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Section 25
There are two problems associated with using multiple
guitars and the GT-3/5. These are:
Difference in guitar tone
Difference in guitar output volume
We will examine each of these separately.
Differences in Guitar Tone
When dealing with differences in tone a patch set-up for one
guitar just might not cut it with another guitar. Now, whilst
there are a number of CTL-type switching solutions, these
all tie up a control pedal and the control assigns. A better
way to deal with this is to set-up 2 patches instead of one;
one for each guitar. Some members of the GT-3/5 groups
organise their patches so that when only using three banks;
guitar 1 patches are on the lower bank, shared patches
which are acceptable for both are on the middle bank and
the patches for guitar 2 are on the upper bank. Before you
dive in, think about how you will be using these in practice,
and come up with a plan for organising your patches.
Differences in Guitar Output
Volume
Differences in guitar output volume can be handled in
exactly the same way above—indeed the first method kills
two birds with one stone, but you have paid a penalty
here—you have used up to twice as many patches. Given
140 user patches on the GT-3 and 100 on the GT-5 I
wouldn't see this being a problem however, and it doesn't
cost any more. However, it is possible to solve the guitar
input volume problem in a number of other ways:
The cheapest solution is to just use the guitar
volume controls to balance the output volume, but
sometimes this can affect the pickup tone, and isn't
exactly the most precise solution. This is probably
the most unsatisfactory way to deal with these
problems. This also has the disadvantage of
restricting the volume control movement that is
available, and thus restricts any level/tonal
expressions that you may wish to use.
Use an EQ pedal or volume pedal in front of the
GT-3/5. Set it up so on/pedal forward matches one
guitar and off/pedal back matches the other. I think
volume pedals such as the FV300 allow you to set
a minimum. Here you set the guitar with the lesser
volume to pedal forward and the higher output
guitar to pedal back. By using an effect pedal such
as an EQ pedal, which way round the guitars and
the on/off settings are is irrelevant. The reason
behind suggesting using an EQ pedal as opposed to
any other effect is it can be set-up to be completely
frequency neutral. It is effectively a two-position
© Copyright 2000-2002 Barry S. Pearce et al.
Using Multiple Guitars
volume pedal. I think the volume pedal is the best
solution of the two, and a good quality one will
add extremely little, if any, noise to the signal path.
It is possible to match the output levels between
guitars in the same way you can level match
between pickups on a single guitar by altering the
pickup heights. This solution does of course have
the side affect of altering tone and thus may be less
preferable than other solutions. However, it does
cost not anything and is simple to do.
Finally it is also possible to electronically alter the
output levels of your guitars. This is the mid-point
solution between changing pickup height or using
the guitar volume control, and using an external
device (such as an EQ pedal). Obviously any
change here would be done on-board the guitar and
would avoid affecting the tonal output of the
guitar. Whilst simple circuits are possible on
guitars with active pickups, passive pickup based
systems may require more advanced electronics to
avoid changing the tonal output. How, or what
might be done here I cannot say as I am not
qualified to do so.
You need to decide whether or not the patch duplication
solution is required. If all of your patches suit both of your
guitars, then you may well prefer to use an external volume
matching solution so that you only have to juggle a single
set of patches. Bear in mind that if you do duplicate
patches, you may well find yourself having to change two or
three patches rather than one patch every time you make a
tweak.
Of course, things get much more complicated the more
guitars you use. But if you think upon similar lines to the
above, you should be able to adapt a solution to match your
needs. Indeed by bending down and altering an EQ level
setting on an EQ pedal before the GT-3/5 you can quickly
accommodate 3 guitars, but this does have other problems
associated with it such as on-stage lighting (being able to
see the pedal controls!).
If anyone has any other solutions please let me know.
110
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