What is better? To by 5 pedal effects or something like Line 6 Bass Floor POD??

ninicorj · #1 10-29-2009, 02:07 PM

Hi everyone...

Well, I don't undestand much of pedal effects, and I'm triyng to get more involved to it...

A friend of mine told me to buy something like a Line 6 Bass Floor POD (http://www.guitarcenter.com/Line-6-B...ource=4LL6WXX1)...

Do you think that is a good thing?? What is better? To buy one of this or one of each effect??

I was thinking and using some effects as Simon Gallup from The Cure... I know that he has a lot of different effects, but I was wondering what is the best choice...

Any help??

Thanks!

Mo'Phat · #2 10-29-2009, 02:18 PM

I'm biased here...but IF you already have an amplifier and cabinet that you like, you don't necessarily need the amplifier/cab modeling the POD offers. Possibly a better choice would be the Line 6 M13 or M9 stompbox modelers. These only model effects, and are (in my opinion) much more flexible than a POD for dialing in specific effects and editing them on the fly.

However, if you're a serious Effects afficionado, you may find that the actual stompboxes (rather than the Line 6 models) are more 'pure'.

I've found the M13 suits my effects needs perfectly. I've easily replaced all of pedals with just the M13. I just wish it was available years ago, before I started spending $80-$200 per pedal, and only getting one pedal.

For about $500, I got an M13 which has about 84 effects in it, plus a world-class looper, and has routine software updates which add to the capabilities of the unit.

**jmattbassplaya** · #3 10-29-2009, 02:23 PM

I`d say get a multi-effect board first just to try out different sounds and to find out what you like and don`t like. These boards are nice because you have all your effects in one place and often have a wide variety of effects to choose from. They also tend to be much cheaper than individual pedals and can hold presets. The down side, however, is that many people think these effects pale in comparison sound-wise to their analog counterparts. Also, if the board goes out you`ll no longer have any effects.

Anyways, I`d say give it a try to see what you need and don`t need when it comes to effects. It`ll probably end up saving you money in the long run.

MooseLumps · #4 10-29-2009, 02:27 PM

just fyi. the bass pod is more focused toward cab and amp modeling. It has some great effects, but a unit like a gt-6b will be more effects oriented. I own both.

If you know that the pedal is exactly what you want, buy it and don't look back. if you are dabbling, some of these multi's can be had for 150 or so, and they are a killer deal for that price. once you have things sussed out, you can scrap it for the funds and by individuals. personally, I much prefer multi's. pedals have a whole world of problems to fight with that I can avoid with a multi board, and not that I'm not a tweaker, but that is a huge headache avoided.

OriginalCrash · #5 10-29-2009, 02:27 PM

I'd say you're best bet would be to get a used multi-fx unit (be it a POD or a Zoom or something else). This will allow to get a feel for a lot of different types of effects and how they can be combined all at once. From there you can decide if you're happy with your purchase, if you like multi-fx units but want a different one, or if you want to go the single effect route. I also agree that one of the POD's great strengths is amp modeling, so keep in mind whether or not you're already happy with your amp.

Stealth · #6 10-29-2009, 02:33 PM

What OriginalCrash says. Right now I have an old Zoom 708-II which does its work very well and lets me mess around with all the effects. I've had it for about a year (little time spent tweaking it, sadly), but once you get around to using it a multi-FX intensely, you'll also get a feel for what specific effects you want in what order. From there on, a pedalboard with 5 pedals will suit you better.

natw42 · #7 10-29-2009, 02:35 PM

A great place to start might be either the Boss ME-20B or -50B.

They are multi-effects w/o the menus and amp modeling - its basically a stompbox emulator. These offer a lot of good/great/(and some meh) sounds in one package so you can figure out what types of effects you like. From there you can expand to a higher quality multi or go w individual stompboxes, or if you like it keep the Boss around.

Plus you can find em pretty cheap online - I got my ME-50B last year for around $140 shipped off the 'Bay, and you can find ME-20Bs for even cheaper than that.

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/ME-50B/
http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/ME-20B/

Swift713 · #8 10-29-2009, 02:40 PM

The Zoom B2 or 2.1u has a nice selection of effects and some ok amp models if you want to try out both. The bypass is not transparent so it always has some effect on your signal.

MarcusPocus · #9 10-29-2009, 02:42 PM

The POD is great all though it is a lot of stuff. Someone mentioned that is also modeling. True, but you can set it up to be the ideal multi effects unit. I take a bank of settings and turn everything off. I'll program one pedal for chorus and another for overdrive and another for delay. This way I get a more traditional, one pedal = one effect type of thing. But, you can turn all the other stuff back on for a recording setting. It is super easy to program and a quality piece of gear.

