Pedal Switching Systems

pjpjpaul

Anyone here have experience with pedal switching systems? I just ordered the Boss ES-8 so I will write a review on here once I put it through its paces. Will probably take me a while to hook it up and get going because I have a few midi pedals and want to set it up for wet/dry to two amps. 

ConorKavanagh

Have you got pictures?

pjpjpaul

ConorKavanagh said:

Have you got pictures?

It hasn't arrived yet but I will post pics when it does. I will be hooking the midi pedals up via the midi input on th es8 so they won't take up space on the 8 loops. I also have a few "always on" pedals that will be outside the loops as well. 

pjpjpaul

This came last week but I just ordered some solderless cable so I will be making my own cables and I ordered a Gigrig Humdinger so I can split the signal after my gain stages and send it to my dry amp and the other end back through the wet effects and the wet amp. Just trying to get everything I need before even attempting to boot the switcher up. There will be a lot of trail and error but Im looking forward to the control of creating my own patches and having pedals isolated to preserve tone and being able to do wet/dry. 

gimmesometruth27

i have zero experience with these unfortunately. i just hit the front of my amp with a few pedals and do the tap dance to turn them on and off.

pjpjpaul

So i started cabling the rig today. Using evidence audio sis solderless cables so I'm making my own cables. Just need to hookup power and make a few more cables then it's on to the programing phase. Can't wait till it's all hooked up. Might add an expression pedal at some point as well. Using a gigrig humdinger to split the signal after the gain pedals and the dry signal will go to the Marshall while the wet signal goes to the mesa California tweed. 

pjpjpaul

Just need to make one more cable then it's on to the programing phase. Excited to make my patches and have so much control and not have to tap dance as much. 

Jason P

I'd be curious to hear how your MIDI setup went.  Have you dialed it into a synth setup too?  I'm just figuring out MIDI for synths, but now guitar pedals are starting to cross the spectrum (maybe they always did, but I just got back in the game).

Also curious to learn which pedal(s) you like the most in your setup.  The Big Sky looks cool as hell, but I have a Hologram Microcosm on order and want to play with it before spending another $500. 

pjpjpaul

Yes I finally figured out the midi for the pedals and it definitely comes I'm handy for live situations where you have a setlist pretty much programmed so you don't have to think too much about tapdancing around the board which is nice. Also have not noticed any degradation to the tone. The midi really helps to access certain sounds quickly on the fly for things like the strymon and the gt1000 core so you're not just stuck scrolling endlessly but you can hit one or two buttons and be there easily. The switcher is also great for wet/dry or wet/dry/wet because I just hit one button and both of my amps are connected and it sounds huge.

As far as my favorite pedals at the moment I would say for drive the Browne Amplification Protein is really great and for modulation the harmonious Monk is killer for getting some unique movement especially with two amps. The strymon pedals are great too and just have so many sounds that possibilities are almost limitless. 

itsevolution..baby

I have been using the Gigrig G2 for the last 3 years or so.  to be honest, I don't think I use it the way I thought I would.  there are actually very few instances where I have multiple effects that I need to turn on or off at the same time.  it does make for a cleaner signal, but it also takes up real estate, adds weight to an already heavy board,  and cable runs can be a PITA.  like anything else gear related, if it inspires  you to play more, play differently, or geek out, DO IT! 

Jason P

For the OP, have you considered having a raised stand for the majority of the pedals you want to tweak by hand?  Keep the ES-8 on the the ground along with expression / volume  / WAH pedals, but as the ES-8 allows you foot control to activate everything, having the majority of the other pedals raised to waist high would make them more accessible and eliminate the need for bending over all the time.

I don't know if anyone make a stand like that or if you would need to custom build something, but it is just a thought that ran through my mind.