I'm not looking for recommendations. I just wonder if anyone has had similar experiences as I've had. I didn't want to get into buying dozens of pedals, so in the past two years I've bought:
Delta Labs Multi FX pedal
Vox Tonelab EX - multi effect pedal w/tube preamp
They worked fine for home practice, but once I started practicing with a band some problems showed up. Basically I like to work off of a "clean model". All of the clean models have quite a bit of shimmer and sizzle. That's fine to a point but can get real ice picky when doing solos on the upper frets. If I move off of a "clean model" the amount of crunch starts to get to be too much real fast.
We practice at a rehearsal hall that provides the amps and p.a. Some of these amps are modeling amps which makes the problem worse. I have a problem getting a Full Clean Sound without too much crunch. Sort of BB King, The Thrill is Gone, kind of sound.
I know the guitar and pickups are going to have a lot to do with the tone, and I know to back off my guitar volumes to reduce crunch. I've tried all my guitars but the clean models seem to limit what you can get.
So, my conclusion is that all of the models for a clean channel have too much sizzle and not enough body and warmth. And once you move off of a clean model, you're into crunch. There's no real middle ground. Has anyone else had this experience?
I'm thinking that I'm just going to have to buy a good tube amp and start buying pedals until I'm happy with the amount of control I have. I know that's going to be an endless cycle.

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'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Yes, it's all anyone would really need. And you can accomplish so much with just a nice tube amp on the point of breakup and the volume and tone controls of a guitar. You'll find the volume and tone controls are far more interactive through a tube amp and far better sounding than trying to fight with a modeling unit. No modeling unit will ever perfectly replicate the real thing, and many don't even come close.

In my personal experience I can get by with just an OD and an analog delay, though neither are a necessity.

I kinda went through the same thing so I got a super reverb and a couple pedals and am very happy with my sound. I also like clean.

While my heart is in the blues, we play a wide range of classic rock so I need options. That's why I was hoping the muti effects pedals would work out and save me from auditioning dozens of pedals. Thanks for the reply. I don't expect an easy answer. I think I'm just venting my frustration. Along with the two multi effects pedals, I have two modeling amps, and it's starting to look like I've got to start over.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

The Vox Tonelab is supposed to be a nice pedal, tho I never tried one. Have you ever given a Boss brand multi-effect pedal a spin?

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Right. Well I would say then that OD and Delay are excellent starting points.

I used to own a Strymon Bluesky Reverb. Fancy, right? I found though that the inherent problem with digital reverb (and a lot of digital pedals, for that matter) is that their sound either sits underneath or above the guitar's signal and doesn't sound as authentic as it could be. If you're in to reverb I would suggest purchasing a tube amp with a spring reverb tank already onboard. Many people enjoy the reverb of the Deluxe Reverb Reissue, in addition to its many talents. (I personally play Vox amps, but to each his own).

Another thing that a DRRI (I am placing emphasis on this amp as an example, as I think it's a great blues amp) has going for it is the size of its cabinet. You need to give your speaker enough surface area for the sound to exit through. If not, you run the risk of the amp sounding "boxy", a common complaint of owners of the Blues Jr. Also for a gigging musician, the portability of the amp is appreciated. All things to keep in mind when shopping for a tube amp.

Are there any other particular effects which your band employs?

I've been through a lot of different pedals in the past but keep coming back to the Boss ME-50. It sounds great with just about any tube amp. I haven't tried the ME-70 but I imagine it would be great and provide a few additional features that the ME-50 doesn't. I find it to be very quiet and can really get nasty when needed. What ever pedals you settle on need to run through a tube amp. I would recommend taking your guitar to the shop and plugging in the different pedals/amps to find what works for you.

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I don't have a ton of experience with multi-effect pedals (never owned one) but the experience I do have seems to end up about that same no matter which one I try. All of the presets on those things seem to be way over the top. Doesn't matter if it's clean or crunchy, all of the settings are way too high. Anytime I've used one the first thing I do is find something that's pretty close to what I want and then start backing everything off because as soon as you turn up the volume to gig levels it's just too much everywhere.

