Need Advice, Feedback on MULTI EFFECTS PEDALS

[HaikuMarko]

So, I'm going to be using a multi-effects pedals

I've had so many in mind: The Boss Series (ME-20B, ME-50B, and GT-6B)
Not have the money for the GT-10

also the Line 6 Series (Line 6 XT Pod To be precise) and the

Electro harmonix Muff Pi Distortion pedal (although this last one is not multi-effects I would like to hook it up to the multi-effects pedal)

What I am looking for is a multi-effects pedal board that will give me wide variety of tone, sound options and creativity for the money.

What sounds am I looking for? Mostly funk sounds and distortion sounds similar to MUSE, Radiohead.

Also a natural distortion, heavy rock sound like Mike Dirnt's bass.

Synths will be nice too

I've heard mixed reviews on all of the multi-effects pedals I've had in mind

so it's among the ME-20B, the ME-50B, and Line 6 Bass POD XT.

I want to make a good buy! I don't want to walk out and put it into my amp and get a ****** sound! I want to get the ability to get a sound like MUSE.

Cheers, and thanks for the help guys!

[justdave42]

If you don't need amp modeling, you should look into the Line 6 M13 too.

[badboy1984]

i use Boss ME50B and its great for multi effect unit. the preset sound is crap but if you spend some time to make your own then it is great little unit. The compressor, volume pedal and tuner on its own worth the money already.

Not to mention the slow gear effect is great too man.

[JMDT]

If you want to sound like Muse you are wasting your money on a multi-effects processor because you will not get that sound. Chris has a pretty complicated setup that involves three channels going to the mixer. One with Distortion, one with synths, and a third clean. Depending on the song he uses varying effects on these channels.

If you are just tinkering multis are great, but the problem generally ends up that each multi is great at some things and lousy at others. If you want a convincing tone like "insert artist" a multi can get you close at best, but is usually dissapointing. Now if you just want to add say chorus to your sound for one song or distortion on another they are great.

I have a feeling you will be better off finding the exact sounds you want from individual pedals and saving your money to get them.

[groooooove]

the only multi-effects i ever liked were the korg ones. the ax3000b still blows my mind every time i plug it in. the envelope filter is phenominal, very mutron-esque-wet, dripping funk sounds. delays are great, the flange is actually my favorite flange out of anything on the market..the phases are great, and the chorus is only 2nd (IMO) to the analogman/deep mod chorus. the reverb kills too. all these effects are very tweakable and versatile, as well.

its synth sounds, although its definately not a G5 or deep impact, are actually real good. a bit limited, but the ones you can dial in sound really organic.

the amp modeling i never use, i play into an amp..why use digital amp modeling..

its got a ton of distortions and overdrives, i dont use them but theyre definately good enough.. but be warned, its a digital pedal, and digital gain effects usually dont sound great.

although i wasent really looking for a rotary speaker emulator, after i got this i started actually using my leslie patches a lot.. with the "control" switch and ramp time, it sounds pretty convincing...

[bassman03]

As far as Mike Dirnt sounds go that's just a P-bass into a cranked SVT. Cept i think he uses Fender amps nowadays...

[J. Crawford]

IMO, and IME, you will benefit from taking your time and getting individual pedals. I was in the same boat as you, but waited, saved, and bought used. I now have 5 awesome pedals, and soon to have a DD-3, Korg Pitchblack, an EQ, and a compressor.

You will benefit much more, seeing you can change the order, swap pedals out, etc.

YMMV.

[HaikuMarko]

Originally Posted by JMDT

If you want to sound like Muse you are wasting your money on a multi-effects processor because you will not get that sound. Chris has a pretty complicated setup that involves three channels going to the mixer. One with Distortion, one with synths, and a third clean. Depending on the song he uses varying effects on these channels.

If you are just tinkering multis are great, but the problem generally ends up that each multi is great at some things and lousy at others. If you want a convincing tone like "insert artist" a multi can get you close at best, but is usually dissapointing. Now if you just want to add say chorus to your sound for one song or distortion on another they are great.

I have a feeling you will be better off finding the exact sounds you want from individual pedals and saving your money to get them.

