M80 passed the test. I recommend it

mozarwasagenius · #1 12-12-2010, 06:20 PM

All,
A friend of mine recommended the MXR M-80 DI+ pedal http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/m80-bass-di and I used it for the first time at church service. I used it bypassed with 48V phantom power.

It is very quiet in terms of hiss (equal to my Shuttle DI in PRE setting - which reportedly is like a Countryman Type 85)

I heard NO hum (this is a big deal) when disconnected or connected to my amp's input. The venue I play in is very bad with ground and EMI hum. Single coiled pickups get eaten alive here. I usually have to put a transformer in series with my amps DI output to kill the ground loops. No need for the transformer with the M80.

I had no issues with overdriving/clipping the pedal. Seems like there is plenty of headroom.

That alone would make the $125 I paid for it worth it (because now I don't have to bring my amp and cabinet to church/practice - we have good IEMs and the sound system allows me to feel the stage shake with the subwoofers). However, there are two channels to play with.

I'm just getting started with the distortion channel and it will take some time. I would use this occasionally for noodly stuff

The unit is built like a tank and I am happier with it than my old Sansamp bass driver DI box (excellent and classic unit - but the lack of a mid knob, I just couldn't handle)

In my mind this really is a DI plus additional features. I don't feel they skimped on the bypass DI (which is VERY important to me as this is what I'll use 90% of the time). However, now I have the flexibility of two channels.

The eq isn't touchy and the knobs have a rugged feel. The eq does its job but when bass, mid and treble are set at noon it sounds identical to the bypassed tone. I like the eq frequency choices - if you were to use this pedal as a preamp it seems well suited for that too. Also, the distortion channel with the blend set to dry sounds identical to the clean channel with the color switch engaged. Therefore you could have a color set on the clean channel and use the distortion channel as the same sound but just boosted. Or you could use the clean as a mute channel by setting the volume to min.

Thus, there are a lot of options. I particularly like the blend knob to mix dry and distorted tones for fine tuning the sound. I also am impressed with the noise gate- apparently I'm the only one based on what I've read on here

It doesn't kill the noise, but it does seem to help but you need to mute your strings for it to engage.

Is the unit perfect?... no. I wish they didn't couple the mid scoop (they call it "color") with the distortion channel. I *think* I like sharing the eq with the two channels, though I'm not sure. I can deal with this with the eq though.

This can also be used to drive the input stage of an amp. So you don't have to use it as a DI. As my amp has a nice eq section (which I don't use) - this doesn't attract me much. You could use it as a distortion effect pedal that way. I'm new to distortion so I still need time before I can evaluate this part of the pedal... but it is kinda fun to mess with.

So I'm still learning how to use it, but if you haven't checked one out I suggest you do so if you are in the market for an active DI and wouldn't mind a couple of programmable channels to mess around with.

ok I'll shut up now, but I like sharing when I find something I like. Partly because when I was younger I wish someone had done this for me (I wasted a ton of money and time learning the hard way).

Take care,
mozarwasagenius

scubaduba · #2 12-12-2010, 06:27 PM

Yep. Great unit. I used one in church for a couple years. Sold it recently. And sometimes I wish I had it back.

mozarwasagenius · #3 12-12-2010, 10:43 PM

spent more time with it tonight

The distortion channel is useful for (at least) two things I care about

1) SVT-ish sounds with gain at min and a touch of blend

2) "Fool in the Rain" fuzzy distortion for use playing up high on the neck for guitar-ish fills

I am very impressed with this unit. I think it is quite well thought out.

mozarwasagenius · #4 12-14-2010, 07:11 AM

still very happy with the pedal. Seems the reviews on here are mixed for the distortion channel. I find I keep the blend down on it helps as I find it a bit extreme... and I only use it to play up high on the neck

oldbassplayergu · #5 12-20-2010, 11:47 AM

great pedal! people have mixed reveiws on the dirty channel, but I use it as my second distortion. the clean sound is rich and full, so if you have a bland amp this box is all you need. much more features than the sans amp, noise gate,color switch,48v phantom pw, and para-out jack for a tuner. glow in the dark knobs. I will not do a gig without it. If your amp craps out go right to the house with it. thinking of buying a backup if anybody doesn't like theirs let me know

rekesbass · #6 12-20-2010, 04:08 PM

I also like the dist. channel. when used with the blend at about 10:00 and the gain at about 10:00-11:00 I can get a Geddy like tone from it..it will do more but, I generally use it this way most of the time..its a versatile tool..

mozarwasagenius · #7 12-20-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rekesbass

I also like the dist. channel. when used with the blend at about 10:00 and the gain at about 10:00-11:00 I can get a Geddy like tone from it..it will do more but, I generally use it this way most of the time..its a versatile tool..

