A really powerful setup, this and as with all my rigs, quick to set up – three minutes. It relies on the Blackstar for its core guitar tones, so it’s rather better for rock than blues.
All three amps accept midi patch change instructions, so it can go from a full triamped wet/dry/wet guitar sound to a stereo synth patch with a single tap of the foot.
The GR55 synth’s expression control governs volume for all patches and with its toe switch engaged, the key parameter for each patch, like speed for the Leslie patch for example.
Like any midi rig, it demands a bit of programming and getting patch levels right is tricky, but the upfront effort pays back in use.
It also takes regular guitars now that I’ve had an extra jack input and buffer installed in the GR55, making it even more flexible.
Hi very impressive i have a pa systen for L+R Stereo that i use with a rockman fx processor its full range flat speakers give an amazing stereo separation but i would like to buy another amp and an eventide and Mel 9for the wdw set up to have some wide big sound how would i go about connecting this up? You are the only guy i have read about thats kept it simple and the stores are not as switched on as you so i hope you can help me kindest rehards Stephen Fell
Thanks for your enquiry and your kind words, Stephen.
You’re right that you can use a much wider variety of amps for the left and right channels as they only carry the ambient sounds.
I would first get your centre tone(s) nailed with a really good amp which has either an fx loop or an emulated output. Either way, whatever your chosen amp tone, it will go to the other devices and channels. (Switching multiple amps’ channels at once brings a host of new switching and phase problems and should be avoided at all costs unless you are a big time touring pro with a tech – and even then, as I’ve found out, most of them can’t figure this level of stuff).
Take whichever output into the Mel9 and its mix out into the Eventide, and take the Eventide’s stereo outputs to your left and right (pa / powered speakers / separate amps & cabs). Use good quality cables throughout – they don’t have to be expensive, but really cheap ones are invariably a false economy.
And that’s it. You may encounter some hum issues, in which case the best device I have found is the Lehle passive splitter. No batteries and it can lift ground and reverse phase. Move it around between devices until you’ve minimised noise.
You can keep adding to this kind of setup forever, but this will give you most of what anyone could need. If you want to add fuzz, od, compression or was, do so before the main amp. Any further mod fx (phaser, flange, chorus, trem, delay, reverb) should be between main amp and side channel inputs. Of course, nobody apart from you will notice unless you can persuade your soundman to mic up all three channels. And even then, the drummer will probably have ‘one of those nights’.
Good luck with finding your tone and voice!
Hi Rockbeare
Are you using the GR55 individual patches to send a midi change code to the Blackstar , so able to access the Blackstar Amp patches? If so, is it reliable?
I was looking at getting a Blackstar ID TVP 2*60w combo for stage use
Apologies for my sloth, travelling. Yes, GR55 sends programme changes to Blackstar (& my two H&K Switchblades to left & right) no problem. Very powerful flexible setup for Smythe and rock.