current multi effect pedals

Atnum · #1 05-14-2010, 02:06 AM

I am planning on getting a pedal, I don't have a pedal yet but I want to start with one. I came across some multi effect pedal from zoom and like the idea, the guitarist in my jam group has a multi effect pedal and likes it. Much easier to set up and all.

My question is what are some great multi effect pedals currently on the market? Under 250 us dollars.

PJSShearer · #2 05-14-2010, 06:11 AM

Line6 Bass Floor Pod - I git one for my birthday in February and can't recommend it highly enough. I even went out and bought a boom mike stand so I can use it on stage.

http://uk.line6.com/bassfloorpod/

CopperheadLXXIX · #3 05-14-2010, 08:17 AM

I was pretty impressed by the two Zoom effects units I owned last year, at least compared to others I'd tried (Boss, Digitech). Still ended up going back to individual pedals, but with the exception of the biggest of the Zoom bass processors, they are sub $250.

bassbrad · #4 05-14-2010, 01:27 PM

There are a lot of good choices in that price range, which is best for you depends on your needs and wants. I use a Zoom B2.1u because it offers me the sounds and flexibility I want. I like that it offers me 2 banks of effects so I can use selections not available on other units. Plus I like the synth sounds, IMO it is one of the hidden strengths of the B2 series. The down side is the User Interface is sort of clumsy and takes a bit of getting used to, most players just want a bunch of knobs to twiddle and hate scrolling thru menus.

kreider204 · #5 05-14-2010, 01:28 PM

I like my Boss ME-20B quite a bit. $200, and very easy to use.

Atnum · #6 05-25-2010, 05:28 AM

I finally had time to the music store and asked them if they had any of the above mentioned in stock. They didn't. When I asked them If they could order one or all of them they told me that I shouldn't buy a multi effects pedal because it would not sound good. Then they started pushing some normal pedals.

Are multi effect pedals really giving such an inferior sound or are they just giving me some crazy speech hoping I will buy individual pedals and spend more money?

Basslice · #7 05-25-2010, 05:47 AM

Good question. Like all gear, I am sure you will find people that hate them and others that love them. In my opinion? Why spend up to a thousand on pedals when you can get a multi-effect? They have always sounded good to me. I have a Digitech Guitar multieffect (RP355) for my guitar. It sounds pretty good to me and emulates most of the decent pedals and amps on the market. When I bought it, I was just out to get a distortion pedal. I could have spent close to $200 on a single pedal or slightly more for a hundred pedals.

I think they sound good. Lets face it, if you work at a store, there is more markup profit from selling individual pedals than one single purchase. I am a cynic when it comes to people trying to get me to spend my money.

If you like the way it sounds, go for it. Ask them to let you try it out at home or practice first.

p.s. Buy online. You'll save money and the better stores have excellent return policies.

Basslice · #8 05-25-2010, 05:53 AM

I have another suggestion. If you want to see how good a piece of gear is, go to ebay and search. If there are a lot of a particular unit on sale (auctions only) you can assume that people don't love them and are trying to unload them.

Sure looks like there are a lot of Line 6 bass pods for sale....

danomite64 · #9 05-25-2010, 06:03 AM

I had a Boss ME-50B and have a Boss GT-6B; both are great and can be had for under $250 on ebay or the TB for sale section.

wetzelman1 · #10 05-25-2010, 08:22 AM

Multi-effects are good in theory but difficult in practice. Having all of those effects at your disposable seems like such a good idea, but you need to have everything setup and programmed before you start jamming anything as they are nearly impossible to change on the fly. That's why people like individual pedals, because you can individually tweak them and turn them on and off at your whim. Some multi's do sound good, the B2, Korgs, Boss and digitech, albeit digital, but unless you're willing to sit down for a long time programming different effects and combinations, it can be a pain. I would honestly suggest a better route may be to try and get a deal on a bunch of danelectro or behringer pedals to be able to try out the effects and then figure out which ones you really want and purchase upgrades as needed.

Atnum · #11 05-25-2010, 10:55 PM

Well isnt that the reason that such pedals have memory banks to save preset to so you can switch on the fly.

bassbrad · #12 05-26-2010, 01:52 AM

The debate continues: single pedals are in some ways better than a multi, there is no perfect end all be all multi but that is the curse of any swiss army knife device there will always be some weakness. It's really a matter of what is preferred and being prepared. I use both a multi efx and single pedals on my pedal board but can make do with just the multi for some gigs and practices. Changing efx on the fly on a multi is quite difficult having to scroll thru all the functions but then you can save your creations for instant recall. Personally I find it comforting that I can go from a clean sound to a freaky envelope fuzzed out flange from heaven with the perfect touch of delay to a driving thick clean sound with the push of a button and then go to a sweet chorus sound with another push to a spanky slap tone.....and that's just 1 song!

James Judson · #13 05-26-2010, 02:01 AM

My experience with multi effects units. One thousand totally awesome sounds and effects. Nine hundred and ninety nine don't sit well in the band mix. My world is really small. YMMV

JJ

Atnum · #14 05-26-2010, 07:03 AM

Well I'm not in a band yet so I don't have to worry about that. I'll go to the store as tell them to order a me 50 that seems to be a sold options, no long menu browsing and from reviews the quality seems high.

cheapbasslovin · #15 05-26-2010, 07:57 AM

I had a ME-50B. It's a decent unit, but don't expect it to sound good right out of the box. It took me a good month to get most of the kinks worked out of it where I could reliably work toward good new sounds. I wasn't practicing 3 hours a day with it so you may be able to burn through it a little quicker than me.

The problem I had with multi units is that they are so damn monolithic. When you start to really get to understand effects and what they can do they are really difficult to add to as they don't allow for insertion of a new effect into the signal chain.

That said I own a M13 now and use it almost exclusively. Starting to get it pretty well dialed in.

FWIW, here's most of what I got out of my ME-50B when I had it. Recorded this about 5 years ago. The clean is the result of a Bass POD, all the other effects are a result of the Boss. Most notable effects are the Slow Gear on Uneasy and the fuzz wah on Beneath Your Fragile Smile.

http://www.myspace.com/camorramusic

http://podsafeaudio.com/jamroom/band...e_Smile_EP.php

Crystalman85 · #16 05-29-2010, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atnum

I am planning on getting a pedal, I don't have a pedal yet but I want to start with one. I came across some multi effect pedal from zoom and like the idea, the guitarist in my jam group has a multi effect pedal and likes it. Much easier to set up and all.

My question is what are some great multi effect pedals currently on the market? Under 250 us dollars.

If you're thinking of purchasing a zoom processor. go with either the zoom b2 or the zoom b2.1u. these multi-effects processors are cased in metal and they're gig-worthy.

Kosko · #17 05-29-2010, 02:14 AM

Wow, took till post 15 to get the m13 mentioned. In my understanding the m9 and 13 are the current leaders in multi quality.

cheapbasslovin · #18 05-29-2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kosko

Wow, took till post 15 to get the m13 mentioned. In my understanding the m9 and 13 are the current leaders in multi quality.

I would have mentioned it sooner, but his price range seemed to preclude the M's.

megadan · #19 05-29-2010, 08:27 AM

Honestly, the only multi pedal I would ever, ever think of using is the m9/m13.
The m9 used might be in your budget! If not it's probably worth it to stretch it just a hair if you can.

Bob C · #20 05-29-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

The problem I had with multi units is that they are so damn monolithic. When you start to really get to understand effects and what they can do they are really difficult to add to as they don't allow for insertion of a new effect into the signal chain.

I don't really know what you mean by that.