Effects Sound Quality Compare - BOSS ME20B - ME50B - GT-6B

[chinjazz]

I'm just digging into getting a multi-effects boss board, and new ME20B seems like a no brainer, but the used market seems somewhat attractive with the ME50B, or GT-6B.

I don't care much for amp modeling b/c my Aggie stuff works for me.

Anyone compare these effects and can chime in some feedback:

Chorus, Autowah, Octaver, Delay, verb?

I'd be interested in layering combos of these sounds, but most likely not all at once.

Thanks a bunch in advance!

[Sir Edward V]

Originally Posted by chinjazz

I'm just digging into getting a multi-effects boss board, and new ME20B seems like a no brainer, but the used market seems somewhat attractive with the ME50B, or GT-6B.

I don't care much for amp modeling b/c my Aggie stuff works for me.

Anyone compare these effects and can chime in some feedback:

Chorus, Autowah, Octaver, Delay, verb?

I'd be interested in layering combos of these sounds, but most likely not all at once.

Thanks a bunch in advance!

well the only one I have experience with is the ME-50B. Until reading this I forgot I used to own one! It was alright for starting out with effects, but I couldn't really get the thing to work well for me. Now I kinda want to go back and try one again to see if the effects were really that horrible, or if I just didn't know how to use them correctly...

the chorus was pretty good, by the time I sold it, I liked that the best. The delay was alright, but I never used it practically, only when messing around. The autowah I thought was crap, my QTron is infinitely greater. The octave was OK, it sounded kinda crappy and synthetic, I remember tracking problems as well. The wah on it was pretty bad, but I liked the Octave+ on the expression pedal, all whammy-like and whatnot.

It was alright in the beginning, giving me an intro to effects. But I love the setup I have now, so much better. But, again, I would like to try one out again some day and see if I can't get some good sounds out of it. I understand things much better now.

It doesn't sound like its your first setup though. I would go with something else

One bad thing is the unversatility of the effects, as in, they are all in a preset order, and you can only have... 5 effects on at a time, one from each of five catagories. so you can't use, say, octave into filter, because they are in the same catagory. You can't run one distortion into another, or into a synth either. Kinda lame, I think the GT-6B is supposed to have more versatility, but the learning curve is higher

[chinjazz]

Hi Sir Edward V,

Thanks for your feedback. Based on the few reviews (BassPlayer.TV - ME20B), and a few others including yours, it's helping me. I surely have to get down to check out the new ones at the retailers as well.

[Moe45673]

If I were you, I'd wait for a bass version of the Digitech RP500. Their new DNA2 chip sounds AWESOME, and the pedals useability is what I've always wanted.

We'll see, though, now that EHX put out a real-to-goodness Bass Big Muff.



I bought an ME-50B and really, really wanted to like it. I am now selling it though. I was unable to get a decent drive sound out of it (the synth sounds aren't bad). There are some good tones to be had in there, but overall I came away disappointed with it. It's too bad, IMO it could be so much more.

[chinjazz]

Yeah, I'm not looking to drop too much of a chunk of cash on one.

Any one have thoughts on the GT-6B?
They're now discontinued for the new hopped up 10B, but used, they are within reach. I noticed that Victor Wooten has one, but I can't find any sound samples on line.. Hmmm.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by Moe45673

We'll see, though, now that EHX put out a real-to-goodness Bass Big Muff.

.

+1 Can't wait for this one. IME the only FX used MOSTLY on bass are envelope filters(wah's etc) & OD/Dist/Fuzz. So after multi-FX I now use single pedals!!! I find it far easier- as oftern the sound U 'work on' at home etc... doesn't sound the same on stage/at gig... & having individual pedals makes it FAR easier to tweak quickly.
Bass Wah, Chorus & Big Muff work for me!!!!!

[Grimoire]

Originally Posted by chinjazz

Yeah, I'm not looking to drop too much of a chunk of cash on one.

Any one have thoughts on the GT-6B?
They're now discontinued for the new hopped up 10B, but used, they are within reach. I noticed that Victor Wooten has one, but I can't find any sound samples on line.. Hmmm.

I've been happy with my GT6-B. Don't be put off by the presets and generally negative views you will often here about multis - the strength of the unit lies in its tweakability. If you are willing to spend some time, you will be able to pull out a myriad of useable, musical tones, as well as some bizarre things too. I can't comment on the amp modelling, as I have never used it. The od's/fuzz/distortions are also a bit weak, but that's to be expected. That being said, you can get some decent sounds from them. Modulation is very good, and the synth is surprising, not the best tracking, but great for sound effects and such, especially the ability to map any and all parameters to the expression pedal. All in all an excellent unit, and as you mention, with the release of the GT10, it will continue to drop in price.

[chinjazz]

Originally Posted by Grimoire

I've been happy with my GT6-B. Don't be put off by the presets and generally negative views you will often here about multis - the strength of the unit lies in its tweakability. If you are willing to spend some time, you will be able to pull out a myriad of useable, musical tones, as well as some bizarre things too. I can't comment on the amp modelling, as I have never used it. The od's/fuzz/distortions are also a bit weak, but that's to be expected. That being said, you can get some decent sounds from them. Modulation is very good, and the synth is surprising, not the best tracking, but great for sound effects and such, especially the ability to map any and all parameters to the expression pedal. All in all an excellent unit, and as you mention, with the release of the GT10, it will continue to drop in price.

Thanks a bunch for the feedback!
Have any words about the when layering or using an octaver and auto wah together to get something funky for finger or slap aka bootsy or the like? This is where I'm thinking two separate pedals like an OC-2, plus a Q tron would maybe be better. Just curious..

[Grimoire]

Originally Posted by chinjazz

Thanks a bunch for the feedback!
Have any words about the when layering or using an octaver and auto wah together to get something funky for finger or slap aka bootsy or the like? This is where I'm thinking two separate pedals like an OC-2, plus a Q tron would maybe be better. Just curious..

I don't use the auto-wah very much, and not at all in the way you are asking about...not a funk master myself The octaver is quite good, and tracks very well.
If you have a specific sound you are after, and wont use a lot of what the GT6 has to offer, then go for the individuals.

[g00eY]

The GT-6B is a great unit to start off with. Now you can find them just over $200, so that is also a great deal for your wallet.

The presets are usable, but not great by any means. I only use them when I know that a certain patch has a certain effect I want to mess around with. Like Grimoire said, the synth is actually ok, but the tracking is very tough to get used to and is very sensitive. I think most of the other stuff is pretty legit. Right now I consistently use the EQ, compressor, delay, tremolo, chorus, and some occasional ring mod (though I haven't tweaked to find a really good sounding ring mod yet).

The GT-6B is a good unit to figure out what you like and what you want to use, but if you already know what you want, then I would look into individual units.

[paganjack]

As Grimoire noted, the OD/distortion is a little weak, which is to be expected with digital modeling. So i have a separate pedal or two for that. Honestly for everything else I've been able to find or make a setting that I have been happy with. I barely use the synth, because i just don't really like it.
yeah ive had this unit for like year and a half now and I still occasionally find new things to do with it. There are just so many possibilities in that one big red box. It's obscenely complicated, which is both good and bad i suppose. mostly good though.
That said, I've heard good things about the GT-10B as well...but i havent found one to try out.

[chinjazz]

Grimoire, gOOeY, paganjack,


Thanks for all your feedback. It's certainly an education I'm getting. I think I owe it to myself to now head down to a store and check out the 10, and some others I mentioned, as well as individual combos....

Cheers!