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What is best multi-effects box for bass?

T

toohip

Feb 23, 2011
11
0
Ocala, Florida
#1
:help: Hey y'all. I am a bass player wanna-be who just plays at home and once in awhile with a few friends.

Bought a new EH Micro Synth pedal but I also want some variety (flange, distort, wah, phase shift, chorus, etc., etc.) with an expression pedal. Got a budget of $300 and I see numerous boxes available. But I also read reviews and they are mixed for the most part. :eyebrow:

Looking for some real un-biased advice on what you feel I should look seriously into. Like everyone else I want as much bang for the buck as I can get while having a quality product. Graci :ninja:
 
#2
Why is it always BEST? There are lots of good to great choices and everyone has theirs:Boss, Digitech, Line 6, Rocktron, Zoom are the big boys along with Korg, AdrenaLinn lll Tascam and the list goes on.
Boss ease of use, dependable but the sounds are so general this is to me a generic choice.
Digitech a real sleeper but i don't really dig their current format but the BP8 is the great grand daddy and still rocks.
Line 6 lots of folks really love their stuff especially the M series but their choices for bass are pretty tame and again generic IMO.
Rocktron makes some interesting stuff if a bit limited for bass.
Zoom IMO offers the best overall bang for buck, sound but the user interface is a bit daunting on the B1 and B2 series with an expanded format on the B9ut, the only other problem is no aux input for mp3 or cd for play along.
 
#3
For simplicity and easy tweakability, the Boss ME-50B wins hands down. Lots of knobs for easy control, as opposed to just a couple of buttons and a ton of menus. It also has some pretty good effects; I particularly liked the comps, phase/flange and overdrives.
 
#5
mynameisjack2 said:
Line 6 M9 or M13 (depending on how many presets you want) is my personal choice. It's not great for distortion, but all the other effects are quite good, and easily tweaked.
Click to expand...

I'll second this, but add to the distortion comment; it depends on what you're looking for. It wasn't until the M13 that I found a bass "distortion" that I actually like, which is the tube driver model. Up to that point I'd either bought or tried all the typical single pedals available on the mainstream market. It all depends on what your definition of fuzz/distortion/overdrive is. I realize that the tube driver in the M13 is probably considered tame or even lame to others...but for me it's what I've always been looking for. I've also found the other more distorted patches to stack well with other effects, and you can usually really tweak the EQ to find what you're looking for.

The M series envelope filters on the other hand suck giant floppy donkey balls IMO, though I realize other people probably have found a use for them. In my case, there's no way it's replacing my 3leaf or my Source Audio Envelope.

In the case of chorus, verb, delay, and just about everything else, I think the M13 is fantastic. I think anything it gives up in analog sound comparison to single pedals, it makes up for in configurability.
 
#7
I'm don't multi-FX often,...but when I do it's always the M9.

Okay I don't actually own an ME unit,...but if I did it would likely be the Line 6 M9. I was hesitant on Line 6 gear until I came into possession of a DL-4 (albeit modded),...excellent piece of gear,...intuitive and easy to use.
 
#10
I used to own both the M9 and M13. I sold them both. Two of the most important bass effects for me are compressors and filters. Their compressors are not good for basses with the possible exception of "Tube Compressor". It sounded OK but was way too hot. Their filters are absolute jokes. I never liked Line 6 chorus models. I loved the bass octaver and delays, though. If Line 6 added an Opto compressor model and a chorus like TC, I'd buy again.
 
#11
Once you get past the interface, ins/outs, and features (expression, tap, drum machine, etc.), it is all a matter of personal taste. I prefer the effects on my M13 to Zoom, and Zoom to Boss, and Boss to old school Zoom (which are terrible). Some really like the effects on the Boss over the Zoom or the Line6.

I really like my M13. It doesn't require the time to massage the tones that some other multis do (except that you need the input volume low to get the effects to sound right), none of the effects make me wish they weren't in the unit (the Boss and Zoom have some real junk IMO), and it is really easy to see why that hideous sound is coming from your effects (just look down and you can see which effects are on). My opinion. If I didn't have one I'd probably be rocking a B2.1u and some singles.
 
