Help choosing between GCX or Pedal Switcher
Help choosing between GCX or Pedal Switcher
Let me start off by saying hello. I'm a new user here and I'm very excited to get a voodoo lab setup. I'm just torn between getting the full blown GCX or just using the pedal switcher. Here's want I want to do. I'd like to be able to switch channels on my current amp and later on would like to be able to A/B between two amps. From what I understand the GCX can do all of that. The pedal switcher however can A/B but not switch channels unless I have the Control Switcher correct? I've already made up my mind on the midi controller. I think the Ground control pro will be my best option. The only thing that's holding me back on getting the GCX is that it's rack mountable meaning I'll need to get a case build for it which means more $$. However I do think having a GCX case with a slide out section for all my stomp boxes would be pretty sweet! Also, I'm not exactly sure what would be the best method for hooking up a wah through this setup. I also want to be able to switch guitars, between my Les Paul and Strat. Everytime I pick up the strat the volume difference between the two is kinda annoying. To fix this I would like to either have an EQ or Boost pedal to be selected for the Strat setup. Any ideas or suggestions on any of this stuff would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long first time post.
Re: Help choosing between GCX or Pedal Switcher
The basic setup difference would indeed be a pedalboard based or rack based setup. If you do go with Pedal Switcher(s), you would need a Control Switcher in order to control amp channel/function switching... but this is also useful with a GCX setup as it frees loops of the GCX so all of them can be used for audio.
If there will be a lot of gear, a rack may be the better choice simply because transporting a large pedalboard can be a bit more difficult.
In the end, the choice is still going to be yours... but either way, we have you covered!
As far as switching guitars, I would just run the EQ or Boost pedal in one of the loops and turn it on or off to suit the guitar you are currently playing rather than trying to set up a way to switch between guitars at the push of a button... you still have to physically swap guitars which in itself negates any benefit of having a footswitch to bounce back and forth immediately.
I hope that helps!
If there will be a lot of gear, a rack may be the better choice simply because transporting a large pedalboard can be a bit more difficult.
In the end, the choice is still going to be yours... but either way, we have you covered!
As far as switching guitars, I would just run the EQ or Boost pedal in one of the loops and turn it on or off to suit the guitar you are currently playing rather than trying to set up a way to switch between guitars at the push of a button... you still have to physically swap guitars which in itself negates any benefit of having a footswitch to bounce back and forth immediately.
I hope that helps!
------------------====Cheers!====------------------
---------==Voodoo Lab Magician & Tech==---------
---------==Voodoo Lab Magician & Tech==---------
Re: Help choosing between GCX or Pedal Switcher
Thanks John for the suggestions!
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mainlymusicman
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:56 am
Re: Help choosing between GCX or Pedal Switcher
ive done the gcx route (2 of them at once) and now im doing the pedal switchers w/commander and i recomend the latter...
the gcx has basicly only one advantage, you get more presets with a ground control. with a commander you only get 10, BUT you get basicly access to all those 10 at once,, because of the a/b style of the commander, plus, if you needed more presets, you could always change them up from one set to the next... i doubt anyone would be using more tan 10 different presets in one set???
also, the ground control/gcx/rack setup will most likely be more expensive.. ie - you have to buy the rack, pedal trays, likely a power conditioner, and another power supply for your pedals, since youre likely still to have some pedals on the floor which will need to be powered,... not to mention the weight of that rack, when its all loaded up... this was one of the biggest drawbacks for me, as i needed an 8 space rack, and it was heavy.
for me as i use pedals, i sometimes have the need to change the settings odf the pedals on the fly, this is easier if the pedals are right in front of you, rather than back in a rack behind you. if you use an effects processor, then id definately recommend the rack setup though
and with the pedal switchers, you can align them all across the bottom of youre pedal board, and have instant access to any pedal, without having to straddle and tiptoe over other pedals and switches to try to get to the one you want, even with the ground control, youll still have to step over other switches to get access to the top 2 rows of switches.. this really sucks live when youre in the middle of a song.
as far as a/b ing between 2 amps , the pedal switcher works great for that, not for switching amp channels though, but with two amps, one set to clean, and one to dirty, thats pretty much all you should need???
just my opinion
the gcx has basicly only one advantage, you get more presets with a ground control. with a commander you only get 10, BUT you get basicly access to all those 10 at once,, because of the a/b style of the commander, plus, if you needed more presets, you could always change them up from one set to the next... i doubt anyone would be using more tan 10 different presets in one set???
also, the ground control/gcx/rack setup will most likely be more expensive.. ie - you have to buy the rack, pedal trays, likely a power conditioner, and another power supply for your pedals, since youre likely still to have some pedals on the floor which will need to be powered,... not to mention the weight of that rack, when its all loaded up... this was one of the biggest drawbacks for me, as i needed an 8 space rack, and it was heavy.
for me as i use pedals, i sometimes have the need to change the settings odf the pedals on the fly, this is easier if the pedals are right in front of you, rather than back in a rack behind you. if you use an effects processor, then id definately recommend the rack setup though
and with the pedal switchers, you can align them all across the bottom of youre pedal board, and have instant access to any pedal, without having to straddle and tiptoe over other pedals and switches to try to get to the one you want, even with the ground control, youll still have to step over other switches to get access to the top 2 rows of switches.. this really sucks live when youre in the middle of a song.
as far as a/b ing between 2 amps , the pedal switcher works great for that, not for switching amp channels though, but with two amps, one set to clean, and one to dirty, thats pretty much all you should need???
just my opinion