The ShadowMusic Web Community

Hi all,

As you'll find when reading this, l'm a complete newbie to guitar and a bit overwhelmed with making the right choices. So please forgive any incorrect terminology etc

l'm an Amateur organ / keyboard player who's always had a hankering, no pun intended, to learn guitar. So l borrowed a guitar for a few days just to see if l could work out the basics enough to know if l could make a go of it. Result was l've just bought a new Squier Classic Vibe 50 Strat. And before you ask, for some reason l found myself drawn to the Fiesta Red one

For time being, l'm using an amp from my keyboard and will buy a proper guitar amp at some point in the future.

l would like to have some effects, and this is where l'm in a quandary. It doesn't help that everything is a bit like double dutch when l look at what various pedals can do, as l'm totally lost by all the technical explanations. When l play the organ or keyboard l have various presets where l can toggle between the different sounds and call up the next sounds which are ready to change to. l searched for The Shadows sounds and found 2 pedals which use Shadows patches by art d'echo. As l know nothing about patches either, are these patches any good?

The pedals l liked the look of are both by Zoom, the G3x and G5. l've read comparisons of the 2 pedals and some favour the GX3 and others the G5. If l'm understanding what l've read the G3x toggles between the different settings easier than the G5 does, but l've also read that some people think the G5 sounds better, and is more flexible with the extra pedal.

What has also added to my confusion is l know a friend who plays guitar as a hobby. When l asked him about these pedals he basically looked down his nose at them and said serious guitarists only use single pedals. He has around 6 or 7 single pedals daisy chained together all doing various things, but when l asked about how l'd change to different sounds, he said l'd have to change the settings every time.

From my point of view, l want something like the Zoom with all the Shadows sounds,which l can change from sound to sound easily, and also something that doesn't cost silly money as it's only for my own enjoyment really. l've noticed both the Zoom models are discounted in a couple of places at the moment, which is another added bonus.

One last thing also connected to the pedals. l saw Hank play Cavatina years ago, and he was using a pedal on the notes like a sort of fade if that makes sense. l read somewhere that this was done with a volume pedal. If it was, is this something the volume pedal on the Zoom could also do? If it is, how's it done

Sorry for the long post, but thought it better to explain what l'm hoping to achieve. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer me.

Hi Russell, welcome to the community and may I say that you have come to the right place for the advice you are seeking.
Currently the Zoom G3 is by far the best and cost effective way of achieving a good all round Hank Marvin sound in a multi-effects pedal. It has the features you are looking for and a quality set of patches can be obtained from Hall's Echoes which was formerly connected to EFTP (echoes from the past) which Hank himself used from 1997 right through to the 2005 Final Tour. You can Google Hall's Echoes or seek the contact on these pages, there is a recent post with the details, last six weeks or so.
Alternatively I can recommend the eTap2hw if you just want a straight echo box, you can buy the kit cheaply and build it yourself (£70 mark) or seek out a second hand one already made up and boxed. I currently have two and one is for sale in the market place on this site, as I am buying the new Hall & Collins unit when it is released later this year.

If you want multi effects though, the Zoom G3x is the one to go for as you need the volume pedal, with patches it will cost around £210. Your friend is giving you bad advice, I work full time as a soloist as well as in a band and I did away with all those separate pedals years ago, they're old hat and tiresome to use. I do use a Zoom G3x as well as my Vox Tonelab, they are well up to the job.
I have done some recent demos with it if you wish to hear how good it sounds, just scroll down to a couple of weeks ago and you'll find the threads. I also did demos of the eTap2hw, they're all there to hear.

As far as amps go, for home use the little Vox AC-4 takes some beating for Shadows sounds, or a Vox Valvetronix 15/30 watt job, they are all pretty affordable if you shop around and sound like the real Vox AC-30 amps used by the Shadows.
I would add that your choice of guitar is excellent, I bought one and gigged with it for six months, really putting it through it's paces before letting my friend have it, as I have half a dozen Fender Strats' collected over my professional career.
I hope you find this helpful and there are many people on here with vast experience to help should you be having problems.

