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Many guitarists worldwide, especially those at the beginning of their careers as musicians, are still deciding about purchasing the equipment for guitar. I know not all of you are guitarists, but you may encounter this issue in the future, and it would be good if you demonstrated professional proficiency in the subject.
One of the things that most guitarists in the world have in common is searching for the perfect sound. Purchasing primary or secondary equipment and extras like amplifiers, guitars, and effects is fun and challenging, but the main issue that employs many guitarists is whether to purchase individual pedals from time to time or multi-effect.
If the guitarist is a studio guitarist or records his materials in his home studio, it is better to use a quality multi-effect. If a guitarist appears on stage in front of an audience, he will prefer to use individual pedals.
In fact, each of the different models (single pedals or multi-effects) has advantages and disadvantages, and each guitarist has to choose the option that will be the most suitable for his needs.
Therefore, it would not be wise to decide and determine an unequivocal opinion on the subject, but to give the guitarist the right to choose according to his personal needs.
Now, I will present the pros and cons that the individual and multi-effect pedals have so that you can decide what is best for you and what will serve your purpose in the best and most convenient way as a guitarist.
Multi-effect – Benefits
- Lightweight and does not take up much space
- Cheap- usually contains many effects; if you had to buy them all as single effects, it would be costly.
- Programmable – you can switch with one button to an effect consisting of several effects, for example:
- Distortion + Reverb + Delay + Wah
- In sophisticated and branded multi-effect pedals, you can usually give up an amplifier and connect them directly to the mixer. They will sound much better than using an amplifier, thus saving carrying an amplifier for stage performances.
- Suitable for playing at night or on the road. You can connect with headphones and play quietly.
Disadvantages
- It is not possible to specifically select the effects and replace them.
- Often, there is a specific decrease in sound, depending on the device and its programming, and the sound sounds digital.
- You usually need to learn about the device’s features well to get the best out of it, and it requires lots of patience.
- Changing the nature of the effect in real-time is almost impossible on most devices, as you have to go into programming to change a parameter.
Individual Pedals
Benefits
- Warm analog sound compared to digital
- You can gradually purchase each effect individually, depending on the budget and need.
- Easy to operate in recordings and performances.
- You can easily change the parameters while playing.
Disadvantages
- Expensive. Purchasing many effects is not a cheap business. Typically, the price of individual effects will range from tens of dollars to hundreds, depending on the type and brand.
- Lots of effects = lots of space = need a big, heavy suitcase for many effects.
- It is impossible to apply several effects in one go without connecting to an amplifier.
- It is not possible to connect directly to the mixer.
In personally, I prefer individual pedals because each one is best focused on what sets it apart, and you can maximize the sound and duplicate the levels.
In conclusion,
Before you purchase or choose what to work with and what will serve you best, check your needs in front of an audience, jam session with friends, or recordings at home. Weigh the pros and cons of each of the effects I listed above according to your needs. Make sure to purchase a single effect that will serve you even if you decide to buy and use a multi-effect.
The same is true of a quality multi-effect that has caught your attention. And most importantly, listen to the effects that interest you through YouTube videos and go to music stores to be impressed by any such effect yourself.
Sometimes the effects that interest you are no longer produced, and you can purchase them as used items on sites like Reverb or eBay or private boards in your area like Craigslist. This is a great way to meet people New with a common hobby and increase the circle of your friends and acquaintances.
The main goal is to remember that you are searching for the sound you want to identify with until you find the sound you like, which will accompany you for years to come.
It’s so fun to explore new effects and be exposed to richer worlds than those familiar to you so far.
Enjoy the journey!
