Boss me-20b vs. Boss compact pedals vs. EBS compact pedals

korey L · #1 08-05-2010, 08:55 AM

I just got a Fender standard Jazz bass that I wanted for a long time (

) and now I want to buy some effects for the first time. I am currently in a Blues/Rock band and I need to start adding something to my bass lines. I am willing to save up to get the Boss and expensive Ebs pedals. But not sure which ones to get. I also think that the Boss me-20b would work for me but I dont know what to do.

Tangentor · #2 08-05-2010, 09:24 AM

I have a '97 Fender Am. Std. Jazz, and just got back into the bass slot after 6 years as a drummer (but I'm a bassist at heart). I wanted some effects on an extremely tight budget. A few weeks ago, I picked a used ME-50B and, while it's not everything I'd ever want from bass effects, it is more than adequate - in fact, inspiring at times - for my needs.

The compressor section is my favorite, and the main reason I'd recommend the unit. In fact, I wouldn't have been unhappy if all the compressor types were taken away but the Limiter - it is the most useful of the choices for my playing style. I'm a home recording maniac and know my way around compressors and limiters, so I have it dialed in surgically for maximum balance between 'too squeezed' and 'I can't tell a difference."

(Of course, I have an alternate version of that patch with a bit more squeeze and some tasteful EQ, in case I'm in the mood for something less vanilla than my original conservative patch.)

I treat the other effects as icing on that cake, with the overdrives and time-delay sections being my favorites. I love how you can have your 100% dry bass sound with any amount of OD/dist/fuzz on top of it, OR have no dry bass and just dirt, or anywhere in between.)

I don't use the first effects section (auto-wahs, filters, and a pretty cool hollowbody bass sim) nearly as much for my covers band.

It's also cool to be able to tweak the knobs in realtime and resave your patch onstage with a minimum of steps. Last week, I realized my new distortion sound was too quiet versus my 'basic compressed' sound, and it was super easy between sets to bump it up, save it, compare it with the other patch's volume, edit it again and resave it.

I can definitely attest that it works well with a J-bass. Your bass probably already sounds great, and depending on what you like, you can build on that WITHOUT replacing its tone.

kreider204 · #3 08-05-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by korey L

I just got a Fender standard Jazz bass that I wanted for a long time (

) and now I want to buy some effects for the first time. I am currently in a Blues/Rock band and I need to start adding something to my bass lines. I am willing to save up to get the Boss and expensive Ebs pedals. But not sure which ones to get. I also think that the Boss me-20b would work for me but I dont know what to do.

I have a Boss ME-20B and could answer questions about it. Can you be more specific? What effects do you think you're going to need?

korey L · #4 08-05-2010, 10:09 AM

Krieder, I need good distortion and chorus effects

kreider204 · #5 08-05-2010, 10:17 AM

Okay, I'd say the chorus is nice, IF it's what you're looking for - it's the standard Boss digital chorus sound, very clear, very smooth, but maybe a bit vanilla for some people. I like it quite a bit, but YMMV.

I'd say the distortion / overdrive section is probably the one of the weaker links in the unit. They aren't bad, mind you, but not great, unless you're really not picky at all. The "distortion" sound is actually pretty decent if you're looking for a hard rock sound, but it loses the low end like crazy, so you'd need to dial that back in. The "overdrive" preserves the low end better, but also sounds kinda mushy.

If you're just in the market for those two effects, I suspect you'd be better off with a couple of individual pedals, certainly for the distortion.

Hope that helps.

korey L · #6 08-05-2010, 11:36 AM

I really dont need all the effects to be great. Im getting it just to figure out what single effects im really going to use so I dont wast my money on some 150 dollar useless effect.

Chowowbus · #7 08-05-2010, 11:45 AM

I use an me 20b live.
I love this very underappreciated unit. It is very small for what it does and if you take some time to get to know this pedal, it will serve you well.
I think the distortion is great on it. It does not lose low end if you tweak the EQ in the patch itself. The flang is great and this pedal wont be so "sterile" if you have good amplification.
I have used this pedal for 3 years and have had no probs.
I have tons of recorded music on youtube using this pedal.

Later
Jamie

kreider204 · #8 08-05-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by korey L

I really dont need all the effects to be great. Im getting it just to figure out what single effects im really going to use so I dont wast my money on some 150 dollar useless effect.

If that's the case, the a multi-fx unit is ideal. Almost any remotely decent one will do, I would definitely say that the ME20_b falls under that category.

kreider204 · #9 08-05-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chowowbus

I use an me 20b live.
I love this very underappreciated unit. It is very small for what it does and if you take some time to get to know this pedal, it will serve you well.
I think the distortion is great on it. It does not lose low end if you tweak the EQ in the patch itself.

I agree, but then you have to program it, which is fine, but one of the selling points is the ability to use it in manual mode, as though it's just a bunch of pedals, and the EQ isn't footswitchable.

Chowowbus · #10 08-06-2010, 10:04 AM

The eq on this pedal is a button press away. It is programable on the fly but is really always on, if that makes sense.
It does however take some getting used to.
later

Jamie

**StrangerDanger** · #11 08-06-2010, 10:07 AM

Boss Bass Chorus is one I couldnt live without. Also get a pedal tuner if you dont have one already.

Bassman 100 · #12 08-06-2010, 02:30 PM

I purchased an ME20-B this week 2nd hand for €60.00. Happy man. I also have the GT6-B & the ME50-B. The quality of the ME20-B incredible. Once programmed up. Use an A/B box between a better pedal & keep tweaking until you get exactly or close to the sound you want. My intended use for the 20B is to have a stand by ready to go, with fresh batteries. Also great for intimate house parties, won't mind too much if it gets drink spilled into it ! But would'nt complain if I had to use it as my main pedal. The one thing I love about it is that where ever you leave the manual mode on shut down, it stays there, unklike the ME50-B or the GT6-B, they can move because of the amount of knobs. So thats 6 effects / patches without a 2nd up/down pedal. COOL