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New GNX4 user and lookin' for some help

For the last 4 or so years I've played thru a Fender Cybertwin, love the amp except for a particular issue I've never been able to overcome. Depending on where I'm playing on the guitar neck, I get an awful sound from the amp, something to do with the harmonics for that particular note.

Finally I do something about it, buy a GNX4 along with the supermodels. Thinking this was at least a decent amp (since this is a modeling amp) to match up with the GNX4, this turns out to not be the case. I still get the awful sound, same as before. The GNX4 is plugged into the effects return (stereo). I've since looked at the schematic and see the effects return still goes thru modeling as it runs straight into the DSP chip. Hence my original problem, I now believe it to be a dsp issue and there's no way of getting around it.

Here is where I need some opinions.

I'm a basement player, no studio, no laying of tracks, just learn rythm and lead and play against the backing tracks played from Amazing Slow Downer into an old pioneer amp into old 80's 12inch/mid/tweeter speakers. Crank it up and that's what I jam to.

Here's my thoughts: Buy a pair of 2031A's and set them on my Cybertwin, plug the GNX4 into these and use them as a replacement for my amp. For the price I don't know how I could go wrong, but they will be used for something they weren't intended for (near field monitors, the guitar amp sits 10-20 feet from me depending on where I'm standing when jamming).

Other suggestions are welcome : - )

Comments

  • Folks in the know around here swear by powered monitors with the GNX....I've been waiting for the new Behringer Eurolive to hit the states myself, haven't seen them anywhere yet tho
  • You really get the most out of you GNX with monitors. The patches will start to make sense too. If you just play in your bed room, you can sell your amp now. :lol:
  • Thre is nothing wrong with getting the 2031s. But, if you re considering playing out of your basement, you might want to think about something a little more versatile. Bascially, you are looking for a FR/FR amp, that is, Full Range/Flat Response. Keyboard amps and Powered PA speaker work great for this. Behringer has a keyboard amp for about $140 little less than you'd spend on the pair of 2031s. Crate has one for about $60 more. Powered PA speakers generally cost a bit more for the better ones (JBL, Mackie) With the 2031s, you'd have a nice pair of monitors for working on recordings and playing at home.
  • Powered Monitors can be expensive. I needed 2 unless I wanted to lug it back & forth to Church were I play weekly. Plus I had to have Mod 12's I just belived these were the right speaker for this modeler!! My Solution Buy 2 cheap Kustom kpc 12 monitors from musiciansfriend-60bucks each By 2 Emminence Legend Modeling 12 Speakers 60 bucks each Lastly I need a power amp to drive my passive monitor?? Have you ever seen a crate Power Block?? Awsome small portable awsome sounding simple litle PA that drives my monitors fine!! 150W Mono. 200 bucks Musiciansfriend. Now for approximately for the price of 1 good powered monitor- I have 2 with mod 12's & my rig is Identical at home & Church without lugging nothing heavier than a JS100BP in case back & forth. Talk about 1 satisfied happy pup!! I love my setups now Identical & just sound awsome!! Anyhow Like AC said you could sell the modeling amp and get yourself similar setup to mine & I doubt you would be disapointed!! Your call.

    God Bless!!
    Partch
  • Thanks for the tips... Keyboard amp is a possiblity, although I notice the majority of them are mono.

    One of the reasons I was leaning towards the 2031A's is all the positive comments I've read, and if sound quality/volume is sufficient at a distance to possibly replacing my old home stereo/speakers with these with the probability of the added matching subwoofer. I've read so many positive reports, I've got this huge curiousity of this sound quality I read about between the 2031A's and the GNX4.

    Again being near field (???) speakers, I don't know how they would sound at a distance. How would these compare to standard home speakers? I understand the purpose of these speakers, but I lack understand what makes this so, phasing,despersion... I may be an engineer, but my knowledge lacks in this field.

    Thanks again for the comments!!
  • The 2031s will give you a decent sound, plus if you get the recording bug, you'll have a decent set of monitors to mix and master with. 8)
  • The 2031s are studio monitors. That being the case, the dispersion is such that if you have them set up about 6 to 8 feet apart, and you are sitting about 4 to 8 feet away, you are in the middle of the stereo field and will get the full impact of the stereo sound. As you move further away, the sound will tend to have a more mono quality to it. Also, it will tend to hit reflective surfaces (floor and cielings) quicker, since the dispersion is that much wider. Typical home stereo speakers have a tighter pattern, and usually create a good stereo field at the 10 to 15 foot range.

    BTW - I still don't think they would be a bad choice. Its just that this is not their intended purpose. For my playing, stereo is not important. I use a rig very similar to Partch's but I have 2 Eminence 12's in one cabinet. At my recording desk I use a pair of studio monitors, and they sound great, but they are only 4 feet away from me. Often, I am using headphones, which also sound great.


    Depending on your local situation, for the price of the 2031's you could just about get 2 keyboard amps!
  • Thanks for the tips... Keyboard amp is a possiblity, although I notice the majority of them are mono.
    I think the Behringer k/b amp runs multi-channel... :?:
  • Well..... Maybe the Cybertwin won't be so bad after all. After reading my orginal post last night, it dawned on me. If my effects signal is returning back into the dsp path, then its possible that the signal is still getting modeled. Sure enough, even though I had it on a clean patch to begin with I never bothered to try any others thinking it didn't matter. Once I found the Twin patch with reverb,effects removed, Wow!!! Tight sounding, what a difference, very usable. I would imagine a speaker change might improve it more since its still a little light on the high end but definitely usable for now. Played a crude version of Eruption with one of the supermodel VH sounds and about blew me away, needless to say I played nearly the whole evening and fingertips are a little sensitive today : - )

    I think I'll still get the 2031A's and sub. Factoring in all the applause coupled with the price, just can't go wrong. Especially now that I've found out 'near field' is an environment, monitor is \"flat response\" meaning its a flat response speaker that can be used in a near field environment, but can be used in mid,far also (with reduced flatness). I could use them in the intended near field as glorified computer speakers 3-4 feet from my head, meaning possibly playing after the wife goes to bed without headphones : - )) or set em' on my Cybertwin as a super sounding guitar amp... Ah... the possibilities...

    Thanks for the suggestions!!
  • Damn you Americans and getting things cheap :roll: . Getting a pair of 2031a's AND a sub would crack a grand here in Australia, and by my standards would be a luxury. I only just managed to afford a pair 2030as for monitoring.

    However, if you do live gigs, your monitors will not be suitable, and that is where you will have to either plug into the PA directly, or tune your patches to your amp.
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