So, I've not been a heavy effects user for many years, but I'm about to be using a lot more in my current power trio. Here's the deal. I want a clean/unaffected signal keeping the beef of my bass at all times. I'm thinking a blend pedal is the way to go so I can use more guitar-ish pedals without having to worry about low frequency loss. I have a non-buffered A/B/Y pedal I'm not thrilled with. For my purposes, I think I have 4 top contenders, though I'm open to suggestions. I'd really like to not go soaring above $100 (USD). Options and thoughts below. I'd appreciate your input. Thanks! 1. This1sMyne Blender: Don't know if this is buffered. Seems like it would do the job with the ability to add an expression pedal later. No phase switch. I wonder how necessary this option is. Switches in/out...good. 2. One Control Mosquite Blender: Don't know much about this one. Has a polarity (phase?) switch. Looks similar to option 1. Switches in/out. I think I need a buffer to ensure my clean and effected signals blend without interfering. Don't know if it does this. 3. EHX Pan: Seems like this would do multiple things for me, but I wonder how this would work, say if I wanted to say blend effects ala Justin Chancellor or switch on the fly. Variable blend on the fly seems promising. Don't know if I can switch in/out. Better price. 4. Barge Concepts VB-Jr.: Discontinued, but available on teh innerwebs. Phase switch. Blends. Switches in/out. Buffered. Sounds promising. Thoughts? Please enlighten me oh great effects gurus. If I get me some good blend action, I can join the dark side! (Effects Forum...) Heh.
5. Boss LS9. I ignored it for years because... it's a Boss! But this thing is super useful and has replaced my VB-Jr for blending duties. 6. Xotic X-Blender - haven't tried it, but many folks here like it, but it's not $100... http://xotic.us/effects/x_blender/
I would throw out the Badger Schism parallel looper. Parallel looperins, FTWz. You get the affected signal and a completely clean signal. Or two affected signals and a clean....man....it just doesn't end.
The Boss LS-2 is hard to beat if you just need 1 clean blend loop. I'm using a Badger Schism now because I need 3 channels but I used a LS-2 for a long time and still keep one around because they are so handy and versatile.
Ok, pulled the trigger on an LS-2. Fits my budget and does more than what I needed. Thanks for getting me thinking and researching. This will help me pull off some stuff live that I couldn't.
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