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Talk me into / out of a TC G-Major 2


Mister_E
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I am conflicted, confused, possibly deranged.

From a single photo I've seen of Dood's rig - an LH1000 coupled with a TC electronic G-Major 2 I now have a hankering to expand my palette of sounds and aural landscapes by getting one of these units.
Playing in a three piece sort of prog rock style outfit; so there is scope and space for some whacky noises (tastefuly done obviously).

I've asked Dood who liked his I think - I cheekily asked him to do a review but he's a busy talented chap so I thought I'd ask the wider community...

Q - Has anyone any experience with the G-Major 2?? especially with bass?
Q - How about with any midi controlled effects like this - I'd like to know if there is any noticable delay between switching patches?
Q - Should I just stick with my two pedal setup - bass-multi-chorus and DD-3 delay?

I may have to re-mortgage to afford this terrible GAS attack.

bugger.

Edited by tinyviking
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Hi,

I use the original TC Electronic G Major and it is great! Hooked up to a Behringer midi board you can do all kinds of tricks without delay between changes.

I have set pedal 10 as my tuner as it puts the rig in mute mode and the TC has a built in tuner. You also have 2 x Expression pedals for setting to whatever you like ie - Pedal 1 (Amount of delay), Pedal 2 (Amount of Octave) etc etc.

It's not the G Major 2 but if it's anything to go by the new one will blow you away.. Dood Swears by them and has helped me with a few questions on this unit.

Justin.

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I've never used the G-Major but I would give a resounding [b]NO[/b] in reply to the below question:

[quote name='tinyviking' post='1136552' date='Feb 21 2011, 11:44 PM']Q - Should I just stick with my two pedal setup - bass-multi-chorus and DD-3 delay?[/quote]

I just like effects, is all.

Dan

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It seems the verdict is to go for it. I suspect I asked a biased jury!! :)
OK, in that case any thoughts on the best foor controller(s) to go with the G-Major 2 ?
I like the look of the tech21 midi-mouse mainly as you can power it via the MIDI cable.
the fewer batteries and power cables the better I think.

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[quote name='tinyviking' post='1136552' date='Feb 21 2011, 11:44 PM']I am conflicted, confused, possibly deranged.

From a single photo I've seen of Dood's rig - an LH1000 coupled with a TC electronic G-Major 2 I now have a hankering to expand my palette of sounds and aural landscapes by getting one of these units.
Playing in a three piece sort of prog rock style outfit; so there is scope and space for some whacky noises (tastefuly done obviously).

I've asked Dood who liked his I think - I cheekily asked him to do a review but he's a busy talented chap so I thought I'd ask the wider community...

Q - Has anyone any experience with the G-Major 2?? especially with bass?
Q - How about with any midi controlled effects like this - I'd like to know if there is any noticable delay between switching patches?
Q - Should I just stick with my two pedal setup - bass-multi-chorus and DD-3 delay?

I may have to re-mortgage to afford this terrible GAS attack.

bugger.[/quote]


Ahhh, sorry fella! I'll try to answer as many questions as I can on this thread and if I get a moment, I'd love to do an HQ video of the GM2 in action. To start with though:

in answer to your second question - no, you can set the GM2 up for seemless patch changes, which also means that the delays / reverbs and other time based effects spill over to the next patch change, thus sounding smooth and natural.

Pedal boards - pretty much any board can be configured with the GM2 as it can 'learn' the pedal board output - OR you have the option of programming the board to the CC/Midi implementation of the GM2. Either will work, but I prefer to leave the pedal board as default and configure the GM2. I personally use the Roland FC200, which is brilliant - it has now been superseded by the FC300. I've also used the rather 80's looking Art Ultrafoot. Again, a brilliant board. I think most people go for the Behringer FCB - It's actually really well made and I know of at least two units that survived a 'tech metal' band European tour and probably still work to this day!

Racking up the GM2 is quite happy in a shallow Gator case. I think I might need to get a 4u over my current 3u as I have more items to go in now! DOH!

Ahhh what else can I tell you? Well - I think the external channel switch relays on the unit is great - It can be programmed to channel switch your amp or non MIDI effects as part of a patch change, which is very cool!

Mine is sat here twinkling away at me right now - which has reminded me, you can download software to edit patches/back up on your PC and upload them straight to the unit - though to be honest, the TC is really simple to edit so I haven't reinstalled the software since my last PC rebuild!

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Hey, thanks Dood.

Wasn't sure about the berhinger unit tbh. would need a 15 metre mains lead!
Otherwise I think my mind is made up - just need to save the pennies for a while.

Mind you - had the smell of burning voice coils outta one of ma speakers last practice - hopefully I haven't completely fried it- will need to tone down the volume I think.

Anyway - thanks to all for the advice :-)

Edited by tinyviking
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[quote name='tinyviking' post='1145197' date='Feb 28 2011, 10:56 PM']Hey, thanks Dood.

