Lexicon MPX G2

Not easy to use for most people. But I love gear and manuals so for me it is actually very easy to use. If you think using this is hard, check your IQ or patience.

Sound quality is beautiful. I mainly bought the unit for the reverb and I love it. The only way to get better reverb is if you by a Lexicon PCM 91 but that will set you back 2k just for reverb! The effects are great. The models do a good job at modeling. A model will never sound as good as a real amp. But if you use this with a real amp you can get great results.

Had mine for years and never had a problem with it. Played hundreds of gigs and several tours with this. Rock solid.

Never needed support so I have no comment

If I lost this I would definatley buy another one. I am a professional musician with over 20 years experience. I have never seen a single rack unit with so many features.

Look, this is the best single guitar unit ever designed. This awesome flexibility means you are going to have to RTFM. If you do, you will be rewarded with the most amazing palette of sound effects for the guitar that have ever been squeezed into a single rack space. So, I gave it a five, because this unit is for guys who know what program parameters are and how to adjust them to get the desired result. Less than 50% of guitarists fall into this category.

It's a Lexicon. I've used Lexicon products in my guitar rigs since I bought my first PCM 41 in 1980. Their sound is legendary, and if you can't get a good sound out of this unit, you do not know how to match input and output levels to get the best possible signal to noise ratio.

I own two of these units (And, am currently looking for a third), and one had a resistor failure. It was the one I bought used in 2004 though, so I can't attest to how it was treated before I obtained it. My original unit, which I bought in 1999, is still going at 100% SEVEN years later. I'd say that was reliable. Especially since I gig with it 3-5 times per week. Look, I got rid of a MESA/Boogie TriAxis and a ten space rack and just use these in stand alone mode as my preamps and FX now, m-kay?

When they repaired my malfunctioning unit, they even sent me a LexiconPro t-shirt. Turn around time was about a week. Not bad for a "legacy" product. The rep that handled my claim was a super nice guy and followed through to make sure I was a happy camper.

Nothing will ever be a ten in my book. This unit is limited by it's memory: If you use processor-intensive effects, you'll run out of space quickly. This is a real and genuine problem for me, as I like to use small amounts of several effects to create subtle ambiance. Try combining a stereo phaser with a full featured comb filter and a smidge of pitch shift doubling, and you better not desire a multi-tapped delay, because there won't be enough room. But still, even several years after it has been discontinued, it's still the best guitar processor ever. Nothing else even comes close. I'm sure, by the way, that these units were discontinued because they were 1) Expensive, and 2) Fully featured. This means - inevitably - that a lot of instant gratification bozos are going to buy them and gripe about having to Read The Frickin' Manual.

This unit is very hard to use. I am a professional touring guitarist.
I have used many different units and have never came accross such a demand piece of equipment.
It is terrible to edit, the manual is a horrible monster.
I am a musician, I am not a tech.
This unit tries to be all things, that is impossible.
Lexicon what were you thinking.
I know I know we are all dumb :p

Sound quality is ok. I have a set of stomps which I use on stage which blow this thing away.
What makes me sad is the attempt and good distortion.
This unit thinks it can reproduce some of the great stomps of music.
No chance. I am very dissapointed in the Tube Screamer attempt.
Wow, bad bad bad.
The chrous and delays are ok, My Boss Super Chorus is way better, and much easier to manipulate, my LINE 6 delay modeler makes this thing look stupid, again trying to be all things never works.

Haven't had any problems.
BUT I WOULD NOT EVER EVER EVER TRUST IT AT A GIG !!!!!

n/a

I think for the money this unit is a terrible buy.
My band does over 70 show per year and i will tell you what, this unit is an absolute joke. It pretends to be a big boy toy, and really is a Tonka trunk.
Hey players, stomps and a TC Electronics G System is the ticket.
This Lexicon is really good in the music store, but for the stage no way, stay away, yuk, yuk ,yuk
BTW Lexicon what's with all the Hisssssss?

The interface:
Once get familar with it, it farely easy to get around.

The effect parameters:
You have to know what your doing. Take the time to read the manual. You'll gain a better understand of the effect parameters and how these parameters alter the effect. Once you understand what parameter(s) to adjust and how much, you can acheive excellent results.

My Setup:
Guitar -> MPXG2 send(or insert)-> JMP-1 (speaker sim output) -> returns into MPXG2 -> into onstage monitor system and split into FOH system.

Midi to the G2
^
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Boss FS5L - MPXR1 - VPJR Ernie Ball (for expression pedal)


I mostly use VPJR Ernie Ball patched to the ExtVolPedal in EQ effect and place it post insert in the chain. This allows for spill into any effect post insert/preamp (ie, delay)

The Boss FS5L is patched to ExtVolPedal Level param 0 to +3dB for boost (solo function)

In most of my patches I use the JMP-1. On some patches I use the G2 preamp (mostly clean). Some of the reviews have mentioned noise problems with the preamp in the G2. Just back off the 'level' in any one of the Gain effects (Crunch, Preamp, etc...). You can recover the signal loss in your preamp/amp(if using the G2 with a stack or combo amp)
If your using it direct(as I am) simply turn up gain on your channel strip on your mixer. This should cure your noise problems.
Make sure your using cables that are not capacitively coupled. Quality cables (cables with quality solder joints)...Hosa makes a good cable.

