Can I Convince Mr Budget To Buy A Quad Cortex? 

I've had a QC on loan for 3 weeks now (returning it to its owner tomorrow), did 2 gigs and a bunch of rehearsals with it (all on IEMs, a bit with also a wedge monitor in front of me), and what impresses me the most with it is the feel, and specifically the way it responds to your playing. I'm used to a pretty responsive amp (Marshall Studio Vintage into an EVH 2x12, with a couple of pedals), so what usually throws me off with modellers is how inert they feel, and how none of what you do to guitar controls (pots and selector) translates. Not at all the case with the QC, it feels really responsive and dynamic. That is very, very impressive in my opinion. Also, UI is quite intuitive, I was able to build a couple of presets in a few minutes, and got them gig-ready in a matter of hours, and they translates perfectly into a big PA. A few people (including the musicians I was working with) actually commented on how good it/I sounded. Got to say I also had the ToneX on loan at some point and even though it felt kinda responsive, I wasn't entirely sold on the tones I got from it, and the app experience was awful (can't edit from it, won't work if the pedal isn't registered into your account, which I would never do for an unit on loan...and the standalone app/librarian isn't very easy to use overall anyway). I didn't have the occasion to gig it, but I'm not sure it would have been as impressive as the QC was. And the friend who loaned me the QC has or has had them all, and commented on how much better the QC is, compared to what's around (especially the Kemper he's been gigging several times a week for the last few years). So...yeah, long story short, the QC is expensive, but in my experience is worth every penny, and then some. I need to get one for myself.

Listening to both of you play those clean lines and chords with an effect or two is quite therapeutic. You really have a great channel here Paul, and thank you for stopping by Lee.

10:04 if you wanna change the device to try a few, the top right knob/switch will cycle through all of them. Quite handy actually! Works to test cabs/irs as well.

Hi Paul, the cortex looks and sounds great but its a bit expensive, I took a slightly different route and bought a Boss Gt1000core and put a tonex in the fx loop. Does very nearly the same job as the cortex but at nearly half the price roughly £880 ish and sounds incredible.

Paul, you know what’s strange for me it sounds and feels great and as far as that goes, that part for me has never changed. This guy right here- Paul is the reason I figured the quad out so quick a few yrs ago. He’s a great teacher and player. Thx again Paul!!! I think you can turn the top right knob and it will go through all the fx so u don’t have to click out and into guitar settings and go down the list. Just click like you did at the beginning and start turning the knob. Cheers.

Lee is a great guy, luv his playing & his mindset for great sound on the cheap. Nice vid ST's!

Great discussion guys! Loved the video

I have this modeler. I'll tell you all the tones you've played sound so good and the feel had to be there for me to want to buy it

9:58 You can actually scroll through the list of devices and instantly try them out by simply turning the top right footswitch!

Great show, everyone needs a moddler imo , i got mine six months ago and even though I’ve only scratched the surface of it’s potential, i think it’s fantastic

First song was absolutely beautiful. Bravo!

As always, I super enjoy the Skinflint Lee videos 😊 It is educational to hear both Paul and Lee’s thought process around the different music gear. Has Lee seen or tried the ToneX One? That seems like it might be right up his alley.

I too have purchased the QC twice now. Once early on and sold it… regretted it and bought again. I also have a fractal fm9 and hx stomp. I don’t think the sound on the QC is quite as good as the FM9 but the UI and ease of use and ability to capture gear and take it with me is a real joy. It’s staying :) I think I’ll keep the others as well. I just like messing with all the modelers and test out the new updates that come out. I probably need a better hobby…

I think in light of new releases this week, the ultimate board might just be an HX Stomp paired up with the Tonex One. You could put that board together for around $600-700

Do you guys have a video doing an overview of exactly how you record your demos? This channel consistently has some of the best sounding demos on RU-vid

Lee has a good point about cost - a lot of people don't need a Cortex with all its obvious abilities. Too many people compare these units = Fractal, Helix, etc etc without putting the price into the equation. Especially for live use. Having said that I am delving into in with a Fractal AX8. Not the latest but still has massive abilities. I don't need the capabilities of capturing even if i did have a studio to record all these amps (that I don't own, lol).

Absolutely fantastic have a wonderful day also Saturday is my friends birthday ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

Couple things that I caught about the Tonex pedal. The capture processing goes much faster if you are using an NVidia video card in your computer, the process is designed to work with one of the components in that make of video card. Second is you dont really need an effects loop, Anything you would put in the loop, you can simply put those effects after the output of the Tonex pedal. I have a delay pedal set after the output going into my FRFR and it sounds great.

