bought a secondhand Gigrig G2 - and have not looked back. I think you'd probably get one even cheaper now that G3 has come along.
Some of the controllers also have TRS control so you can switch amp channels and the like.
Great bit of kit and will be able to do everything you described in the op. Dunno about other switchers but you need a minimum of 6 loops for your set up plus 1 for the 4cm which is the vol loop on the Boss es8. It’s simple and easy to understand once you have read the manual. I bought mine for exactly the same reason as you- programmability and avoiding tap dancing.
Since then I have explored the additional functionality and massively improved my sound. This includes:
Stereo or wet dry (needs another amp obvs)
Reordering pedals for specific patches
Parallel signal paths (2 pedals at once but separate)
Split signal paths for wet dry
Cleaner signals
Using a bank per song for multiple patches
Midi control of multiple pedals
Using the editor to organise all banks
Separate tuner out removing it from the chain (not that this was a massive problem anyway)
Mute function at gigs
Added benefit of having fun and enjoying geeky pedal shit.
Make sure you've a buffer pedal on. Job done.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.