Alesis GuitarFX

This multi-effect pedal is easy to use and edit but you do have to move through the 80 effects in order. You can program them to be right next to each other and then apply the effects as you need them. This is the downside to having a all-in-one unit at this price. I made a spreadsheet of the 80 preset settings with descriptions of the sounds for quick reference. You will want to do the same.

Absolutely awesome!!! Each effect sounds distinctly different, the distortions are noticably different, and the unit makes some really cool sounds. There is little to no noise!!! The reason I bought the guitarfx instead of the more popular Zoom or Digitech products is because the reviews for these always mention noise problems. Not the case with the guitarfx.

I just got rid of an ART ECC model (retailed around $350) and there is no comparison. The guitarfx sounds better, much better.

Difficult to say. I haven't had a problem with it but it is made of plastic. I put the guitarfx on a table and control it by hand because I tend to make lots of adjustments. While it is made of rugged plastic, it is still plastic, not metal.

Untested. I did not like the fact that the manual does not tell you the settings for the presets. It is justed coded by letter and number. The Alesis web page is horrible - where are we supposed to go to get suggested settings?

This is a fantastic value. I like playing some Priest, Scorpions, Slayer, Dokken, UFO and Sabbath with a Gibson Flying V and a Crate amp. I have been playing on and off for several years but would never claim to be anything more than some one having fun. I have owned some boss pedals and the ART. I like the versatility of the pedals but not the cost. This unit is for somebody who does not want to spend lots of money for several pedals and enjoys the convenience.

These do-all pedals have come a long way in the ease of use department. This unit has 2 knobs with which all of the editing and programing selections can be done. With a quick review of the manual I got the gist of it pretty quick. Very intuitive, guitarist friendly layout.

The sound quality as far as tone is really quite good. I have been spoiled by good sounding, vintage tube amps and this unit can dial up the tones I am looking for, and the effects deliver what they are suppposed to with the exception of the plate reverb. Is a good sounding surfy wet drippy Fendery reverb too much too ask? Apparently so. But considering the price and features of the unit, this is minor. The unit is a bit noisy - the noise gate is good but the signal still comes through with some attached "hissiness". But again, considering the price and features, this is minor.

I did not get the AC adapter (optional for more $), and the mfr claims 30 hours of operation on 4 AA batteries, but it seems to be fading out on about 20 hours max.in my case, which is not too bad really. I have not had it long enough to really evaluate this category, but believe you me it will get kicked around. Appears to be made well, but the plastic housing could crack if dropped on a hard surface. I would use it at a gig without a backup because typically i do not use effects.

Good customer support. I emailed the company when I found little info on the product at their website, and rec'd a reply the next day stating the product was so new they have not yet updated their site. This from a real person with a real address at the company.

My main gig is playing for the King of Kings every Sunday, with occasional extra curricular gigs of various genres. I have been playing for 35 years and have had lots of rigs over the years and oodles of stomp boxes. The best guitar effects are these in this order: Reverb, Tremolo, and Wah. I have gotten away from effects in recent years because I am a guitar player, not a button pusher (although my family may disagree about the button-pusher part). Since the price of this Alesis unit was so cheap and the features so powerful, I thought I'd give it a try. It is really all I need for those occasions when an effect is needed, and I can see it being very handy as a recording tool. I will probably get an AC adapter and an expression pedal for it. The thing only weighs 1 pound - you gotta love it! I would like to A/B this with the Digitech RP50 which is similar in size/cost/features, but I went with this unit because I had an Alesis Microverb which was a darn fine product, and the fact that I got a quick, human response to my query at their website. Also, I like the fact that the unit is pretty much self contained - you can plug headphones into it and get a good variety of sounds. One thing I am finding however is that after playing around with all of the effects, I still end up coming back to clean with a bit of crunch, chimey overtones, and a heapin' helpin' o' reverb. This is electric guitar to me.Everything else is just fluff. But fluff is fun every once in awhile. When I need a dose of it, this pedal will do just fine...