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romi
Published on 07/10/10 at 13:23
This is a multi-purpose rack that offers almost all common effects:
- Wah
- Chorus / flanger / phaser / univybe
- Compressor
- Noise gate
- Pitch Shifter
- Delay
- Various EQ and Filter
- Distortion
- Reverb
- A jamman
...
grouped into 7 blocks effect (except the gate): Gain, FX1, FX2, Chorus, Delay, Reverb and EQ.
It is possible to affect two "branches" in parallel: the potential for routing effects are very large.
All effect parameters are controllable via MIDI or by the oscillators of the machine.
Unfortunately there are no publishers Mac or PC.
The connection is very comprehensive:
- These include an effects loop which allows to connect an external preamp and correctly use the pre-preamp effects (wah, pitch shifter ...) and post-preamp (delay, reverb).
- Two guitar inputs (one suitable to the times: one front, one in back).
- Output jack and XLR
- Headphone
- MIDI In / Thru / Out (All parameters can be controlled via MIDI)
- Possibility to connect an expression pedal and footswitch directly on the machine
Overall, the possibilities of the machine are enormous: the multi-effect includes almost everything a guitarist could need.
But beware, this is not a preamp (despite the possibility of having a poor quality). Optimal use is with a preamp plugged into the loop and a power amp (or a head or a combo with a folding series)
UTILIZATION
Editing of programs is probably the biggest weakness of the MPX G2.
Editing is quite impractical. The screen is small, we can see that very little information and can quickly be lost, especially vis-à-vis routing.
This machine is not really for a beginner and I think it is better to have already had experience of multi-effects before embarking on the MPX G2.
The manual is quite comprehensive, but exists only in English.
There are two versions of firmware: 1.0 and 1.1. The upgrade is done by replacing a chip inside the machine. The upgrade is almost essential for proper use of the machine: in fact, in version 1, the effect rate is set by a parameter "mix" (0%-no effect, 100% - that the processed signal and no dry signal). This type of setting poses a particular problem for the reverb or delay: increasing the "mix" is in fact lower the level of the unprocessed signal (which is not desirable for such purpose) and that loss of level must be compensated with a ladle with another parameter, which is not practical.
Version 1.1 offers an alternative setting (such as level dry / wet level) that solves the problem.
SOUND QUALITY
First, it should be noted that the machine when it is set is very transparent and fully respects the sound of the amp (there is also a true bypass). It must of course spend some time with settings on first use. I use it in conjunction with a Marshall head JVM410 and the sound of my amp is fully respected (which was not the case with multi-effects of lower quality).
The effects are very good. I had other multi-effects (including a GNX4, which is the base plus a preamp but offers nearly the same effect) and a number of pedals. In terms of quality the MPX G2 is the top on just about everything (far ahead of other multi-effects I had in particular)
The pitch-shifters are very good with the possibility to use it in Whammy with reactivity very close to the original digitech whammy (I have a EX7 and feelings are much the same), the reverbs are really excellent. Modulation effects (chorus, phaser, flanger ..) are very good. The delays are very good and it is possible to route the signal delayed in any other effect which allows for plenty of fun things (eg, a delay which rises an octave at each step).
Even Wah is very good and can easily replace a true analog wah (this is the first multi really gives me the feeling).
Only snag is there an effect of intelligent pitch shifter (harmonizer) that does not work at all and is completely unusable (tracking is much too slow). The Intelligent Pitch Shifter my GNX4 is far better for once!
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for over a year in conjunction with a JVM 410 and a head crank FCB 1010. I made a dozen concerts, and I am very happy.
At this price point (about 400 € used) I think this is by far the best multi-effect guitar.
If I loose, I think I'll buy another as soon as possible!
Positives:
- Does pretty much everything and does it well!
- A good tube amp with an effects loop in series and a MPX G2, and you can play almost anything you want!
- Jamman of the 20s, synchronized with MIDI.
Negatives:
- Publishing programs a bit complicated
- The effect harmonizer unusable
- Some weird bugs that will never be corrected because the machine is no longer maintained for some time.
- No possibility to activate the tuner via MIDI (ie live, if you do not have the MPX R1 pedal, you will surely a tuner and more ...).
