[snizzle]

To start this off...What do you guys use to practice? Do you set up your amp and pedalboard each time you want to play? I often have my gear out of the house a few times a week and need something to practice on without having to set up a lot of gear. What do you do?

I'm looking to build a no-hassle practice rig. This may sound completely crazy here, but I want to take amps and pedals out of the equation. :shock:

I bought one of these for that exact purpose. It's just a way for me to plug in my guitar and headphones and play. The tones aren't fantastic, but I've heard worse and this is far better than the Zoom pedals that I played in the 90s. Plus it's got a built in drum machine. Nice bonus feature, so that I have something besides a metronome to practice to. The problem is that it doesn't have any kind of Aux input.

So here's the idea. I've got an old piece of wood lying around that I want to mount everything on. The idea is to have something small and compact that I can practice with and take places without having to set up amps and pedalboards each time. This, in theory, will help me to practice more.

So here's what I'm thinking:

CD Player Input
AUX Input (iPod)
Speaker (small computer speakers, practice amp, etc)
Headphone Output
Tuner
Zoom G1 (cab modulation, effects, etc.)


Now, I'm having trouble figuring out how to get all of this rolling. Here's what I'm currently running: Guitar->Tuner->Zoom->Headphones. How do I work the CD player and Aux input into that? If I built a simple loop pedal that could run the Zoom into one input and CD Player/Aux into a seperate input, could I run those to one output? Would that work or is there an easier/better solution?
-shane

[1/2-Fast Player]

I understand the need. I often leave my pedalboard at the church and so I need a simple practice rig at home.

I bought a Roland 15x Cube practice amp. $50 from a pawn shop. It has an aux input for my mp3 player and it has a headphone output as well as a few built-in distortions and a compressor. I use a clip-on tuner. Very simple and works fine for practicing.

Looks like Musician's Friend is running a special on this amp right now.

Buy Roland Cube 15X Guitar Amp | Solid State Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

I find I still have to set up the pedalboard on a regular basis, though, or else show up early for practice. We add a new song or two every week, so I often have to work out new fx or set up new delay times. I also like to program up my fx in the correct sequence so that I don't have to tapdance on my pedals. One or two taps gets me what I need for each song.

Easy enough to do with my laptop over USB, but I either have to drag the pedalboard home or drag the laptop to the church.

What I really need is a wireless internet connection on my pedalboard so I can program it from home....

[Almost Enough]

I sometimes just plug into a little behringer mixer. This can get you optimum flexibility, since you can go out to a power mixer, a stereo receiver, a computer, etc. You can run instrument inputs, mic inputs, and auxilary inputs, like a CD player.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by Almost Enough

I sometimes just plug into a little behringer mixer. This can get you optimum flexibility, since you can go out to a power mixer, a stereo receiver, a computer, etc. You can run instrument inputs, mic inputs, and auxilary inputs, like a CD player.

I've been thinking about picking up a small Behringer mixer for various reasons over the last few years. This may be the excuse I've been looking for.

Thanks for the thought on the Roland Amp. I've actually got an amp that can do that, but I'm looking for a smaller, more portable option.
-shane

[Major Tom]

I use a Vox Tonelab - the desktop version, before that I used a Johnson J-Station. I have the digital output from the Vox connected to the input of the EMU soundcard in my computer , and then plug my headphones into the desktop computer speakers. This way, I can play along with MP3's, Youtube, CD's, and I can even make a credible recording if I want. All silent to the rest of the family.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by Major Tom

I use a Vox Tonelab - the desktop version, before that I used a Johnson J-Station. I have the digital output from the Vox connected to the input of the EMU soundcard in my computer , and the plug my headphones into the desktop computer speakers. This way, I can play along with MP3's, Youtube, CD's, and I can even make a credible recording if I want.

I hadn't thought about that. I could do the same with the ZOOM I have. I was actually in the market for a POD or Tonelab when I found this Zoom for about $20. If I had $300 or so to spend I would love to have a Tonelab or XTL for practice though.
-shane

[snizzle]

While I'm on that track...anyone know of any free/cheap computer based simulators? That way I could hook up to the macbook and do everything through there.
-shane

[AudioAUnderdog]

I used to play strait into the computer with my Line6 Toneport UX2. All the modeling stuff comes with it and all I used other than my guitar was my headphones. I did that for over two years. Then I got my Fender amp and I realized how good an amp could sound. Since then I always play through my amp and my pedals to practice, and I only use the Toneport for recording.

[Rainer.]

I rarely practice with an amp . I almost always just have a guitar sitting nearby that I just grab.

[metropolis4]

I have a Crate GX-15 that I plug straight into when I practice. Cost me $60 12 years ago and I've used it almost daily ever since... either that or I practice on an acoustic when I want to work on chops.

[AudioAUnderdog]

Originally Posted by Rainer.

I rarely practice with an amp . I almost always just have a guitar sitting nearby that I just grab.

Well, honestly I do that too. Then after a while I start wondering why the guitar sounds so quiet and then I realize it's not plugged in.

[3rdCrossBand]

Yeah, i would've thought something like a GX-15 would've been a good option. The only problem is if you need to switch between clean and distortion.

[LWatford]

Originally Posted by Rainer.

I rarely practice with an amp . I almost always just have a guitar sitting nearby that I just grab.

Pretty much this or the whole thing. Or an acoustic guitar lots lately. It all ends up translating somehow.

[LC7rock]

Originally Posted by snizzle

To start this off...What do you guys use to practice? Do you set up your amp and pedalboard each time you want to play? I often have my gear out of the house a few times a week and need something to practice on without having to set up a lot of gear. What do you do?

I'm looking to build a no-hassle practice rig. This may sound completely crazy here, but I want to take amps and pedals out of the equation. :shock:

I bought one of these for that exact purpose. It's just a way for me to plug in my guitar and headphones and play. The tones aren't fantastic, but I've heard worse and this is far better than the Zoom pedals that I played in the 90s. Plus it's got a built in drum machine. Nice bonus feature, so that I have something besides a metronome to practice to. The problem is that it doesn't have any kind of Aux input.

So here's the idea. I've got an old piece of wood lying around that I want to mount everything on. The idea is to have something small and compact that I can practice with and take places without having to set up amps and pedalboards each time. This, in theory, will help me to practice more.

So here's what I'm thinking:

CD Player Input
AUX Input (iPod)
Speaker (small computer speakers, practice amp, etc)
Headphone Output
Tuner
Zoom G1 (cab modulation, effects, etc.)


Now, I'm having trouble figuring out how to get all of this rolling. Here's what I'm currently running: Guitar->Tuner->Zoom->Headphones. How do I work the CD player and Aux input into that? If I built a simple loop pedal that could run the Zoom into one input and CD Player/Aux into a seperate input, could I run those to one output? Would that work or is there an easier/better solution?
-shane

I usually just use my amp, it's a 1x12 (pretty big cab for a 1x12 too) and it has a power attenuator... so I can carry it around and it sounds great all the time.

[everyman]

My options for quiet practice:

1. Microcube
2. Guitar into multi-FX with headphones
3. Guitar unplugged (most commonly used option -- lazy)