The pre-insert wah effect is very close to a cry baby or vox pedal.. If you know what your adjusting you can get a cry baby wah effect...no problem. I have done A/B comparisons...the wah on the G2 comes very close to the real thing. You just need to take the time to adjust the parameters in the G2.

The noise gate on the G2 is excellent..good analog response/feel. I usually set the noise gate attack to 150 ms. This allows for a light strum swell when I want it.

All of the effects are excellent (except for the harmonizer). I think they could of done a better job with this effect.
The whammy effect lexicon programmed is pretty good...a few tweaks and you'll won't need to buy a digitech whammy.

The Gilmour patch comes real close to the TC2290. Again, I've done A/B comparisons...It's pretty close.

This where the G2 falls short. I've recently sent my G2 to Lexicon Pro in Utah for repair. Lexicon will be performing minor to moderate repair on the G2 for the next 4 years (this may be extended). After that...that's it. If your G2 has a board level problem...your out of luck. They don't make the boards anymore.
Repair (minor to moderate) is flat rate of $180. It includes diagnostics, repair and return shipping.

The R1 is pretty solid (for me so far). The only downfall I see in the R1 is the footswitches. The pad switches on R1 internal pc board wear out quickly. Do yourself a favor a buy a bunch from Lexicon. There only 37cents. You can also get them from DigiKey.
Either place will be selling these pad switches for a long time.

I gave this a rating of 5 because the G2 is now a legacy product from lexicon and I have experienced my 1st unit failure.

Customer Support has always been responsive and helpful to me. If you are looking at adding a footswitch to your R1...don't add a digitech(I think it's called the FS3). This is one Lexicon recommended. IT STINKS. Very noisy...not 100% functional with the switch circuitry on the R1. The Boss FS series footswitches work 100% of the time.

I really like the G2. It's really too bad they aren't making these any more or making a next generation G2 / R1 system. Something to take on the TC Electronics G-System.

not very
too many menues scattered all over the place.like mixing options that effect the sound with ones that don't...crazy amount of editing to get simple sounds...patching confusing and very easy to spend half of your life figuring out what sounds best.I could go on and on but it hurts...
for this kind of dough I feel like a true sucker.

I will admit the reverbs and time based stuff is really good but not much better than the cheapo digi stuff.
The pre-amp in this thing STINKS,YUCK.
If you're a pro you will be sadly disappointed with this sterile,unnatural uninspiring tone.
Once again,for this kind of cash it should have some cream but this thing is sour milk!
Too noisy for metal unless you're a fan of the chattery noise gate tone.Total dissapointment as a pro preamp...needs a tube or something...maybe my foot smashing it into oblivion,but too expensive for such indulgence.

NO NO NO
I'm on my second foot controller first one went up in smoke
If you play with the Jam-man too much the thing locks up and goes into rec mode foreverand only after considerable power ups and button juggling the thing resets.
Using this live would be suicide .full of bugs ceases up all the time .confuses itself with its own foot controller...NOT COOL...GARBAGE!
LEMON CITY...

with a unit this expensive they'll help you but who cares .I've had to call way too many times and flaws are flaws...THis thing is laden with bugs even if it were re-brained this bad taste will never go away.

I play many styles as well as my own stuff.playing 20yrs+.HAve a lot of other gear and have never been so burned by a purchase...WAY TOO PRICEY for what it does.
I just got rid of this thing and if I ever see another one I will
surely feel the bile rising in my throat...NEVER AGAIN.
Icould say more,but it hurts

Not easy to use, but that is the nature of what this incredible box delivers- a wide range of stomp box style and gain effects in front of your amp and full-on digital studio effects in the efx loop all under programmable control- how could that be simple to master?

The "front end" (gain, overdrive, fuzz, etc) effects are all very good. You might be able to get slighter "better" sounds from hand picking boutique pedals, but in the end it will cost more and not be programmable!

The "digital" studio type effects are the cream of the crop for guitar devices.

I have used it both with the matchined Lexicon 284 amp in stereo and a killer Zinky Blue Velvet in mono. Both with excellent results.

I also have the R1 foot controller which I consider indispensable, once you get over the learning curve it works great live (don't try to change patches for new sounds, program the buttons within the patch for the changes you need)

So far so good, would not necessarily think you need a backup.......

Excellent documentation, quick response to email

Excellent sounds, transparent bypass, more sonic power than most people could possibly use. I think the real challenge is harnessing this incredible beast. If you are highly technical you will feel at home and be humbled by the possibilities. If you want instant gratification, go buy something else. If you are dedicated to learning and using this, it may just be the best single guitar device ever created.