How do you set the eq on the dist channel for this setting?

Its funny that I didn't realize the knobs and lettering glowed in the dark. That is a very cool feature.

I am toying with using one of the channels as a mute when I use a tuner (I don't like having anything in my signal chain). It is great there are so many options with this unit.

SurferJoe46 · #8 12-20-2010, 11:41 PM

Fortunately I have a Stand-By on a foot controlled pedal for my amp, so I can get three useful channels out of the M80.

I usually have a slight bass boost and some mids at about 40% to round out the tones to my preamp in the combo cab - and that makes the tone so sweet and mellow.

What I find so far is that the M80 likes to be at the end of the chain and I run the PT-1 tuner off the AUX out to keep it outta the sound chain and before the amp.

When I hit the Preset I can get to a useful setting if I get lost -but getting lost doesn't happen after a few weeks using the M80 anyway - or shouldn't.

I took the battery attachment end out of the PC and that way I feel it cannot short out just flopping around inside the M80 case and destruct-o something. Just me being anal maybe though. Since I have a 1Spot and it seems happy on it, that's all I run it on now.

mowburger · #9 12-21-2010, 10:07 AM

Nice review man! was thinking of one of these as a flavour changer. My BDDI is good but would like a lil variety, don't know how to put this in my chain tho.

BrandonBass · #10 12-21-2010, 10:49 AM

great pedal

BassMonstrum · #11 12-23-2010, 07:23 AM

I've never tried one, but in all of the demos I've heard it sounds like the EQ-part isn't as noticeable as, say, a Sansamp. Is this correct?

scubaduba · #12 12-23-2010, 07:24 AM

In my experience that is definitely correct. Sansamp colors your tone a lot more.

BassMonstrum · #13 12-23-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubaduba

In my experience that is definitely correct. Sansamp colors your tone a lot more.

Thank you. That's all I needed to know.

rekesbass · #14 12-24-2010, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mozarwasagenius

How do you set the eq on the dist channel for this setting?

Its funny that I didn't realize the knobs and lettering glowed in the dark. That is a very cool feature.

I am toying with using one of the channels as a mute when I use a tuner (I don't like having anything in my signal chain). It is great there are so many options with this unit.

generally the bass and treble controlls are at noon and the mids are at 3:00 to make up a little for the mid scoop..

mozarwasagenius · #15 12-24-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rekesbass

generally the bass and treble controlls are at noon and the mids are at 3:00 to make up a little for the mid scoop..

Yeah, I've been finding that works well. The mid scoop seems quite extreme to me. Its good they added the mid knob.

To make the pedal better I wish they had made the color defeatable on the distortion channel and/or made eq independent on the channels with another set of bass,mid and treble... but that would probably not fit

Anyone with a VT deluxe can you compare the bypassed noise level with the XLR to the M80s? The M80 is extremely quiet

passionbass · #16 01-02-2011, 09:48 AM

how's it compare with the tone hammer?
i use a '73 jazz bass, need use as a D.I. and preamp for direct to PA situation.

any opinion?

Eublet · #17 01-02-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passionbass

how's it compare with the tone hammer?
i use a '73 jazz bass, need use as a D.I. and preamp for direct to PA situation.

any opinion?

I have only casual exposure to the M80, but have used the Tone Hammer quite a bit. IMO, the Tone Hammer is better in a lot of ways. With the AGS disengaged, it's the sound of your bass when the EQ is flat. So you can cut and boost at will, and the sweeping mid is very nice. The 18v operation means it has way more headroom than the M80 does. While some might not have issues with a 9v preamp, the simple fact of the matter is that with some basses and EQ settings it will be an issue. The Tone Hammer will excel in those situations. It also has a very hot output if necessary to push a power amp.