Yeah, I know the pedals he uses pretty much on every album.
I know a guy who is a muse fan (well known among the muse fan community cause he does bass covers) and he uses a combo of the Russian Big Muff Pedal (Distortion/fuzz)

with a BOSS GT-6B multi-effects processor, he gets exact, if not very close sounds.

I know I can pick out single Pedals

-Big Muff Pi
-Boss Compressor
-Boss Octaver
-Boss Chorus
-Boss Synth
-Boss Delayer
-Boss Flanger

and so on, and even mix up the brands, but that means I have to spend a little bit more money on a POWER SUPPLY and some CABLES right? lol

Check out fury muso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nmcl...e=channel_page

Yeah, and about amp modeling, it'll be used with a MarkBass amp and it'll be fine, I think the MarkBass amp wil actually make it sound better

Cheers

[J. Crawford]

Im telling you, it would be better to go with individual pedals. But thats just me.

Plus, with a few cables and a 1SPOT the accessories only range about $40 more.

[HaikuMarko]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

IMO, and IME, you will benefit from taking your time and getting individual pedals. I was in the same boat as you, but waited, saved, and bought used. I now have 5 awesome pedals, and soon to have a DD-3, Korg Pitchblack, an EQ, and a compressor.

You will benefit much more, seeing you can change the order, swap pedals out, etc.

YMMV.

Don't u have to buy a power supply, cables and maybe even batteries to keep up the pedal board running?

[HaikuMarko]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

Im telling you, it would be better to go with individual pedals. But thats just me.

Plus, with a few cables and a 1SPOT the accessories only range about $40 more.

Okie dokie, I shall visit my local Guitar center and see what I can do.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by HaikuMarko

Okie dokie, I shall visit my local Guitar center and see what I can do.

Lets see. My 1SPOT with 5 cable adapter was about $30, and about $12 spent on cables. A simple piece of plywood, or anything works for a board.

There is ~$42 put into extras. Not too bad.

[BigOldHarry]

Get a Digitech BNX-3 used. It does everything and then some. I don't know why it never really took off, but I think bassists are funny about effects. I mostly use my for home recording - cost me $100 on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Digitech-BNX-3-B...3%3A1|294%3A50

good luck

[ryognbass]

if youre sworn to multi effects, go for the ME50-B. the knob laden interface is very similar to manipulating individual pedals.

for the muse sound, use the muff fuzz model in the distortion section, very synthy sounding fuzz.

and for dirnt, just messing with the EQ and compressor gets you there, but also the bass driver model will nail it.

[HaikuMarko]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

Lets see. My 1SPOT with 5 cable adapter was about $30, and about $12 spent on cables. A simple piece of plywood, or anything works for a board.

There is ~$42 put into extras. Not too bad.

Awesome, well If I calculate each single pedal plus the $42 dollar expenses...

Big Muff Pi 79. 4 Different Boss pedals at $70 dollars at each...
that's about $400 with the $42 in cables and such in...hmm

[jgroh]

I love my Line 6 Bass POD XT Live (and its for sale!) and I think it can do everything you are asking here. Im selling mine only because I spent a ton of money recently on good gear (a Ric/G&L L2500, Ampeg cabs, Markbass amps, etc) and I dont really need emulation with that set up. And, I found that I was only using a few patches anyway, so it was way overkill for me. It is a great piece of gear if you spend some time tweaking to get them how you want it.

[JMDT]

Originally Posted by HaikuMarko

Yeah, I know the pedals he uses pretty much on every album.
I know a guy who is a muse fan (well known among the muse fan community cause he does bass covers) and he uses a combo of the Russian Big Muff Pedal (Distortion/fuzz)

with a BOSS GT-6B multi-effects processor, he gets exact, if not very close sounds.

I know I can pick out single Pedals

-Big Muff Pi
-Boss Compressor
-Boss Octaver
-Boss Chorus
-Boss Synth
-Boss Delayer
-Boss Flanger

and so on, and even mix up the brands, but that means I have to spend a little bit more money on a POWER SUPPLY and some CABLES right? lol

Check out fury muso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nmcl...e=channel_page

Yeah, and about amp modeling, it'll be used with a MarkBass amp and it'll be fine, I think the MarkBass amp wil actually make it sound better

Cheers

Yes individual pedals cost more, but it gives you much more flexibility. For the most part, the copies of effects on a multi do mot sound as good as the original. Side by side comparison of an effect on a multi with a decent version of the same pedal will almost always show you that the individual pedal sounds much better.