Wow, some really mixed reviews here, and I guess that says it all !! you can't please everyone all of the time.
I've had the MPX G2 and R1 for about 6 months now and I love it !!
The manual is huge, but only read the 'initial set-up' pages and then go back to it when you need to. Editing patches is a piece of cake, and I can even do mine on stage now.

Sound quality is exceptional.
I play a Ibanez JS1000BTB into a Mesa Boogie power amp, then slpit the signal, stereo out into two Marshall 2x12 cabs.
I also play a JS700 and a Gibson SG.
There are numerous variations on fuzz, overdrive, distortion, reverb, chorus, delay etc.. and if you can't tweek one of these to produce exactly the sound/tone you want.... then you really are playing the wrong instrument... go buy a nose-flute.
The reverbs are legendary, and all the other fx are very useable (although the pitchshifter is not great, but I never use that kind of sound anyway).
I'm a big Satriani fan, and have tweeked the 'Satch Patch' to get an almost identical sound to his!! (although I'm sure the JS1000 helps)
I play in a rock covers band, and have programmed the Lexicon to duplicate every sound I need (from Whitesnake - Foofighters - Velvet Revolver). I also play in an AC/DC Tribute band and I have programmed the Angus sound completely.
For people who say this unit is noisy, well they must have a problem elsewhere in their set-up. I've never had any noise problems and the noise gate functions work extremely well.

Never had any problems

Never had to use them

I've been playing for over 20 years and this is the best rig set-up I've had. A friend of mine was playing in a semi-pro band using the Lexicon and it completely blew me away when I heard him live. It was as if he had 10 different guiar/amp combinations throughout the 1 hour set, and all acheived from the MPX G2. Once you've learned how to use this unit, you'll never need to buy another.
For people who have no technical ability, it can get a bit confusing, and for people who want to just plug in and play.... go and buy some pedals. Live or in the Studio the MPX G2 is the best you'll get in this price bracket

The manual is great however this piece of equipment is for serious tone heads. If you are an amatuer/novice you may be better off with some of the line 6 stuff. It's easy enough to manipulate if you take time to read the manual

I read reviews before my purchase and was a little leary due to some bad reviews. I use this piece of equipment several ways and i always get great tones. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR A GREAT AMPLIFIER SO DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE! Even lexicon will tell you if you read up on this gear that it is not recommended to replace your amp but as an enhancement tool. Stop complaining about shitty tone and learn how to use this thing before you give it a bad rap. It sounds fantastic if you know what to do with it.

No problems so far.

Customer support at lexicon is great . Very eager to help.

I am a 20 year professional and play all types of music as well as use it for various studio applications. I primarily play les paul, fender and gretch depending on what i am doing and i use fender and marshall amps. This piece of equipment is a great asset to my music and i give it a definate A+, again it is not for beginners.

Easy to use, provided you have normal reading abilities. People not comfortable with programming VCRs, answering machines and the like may stick to pedals or crosswords.

The sound quality is incredible, way above all the other processors for that kind of price. Unless you buy separate high-priced specialized gear, there's no other all in one unit that will do what the G2 does with the same quality tone.

Apparently, many people below have problem obtaining correct levels or noise ratios. Particularly, several people said they couldnt obtain proper line level from the unit. Here's my advice for them : stick to acoustic guitar once and for all because you can't handle electrical gear properly. This unit can output +20 dBu without any problem. Of course, you have to actually turn knobs and match levels correctly for that, something many people apparently can't handle. So once again, you need to read the manual and have basic understanding of what input level is etc. It is not plug and play like pedals, but no much more complicated either (still too much for some people).

I never had a problem with mine.

Didn't need it but Lexicon is a serious company.

I'll recommend the thng to everyone loving the Lexicon reverb sound and needing other effects too. The low-pass filter is cool along with the integrated jamman. Great piece of gear, much better sounding than its direct competitor, the TC GForce. Can be had used for cheap, hence it's a fantastic value IMHO.

I work as a sound guy. So I should know how to handle this one. The manual doesn't tell you everything, especially the MIDI details. Overall, the G2 even in combination with a R1 is not user friendly at all. It takes so much time to dial in that you might forget what instrument your supposed to play. But I knew all that before I bought it.

I use mine before the Amp (Marshall 6100) and in the serial FX-Loop. The preamp is the shittiest I've ever heard! Even my Boss GX700 is better. Noisy, harsh, lifeless. Forget it! The preamp loop has one more disadvantage: the buffer amp. It definitly muddies up my tone at low frequencies and adds some harsh highend. I put the blame on my Wireless first. But without the wireless it was the same. Standard FX are ok, but the harmonizer sucks, esp. because it has only one voice. The wah sounds boring. The MIDI controlling is incredible slow. I exspected some whammy effects. Forget about it unless you wait 30 secs for the tone shift. The internal levelling sucks. Even if you put everything on +6 db it isn't louder than the dry level!

Never left me alone. Even generator powered. No probs so far

Never needed. Distributor in Germany is quite o.k. COntacted them once for the software update.

I really regret my decision to buy the G2 and sell my GX700 for it. I could have bought a new MAC for the difference. Gonna go out for a used GX700 again