MXR M80 Bass DI+ review - Page 2

scottfeldstein · #21 01-13-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieNuke

N.I.B. (Sabbath)

Yep, I gotcha. And, yes, I agree it can get that kind of sound pretty well.

Robertjoel · #22 01-20-2013, 01:05 PM

I got one of these off the TB classifieds a week or two ago and I love it, though the distortion does drain some low-end, it's tons of fun to play with. The clean channel is absolutely worth the price on its own, IMO.

scottfeldstein · #23 01-20-2013, 01:18 PM

YMMV, but I find running the mids at 3 o'clock all the time and the color button in all the time gives me a couple of good options. Fingerstyle with nothing engaged. Slap with a moderate scoop from the color button but mitigated somewhat by the mid knob. And a distortion sound which engages the color switch no matter what. More to your point, however, I find bumping the mid knob like that brings back enough punch to the distorted channel--that and playing with the overall volume of that channel.

Dazonbass · #24 01-20-2013, 02:35 PM

I have a silver version addition but beyond the color I don't think there is a difference. It along with a Boss LMB-3 were there first pedals I bought. The LMB-3 has been replaced and sold, but the M80 is still around. I have used it for a DI mostly but not needed it that often. I found the scoop killed me in the mix when the distortion was engaged. I am looking forward to having a go with you settings at a practice and see if I can get them to work for me. I like the distortion but not disappearing in the mix. However, I am concerned that boosting the eq mids so high may invite unwanted hiss/noise. After I experiment a little I will post some more thoughts.

Thanks for getting me thinking about this pedal again. It is well made and the DI is great so if I take greater advantage of its other options I will be very thankful.

scottfeldstein · #25 01-20-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazonbass

I like the distortion but not disappearing in the mix. However, I am concerned that boosting the eq mids so high may invite unwanted hiss/noise. After I experiment a little I will post some more thoughts.

Thanks for getting me thinking about this pedal again. It is well made and the DI is great so if I take greater advantage of its other options I will be very thankful.

I think you'll find bumping the mids up that high won't increase noise. It doesn't for me. Do the highs that way and it's another story, I'm sure.

Good luck, man. And if you remember post your results here. There wasn't much in the way of reviews of this pedal before I started this thread. Hopefully others will find it useful.

dax21 · #26 01-20-2013, 02:44 PM

M80 is less noisy than most dirt boxes though it has a fantastic noise gate on it which can be adjusted. Don't worry about cranking the knobs up.

Dazonbass · #27 01-20-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dax21

M80 is less noisy than most dirt boxes though it has a fantastic noise gate on it which can be adjusted. Don't worry about cranking the knobs up.

I shall be less shy about it then... but its 6:46am here so it will have to wait a little.

The noise was my biggest issue with the Boss ODB-3, which was a bummer because I liked it after it had a few mods done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

And if you remember post your results here. There wasn't much in the way of reviews of this pedal before I started this thread. Hopefully others will find it useful.

Will remember to contribute some more because a lot of people do ask about this pedal and it never seemed like there was one good source of information on it. There are however, a lot of polarized comments around about the distortion, similar to what you read about the ODB-3.

scottfeldstein · #28 01-20-2013, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazonbass

There are however, a lot of polarized comments around about the distortion, similar to what you read about the ODB-3.

True. And deserved, I think. To my ear, it's very modern. And, as I've written before, not very sensitive to dynamics; it goes right to a quick sizzle, nothing before that. I like it, though.

2milehighspike · #29 01-20-2013, 03:29 PM

I like it too, just not to much, a little is all you need IMHO. I do like the color added to the clean, it is on all the time.

MarkAndHisBass · #30 01-20-2013, 03:59 PM

I bought this pedal a few months ago and would definitely agree that boosting up the mids gives the distortion side a nice punch. I have the blend knob set at around 8 o'clock with the gain knob set just over 11 o'clock, with the mids at 3 o'clock, and find that I get a nice gritty almost overdriven sound when the distortion channel is engaged. So nice and subtle that I've almost considered adapting it as my always-on sound.

I also certainly think it has improved the sound of my Bass Big Muff which, until I acquired the M80, sounded a bit lacklustre and didn't sit so great in the mix. Not to say that the muff stands out perfectly in the mix now, but there is a noticeable improvement.

Definitely one of, if not the best, pedals I've purchased. Hopefully this thread will help others realise how great it is, and how much of a different beast it is to a Sansamp and the likes.

scottfeldstein · #31 01-20-2013, 04:03 PM

I think we're on the same page, Mark. I run it blend at 9 o'clock, gain at noon, mids at 3..and it's pretty rockin'. That's what I used for the clips I posted.