Like all distortion/overdrive circuits, the tone is subjective. The Tone Hammer is much more natural sounding like a tube amp than the M80. Does that mean you'll like it more or not? Hard to say. The Tone Hammer is kind of unique in the way it applies overdrive though, concentrating mostly on the mids and then sort of blending the lows back into the signal. As such, there is no blend control, but it doesn't suck your bottom out either. The AGS does roll off highs immediately when engaged, providing a sort of old-school tone even if the gain is still very low for a clean tone.

The M80 distortion on the other hand is very much in the Rat variety. Kind of electronic sounding with a bit of fuzz to it. Some dig it, and some don't. I also don't care for the contour being forced on me when using the distortion channel.

Quite honestly, I think anyone who prefers a slightly gritty overdrive would greatly prefer the Tone Hammer over the M80. If you want a distortion unit with a blend control, then the M80 is obviously the winner over the Tone Hammer.

Another thing is that the Tone Hammer is NOT the pedal to choose if you want to switch back and forth between clean and dirty tones during the gig. There is no gain control between the two settings. Folks around here have a problem with that it seems, but in reality this is the same functionality that the BDDI and other classic overdrive pedals have provided for years. The Tone Hammer doesn't color your tone like a BDDI does. There is no speaker simulation nor is it trying to emulate a classic rig. Even with the AGS engaged, it sounds like your bass with whatever amount of grit you want dialed in.

Hope that helps.

mozarwasagenius · #18 01-03-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eublet

I have only casual exposure to the M80, but have used the Tone Hammer quite a bit. IMO, the Tone Hammer is better in a lot of ways. With the AGS disengaged, it's the sound of your bass when the EQ is flat. So you can cut and boost at will, and the sweeping mid is very nice. The 18v operation means it has way more headroom than the M80 does. While some might not have issues with a 9v preamp, the simple fact of the matter is that with some basses and EQ settings it will be an issue. The Tone Hammer will excel in those situations. It also has a very hot output if necessary to push a power amp.

Like all distortion/overdrive circuits, the tone is subjective. The Tone Hammer is much more natural sounding like a tube amp than the M80. Does that mean you'll like it more or not? Hard to say. The Tone Hammer is kind of unique in the way it applies overdrive though, concentrating mostly on the mids and then sort of blending the lows back into the signal. As such, there is no blend control, but it doesn't suck your bottom out either. The AGS does roll off highs immediately when engaged, providing a sort of old-school tone even if the gain is still very low for a clean tone.

The M80 distortion on the other hand is very much in the Rat variety. Kind of electronic sounding with a bit of fuzz to it. Some dig it, and some don't. I also don't care for the contour being forced on me when using the distortion channel.

Quite honestly, I think anyone who prefers a slightly gritty overdrive would greatly prefer the Tone Hammer over the M80. If you want a distortion unit with a blend control, then the M80 is obviously the winner over the Tone Hammer.

Another thing is that the Tone Hammer is NOT the pedal to choose if you want to switch back and forth between clean and dirty tones during the gig. There is no gain control between the two settings. Folks around here have a problem with that it seems, but in reality this is the same functionality that the BDDI and other classic overdrive pedals have provided for years. The Tone Hammer doesn't color your tone like a BDDI does. There is no speaker simulation nor is it trying to emulate a classic rig. Even with the AGS engaged, it sounds like your bass with whatever amount of grit you want dialed in.

Hope that helps.

Excellent overview. Can't the Tone Hammer's engaged volume be set to match that of the bypassed tone? If so, it seems that it could be used as a pedal to switch back and forth between clean and dirty sounds.

Thanks

bass4me · #19 01-04-2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mozarwasagenius

Excellent overview. Can't the Tone Hammer's engaged volume be set to match that of the bypassed tone? If so, it seems that it could be used as a pedal to switch back and forth between clean and dirty sounds.

Thanks

You could set it up to where either the "engaged" volume OR the AGS volume would match, but if you set the engaged volume to unity, then the AGS volume will be noticeably louder. On the other hand, setting AGS to unity will provide a volume drop if you switch it off for just the EQ function.

mozarwasagenius · #20 01-04-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass4me

You could set it up to where either the "engaged" volume OR the AGS volume would match, but if you set the engaged volume to unity, then the AGS volume will be noticeably louder. On the other hand, setting AGS to unity will provide a volume drop if you switch it off for just the EQ function.

Oh I see. Seems like an oversight (or design flaw) to not give the user the option to independently set the volumes.