- Wah
- Chorus / flanger / phaser / univybe
- Compressor
- Noise gate
- Pitch Shifter
- Delay
- Various EQ and Filter
- Distortion
- Reverb
- A jamman
...
grouped into 7 blocks effect (except the gate): Gain, FX1, FX2, Chorus, Delay, Reverb and EQ.
It is possible to affect two "branches" in parallel: the potential for routing effects are very large.
All effect parameters are controllable via MIDI or by the oscillators of the machine.
Unfortunately there are no publishers Mac or PC.
The connection is very comprehensive:
- These include an effects loop which allows to connect an external preamp and correctly use the pre-preamp effects (wah, pitch shifter ...) and post-preamp (delay, reverb).
- Two guitar inputs (one suitable to the times: one front, one in back).
- Output jack and XLR
- Headphone
- MIDI In / Thru / Out (All parameters can be controlled via MIDI)
- Possibility to connect an expression pedal and footswitch directly on the machine
Overall, the possibilities of the machine are enormous: the multi-effect includes almost everything a guitarist could need.
But beware, this is not a preamp (despite the possibility of having a poor quality). Optimal use is with a preamp plugged into the loop and a power amp (or a head or a combo with a folding series)
UTILIZATION
Editing of programs is probably the biggest weakness of the MPX G2.
Editing is quite impractical. The screen is small, we can see that very little information and can quickly be lost, especially vis-à-vis routing.
This machine is not really for a beginner and I think it is better to have already had experience of multi-effects before embarking on the MPX G2.
The manual is quite comprehensive, but exists only in English.
There are two versions of firmware: 1.0 and 1.1. The upgrade is done by replacing a chip inside the machine. The upgrade is almost essential for proper use of the machine: in fact, in version 1, the effect rate is set by a parameter "mix" (0%-no effect, 100% - that the processed signal and no dry signal). This type of setting poses a particular problem for the reverb or delay: increasing the "mix" is in fact lower the level of the unprocessed signal (which is not desirable for such purpose) and that loss of level must be compensated with a ladle with another parameter, which is not practical.
Version 1.1 offers an alternative setting (such as level dry / wet level) that solves the problem.
SOUND QUALITY
First, it should be noted that the machine when it is set is very transparent and fully respects the sound of the amp (there is also a true bypass). It must of course spend some time with settings on first use. I use it in conjunction with a Marshall head JVM410 and the sound of my amp is fully respected (which was not the case with multi-effects of lower quality).
The effects are very good. I had other multi-effects (including a GNX4, which is the base plus a preamp but offers nearly the same effect) and a number of pedals. In terms of quality the MPX G2 is the top on just about everything (far ahead of other multi-effects I had in particular)
The pitch-shifters are very good with the possibility to use it in Whammy with reactivity very close to the original digitech whammy (I have a EX7 and feelings are much the same), the reverbs are really excellent. Modulation effects (chorus, phaser, flanger ..) are very good. The delays are very good and it is possible to route the signal delayed in any other effect which allows for plenty of fun things (eg, a delay which rises an octave at each step).
Even Wah is very good and can easily replace a true analog wah (this is the first multi really gives me the feeling).
Only snag is there an effect of intelligent pitch shifter (harmonizer) that does not work at all and is completely unusable (tracking is much too slow). The Intelligent Pitch Shifter my GNX4 is far better for once!
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for over a year in conjunction with a JVM 410 and a head crank FCB 1010. I made a dozen concerts, and I am very happy.
At this price point (about 400 € used) I think this is by far the best multi-effect guitar.
If I loose, I think I'll buy another as soon as possible!
Positives:
- Does pretty much everything and does it well!
- A good tube amp with an effects loop in series and a MPX G2, and you can play almost anything you want!
- Jamman of the 20s, synchronized with MIDI.
Negatives:
- Publishing programs a bit complicated
- The effect harmonizer unusable
- Some weird bugs that will never be corrected because the machine is no longer maintained for some time.
- No possibility to activate the tuner via MIDI (ie live, if you do not have the MPX R1 pedal, you will surely a tuner and more ...).