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Author
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Topic: Reverb, Lexicon MPX 110 or TCE G Major?
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Larry R
Member From: Navasota, Tx.
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posted 29 December 2005 09:08 PM
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I'm considering buying a TC Electronics G Major rack effects unit. I know that it has reverb in it. How does the reverb in it compare to that of the Lexicon MPX 110? Would I be wasting $$$ by buying the Lexicon or will the reverb in the G Major suffice.? |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 30 December 2005 02:57 AM
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Just depends on what you want and how much $$ you want to spend. I have a G-Major and it's a great unit. Another steeler heard it and bought one and says it's the best rack processor he has ever had. The MPX 110 is not a "programmable" like the G-Major is. The G-Major has a display, processor chains, etc where the MPX110 is more a manual unit (it has some "programming" but it's flukey - I had one before the G-Major and sent it back, even tho it was much cheaper. The G-Major has the full gamit of delays, reverbs, chorus', phase shift, etc. And a big plus, it's made for instruments (although it is a "line level" unit not an "instrument level" device, where the Lexicon is primarily made for P.A./recording, although many use them with instruments (it too is "line level"). I went through several different rack processors after I sold a Transtube Fex, including the higher priced Lexicon MPX1 (both of them I tried had problems and were sent back). Another "low price" unit to consider is the Behringer "Virtualizer Pro". It's not as flexible as the G-Major but for $99.99 (current Musicians Friend price) its a bargain. I'm not a real Behringer fan but this unit does pretty good - I had one for a while and even used it for some of the songs on my last CD recording session. As far as the reverbs, I've been told by several people that the T.C. Electronics units are as good or better than Lexicon's. One of the Steeler's in our club bought a new Walker Stereo Steel system last year and it came with a T.C. Electronics effects processor. And, I know about 8 months ago Randy Beavers was using a G-Major (we exchanged several e-mails on which programs he was using). |
David Higginbotham
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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posted 30 December 2005 05:19 AM
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TC Electronic makes excellent sounding equipment. The verbs and delays are about the best I have heard. Another unit to consider is the TC Electronic M-300. They are very reasonable in price and very versatile units.
Dave |
Larry R
Member From: Navasota, Tx.
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posted 30 December 2005 08:58 PM
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Thanks for the info guys. Larry |
Ronald Ballister
Member From: New York, New York, USA
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posted 07 January 2006 05:34 PM
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I've been looking at a TC G major and a Lexicon MPX 550 for reverb/delay/effects. I downloaded the manual for the G major and all the pictured setups indicate plugging into a preamp first (my guitar amp does not have an effects loop). Do both of these units require a preamp, or can you simply plug your instrument in directly and have it work OK? |
Larry R
Member From: Navasota, Tx.
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posted 07 January 2006 06:49 PM
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Ron, per the instruction manual you should not plug an instrument directly into the Gmj. It was designed to go between the Preamp and Poweramp of your Amplifier. For those that have rack systems, this is easy, but for those whose combo rigs don't have the necessary outputs and inputs, it will be more challenging to get it hooked up and not have the white noise and low volume that I experienced last evening. And yes I did try connecting it between the FX loop jks but still had problems (with 2 different amps). Thanks to Jack Stoner I was able to use an amp that bridges it's power amp and preamp with a standard instrument cable. I connected the Gmj between those 2 points and that remedied the situation. But this means that I may not be able to use other amps of mine, especially the one that I started with first on this project. Of the effects that TCE could have put on the unit, they left off distortion (at least I didn't find it out of the 100 factory presets), which is what I need in addition to some of the other effects. I did find one good patch with REV and Chorus.