I also find that it really adds some punch to my Source Audio Multiwave.

2milehighspike · #32 01-27-2013, 01:04 PM

Well I had my epiphany MX80 distortion moment last night. We played a private for one of the local millionares in his private hockey rink, no really a HOCKEY rink, well we were set up on an elevated stage about a third of the way in and even with my MB800 and 2/2x12 Neos is was getting lost in the mix . so I set the blend at 11:00,trigger all the way, gain at 2;00, and mids at2;00, and BAM great in front crunchy sound , our sound guy comes up after the set and said that he tried all sorts of things to bring me up, and thought something was wrong with the board when all of a sudden there I was, well that was when I kicked it on mid set! This pedal is the BEST! Don't leave home without it!!

scottfeldstein · #33 01-27-2013, 01:34 PM

Your story doesn't surprise me a bit. Using the Blend and a mid-bump makes the distortion channel into something really usable in a mix.

**svtb15** · #34 01-27-2013, 01:35 PM

Nice review....really great Pedal.. Built like a brick %^(&* house too...
I didnt like mine at first but after time i have gotten to LOVE it..I originally used it as a buffer for long cable runs on a gig that i do...

I also sort of like running the DIST channel with GAIN knob down to 0 but bring up the Blend knob a little... The Colour is engaged automatically when on the DIST channel but the Blend knob to maybe 9 or 10 oclock...will bring in some sort of old school MIDs without the fuzz.. A different sort of thing.....

2milehighspike · #35 01-27-2013, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Your story doesn't surprise me a bit. Using the Blend and a mid-bump makes the distortion channel into something really usable in a mix.

I hear ya , when I tried it by myself I did'nt like it, but with the rest of the band in that situation it is great. It is the best pedal I have ever used!

scottfeldstein · #36 01-27-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

I also sort of like running the DIST channel with GAIN knob down to 0 but bring up the Blend knob a little...

Yeah, there's a session guy with a youtube video on his MXR pedals who does the same thing. Pretty cool.

2milehighspike · #37 01-27-2013, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Yeah, there's a session guy with a youtube video on his MXR pedals who does the same thing. Pretty cool.

I'll try that too.

Dazonbass · #38 01-27-2013, 03:53 PM

Happily reporting back on my present thoughts about the M80.I left my main board aside for the past 2 practices so that I could give this pedal some new life.

The good news is that bringing up the mids didn't add noise and/or hiss as I had feared it might. It also did bring the distortion back into the mix. However, I must admit that i was running both my VT bass and M80 through the A+B mix of a Boss LS-2. Although I know that the M80 has a blend I am still in favor of using an external blend since for me it is easier to determine how much of the bass goes straight through. I have the blend knob set between 10-11 with the gain pretty high around 2, and the LS-2 around 50/50. The distortion is really good this way; not full of noise like an Boss ODB-3 but with a similar edge. It gets pretty gritty with the VT running in front of it but still is not in what I would say as Fuzz territory.

My conclusion is that I am now very happy with this pedal and will be keeping it for the 90s cover band I gig with; it is perfect for that. However, for my original bands I think I will stick with my Oxide and Battering Ram since I like fuzz.

Thanks for helping me find a new found love for my M80.

jumblemind · #39 01-27-2013, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

I also sort of like running the DIST channel with GAIN knob down to 0 but bring up the Blend knob a little... The Colour is engaged automatically when on the DIST channel but the Blend knob to maybe 9 or 10 oclock...will bring in some sort of old school MIDs without the fuzz.. A different sort of thing.....

I do something similar but with the gain dialed in just a tad and the volume set a notch higher than the EQ section. This is like having a gritty boost channel, very useful for me.

Another beautiful aspect of the M80 is the color switch transforms my classically anemic muff clone into full, warm, room-filling bass fuzz goodness. Percfect EQ matchup.

**svtb15** · #40 01-28-2013, 11:31 AM

Its really a very useful pedal... And is becoming a staple for me..
I originally got it to use a buffer when i do fly dates.. We do festival shows in the EU that are large... And i play passive basses.. I may run a 20ft cable from bass to Pedal at my mic station, then a 25 foot cable from that downstage mic back to my amp.. 45 feet is a long run for a passive bass... So i engage the preamp, set all at 12 oclock with Color OFF.. it just buffers the signal so i dont loose highs... Works great...