Best Guitar Multi-Effects Pedals For Live Use

The first digital multi effects pedal that I became familiar with was the old Digitech RP1. Very few dared to play live with these without a guitar amp, I mean through a PA. They had the proper settings for different types of power amps, but the sound they produced in this manner was not very exciting.

That left many of us tainted, but in the last few years I've seen many live performances, mainly at bars, where multi-effects pedals are connected straight to a PA without a guitar amplifier. And the sound was actually very good in my opinion.

In my experiences these are my top 3:

The Vox Tonelab LE: at a party dedicated for the 25th anniversary of 'Appetite For Destruction' I friend of mine played a whole set with one of these pedals straight to a PA. This pedal in my opinion is the fattest sounding when connected to a PA, even though it might not be the most versatile.

The Digitech RP1000: used straight to a PA by a friend of mine that plays in a punk rock band. When Digitech came out with the DNA chips my interest in this brand was rekindled. I had completely lost faith with the RP series, but this pedal has impressed me lately.

The Boss GT8: used by a cover band that I use to sell instruements to. The sound of Boss GT Multi-effects straight to PA's is not my favorite, but this guitar player surprised me by carefully using EQ and setting suitable presets for every song.

To play live with a multi-effects pedal you just have to set the right output for one of these 3 possibilities:

*Plugging it in to the front of an amplifier, "No Amp or Cab Emulation Should be used".

*Plugging into the power amp of a guitar head or combo, "No Cab Emulation Should be used".

*Plugging straight to a mixer in a PA or a powered monitor, "Cab Emulation Should be used".

An affordable ways to play live with a multi-effects pedal and have plenty of volume is with a live powered monitor.