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Post subject: Yet Another G-DEc Suggestion
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:59 am
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I think it's safe to say that the majority of G-Dec owners like the little buggers for practicing. I have noticed several comments in various forums that echo my sentiments, i.e. the presets are for the most part distorted/metal type sounds which I understand since the target market for these amps is probably the 12-18 age group. Here's an idea for Fender, how about having these amps set up initially for different style players? I'm thinking a blues/jazz unit, another set up for hard rock/metal, etc. Probaly a nightmare for dealers but food for thought. I play blues most of the time so it'd be nice to have a bunch of different presets programmed for my style. Make sense? It just takes so long to experiment with the different settings. I reckon I should just shut up and play...
L.B.


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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:40 am
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A very good sentiment--you're right, they wouldn't dedicate a whole line to one genre or another, but they should completely rethink the presentation to subdivide in genres internally: a metal bank, a roots rock bank, a blues bank, a jazz bank, etc. As it is, the G-DEC is mostly buzzy death metal presets, useless for 95% of the actual market (as opposed to their fantasy market which as you say was 12-18 year old kids).

It turns out, a ton of old retro retread guys love the G-DEC series too! I mean, EVERYBODY loves it! Women, girls, gays, the military, aliens...everybody can respond to sitting down and immediately being put in a playing context that makes you SOUND GREAT!

Turns out, the sit down and immediately wail factor was bigger than they anticipated and they finally got the interface right with the little afterthought G-DEC JR: KNOBS!!! These have the hidden salvation of immediately freeing you from the silly buzzfest known as G-DEC presets which are mostly so ubergained as to drive you to downing a sixpack of Red Bull just to keep up with the buzz.

The Jr. is AN AMP! You sit down and twiddle for like about 10 seconds and then YOU ROCK! Duh.

I know we all look forward to more in this series. Fender is discovering their true market just about now (everybody!), and re-targeting right on the money.

Methinks the new-gen beknobbed G-DECs could become the Nintendo Wii of guitar. Especially if Fender wakes up and supports the product online as well as Line 6 has their GuitarPort and Variax series.


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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:09 pm
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That's a big 10-4 Maruuk! Count me as a re-tread. I agree that the new Jr. is probably MUCH easier to use but I already own a G-Dec so I just want to figure out some decent sounding presets and be done with it. I'd pay a dealer to download new presets from their computer into my amp too, for what that's worth.


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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:22 pm
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Well of course the 10 Koch presets that you can download are an improvement--there's no change to the beats, just the tones are less overcooked.


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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:25 am
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That'd be great if I had a hint of a clue how to do that. The download part is a no-brainer but what magical device do I need to connect from computer to amp? If it's simple, like a USB cable, ok then but if I have to get a MIDI card etc., I don't know. Please tell me it's easy, what about software to do it all? Thanks.


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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:34 am
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Me again....hey I woke upand cruised over to the support section and found the DEC Midi guide. Doesn't look to bad after all. I'm always leary of anything involving computers anymore but this looks pretty painless. Maruuk, thanks for the advice on Koch's presets, I'll give it a try.


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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:52 am
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Lefty, the place with all the info is http://www.mygdec.com/. They have eveything you need to know, including a ton of killer blues midi files I sent em you can play through your G-DEC and jam to. G-DEC really does have a great midi playback engine, Fender outdid themselves in that dept.!

Just to give you a quick summary: Get a cheap single channel USB midi interface like the Midisport UNO ($39) and a midi cable. That's all the hardware you need, come back when you have questions. It really transforms the power of the unit to be able to update your presets (though Fender needs to do much, much more) and play great tracks into your midi player. You'll never want to play the junk presets and beats in the unit again.


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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:39 am
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Maruuk, can't thank you enough for that help. I'm going to try to get the cable this week so I can start downloading some "real" presets. Once I do it the first time I'll wish I'd done this a year ago when I got the amp!! Thanks again man.
L.B.


