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Teleguy
12-16-2009, 04:54 PM
While I was gone I had an audition for a wedding "covers" band, which I passed but then declined the gigs as I lost confidence in the project for various reasons.

There have been bandleaders I've worked for before (even Christian ones) who occasionally wanted a delay effect, etc from me on certain covers. I could usually get what I needed from the pedals I had laying around or from my Boss ME-50 unit.

In the past I also tried and left behind some rack processors like early Peavey units, etc as well as J-Stations, PODS, and the like.

This particular leader (the wedding guy) seemed really particular about the tone and exactness thing for the covers (like Shania Twain's "Man! Feel Like A Woman," : Journey, "Don't Stop believin'," Madona, "Material Girl" etc etc).

So with that in mind, and since I had sold my ME-50, I went shopping for something in a used processor.:wasntme:

I came up with a used but excellent condition Boss GT-6 for $200 out-the -door!

Plugged into the effects loop of my Tech 21 TM300 (I had to make a cable with a 100K resistor in series to drop from line level to guitar level to do it) it seemed like a versatile floor-type processor and I massaged enough patches to pass the audition.

For various reasons I passed on the band (which I had actually never played with - only the [weak] keyboardist/"leader"). He was offering $200/gig, but had a guy waiting in the wings who was ready to do it for $400/gig.

Since he wanted me to anchor the band's rhytrhm on guitar AND play all the guitar themes seamlessly I decided he really needed two guitars and told him he should go with his hired gun guy. I was confident of my abilities but I could definitelt see "The World" rearing its ugly head in my attitude and striving to prove something to this guy who I intuitively knew would never be satisfied. I also doubted he would be able to find weddings and provide the money he was waving. It's all gone to DJ's. :(

In the meantime I had discovered plugging just two cables from the processor into the returns in back of a Roland JC-120 was a whole lot easier than running muliple cables back and forth with my Tech 21 (sounded better too).

BUT I DID enjoy some of the capabilities of the GT-6 for nailing the sounds ya hear on records!

So with that in mind, and the store's offer to trade up and use my money towards a GT-10 (the current model) I did THAT!

First off, I still play Worship through a Tech 21 TM 60 and that covers well anything I seem to need Sunday mornings, and I still prefer a tweed Deluxe for clubs.

But at home now I am enjoying playing with the GT-10 in stereo either through my Roland Mobile Cube, headphones, or the JC-120.

I still have a lot to learn about setting parameters and tweaking and massaging the tones and effects, but boy howdy it is fun and entertainment at this point. A ME-50 is boring compared to this thing!:cool:

Randy
12-16-2009, 09:19 PM
Congrats on your new processor!

I've been trying to decide between the ME-70 (simplicity) & GT-10 (more flexibility).

Just about the time I'm ready to pull the trigger on one, something about the other makes me hesitate; not to mention the $200 difference.

Enjoy!

~Randy

LesStrat
12-16-2009, 11:25 PM
I love my POD X3L.

Congrats on the new acquisition, brother.

Crunchyriff
12-17-2009, 01:45 AM
Bravo! Welcome to the Digital side of the pond.

refin
12-17-2009, 02:37 AM
I discovered an old Boss BE-5,and was so impressed that I bought a 2nd one on FleaBay.
Non-programmable chorus,delay,overdrive,compressor.........God's manna of tone! :wasntme:
It's great to hear about loving a 5E3 Deluxe..........I have a real '57 that is so primitive it's stupid,but what a tone!

Teleguy
12-17-2009, 04:22 PM
...I have a real '57 that is so primitive it's stupid,but what a tone!

FWIW I had a Victoria 20112 (5E3) that I was able to A/B against a real tweed Deluxe Fender (from about the same era as yours), and they sounded and responded exactly the same. I think Mark Bier uses heftier power supply transformers because line voltage is up to about 120vac nowadays as a hedge against failure. I've also played through a friend's "Mission Amps" 5E3 that sounded very good at the club level.

I don't have a 5E3 presently, but intend to get another at some point.

The GT-10 certainly doesn't come close (or even try to).:roll:

Crunchyriff
12-17-2009, 09:10 PM
Some day I would love to have a vintage Fender Deluxe.