Multi Effects for Cover Band?!

NGJBeaner · #1 11-08-2011, 09:12 AM

I'm in a cover band and we play Rock, Pop, Punk, Funk, Country, a little of everything really. I'm playing a 5 string Sterling through a SWR redhead, which I love but I want some tone options and effects to cover the different styles and genres we play. I'm stuck between a boss gt-10b, boss me-50b, digitech bp355, and line 6 bass floor pod xt live. I usually end up playing keyboard parts in pop songs so I need one to cover that as well. HELP!

bassbrad · #2 11-08-2011, 09:56 AM

Either one of the Boss units or the Line 6 should be great for a cover band situation.

NGJBeaner · #3 11-08-2011, 10:19 AM

cool, i was leaning towards the boss units more. just dunno if i would need everything the gt-10b has to offer. or is it better to have all of it "just in case"??

bassbrad · #4 11-08-2011, 12:06 PM

It all depends if amp modelling is important, it is a way to change the character of your tone to another amp, Then the G10 is the way to go but if you just want effects the you can go with a simpler unit.
Both the Line 6 and the Boss have excellent synth effects.

lowfreq33 · #5 11-08-2011, 12:29 PM

The GT 10 can do a LOT of cool stuff, but with so many options there's a bit of a learning curve to get good sounds.

moles · #6 11-08-2011, 12:34 PM

The GT-10B may look like overkill, but there are also some limitations to the ME50B's operation (like the fact that you can't use a synth and overdrive sound at the same time, for example). I'd recommend downloading and poking through the manuals for both from Boss/Roland's website and taking a look at what both can accomplish.
FWIW - I found the drive sounds on my old GT-10B FAR more useable than what Line 6 seems to have to offer, on the M-series pedals anyway. Everything has a dry blend, and a sub-bass that you can also blend in for low end balance.

MNAirHead · #7 11-08-2011, 12:37 PM

The Line6 has vocal processing built in...

IN aband mix there really isn't a ton of difference between any of the multi units I own (zoom, pandora, x3, digitech etc)
Tim

NGJBeaner · #8 11-08-2011, 09:01 PM

Sweet! I'm playing with a line 6 right now that I borrowed. Pretty decent so far. I think I would take serious time to use its full potential. Gotta find a gt-10 to play with now.

JakeDPR · #9 11-08-2011, 09:13 PM

I bought a Zoom B2 multi unit a few months back to check out the world of effects. I have bought 5 pedals since then searching for new sounds. Be forewarned...

Crystalman85 · #10 11-08-2011, 09:14 PM

I have sound samples of the digitech bp355 on my soundclick website. if your wondering how it sounds, come check out my soundclick website. here's the link.

SoundClick artist: Crystalman85 - page with MP3 music downloads

Medford Bassman · #11 11-08-2011, 11:10 PM

How about someone who plays in a cover band, but doesn't want to get too complex trying to figure out how to tweak sounds?

Suggestions?

NGJBeaner · #12 11-09-2011, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

I have sound samples of the digitech bp355 on my soundclick website. if your wondering how it sounds, come check out my soundclick website. here's the link.

SoundClick artist: Crystalman85 - page with MP3 music downloads

This is awesome man! Big big help. Thank you as great work!

derrico1 · #13 11-09-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

How about someone who plays in a cover band, but doesn't want to get too complex trying to figure out how to tweak sounds?

Suggestions?

IME, tweaking is necessary, not optional. Even if you aren't OCD about exactly matching the recorded tones that you're covering, you need to tweak effects to work well with the output of your bass. To get the FX to sit well in your particular band mix, you also need to tweak overall bass level and the wet/dry mix.

Darknut · #14 11-09-2011, 07:19 AM

I think the GT10B is the best sounding Multi-effect overall & nothing can touch it as far as configuration options go.

Some say its hard to program .. I personally think its pretty easy. There are a few things that are not obvious at first but once you understand how the menu system is set up its real easy & you can change just about anything in a few secs.

whisper14072 · #15 11-09-2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeDPR

I bought a Zoom B2 multi unit a few months back to check out the world of effects. I have bought 5 pedals since then searching for new sounds. Be forewarned...

+1 on this... I have a B1 I use right now... and I am looking at going to individual pedals...Not that the Zoom isn't decent.... just not the tone I am looking for now

as stated be forewarned... effects are addicting

Darknut · #16 11-09-2011, 07:47 AM

Whichever unit you go with make sure it has a effect loop .... you can do some incredible things by adding a few select stompboxes into the mix with a good multi-unit

WJGreer · #17 11-09-2011, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darknut

I think the GT10B is the best sounding Multi-effect overall & nothing can touch it as far as configuration options go.

Some say its hard to program .. I personally think its pretty easy. There are a few things that are not obvious at first but once you understand how the menu system is set set up its real easy & you can change just about anything in a few secs.

+1. It's really not hard at all, compared to a few of the other multi units I've used. Economically, it's dramatically less expensive than buying pedals to accomplish everything it does, too.

The synth patch isn't very flexible, unfortunately. It sort of does one thing, and only fairly well. Other than that, I think the quality of the effects is outstanding.

NGJBeaner · #18 11-09-2011, 08:49 AM

I'm definitely gonna have to check out the GT-10B. I've been messing around with a Friends line 6 floor pod and it's just confusing and some of the effects sound kind of cheesy.

WJGreer · #19 11-09-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGJBeaner

I'm definitely gonna have to check out the GT-10B. I've been messing around with a Friends line 6 floor pod and it's just confusing and some of the effects sound kind of cheesy.

I really only use mine for compression, octave, envelope, and occasionally overdrive and synth tones. That's far less than it's capable of, but it costs less than a compressor, octaver, envelope filter, synth, and overdrive pedal, pedalboard, and OneSpot power adapter...and is a lot easier to deal with on gigs.

Gaius46 · #20 11-09-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

+1. It's really not hard at all, compared to a few of the other multi units I've used. Economically, it's dramatically less expensive than buying pedals to accomplish everything it does, too.

The synth patch isn't very flexible, unfortunately. It sort of does one thing, and only fairly well. Other than that, I think the quality of the effects is outstanding.

+1. I have a GT-10B that I have a love/hate relationship with. Well actually in truth it's a love/hate relationship with effects in general and not the 10B which is an amazing bit of technology. Right now I'm swinging towards the love side of the equation so I've started using it again after not touching it for about a year.

The learning curve is steeper that alot of other units out there and it takes a while to get the most out of the unit but you can be up and running and building basic patches pretty quickly.

There's a nice freeware midi editor for it called the
GT10B Fx Floorboard.