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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:45 pm
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Maruuk,
Thanks a bunch for the info on "mygdec". Was hoping there was someone offering that kind of help for the amps.
Hey, I'm one of the old guys too and would be very much in favor of the idea of having my gdec geared towards the blues!
Thanks guys.


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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:36 pm
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Add me to the list of old guys who love the G-DEC. I too wish it were more blues and jazz friendly. (I also wish the G-Dec had a Trim control to adjust the input level of the guitar like my Cyber Deluxe.)

I'm not interested in learning how to work with MIDI downloads. Just let me download some decent blues or jazz backing tracks via MP3 or let me purchase some flash memory chips that I can plug into a G-DEC -another revenue stream, Fender!

Also, let me have a few softer sounding presets that work with 335 type guitars and hollowbodies as well as solidbodies. You don't have to be a hard rocker to love electric guitar and the G-DEC.


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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:55 pm
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Unfortunately the guy who created all the presets is neither a jazz or a blues player and geared the whole shebang towards the neo-Spinal Tap/Wayne's World crowd. This has really hurt a terrific product as Fender never updated the original buzzkill tone presets from the G-DEC-15. Of course, that's why I love the Jr--no presets!

Just to remind, you can download the Koch presets from the Fender site--these are a lot less juvenile and give you a better idea of what the Cyber engine can do when it's not set to 11 all the time.

Obviously Fender really needs to get us all hooked up and sharing user tones and midi files, even if they won't provide content from Clapton and Mayer and Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy. Hint hint.

I will go out on a limb here and predict a USB-equipped G-DEC debuting at Winter NAMM with realtime editing, direct recording, the ability to blow off all this silly midi interface box junk, and knobs.

That will also be the time for Fender to step up and give us a real, honest-to-dog user community supported aggressively by...FENDER! This DIY stuff only goes so far.

Line 6 has done it right. Learn from these guys, Fender. These days the practice/jam hardware is only half the product. If you ain't got them internets tubes rockin too, your customers are missing half the fun.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:34 pm
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We kind of have user support. It's the mygdec.com site.

If you have a regular Gdec, the only benefit to the midi to usb cable is the ability or update the amps firmware and down load syx files for new patches.

There are very few patches in syx format available. There is a spread sheet with over 300 patches in text on the web site. So, who needs acable or any of the midi capibility?

Gdec 30 owners have the advantage of down loading midi files.

I agree, it would be nice to have support groups by style.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:28 am
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Fender has made the entire G-DEC series into a DIY project if you want to think outside the box. Something that I believe has resulted in many unhappy returns if forums are any indication. Props to mygdec.com for trying to fill in the gaping holes left by the nearly non-existent online support from FMIC. Fender owes Peter and the gang over there a huge debt of gratitude. Allow me to recommend the excellent midi files from beanotone in the download section!


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:55 pm
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There are several places with MIDI files available.

With the base Gdec, I find it easier to down load mp3 to a cd and play them through the RCA jacks on the back of the amp.

I like the thinking out of the box comment. Last night I was thinking about looking for a used Jr. You could remove its insides and build a new a new cabinate that looks like an old Philco radio with the knobs ligned up across the bottom. I bet you could fit 2 6.5 inch tri-axil speakers. It may not be portable, but it would look nice in the living room.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:58 pm
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Thanks to all for the suggestions.

While I agree that many of the original G-DEC presets are distortion-and effects-heavy, I strogly disagree with those who say that that's ALL there is. Of course the factory presets will be geared to show what effects are available, but we do give you an additional 50 user-rewritable slots so you can write your own.

By my count, G-DEC comes with at least this many clean or fairly clean "old guy" factory presets:

CHICAGO BLUES
LADIES MAN
OUTLAWS
TAKING 5
FOUR BRITS
BAKERSFIELD
COWBOY KID
SURFS UP
TRAINBILLY
LATIN JAZZ
ROCK CLOCK
BOSSA NOVA
MAMBO AGAIN
FUNK RHYTHM

And, the G-DEC 30 has a few more clean presets in addition to these.

Thanks for keeping us on our toes. I'm keeping track of your suggestions, don't worry...


Thanks,
Shane


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