Hi Russell,

As Dave says, you will get lots of advice and information on this site but if you can, (you don't mention which part of the Country you're from) get along to one of the Clubs shown on the site and speak to players who have been playing this stuff for years and listen to some of the gear being used. You'll be made welcome.

Good luck,

Terry

Thanks for that Tab, it was late and I forgot to mention the clubs as I felt I was rambling on o bit.

Hi Dave and Terry,

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

l'm in Oxford Terry, so l'll have a look and see what's around here.

Dave,

Just listened to your recording of Apache, Wow !! is all l can say mate, you're a very talented guy, absolutely loved what l heard. l think l'm now leaning towards the G3x. l've seen a couple of places selling it for £115, and l've just looked at Ross Hall's website and l think that's exactly what l want. Can you confirm for me the question a asked about Cavatina, if the volume pedal on the G3x would give that effect please?

Regarding the patches. l see on Ross's site, that they're sent by email. Once l download them to the pedal, is there a backup for the patches in the event that they were lost, or erased. Not sure if that can happen or not, but thought it'd be good to know lol.

Lastly, after your recommendation on the amps, l had a look and the only thing that seems to be listed, well new anyway, is the Vox VT20+, VT40 etc. Are they basically the same amp, but slightly more power?

Regards

Russ

Thank you for your kind comment about my work, but the point of that exercise was to show that the sound is possible for everyone at a comfortable price, the G3x is great for stuff like Cavatina where you use the swell pedal for effect, I use mine for exactly that tune. Your Classic Vibe will sound terrific with this kit.
The patches will always be on your computer, saved in the file they come in. You just transfer the info via the Zoom 'Edit & Share software. You can back up the patches anyway, so you will never lose them.
I haven't tested out the later Vox amps, my AC-4 is pretty new but my Valvetronix is old, about 2005 I bought it, the model is the VT-30 with a silver/chrome front. The later 10/20/40watt Valvetronix amps have the original brown diamond speaker cloth fitted and I have yet to test one of those. If I get chance on Monday I will try one out as I will be in York and can call in at Gear For Music. I have no doubt though that these new Voxes have the sound, after all it is their sound.

Hi Russ,
I have a VOX AC15 for sale if you are interested. It is the all valve MADE IN ENGLAND model before they started making them in China.

Best regards,
Baz.

Hi Dave,

It was thanks to hearing your track and hearing what the Zoom can do, that's helped me make up my mind, especially as l've found out l can buy the G3x and patches for under £200, which l think is quite a good bargain considering what it can do. l know you didn't suggest it so l could listen to you play, but l like to give credit when it's due

After considering your recommendations on amps, l've been doing a bit of thinking. l know l've got a way to go learning wise, but l'm trying to get a balance of really good gear at sensible money and thinking towards the future. So amp wise something that l can use at home and possibly play in small venues in the future. It's my better half's son actually that plays and if l master the guitar he'd like to maybe do some small gigs for fun.

it'd be good to hear your thoughts on the latest Vox amps if you do manage to get the chance to try one, and which amp you think might be the most suitable. Budget wise l'd like to be under £300 for the amp, but could stretch to around £400 if needed.

Regards

Russ

bazmusicman wrote:Hi Russ,
I have a VOX AC15 for sale if you are interested. It is the all valve MADE IN ENGLAND model before they started making them in China.

Best regards,
Baz.

Hi Baz,

Thanks for your offer. Please don't take offence, but l'd rather buy new as l've had problems in the past which have kind of put me off used equipment.

Regards

Russ

The pedal Hank used was called a De Armond Volume/Tone pedal, model no. 610. I believe these are still available (but a bit pricey, the last one I saw for sale was over £150).

It goes up and down for volume, and rocks side to side for tone. I believe Jimmy Page used it for The Crying Game.