Gain finale is designed with end-of-signal processing in mind, but it can easily be used as a front of chain patch.
The signal chain is boost (up to 12 dB) –> overdrive/distortion (Plexi; bypassable) w/clean blend –> three-band eq –> compressor w/clean blend –> cab sim (4×12; bypassable)
Nothing too fancy here; just useful stuff for “gluing” together a sound at the end of a signal chain, or for adding some dynamics to performance. Everything that can color your sound has either neutral settings (boost, eq), or can be blended with clean signal or bypassed (or both).
The signal path is stereo throughout.
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Stompswitches:
Left, latching — overdrive bypass; when overdrive is engaged, a red light on the front page lights up
Middle, latching — boost bypass; when boost is engaged a white light on the front page lights up
Right, latching — cab sim bypass; when the cab sim is engaged, a yellow light on the front page lights up
Controls:
I’m not going to go over each and every control. If you’re familiar with these modules, then these should be familiar, too. I didn’t do anything weird. But I will offer a few thoughts:
Boost — the boost works in conjunction with the overdrive; when the overdrive is engaged, it can push the overdrive, acting as a second gain stage; when the overdrive is disengaged, it offers a clean boost, up to 12 dB
Overdrive — I used the Plexi model because, to me, it’s the most versatile; it offers a nice, saturated low gain sound when the input gain is low, but when pushed, it can go into pretty heavy distortion; the clean blend allows you to tailor to taste; if you want to try a different overdrive, the two overdrive modules are located on the third page, in the middle
Three-band EQ — these tone modules don’t really sound drastic to my ears; this isn’t radical filtering, but it can allow you to shape the sound some, and fine-tune things; a good place to cut bass or treble–I don’t personally mess much with the mid frequency controls, but it’s there if you want it; +/- 18 dB for each band
Compressor — a clean blend on a compressor is pretty key for me; it allows a compressor to be used in a lot more versatile manner; at high ratios, it can be used as an okay limiter (not my first choice, but if you’re in a pinch); a little compression can help “glue” a sound together
Cab sim — I go hot and cold on cab sims (hence it being bypassable), but like the compressor, it can help glue a sound together; I chose the 4×12 because it’s the least obtrusive (to my ears), but different cab sims can have pretty drastic effects on the sound (if you want), so feel free to chain it; it’s located on the fourth page, at the bottom
