is a multi-effects pedal good for a newbie

biggiefatz · #1 05-04-2008, 09:29 PM

I am realy new at effects so bare with me. I am just curious about multi-effect pedals, specifically ones by BOSS. are they any good? I am mainly looking for something to familiarize myself with effects. please help.

ehque · #2 05-04-2008, 09:33 PM

If you want to familiarise yourself with effects, sure, a multieffects is the only way to go, isn't it?

Boss will do. I wouldn't use them to gig or record, but i know of people who would and do.

KarateKid25 · #3 05-04-2008, 09:43 PM

Yes.

At least then you will have a bunch of sounds to tinker with without spending an absolute fortune. Then when you start to figure out what works for you, you can go spend an absolute fortune

Andrew.Glose · #4 05-04-2008, 09:47 PM

I bought a Digitech BP200 for like, $150 about a year after I'd been playing.

Schooled myself on what works well with a bass guitar and made some cool sounds.

Granted I don't use it nowadays much at all, it was still a great learning tool.

Andrew

GreggBummer · #5 05-04-2008, 09:49 PM

I have a Zoom B1x. It doesn't do anything excellent... but it does everything well. There is a newer model called the B2 that does a whole bunch of cool stuff... even has an USB out for recording...

However a B1x will set you back about $60. It has all the usual suspects- Chorus, Delay, Resonance Filter, Limiter/Compressor, noise reduction, Phaser, Fuzz, Distortion, a rudimentary mono synth, and a buch of amp modeling stuff. The amp modeling isn't really very good... but when used with the on board EQ it can add some warmth or spunk to your sound.

The other thing is, it has an on board metronome. I use that a lot during practice. Also, you can plug a set of headphones in and jam when the kids are asleep.

It has an expression pedal which I use as a volume pedal and occasional wah wah.

It hold 80 "patches" or programs. 40 of them you can customize yourself. I use maybe 5 or 6. It also has a tuner function.

I use this on stage. It is tough- it has been kicked around several bars now.

If you are looking to get started- this is the way to go. I don't use a whole lot of effects on stage, but I like to play around. Lately, the music I have been writing has been using a chorus effect. I use the Wah effect during a bass solo on stage.

Questions? PM me.

sublime0bass · #6 05-04-2008, 10:03 PM

Victor Wooten uses a gt-6b. and claypool uses and older Roland multiFX

the correct answer is: multi pedals are good for discovering effects, and usually can be replaced with fewer pedals with better sound when you know what you want

no sense buying a nice wah if you dont like the sound, you know?

i2k · #7 05-05-2008, 05:26 AM

If the objective is to familiarize yourself with effects, another option is to get audio interface like Line 6 Toneport. You'll get loads of amp model & effects to play around with, plus you get a recording interface. On the other hand, it will be difficult to use it live.

BTW, I saw lots of multi fx user just uses the factory presets or presets they get from the net and don't know anything about how to set the thing to find the sound they like. I can understand that as some multifx are very hard to configure (especially those Boss GT series) and not everyone would like to spend some time to read the manuals. I came to a conclusion that multifxs are good for the user that care to read the manulas. So before get any multifx, it will be wise to check out the manual to find if they suit to your needs or not, most of them are downloadable from the manufacturer sites.

varunkapahi · #8 05-05-2008, 05:45 AM

yes it is indeed my friend. it can give you a nice taste of everything

Mytola · #9 05-05-2008, 06:57 AM

Yep. MultiFX is the way to go for a good introduction to effects.

Nyarlathotep · #10 05-05-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarateKid25

Yes.

At least then you will have a bunch of sounds to tinker with without spending an absolute fortune. Then when you start to figure out what works for you, you can go spend an absolute fortune

A big +1 to that

Andy V. · #11 05-05-2008, 08:14 AM

+1

The Boss ME-6B is a very good and cheap one.

KarateKid25 · #12 05-05-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielTulip

A big +1 to that

Woah... Thats the biggest '+1' i've seen!

Nyarlathotep · #13 05-05-2008, 08:21 AM

I aim to please

abarson · #14 05-06-2008, 02:22 PM

I've got one of these, and it has allowed me to explore lots of effects that I wouldn't shuck out good money for. I've been able to identify effects that I like for certain songs, and some effects that I avoid like the plague, and then there are all those when I just feel noisy and weird.

I haven't decided if I'll perform with my BP8 though. Individual pedals are almost always superior in sound quality and immediacy. On the other hand, the tube preamp warms things up nicely!

I got mine for $40 from ebay, and built my own power supply for $10. It's way better than the Akai pedal I used to have.