Great video. Maybe you can try Valeton GP200 , I love it. The presets are little too wet. But amps and everything sounds great. I got one for new $350 CAD, $200 under retail. Cheers

Once again, some fantastic playing by Lee.🎸🎸🎸🎶

Hi Paul, harmonic trem is coming soon just FYI as well as a lot of other fun FX and of course the plugin integration

Believe it or not I'm loving that tank G for $79 You guys did a demo on.! Keep in mind I'm just using it for at home practice with headphones though. Absolutely great unit for that! I like it a lot more than the much more expensive BOSS waza air headphones!

Would love to see you demo the TMP , it solves the quick stage adjustment issue as it’s large UI is just like a traditional pedalboard

Dear Paul....can u inform me what pickups u are using on that awesome Strat? It sounds phenomenal! I own the Strat American Professional mk 1 HSS but i don't really quite like the overall sound... my apologies if i'm asking a stupid question ...🙏

I hear it in nearly all the modelers, the high end gets very fizzy during breakup. ZERO hate, it just really sticks out for me. The Friedman IR-X is filling some very important territory in that regard. You should do a demo! I'm loving mine.

Would you consider making DI profiles of the “overdrive reverb” available?..and/or captures of the preamp only..

Sure, 2 delays and 2 reverbs there in the intro. Epic 🔥🔥 Been a qc user since spring 21 when it came out

I have GX100 that does all i need BUT i honestly think this year has seen a huge amount of modelling type pedals (IR2, UA lion, pod express, strymon iridium, HX one, tonex one etc) are going to be preferred over complex floor based units with a million drop down menu modellers. These could become more studio gear? Just a prediction as the super pedals improve and get smaller.

The irony of this unit is it sounds almost like anything else on the TSR vids, regardless of price. Is it’s Paul’s smooth fingers or his lovely guitars that are what really give those tones?

Lee is the voice in your head that is trying to get you reasonable! What a lovely guy 😊

Seems like a Tonex One guy like me. I get mine Tuesday and can't wait. I may have used your code too. Cheers, homies.

Hi. I’m looking for presets and captures from The studio rats on the Cortex Cloud, but there aren’t any?

Paul, just wondering what you have as the output from the QC; are you using monitors, cab, FRFR?

Hi Paul. Im a new ToneX Pedal user and going through all the presets i felt a bit underwhelmed. But then i came across your captures on ToneNet, and wow!! They are so good!. And the fact they are free is insane - many thanks for doing these. Love the Matchless. I use the HX stomp but now i bypass the Amp&Cab and use your Captures from the Tonex which sound more real than the HX amps.

I think the Hotone options would be more appropriate for Mr. Budget. Either that or just the Tonex and some type of other effects pedal - or multi-effect pedal.

If you don’t like the ndsp low gain stuff I found you might need to dial back the gain on the input. To me it feels the default gain pushes everything a bit too much

Paul is the Toxic synth preset a factory preset or one you’ve made? That one is immense! ❤

Paul, you are a very "clean" player. Love your technique.

U don't have to go to, change the device..if you turn on the block and turn the rotary on the right under the qc logo will change your device

I'd like hear lee demo his neat little rig...see how he gets by with one effect at a time

So if you didn't need capture feature which would you choose if money were not a consideration. Cortex or Kemper player>

I purchased the QC when it first came out as well. I could never bond with it. Looks like it may be worth another try. Thanks for the video!

Mr. budget was ripping baby great job!

2203 is the 100 watt marshall jcm800

Seems a bit harsh continually comparing it with the Tonex pedal which is much cheaper and simpler. I would have thought the Kemper was a more realistic competitor.

I have great expectations for what the 3.0 update will bring…

I think there's no doubt the quad cortex is worth the money in a general sense, but like Lee I just can't justify spending that kind of money on it for myself.

Have you tried a Mooer GE300?

Does it have a tuner?

Then i think Lee pedalboard will complete with tonex one for drive in front of his ir-2

Boss IR-2, and I won't say anything else :)

Going to be a tough sell to Mr Budget when he has that MVave Tank G that can run amp captures now with a similar setup to NAM. And it's $60 😂

Don’t forget it’s uncanny ability to break down when you need it most. Give it time

I'd rather gig Ampero II stage with a Tonex One in the loop

All too digital and still sounds way too compressed (way too overpriced) Nothing close to an open sound you get from valve amps imho :) Having said that, its a great alternative for traveling gig and plug & play if you got the dough - BUT how much does one need and want to spend just to get and copy the same rock sound playing the same licks for the last 30 years? Its crazy 😀

Lee break down and get one. I don’t think you’ll be sorry. I’m of no help re buying gear.

Way too thin sounding. As a guitarist I dont want the produced in the mix sound these gizmos do. It's just bees buzzing

I prefer the helix and the kemper