I tried the ME-30, GT-6, GT-10 and some of the cheapo Zoom ones but the nicest sounding one I ever tried was a Digitech RP-7. I don't follow these things so I don't even know if they still make that one.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I love my Korg Pandora Multi-Effects PX5D and amp/cab/speaker sims :

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Out of curiousity how are the Clean Amp models in your pedal? Something with little to no crunch. Say for a song like the Eagles, Take it Easy, at gig levels. That would be a good example of where the sizzle from my pedal sounds okay for the rythm, but when I get into the upper notes of the solo it's too shrill and thin, even though I do the solo with the center position of my LP.
I'm not going to buy another multi effect pedal. I think the Vox is a good one. I just have a theory that all of the clean models have the same sharp edge to them. I went direct into a Line 6 modeling amp at practice and it's clean model was pretty much like I'm getting from my Vox pedal.
Edit: Miami Mike, same question to you. Am I wrong about the clean models being too knife edge at higher volumes?

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

+1 on all counts, especially that last point.

The ME50 is a great multi-tasking platform when versatility is required. The Digitech RP-series is similar though I think the Boss is more sturdily-built. Personally, I use a Zoom G1X but only for the different amp simulations. The compressor is adequate and I enjoy the Zoom noise reduction but the modulated effects are pretty cheezy. I rely on a "Vanhalen-esque" A/DA flanger for any space-cowboy stuff.

Arjay

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"Edit: Miami Mike, same question to you. Am I wrong about the clean models being too knife edge at higher volumes?"

I think so for the Korg unit. The device even has acoustic sims and some give a nice full and warm tone at higher volumes.

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The ME-50 has got so many good reviews in this thread , so I feel a bit embarrassed for selling mine a couple of weeks ago . I have to admit , it is a great unit - no problem with the sound quality , neither when the amps are set to high levels. When I say amp , I mean tube amp. Have not bothered to test it out on something else , so I can't tell how that constellation would work.
To me this unit was much better (read more simple to use ) than those GT 10's and similar products. Still I felt a bit ''lost in the wood'' - too many choices for a simple man ! An other negative thing , is that there is no ''true bypass'' on it . I always noticed that my guitars sound was slightly altered . Which I don't like. IMO that goes for all Boss pedals I've tried ! If you can live with the sound you get from it , that' fine - I want something more ''real'' .

Now I use a simple Danelectro Drive , and a delay from TC electronics , and feel that is really enough for me - easy to control the sound I've also got a Danelectro tremolo ,since my amps don't have.... All these units has got the ''true bypass''. ( + I've got a Boss Chorus if I really need that kinda sound -but that one usually has to stay out of the chain! )
With this setup I feel I can't go wrong - the sound is easier to shape than ever !
Good luck with your choice , Drew365

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A-man

I'm pretty much into the Line 6 Pod HD. I've found this model sounds MUCH better than previous incarnations of the Pods.
Having a fully customizable FX chain, I usually put an EQ somewhere towards, or at the end. Tones that sound great in the bedroom usually don't cut it live. At louder volumes in the company of other players, I typically have to bump the mids and sometimes have to decrease some bass and treble frequencies to get rid of "boomyness" and the "fizz" at both ends of the spectrum. By just using EQ, I can keep the overall sound of the tone and still tame the frequencies.
If the FX unit you're using has an EQ, make use of it. If it doesn't, try an outboard EQ pedal just before the amp.
Here's the setup I use for jamming. That's a 50 watt Alesis 2-channel monitor with the Pod mounted on top, on a mic stand. If I'm playing somewhere with a PA, I can use the line out to the PA for amplification if needed, and use the Alesis unit for a stage monitor. Although, it's pretty loud on its own!

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Drew, to answer your question the clean (modulation) effects are very good on the ME-50 and as there is really no Amp modeling what you get is what your amp produces. Boss advertises the ME-50 for people who like the sound of their amps and don't need amp modeling. The clean effects (tremolo,flanger,phaser, and chorus) are very pristine and can be adjusted to any degree by the addition of OD/distortion you might want. You really just have to try one. The unit has a very simple learning curve but lots of features plus it's built like a tank. As a side note I was about to go out and buy a "Big Muff Pi with tone wicker" and thought I'd try the muff setting on my ME-50 and I was blown away. I'm really into the blues and I find I can get just about any blues sound I'm looking for in the ME. I still think the real result in your sound comes from the amp you're playing through.. I have a few amps but my favorite at this point is my Mesa 5-25, and
Coupled with the ME-50 packs a lot of different flavors.

I'd also mention I'm not pushing any one's product, I'm just a player with an extreme case of GAS.

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