Wasn't sure about the berhinger unit tbh. would need a 15 metre mains lead!
Otherwise I think my mind is made up - just need to save the pennies for a while.

Mind you - had the smell of burning voice coils outta one of ma speakers last practice - hopefully I haven't completely fried it- will need to tone down the volume I think.

Anyway - thanks to all for the advice :-)[/quote]

No problem! There's actually a guy advertising an FCB on my FaceBook for £60 at the moment if it helps the finances a bit..

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[quote name='tinyviking' post='1145197' date='Feb 28 2011, 10:56 PM']Wasn't sure about the berhinger unit tbh. would need a 15 metre mains lead![/quote]

If you're concerned about running a long power cable, the FCB only sends midi down 3 of the 5 pins so you can use two to send power down; this way you don't use a separate mains lead. It's referred to as the 'Phantom Power Mod' and you can buy kits [url="http://www.dmvelectronics.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1&idcategory=3"]HERE [/url] or find instructions on how to do it yourself.

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[quote name='DanOwens' post='1145517' date='Mar 1 2011, 10:56 AM']If you're concerned about running a long power cable, the FCB only sends midi down 3 of the 5 pins so you can use two to send power down; this way you don't use a separate mains lead. It's referred to as the 'Phantom Power Mod' and you can buy kits [url="http://www.dmvelectronics.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1&idcategory=3"]HERE [/url] or find instructions on how to do it yourself.[/quote]

Hey - Cool. I like that - just so happens I did PCB work in a former life so this looks pretty easy to do - lucky the FCB is comparitively cheap!
Thanks guys, this definitely looks like the way to go for me.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Yeah, should look very shiny with the Hartke rig!
worried now as I looked around for reviews and found [url="http://forum.tcelectronic.com/viewtopic.php?id=2299"]this post [/url] on the TC forum...
So it doesn't like low B strings? I find that hard to fathom. Surely it must be fine - they don't make a seperate BASS version.

Also now I'm finding bad reviews about Thomann - but they were cheaper!!
Anyway, if Dood says it's OK then it must be OK.

Oh, ordered up the phantom power mod for the FCB1010 from the U S of A - hope to hear about that soon.
Just have to remain calm until it all arrives.

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[quote name='tinyviking' post='1180568' date='Mar 29 2011, 11:05 AM']Oh, ordered up the phantom power mod for the FCB1010 from the U S of A - hope to hear about that soon.
Just have to remain calm until it all arrives.[/quote]

I used to use my FCB with a Novation Supernova for some amazing sounds (parallel midi synth routing is awesome!) but recently it's been as MIDI bass-pedals. It's a very versatile bit of kit and I heartily recommend it. The construction is of a high standard and with the Ossandust firmware upgrade it's implementation is greatly expanded, as is its reliability.

Dan

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[quote name='tinyviking' post='1180568' date='Mar 29 2011, 11:05 AM']Yeah, should look very shiny with the Hartke rig!
worried now as I looked around for reviews and found [url="http://forum.tcelectronic.com/viewtopic.php?id=2299"]this post [/url] on the TC forum...
So it doesn't like low B strings? I find that hard to fathom. Surely it must be fine - they don't make a seperate BASS version.[/quote]

Hey fella! Hmm 'interesting' linked post! - Can't help thinking they're being a bit like a bunch of moany old women though!

Well - I honestly I have to say that I've never noticed! So I guess it can't be all bad eh? - It doesn't like the F# on my 7 string though. Thing is, if a tuner takes any more than a few seconds to find the note, then I just play the harmonic at the 12th fret of said string instead - an octave up and a far cleaner note for the tuner to pick up. Maybe I do that automatically? but hey - I didn't buy the GM2 for it's tuner - I bought it because the processor and D/A's eat the competition alive. ;o)

I used to have a naff ole tuner years ago - and I found that playing the *next* octave up harmonic (the one you find on the 5th fret) instead and it tracked absolutely fine.

[quote]Anyway, if Dood says it's OK then it must be OK.[/quote]

Awww! I'm touched! That really means a lot and I appreciate it loads!

[EDIT] - I'm such a dummy! - I forgot that the GM2 has 4 modes of tuner! - two of them, one 'fine' tune and the other 'coarse' tune are both for Bass.

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They.. have... ARRIVED!!

I've spent the last few hours playing with the new toys... WOW!
Guess I got lucky with the FCB setup - didn't do much to get the patch select and expression pedal working!.
Can't remember how I did it now.
I know people say the factory presets are not very useful but what a collection of sounds.
I really like the whammy + reverse - it has been described to me as " like whales and aliens" :-) hee hee!

Now I need to sit down with the thing and try setting up my own sounds I guess - see if I can replicate the chorus and delay settings I had before.

I may feel moved to write some kind of review or something once I've had more time with it.

EXCITED, CAN'T SLEEP!!!

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