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Best Multi-Effect for $200?

Best Multi-Effect in $199-200ish Range?

  • DigiTech*BP355

    Votes: 14 15.6%

  • Boss ME-20B

    Votes: 29 32.2%

  • Zoom B3

    Votes: 47 52.2%
  • Total voters
    90
  • Poll closed .
chinjazz

chinjazz

Sep 11, 2002
3,924
1,919
Atlantic Beach, FL
mtmash.wordpress.com
#1
I've been researching multi's and found these:

DigiTech*BP355
Boss ME-20B
Zoom B3

My amp modeling needs are near minimal. I really need to add effects to my normally dry signal. The only two pedals I have now is a tuner and a Boss RC-20XL looper, and want to layer in different effected tones. Primarily adding verb, chorus, delay, and occasional octave.

Vote away, and any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
If I'm missing a box in my poll let me know.

(not looking to really go too much above $200)
 
#3
I have the Boss pedal you have listed. It does the job. It can be programmed for different combinations of effects. It's not the solution to all your effects needs, but it'll get the job done. I'm not a big fan of the distortion / OD / synth selections, but i don't use them a lot. (it's taken me a year to find a good synth sound I finally like)

It's built like a shrick bithouse and the tuner works well on my B string. I use it in line with my Radial Bassbone.
 
#4
I've own a BP200 for years (actually ruined one after 4 years and purchased another one, I was so pleased with it). Was recently going to purchase the BP355 for it's looping capabilities but bought a Digitech Jamman so that took away that need. They both have the same layout except the 355 has a distortion added layer and a looper option. Personal bass playing friend bought the 355 after my recommendation and seeing the range of sounds I am able to produce with my BP200. I've used his unit many times and have also guided him on how to tweak his unit. Presets are pretty generic but the range of customization is unlimited and the ease of use is simple. Have another friend with the Boss ME-20b and the ability of being able to layer just ONE set preset doesn't compare to the BP355.
 
#7
I have a BP355. I was originally looking at an ME50B, but I tried the Digitech in a store and decided then and there it was what I wanted. It absolutely creams the ME50B in all aspects except it can't be run on battery power (unless you make an adapter like I'm doing soon for mine). IMO with the Boss ME50B you're paying a bit more for the brand name than for the quality of the effects. Also, I've found out the Digitech warranty seems to be quite good, they're going to fix the headphone jack in mine after I ripped the headphone adapter out with the wheel of my chair... :p

FreshTrooperXBL said:
It also doubles pretty well as a guitar pedal, and decent for a few effects on keys.
Click to expand...

Any effects pedal will do this, just plug the instrument into it. Hell, I put synth bass effects on our vocalists once. That was a productive rehearsal :D. And I used the BP355s stereo outputs, stereo DI, and headphone jack to hook a guitarist up to 5 amps at once :hiding:
 
#10
B3 you can have 3 effects at a time, whatever you want. The B3 has 12 types of delay (some really cool ones, modulated delay, filter delay, phaser delay, pattern delay, and more normal ones). The choruses are cool, I would say off the top of my head that there are 7 or 8 kinds of chorus, it has a detune type (no modulation) a couple of versions of more normal chorus, a chorus ensemble, a vibe. The 'Verbs have a decent amount of options too, 10-12. I mostly stick with the HD Verb but there are tiled room, etc. and some modelled after specific studio units.
The octaver is decent. It tracks well. You have more parameters to control than most stand alone Octavers, I find with the tone turned down that I can get close enough to my MXR BOD. Not perfect but close enough to take the B3 to practice and not get crazy looks from the rest of the band because the sound is familiarish.
 
#12
Well the Digitech uses lexicon reverbs, and they sound amazing. The octaver is okay, but I find it sounds better (and tracks better) if you use the harmony effect and set it to an octave down. It's got a few different delays, choruses, etc. but I'm not a particularly fussy person so I've never noticed a large difference between them. The amp models in preset mode are very helpful though, 2 different amps with separate EQ for each, like guitar amps have their separate channels. Most of my presets have Direct/Direct or Direct/810 for amp A and SVT/AM810 or Ashdown/BM410 for amp B.
 
#13
None of the above; get a used Boss GT-6B, replace the internal battery before you get attached to any of the presets, and revel in your effecty-ness!

The effects on the GT-6B are really good -- the modeling, not so much.
Since you said you're looking for effects, and not models, the GT-6B is a great option.

I've used the GT-6B since ~2004; went to the GT-10B for a while (the sound, looping, and modeling was better) but I really like how the GT-6B presents itself as a bunch of pedalboards with individual effects that you can stomp on & off, rather than the "all at once" default of the GT-10B.

My latest GT-6B was $170 plus shipping off eBay.
 
#15
I'm gonna choose carrots, only because I've been using a Line6 M9 Stomp Modeler for the last year or so and I absolutely LOVE it! I don't know what they go for used, but if you can find one, go for it - you won't be disappointed...
 
#17
sj_bass said:
I'm gonna choose carrots, only because I've been using a Line6 M9 Stomp Modeler for the last year or so and I absolutely LOVE it! I don't know what they go for used, but if you can find one, go for it - you won't be disappointed...
Click to expand...

I see a few on eBay that might be in price range. Decisions decisions....
That label on the box Bonehead Simple is sort of appealing :o.
 
#18
I had an M5, it is decent for sure, but it is really guitar-centric. I mean the filters and synth sux for the most part, there were one or two good synthy sounds. The Delays are good on the M series, But they are too on the B3. They both have good reverb but I like the HD Reverb more on the B3 (going from memory on the M5). The M series does slay the B3 on pitch shifting, no doubt. Also the M series allows for more parameters to be controlled by an expression pedal. The B3 has a bit better choruses,phasers and flangers I think. But then the B3 has a bunch of stuff the M5 doesn't have period, bit crusher, detune (no modulation type chorus), slicer, and then the cool stuff for practicing like the drum machine and computer connectivity, DI...all of a sudden the tables turn...
 
#19
groovaholic said:
None of the above; get a used Boss GT-6B, replace the internal battery before you get attached to any of the presets, and revel in your effecty-ness!

The effects on the GT-6B are really good -- the modeling, not so much.
Since you said you're looking for effects, and not models, the GT-6B is a great option.

I've used the GT-6B since ~2004; went to the GT-10B for a while (the sound, looping, and modeling was better) but I really like how the GT-6B presents itself as a bunch of pedalboards with individual effects that you can stomp on & off, rather than the "all at once" default of the GT-10B.

My latest GT-6B was $170 plus shipping off eBay.
Click to expand...

Just saw that it has an expression pedal also. Looks like a solid unit!
 
#20
DeltaPhoenix said:
I had an M5, it is decent for sure, but it is really guitar-centric. I mean the filters and synth sux for the most part, there were one or two good synthy sounds. The Delays are good on the M series, But they are too on the B3. They both have good reverb but I like the HD Reverb more on the B3 (going from memory on the M5). The M series does slay the B3 on pitch shifting, no doubt. Also the M series allows for more parameters to be controlled by an expression pedal. The B3 has a bit better choruses,phasers and flangers I think. But then the B3 has a bunch of stuff the M5 doesn't have period, bit crusher, detune (no modulation type chorus), slicer, and then the cool stuff for practicing like the drum machine and computer connectivity, DI...all of a sudden the tables turn...
Click to expand...

Speaking of tables turning, have you played the Boss GT-6B? As far as pitch shifting and comparing the other typical effects I'm after? I hadn't thought too much about pitch shifting until I started hearing the POG recently. Pretty cool stuff! It may turn my tables again (a used one).
 

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