Not that I want to, but mine will be in the classifieds soon for cheap. Keep your eyes open for it if you decide to go this way.

ehque · #10 10-30-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

I've found the M13 suits my effects needs perfectly. I've easily replaced all of pedals with just the M13. I just wish it was available years ago, before I started spending $80-$200 per pedal, and only getting one pedal.

For about $500, I got an M13 which has about 84 effects in it, plus a world-class looper, and has routine software updates which add to the capabilities of the unit.

To prove your point, the latest updates pushes the effects list to over 100.

I love my M13. The price and size of the board it replaced is over the top...

TaySte_2000 · #11 10-30-2009, 03:56 AM

+1 on the M13, that will easily do the Cure stuff I think really you could get away with the M9 I'm not familiar with a Cure song where you would need more than 3 fx on at a time.

xikbastard · #12 11-01-2009, 07:24 AM

or u can get the small brother M9

sikamikanico · #13 11-01-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninicorj

Well, I don't undestand much of pedal effects, and I'm triyng to get more involved to it...

Don't get involved with the things you don't understand

cybersnyder · #14 11-01-2009, 08:16 AM

+1 on the M13 or M9. Great tone and vast capabilities. There will probably be a few pedals you want to add to it over time as everyone has a few pet pedals. But you could "get by" with just the M13 in just about any situation and I don't mean that you would be making compromises.

Nyarlathotep · #15 11-01-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

The Zoom B2 or 2.1u has a nice selection of effects and some ok amp models if you want to try out both.

+1. Bought a B2 a while back and I still own it LOL The "amps" are more distortion models than anything IMHO

srxplayer · #16 11-01-2009, 11:42 AM

The multi effects system like the Floor Pod is a less expensive way to go. You would spend 10 times the amount of money on single effects to get everything the top of the line Line 6 does. The Line 6 systems are decent. Both guitarists that I play with use them. If you don't mind working through menus, programing and saving stuff they are fine. I personally don't like dealing with dozens of menus, effects and options that I will never use so I go the single pedal effects route. I spent more money than they did but have exactly what I want and my pedal set up is easier for me to use.

It's all up to what works for you.

NicJimBass · #17 11-01-2009, 02:20 PM

M13 or M9. Huge bang for the buck, effects-wise.

Bassmike62 · #18 11-01-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I`d say get a multi-effect board first just to try out different sounds and to find out what you like and don`t like. These boards are nice because you have all your effects in one place and often have a wide variety of effects to choose from. They also tend to be much cheaper than individual pedals and can hold presets. The down side, however, is that many people think these effects pale in comparison sound-wise to their analog counterparts. Also, if the board goes out you`ll no longer have any effects.

Anyways, I`d say give it a try to see what you need and don`t need when it comes to effects. It`ll probably end up saving you money in the long run.

+1

I started out with a low-end Zoom unit, just to get a feel for effects. Most of the stuff was crappy, like the octave and fretless patches (remember, I bought the cheapo) BUT I did fall in love with the SansAmp sim (I even used it in studio).

Even though I could have gone with a higher-end multi-effect thing, I preferred having a pedalboard with individual units because it allows easy tweaking. I also really loathed working on patches, 'cause it felt too artificial.

In the end, it all depends on what you want: a multi-effect is easy to carry and you don't have to worry about effect chain and connectors. On the other hand, a pedalboard allows easier (IMO) customizing, you get to try out all these goodies out there and you can choose if you want to go digital or analog for particular effect.

So dude....the real answer is IT DEPENDS !! hope these few lines have helped you out.

Swift713 · #19 11-01-2009, 05:46 PM

For many of us the world of effects is a quest/hobby. We search for certain tones in our heads and we enjoy trying what's out there and experimenting. I think single effects are better for this kind of evolving pallet of tone.

Ric5 · #20 11-01-2009, 05:58 PM

I went with a pod and 5 effects.

First I run into an equalizer then I split the signal into 4 parallel signals with a rolls mixer.

1 - I run one into the Line6 bass pod where I model an acoustic 360 with a rat distortion pedal. I use this to get a retro growlly distorted sound. Or I also model an Ampeg fliptop with the Rat Distortion pedal.

2 - The second signal goes into a Mxr bass di+. I use this pedal to get a clean modern sound. It also has a distortion button that can give a moderate to extreme amount of modern distortion.

3 - The third signal goes into a Marshall Guv'nor. This gives me an old 60s marshall stack sound. This can go from a small amount of distortion to an over the top marshall sound. This effect can give you a Chris Squire Yes sound or a heavy metal sound, or just a subtle amount of distortion.

4 - The fourth signal goes into a Tech21 vt bass pedal. With this effect I get a slightly dirty Ampeg SVT bass amp sound with a tube like growl.

Then I remix the 4 signals back together and run it into a bass amp, or pa, or studio mixer. Because the signals are parallel I can mix clean and overdriven sounds together and still get effect and a sound that punches through the mix.

Here's what it sound's like

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...torid=23018535
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=63106208
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=62808281