Let's talk live guitar Rigs

[BCy2k]

BC,

I use a Mesa 50/50 with a TC electronics Gmajor and a Mesa TriAxis.

Yea - I consider the Triaxis THE ultimate guitar preamp. It is officially my "Plan B" if this Prophesy pre/fx unit doesn't make me feel all warm & fuzzy. We'll see. The tones I'm getting from my Dean Markley as a preamp certainly don't suck, so the minimum standard to beat has been set.

I remember when the G Major came out. It was right after I bought a used G Force - LOL. To me, the G Major seemed like WAY MORE bang for the buck compared to the G Force. So does the G Major give you instant, glitch free sound changes? I've never played one. I've played through the M-One (I think that's the name - the TC delay/reverb). That was my only issue with the G Force - sound-wise it was very cool though.

[cmangeot]

I use the Mesa Abacus foot controller to change my patches, and experience 99.9 seamless changes.  I used the Gminor foot controller in the stompbox setting (you can add an effect or boost a patch for solos) and got a totally seamless change, but when I added the GR20 to my rig, I got rid of the extra foot controller.

I am this close to buying a TC G System........I love the flexablility of the stomp effects.

After my last post, I trolled e-gay for a Digitech GSP 21 like the one I used in the 90's, and I scored one with a foot controller for $50 bucks.....hahahaha.....not bad for the old practice amp!

[Roland_G303]

I also trigger a GR-1 and GR-33 for some songs. It's a lot of work
trying to play synth as well as normal guitar parts!!! I can't say I recommend it!

That's when the real fun begins .  I haven't used the newer Roland gear, but is there a foot switch to activate the synth side?  My old school Roland gear requires me to physically turn the synth side on via a potentiometer on the guitar.  A blast live .

Patrick

[tubescorcher]

Hey Patrick,
I use a Godin LGX-SA when I'm using the synth. I can either toggle it on with a switch or fade it in with my pinky with the volume knob. That guitar also has some believable piezo sounds. Not my favorite brand but still a nice guitar!!!
Peace

[michaelkaufman]

How much time have you spent programming the G-Major??

mk

[BCy2k]

Well - the new rig worked just fine at the gig. Very fun and great to get to see loads of old friends. As I suspected, Dave & Steve were very surprised to see me - LOL.

And of course this Prophesy preamp showed up yesterday - hours before the gig. I didn't bother trying it out until after the gig. My first impressions are it will do the job, but I've got plenty of programming and additional tweeking ahead of me.

[cmangeot]

MK,

I have spent a lot of time with my G Major....why do you ask?

[tubescorcher]

For those who use pre-amps. Has anyone ever checked out the Hughes & Kettner Access? I saw Larry Mitchell use one at a demo back in the early 90's. It sounded incredible!!!! I've been trying to score one but they've really held there value and are pretty pricey.

[BCy2k]

I REALLY like Hughes & Kettner stuff. I have a Tubeman in my studio that I use a lot for direct recording into the computer. It's the newer 3 channel one with the swirled metallic case. It's a seriously great sounding preamp.

I've seen Their Access pre - I've never had the pleasure of playing through one. I sort of see it as Germany's answer to the JMP-1 and Triaxis. I think this little H&K Tubeman I use is better sounding than the JMP-1 to my ears. It wouldn't surprise me if the Access held up very nicely against the Triaxis - I'd really love to hear those two in a blind A/B test going into the same power amp and speakers.

[michaelkaufman]

Because I'd like to try one, however, I don't have the time or patience to spend lots of time setting it up.  That's way I've always stayed analog.  Can one achieve out-of-the-box happiness with the G-Major or does one need to invest lots of time?

mk

[cmangeot]

MK,
I think you would be happy with the factory presets.....

There are multiple examples of their superb reverb, filters, phase and chorus, as well as various delays and compression... plus the pitch shifter sounds pretty good too!

Try one...

[aliensporebomb]

Main guitar rack:


Lexicon Vortex (main delay/modulation/burbly synthy type effects)
TC Electronic G Sharp (I won this from Guitar Player magazine, mainly used for lite reverb or chorus/flange)
Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp (my magic box)

Into a JC-120:


Current pedals (no pedalboard currently):

Controller for Lexicon Vortex, EH SMMH, Boss OC-2 Octave, FS for Mesa Studio preamp

Current setup time for packed in cases to making noises is under 10 minutes.

The JC120 is on casters and can be rolled into a venue with the
closed rack case of the rack on top.  Pedals are in a backpack but
would be even faster set-up with a pedalboard.

It's heavy, I would like to get a smaller rig, maybe a smaller JC as I
mainly use the JC like it's a clean PA amp whereas all of my sounds
are coming from my rack and pedals mainly.

Guitars are all in hardcases and are not opened until everything else
is set-up and ready to go.