shanejohnson2002 has a good point. But if you want to go that route,a POD is a very good processor and if your budget is low a Digitech RP50 is pretty good and I own one. they are about 65 bucks. But if you are going to play out it is not very durable

I have a Boss Me-50, it is very durable and easy to use. However, it isn't really the aural equivalent of an oil painting, but if you're only amateur/playing dive bars (like me) then it is good value

The Boss GT6 is cool, too. Not quite as cool as the GT8, but a damn fine unit...You should be able to find them on Ebay...

http://www.guitar.com/groups/the_gear_whores/scott_kerrs_aka_zombre_gear_thread

Digi tech RP350 well worth the money $199.99. Interface with your computer by usb cable.
You can tweak your sound from the knobs, or thru the program that comes with it.
Besides acting as an editor for your sound, its also a library.
Not only can you make and save your own sounds you can download more of thier presets, save them on your hard drive.

http://www.digitech.com/cgi-bin/guitarone.pl

http://www.digitech.com/cgi-bin/guitarworld.pl

Check it out

http://www.digitech.com/products/RP_newpgs/rp350.htm

I'd say anything by Line 6. Their stuff ranges from low to high and they're all pretty similar. I gig with a POD XT Live myself and we just played a music festival two weeks ago where a guy asked me what I used. When I told him he was floored...said he'd have to look into one. He liked my Big Bottom setting I have from the Metal Shop pack I dl'd into it.

POD xt, XT Live, or Pod 2.0 are good ways to go. the 2.0 is cheaper (but also older) but yields some good stuff. The xt models are far superior and can be edited via USB on your PC. Also they have ones now called the Floor Pod that are similar in tone but cost less.

I use an XT Live and when I'm playing with my cover band I can just run direct into the board and it sounds awesome!!
It's just like I'm hiding a 4x12 and various tube heads somewhere.

Is Xt live that good ? What about Xt Pro rack? I'm thinking to get a Line 6 and I want the best Line 6.
Is it Xt Live or Xt Pro Rack or new floor pods or pocket pod ? yea how about pocket pod ?
Please answer all of this questions =)) =)) =)) I'm very picky about my tone and gear.

I admit, I lean toward BOSS stuff...especially the GT series.

1. If an effect is on, a light labelled with the effect's name is lit.

2. A button will accompany the light in question.

3. Therefore, if you want to see what effects are on a preset-it's very fast. Also, if you want to adjust a given effect...press its button to access it.

Compare that to "levels" and menus on other stuff, and it just seems faster.

Which one is a very personal decision. You have to choose one that has the options you want and the sounds you are looking to use. All of the quality stuff from Boss, Line 6, etc. is good but what sounds good to you is what matters. Getting one that you are comfortable with editing is important because the factory settings will sound different on different setups. A nice tip for taking some of the harsh digital sound away from these things is to put a tube compressor or tube pre-amp after them. You don't even need a high priced one. In my "A" rig I use a Boss GT 6 into a ART Levelar., One of the least lowest priced tube compressors out there, I have seen them as low as $25. The tube compressor smooths out the harsh digital edge and gives back some of the analog harmonics the processor takes away. This is in know way as good as a guitar into an analog pedal into a good tube amp but in this day of needing so many different effects if you play covers, it will help you find a warmer tone to go along with the new found sound variety.

straight up jeff. I run my podxt into my peavey hertiage tube power section, definetly breaths some life into the digital signal, either that or a rack with a clean power amp and some good rack units. +1 ya popped your cherry dude