#12
Chrisk-K said:
I used to own both the M9 and M13. I sold them both. Two of the most important bass effects for me are compressors and filters. Their compressors are not good for basses with the possible exception of "Tube Compressor". It sounded OK but was way too hot. Their filters are absolute jokes. I never liked Line 6 chorus models. I loved the bass octaver and delays, though. If Line 6 added an Opto compressor model and a chorus like TC, I'd buy again.
Click to expand...

I have an XT Live, and am not crazy about some of the models on it. However, I own a HD750 head and an LD150 combo - both of these have an Opto comp and a TC Chorus. These are much better than the XT effects, IMO.
 
#16
mynameisjack2 said:
Line 6 M9 or M13 (depending on how many presets you want) is my personal choice. It's not great for distortion, but all the other effects are quite good, and easily tweaked.
Click to expand...

I have been able to get very usable tones from the line 6 M9 distortion by blending it with a clean signal using my LS-2. The Tube Screamer is my fav for getting a sound similar to Marco Hietala from Nightwish. The Fuzzface, Big Muff and Tonebender models all sound fine to me and have plenty of low end with or without clean blend IMO.
 
#17
Personally I've never found any line6 product good enough to spend money on.

IMHO if your actually giging & not just jamming at home for kicks the Boss stuff is the way to go .. they are bulletproof, especially the GT models.

The GT10b is for sure the best overall in the GT line but the GT6b is still very viable & you can grab them cheap these days.
 
#18
I have a Korg AX3000B and it is meh. . .

I bought it originally because it has a mute function and built in tuner. It was only $60 bucks or so more than a decent tuner pedal so I figured why not.

It has a boatload of preset effects most of which are fun to listen to. But, at least for what I play, aren't terribly usuable. Lots of kind of spaceship sounding kind of stuff. It has a few cool tones I use for different things but I can count those on one hand. They have a few presets that are based on certain artists or artists on certain albums. The have named those with familiar names "Geezer", "Fragile" and "2112" are a few I can think of off the top of my head. Bootsy Collins I think designed a couple of the funkier presets and the wah effect.

It does have a pedal. Depending on which effect preset you are on it is either for volume or expression.

I think it may have been more designed for recording, having a MIDI jack, but no balanced XLR out for going into a PA?It also has big time modeling capabilites. It has a ton of classic amp and cabinet combinations you can dial up for various recording needs. But it is tough to get individual effects dialed in like compression or distortion on an individual basis.
 
#19
If you don't know what you want, and don't want to spend a lot, grab a Zoom. The Zoom B2.1u would do everything that you asked for, and would only take a little over half of your budget. The Zoom is going to be the best value IMO. I'm usually a stomp box guy, but if I had to just go with 1 and I had your budget, the Zoom would win. Granted, Boss and Line 6 do make "better" multi effects units, but at a significantly higher price point.

The only thing about the M9 is that it doesn't have an expression pedal, which is one of your criteria. If you can get past not having an expression pedal come with it, and don't mind going over budget, go for the M9. I've seen them on here used for 300. I believe that they do have an input for an expression pedal, but once again that's going to cost you more money.

For where you're at as a starting player, you'll be satisfied with the Zoom. I've heard them, and it's easy to get a good sound out of them. Not to mention it has a built in tuner, a direct out, can function as a computer interface, has the option for a tap tempo if you go on to use it live, easy to use knobs to tweak sound, and fast patch switching. From what I can tell, the Zoom will continue to be useful to you even as you grow as a player. The price point and features speak for themselves.

Note: I do not work for Zoom, and I am not endorsed by Zoom. I simply looked into a multi-effects recently and this is what my research has shown me.
 
#20
There are a few items in the classifieds..

Boss Me-50B

Boss Me-50B

Another Me-50B & a Korg

Zoom B9.1tu

Zoom B2



If I were to get a Zoom I'd get the B 9.. the B2 is ok.. the sounds are not bad but the interface is kind of clunky.. and the display is impossaible to read in bright light.. as in out doors .. I have used an Me-50B .. it is not bad.. I had a B2 & sold it.. I now have a Boss Gt-10B and am pretty much satisfied for now.. I don't know much about the Line 6 stuff but I hear it is decent..
 

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