But for what I paid for, and what I got, it's not worth it to me. Next week it goes back to MF and I'll try something else. |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 08 January 2006 07:07 AM
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Most of the rack type effects processors are "line level" units. They are not deisgned to plug an instrument directly into them (the instrument level is in milivolts and Line level signal: - For an audio device which uses unbalanced inputs / outputs, a line level signal is a signal with a level of -10dBV (0.316 volt). for a device which uses balanced inputs / outputs, it is a signal whose level is at +4dBm (1.23 volts).Many amps only have an "instrument level" effects loop and that too won't work with a line level effects processor. One exception is the "post EQ" effects loop in Peavey Session 1000 and 112 - I've got my G-Major to work good with that loop. Many preamps either do not have an effects loop or they too have an instrument level effects loop (e.g. Brad's Revelation Preamp and the Evans SE series amps). The rack preamp I'm using (a Rocktron "Sidewinder") does have a line level effects loop (and it's a stereo effects loop). The old Blue Tube II preamps have a gain control on their effects loop so you can run either instrument level or line level with those. If you want something that you can connect a guitar directly to (or the volume pedal to) then you are limited and need a combination preamp/effects processor such as the discontinued Peavey Tube Fex/Transtube Fex or the older Profex II. Carvin has a new (new last year) preamp/effects processor but I don't know how it would work with a steel. A non rack type that will work is the POD XT unit. It can be used as an effects only unit or it can be used as a preamp and effects processor. It works with instrument levels. [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 08 January 2006 at 07:09 AM.] |
T. C. Furlong
Member From: Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
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posted 08 January 2006 08:07 AM
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quote:
Many preamps either do not have an effects loop or they too have an instrument level effects loop (e.g. Brad's Revelation Preamp and the Evans SE series amps).
Jack, I believe Brad's Revelation Tube Preamp will properly drive either a line level input or an instrument level input on an external effects device. It has a FX Send level control so that it can deliver the appropriate level to whatever you have. I use my Revelation with a TC Electronics M-One (line level ins and outs) and it works just great.
TC |
Ronald Ballister
Member From: New York, New York, USA
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posted 08 January 2006 09:55 AM
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I have a small preamp (StudioProjects VTB1 Microphone Preamplifier). It has an Input Gain knob, an Output level and an insert (tip/ring single jack) for (claimed by the manufacturer) "external processing gear, compressors, EQ etc." If I plugged the output of my instrument into the input of the preamp, patched something like the Lexicon or the TCE into the insert and then plugged the output of the preamp (I guess turning it down some) into my old fender amp, would that work? |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 08 January 2006 11:06 AM
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According to the spec sheet on their web site it is a 0 db loop which would work. |
Gerald Menke
Member From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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posted 10 January 2006 09:26 AM
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I have two MPX-550s, one in each rack. They're not exactly cheap, but have some great sounds in them, often when I am in the studio, the engineer will let me record with the verb I like from the 550, since it sounds just as good as any of the plug-ins they have on hand, and won't gobble up processing power. Even though the things are loaded with presets, I really end up using only three user patches, a medium hall, large chuch and for ambient stuff, I like the x-feed/large church (I think it is) for a huge delay/reverb combination. I have noticed that as time has gone on, I am using less and less reverb, as I really like to hear the pure tone of the steel as much as possible. |
David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 10 January 2006 10:11 AM
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Another angle of this, and I have not used the G Maj., however what I like about the MPX 110 is the "dials" in the interface, and no small LED window to try to read in a dark club.Dial twister, that's me all over. The reverb is sweet, as is the rotary, and I also like the pitch control, and "tap" delay.
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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com
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Scott Appleton
Member From: Half Moon Bay, California, USA
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posted 11 January 2006 02:46 PM
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When you have a stand alone amp with no efx loop
or one where the efx loop has the wrong impedance
to work properly with stuio efx the thing to do is
use floor boxes. I have an arsenal of floor boxes just for that aplication. ------------------
Mullen S12 Almost Mooney
71 Tele, Regal 45
Sho Bud S10 NP
Line 6 Flextone 3 + JBL D130, Acoustic 165 100 W all tube EV 12, Nash 112, digitech 2101 FX |
Lee Baucum
Member From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) - The Final Frontier
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posted 11 January 2006 03:00 PM
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I have an MPX-100 and it has both input and output level controls, so it works well either in the f/x loop, between the pre-amp and power amp, or between the volume pedal and the front of the amp.------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande Mullen U-12, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King
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