For example I have an OD-20 distortion modeler which has the same distortions as the GT-6B. It has a model of the big muff and it sounds ok, but compared to a real analog big muff it sounds lifeless. Its no coincidence that the guy from the video uses an EHX big muff with the GT-6B as that is a huge component of Chris's tone. I promise you if he had the coin for a Deep Impact, three channels, etc. he would most likely abandon the GT-6B for a more correct setup.

So the GT-6B can do Muse, but the question is how convincing. If effect A sounds 95% as good, B sounds 80% as good, C sounds 90% as good the degredation would get you 68.4% to the sound you are looking for. That's always my problem with multi's the work pretty well when you are moddeling one or two effects, buy when you stack a number, crap eventually comes out. This is the reason my guitar player got rid of a GT-6 and spent more money to get less effects with single pedals.

I promise you you will thank me a couple years down the road if you save you money and buy individual pedals over time. Multi's are good if you are trying to figure out what effects do and where to use them, but past they their uses are limited (some multi's have one or two setting which can be useful)

[HaikuMarko]

Originally Posted by JMDT

Yes individual pedals cost more, but it gives you much more flexibility. For the most part, the copies of effects on a multi do mot sound as good as the original. Side by side comparison of an effect on a multi with a decent version of the same pedal will almost always show you that the individual pedal sounds much better.

For example I have an OD-20 distortion modeler which has the same distortions as the GT-6B. It has a model of the big muff and it sounds ok, but compared to a real analog big muff it sounds lifeless. Its no coincidence that the guy from the video uses an EHX big muff with the GT-6B as that is a huge component of Chris's tone. I promise you if he had the coin for a Deep Impact, three channels, etc. he would most likely abandon the GT-6B for a more correct setup.

So the GT-6B can do Muse, but the question is how convincing. If effect A sounds 95% as good, B sounds 80% as good, C sounds 90% as good the degredation would get you 68.4% to the sound you are looking for. That's always my problem with multi's the work pretty well when you are moddeling one or two effects, buy when you stack a number, crap eventually comes out. This is the reason my guitar player got rid of a GT-6 and spent more money to get less effects with single pedals.

I promise you you will thank me a couple years down the road if you save you money and buy individual pedals over time. Multi's are good if you are trying to figure out what effects do and where to use them, but past they their uses are limited (some multi's have one or two setting which can be useful)

You know, you're actually quite right.

Let me look at the individual pedals I'll have to buy....

-Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
-Big Muff Pi
-2x Akai Deep Impact Synthesiser (boss too)
-2x Digitech Bass Synth Wah (I can just go boss on that)
-Line 6 FM4 filter modeler
-Boss OC-2
-Boss DD-3
-Boss PS-3
-Expression Pedal (for City of Delusion only)

now I have no idea what the last 4 do... lol

here's an image of the pedal board

http://musewiki.org/images/Chrisabso...edalboard2.jpg


he uses a rockatron all access pedalboard... I'm sure as hell not going to buy that... lol

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by JMDT

Multi's are good if you are trying to figure out what effects do and where to use them, but past they their uses are limited (some multi's have one or two setting which can be useful)

I completely disagree with this. If you know what you're doing you can get pretty much any tone you want out of pretty much any multi and it will sound great. They require work and study, like all other effects.
You are delusional if you think that you can copycat artist X's tone just by buying the same gear he uses. In the end you will always be disappointed, just like you'd be with a multi.

[HaikuMarko]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

I completely disagree with this. If you know what you're doing you can get pretty much any tone you want out of pretty much any multi and it will sound great. They require work and study, like all other effects.
You are delusional if you think that you can copycat artist X's tone just by buying the same gear he uses. In the end you will always be disappointed, just like you'd be with a multi.

Well, of course I'm not going to copycat! lol, but I want to get a close enough tone, 90% close enough

like Fury Muso

a muse fan who got a GT-6B and a big muff pi and can get 95% close enough to the exact same sound of a Muse song... with lots of studying and messing around with of course