ME-70 on the way!

enjoi1018 · #1 04-22-2011, 04:13 PM

Should come in next week! I found a good deal on the Bay and jumped. I decided on the -70 instead of the -50B because of the seperate MOD and DELAY pedals. I seriously doubt I'll ever use the OD/DI pedal, but I'll have it to experiment with. A compressor section was something I want to mess around with as well. It seems the only thing that isn't perfect is the missing "B" after the "70".

I'm not an effects guru at all, in fact this is my "second introduction" to the world of effects, my Digitech BP200 would be used better for a doorstop. I hate that thing.

Anyways I'll give you guys what little review I can when I get a chance to play with it.

Next will be a real tuner, and a LS-2 to create a true bypass for the effects loop.

oldcatfish · #2 04-22-2011, 06:13 PM

Actually, the ME 70 tuner works just fine for the bass. And don't discount the OD module; there are a couple of useful tones there--just no blend knob.

If you use effects much at all, I think you'll like the ME70. When I tried mine out live, after the gig, our drummer (he also plays bass) came over to check it out---he thought that it was a new version of the ME 50B. He was very surprised that a "guitar effect pedal" would sound so good for bass.

After yours, post your favorite patch settings, and I'll post mine.

enjoi1018 · #3 05-02-2011, 11:09 AM

So I've had this thing for about a week now. Lovin' the delay and compressor sections. The OD has been touched but rarely, if ever, used. It's not from heaven, but it's educated me quite a bit, which is all I wanted. Still much to learn!

I've found it wonderful for experimenting, but holy cow this thing buzzes! I run it from an Ibby SR505 and into a Markbass LMIII.

When I go bass>ME70>front input, I can only turn the gain up maybe 10% or else it sounds like a beehive in my room. On the other hand, when I run bass>front input>ME70 (through the effects loop of the amp) I lose 95% of the buzz but my effects seem like they are letting a lot of the dry signal through. I can push the volume pedal to 100% and get some effects going, but when I mute with the volume pedal, I only get the dry signal, at original volume.

Tone wise, the best set up is actually bass>ME70>effect return (no effect send or front input). It sounds like butter, but it has hardly any volume.

So, are my active electronics to blame? Is the Boss just a crappy bypass/circuitry? Do I need to try one of those hum eliminators? I have an EHX QBalls on the way, I'm going to wait for it and hope it runs flawlessly between the amp and bass. If not, I guess it's not a pedal problem but a bass/amp problem. If so, I'll be back here with you dudes tryin' to figure this one out...

Thanks in advance for the

!

tbof · #4 05-02-2011, 11:39 AM

What does the owner's manual say about hooking the ME-70 to an amp? I'm experiencing the same thing but only I have a VOX Tonelab LE. I'm still trying to figure out what's the best way to hook it up to my amp. lol!

enjoi1018 · #5 05-02-2011, 04:38 PM

Well in the past couple of hours I did a little test.

I have both a passive (2004 Fender Mark Hoppus Jazz Bass) and active (the Ibby). Had the Jazz plugged in, jammin' a little bit. I adjusted all of my settings on the LMIII to where I had a pretty unaltered tone and then turned the gain to where I hit a good bit of buzz. The ME70 was completely "bypassed", or every effect completely turned off, at least. Turned the amp's volume all the way down, leaving both the amp and pedal both powered and unaltered. Plugged in the Ibby, turned the volume to the original level, and it had the exact amount of buzz and volume as the Fender.

Whew!

This is good! I was worried I'd have to sacrifice the perfect feel my Ibby for the quiet signal of the Fender. Love the sound of the Fender, but the 505 feels like it was made for me. The pedal won't be around for long, as soon as I know what I use the most, I'll ditch it for stomps.

Cannot. Wait. For. QBalls.

Electro Harmonix Enigma: QBalls Demo

oldcatfish · #6 05-03-2011, 07:20 AM

That's odd. Mine isn't that noisy at all. I run the headphone output of the ME70 into the front end of the amp (to take advantage of the cabinet simulation when I use the clean amp model), and I do use a little bit of the noise gate. Mine has plenty of volume.

enjoi1018 · #7 05-03-2011, 11:17 AM

There's an idea. The headphone output, eh? I'll give it a go when I get home later and see what happens.

tbof · #8 05-03-2011, 11:36 AM

You go from stereo (headphone) to mono (amp in)? Is that it?

Gaetano Paul · #9 05-03-2011, 11:40 AM

If you want more volume plugging direct into the FX return, turn the volume of the ME70 up. Unless your amps FX loop is parallel?

enjoi1018 · #10 05-03-2011, 06:21 PM

tbof · #11 05-03-2011, 06:28 PM

Does the ME70 run with batteries? Try running it with batteries to see if it still buzzes. I once had a similar problem where I lived with my pedals. My electricity was very noisy. I bought a Danelectro no humm adapter and it helped to reduce the hum and buzzing by a lot.

enjoi1018 · #12 05-03-2011, 06:31 PM

Well a little bit ago I tried the headphone out jack and messed around with it a little bit. It was buzzing pretty badly. Left the knobs on everything untouched to eliminate the x-factors, and changed jacks. The exact same audible signal (with my ears, anyway). Then, just for sanity's sake, I plugged my Ibby straight into the amp. No buzz, gain usable throughout it's range. It was just meaty, luscious tone.

SO! It's gotta be the Boss. I don't know if it's the power source or the pedal itself, but that blasted thing kills my signal. It's starting to remind me of my Digitech from the first post...

Quite a shame, I really like all the effects. It's fun.

Paul, thanks for the idea. But, I have seriously tried every volume/output/input/EQ/filter/gain combination possible.

Seriously.

Gaetano Paul · #13 05-03-2011, 06:32 PM

Yeah, or you could have a bad unit. If you look at the TB reviews i did one of the ME70, its a great unit, no buzz normally like what you describe hear. I personal use the ME50b now for all my bass needs, but I have owned several of the 70's with zero problems of what you are talking about.

Gaetano Paul · #14 05-03-2011, 06:42 PM

Maybe return it, get a refund or exchange it for a new one.

enjoi1018 · #15 05-03-2011, 07:57 PM

I'll try the batteries. I really don't want to use batteries, I like infinite power. The power source isn't the original, it wasn't included when I bought it. I am using an older 9vDC plug in. Could it be poor quality and therefore cause a buzz or would that matter at all? Like I said everything runs fine on the pedal.

Gaetano Paul · #16 05-03-2011, 08:00 PM

Yes, I could definitely be the PS

oldcatfish · #17 05-04-2011, 07:47 AM

I don't use batteries, but my adapter is the Boss/Roland one. My unit is quiet, so if it's not the power adapter, you may have a bad unit. I have tried mine with a couple of different bass amps, several guitar amps, and a powered PA speaker...all with good results.

Gaetano Paul · #18 05-04-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

I don't use batteries, but my adapter is the Boss/Roland one. My unit is quiet, so if it's not the power adapter, you may have a bad unit. I have tried mine with a couple of different bass amps, several guitar amps, and a powered PA speaker...all with good results.

Yup I agree

enjoi1018 · #19 05-04-2011, 06:23 PM

Tried the batteries... viola! No buzz at all!

Went straight to my local guitar shop and grabbed a 1spot combo pack. No buzz at all and I can add all of the 9V pedals I like for awhile!

So happy that it was the simplest (and cheapest) fix. Tomorrow the QBalls comes in... I'll let y'all know what its like running a few dozen multieffects into and after this wet beast of a filter. Should be a great weekend!

Gaetano Paul · #20 05-04-2011, 06:28 PM

Glad to hear it. Boss stuff is SOLID!