MXR- M80

hearnow · #1 03-10-2011, 11:23 PM

Hey all~ so I'm a noob to the world of tone.
I picked up the MXR M-80 DI + Distortion, and I've gotten some strange advice on how to integrate it into my pedal board.

now using it as a DI has been awesome, but i'm curious if I missed something in integrating it into my pedal board.

I've been told that I have to put it last in my chain cuz it's a DI ,but it has a 1/4 output. and I really want to have my distortion first in my chain~ is it okay that I'm using this pedal as a distortion/shape pedal live, or did i miss the boat ?

Implosion · #2 03-10-2011, 11:36 PM

You can use it anyway you like it and therefore place it where it sounds the best. The only problem will be the DI use if the M-80 is moved towards the start of the signal chain (i.e. anything after the M-80 won't get passed to the board).

hearnow · #3 03-10-2011, 11:39 PM

that's what I thought!
so i'll use the DI for recording and live~ if I just use it as a distortion pedal, the sound guy can get DI out of my amp, then it's all gravy, yeah?

singlemalt · #4 03-10-2011, 11:54 PM

The M-80 shines as a pre, the color setting is nice. The distortion side? Meh. There's better dirt out there. Like alot of dirt boxes, it seems to rob the low end for some not very cool distortion on top

The clean side is nice, the color setting works great, and the dirt side run clean but with more volume can give you another gear.

Just watch the input side on your amp, you can easily push it to clipping with the M-80.

Not to disparage the M-80, I use one every night, and I wouldn't leave it home without it. It does a great job of warming up my sound without resorting to lots of volume.

A keeper for sure.

hearnow · #5 03-10-2011, 11:59 PM

I had noticed the pre amp is amazing,
you'd recommend using it for that, and finding a different box for distortion? any suggestions for something comparable? I actually found i preferred the m80 to like a big muff. i think i like that kind of metal edge to it. anything in that zone that doesn't sacrifice the bottom?

the low one · #6 03-11-2011, 04:03 AM

I like the distortion on the M80. With the blend at around 11:00 and the gain at 7:00 you get a great pick driving tone. Push the gain to 12:00 and playing with fingers it's a good fuzz.

Yes there are better bass distortions out there but if you're an occasional distortion user like me the M80 can do a perfectly good job.

rekesbass · #7 03-11-2011, 04:21 AM

+1 to the above...the blend control is very good at dialing the low end back in your dist. sound..I set mine anywhere from 10:00 to 12:00.and adjust the gain for whatever sound I'm looking for(mild or fuzzy)..I use mine for a mild o.d. I also have a fuzz for the heavier dist. sounds..

kokoshmusun · #8 03-11-2011, 07:16 AM

I have the M-80 and I like the dirt but it's also the first dirt I've used on bass. Just to have some more experience, I'm thinking of adding the Ibanez PD7 Phat-Hed to it. I heard it's a really good bang for the buck and it doesn't lose the low end.

oldbassplayergu · #9 03-11-2011, 07:25 AM

the distortion is a little "click-clacky" so I use it as a 2nd or 3rd dirt channel to add to a octave. but like others on this thread I don't gig with out it. great warmth.

BrentSimons · #10 03-11-2011, 11:41 AM

I just picked up another M80 to give it another chance. I read a review on harmony central where a player turned the gate knob up all the way and the distortion produced more of a clipping overdrive sound. I tried it out the other night and he was right. The distortion reacts a little more like an OD. Think I might keep this one!
Brent

the low one · #11 03-11-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrentSimons

I just picked up another M80 to give it another chance. I read a review on harmony central where a player turned the gate knob up all the way and the distortion produced more of a clipping overdrive sound. I tried it out the other night and he was right. The distortion reacts a little more like an OD. Think I might keep this one!
Brent

That sounds interesting. Can you confirm the blend and gain settings you used with the gate on full please. I'll have to try it too.

BrentSimons · #12 03-11-2011, 02:51 PM

Sure...
Clock face
Blend at about 7-8 O'Clock
Gain at about 10-11 O'Clock

I'm using a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz into a GK 400RBIV and GK 212 Neo.
The gate just seems to take a bit of the bite out of the distortion high end which is nice. I still need to tweak though.
Hope this helps,
Brent