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BOSS ME 90B
- Thread starter Krisfield
- Start date
I don’t get it - Boss design something with lot of features to supliment other things in their range.
Talkbass thread slates the thing they designed for not having the features they have in theirother models ?
Talkbass thread slates the thing they designed for not having the features they have in theirother models ?
If it's anything like the Boss GT-1000 Core, pass.
Unworkable core bass tones for my requirements
Well, it all looks like a very promising device. But after almost 30 years, you might think that Boss finally delivered something that could function great in all areas they provide.
With all its previous devices for bass like the ME8B, GT6B, GT10B, ME50B and the GT1B the one thing that Boss always have struggled with for bass was pitchshifting and synth fx and I really hoped this could finally end here but no.
According to the parameter guide, you can't play chords with the pitch shift, tune down and harmonist. The Hx One doesn't have any problem with chords with these fx (can't remember of the harmonist tbh)
And with the saw and quare synth it says: * Be sure to mute all the other strings and play only one note at a time * so playing with fast licks, beware
For instance, the Hx One might be limited but at least each fx in it is great. The tune down and pitchshifting is mindblowing and well suitable for bass, barely tracking issues.
So why can't Boss just take this quality norm with each fx in the ME90b as well? Is it that much?
But maybe after I've tested it, I could still change my mind.
All I can say is if you’ve got criticisms about any Boss device, email them and tell them about. They’ve publicly said that they do listen to the users.
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Boss ME-90b vs. Line6 HX One is apples vs. oranges in almost every way imo.
Why can the HX One only do One effect at a time? Why does it not have a knob for every parameter? Where is the DI? Fail!
In reality if you have a lot of demands you need a flagship or combine pedals. Even the almighty TB favorite L6 Stomp has limitations that need complementing with other pedals for a LOT of users.
Why can the HX One only do One effect at a time? Why does it not have a knob for every parameter? Where is the DI? Fail!
In reality if you have a lot of demands you need a flagship or combine pedals. Even the almighty TB favorite L6 Stomp has limitations that need complementing with other pedals for a LOT of users.
My vote for a Talkbass product testing committe
from SW listing for the HX One:
"...with one effect available at a time to keep things simple and efficient onstage and in the studio."
they market this as a feature
the nerve
Why can the HX One only do One effect at a time? Why does it not have a knob for every parameter? Where is the DI? Fail!
from SW listing for the HX One:
"...with one effect available at a time to keep things simple and efficient onstage and in the studio."
they market this as a feature
the nerve
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Boss should sell their lack of proper polyphonic pitch shifter as a feature: "you can add your preferred one in the effects loop"
.
Remind me again how many effects blocks the HX One can use at one time? I can't seem to recall.
Why are guitar and bass forums so plagued with Line 6 zealots, whose answer to literally every question about effects is "get a Helix", no matter if a Helix is even appropriate?
D
Wow. I've been plugged into my, kind of old, mixer, headphones, and EQ. So I have to admit, I'm so far behind in knowing about new gear. Still I want this ME90b.
More of a Zoom Zealot myself. It just rolls off the tongue better.
Boss brings us this new toy, msrp $400. And here we are talking about it. I can only hope somebody at Boss is following Talkbass.
We all have a list of features we really want, and different ways we would use the device. The manufacturers have their own set of goals.
What I’m seeing in all these players in the multi fx world is a bit of bait and switch.
“It’s bluetooth capable!”
Bluetooth adapter sold separately. Power supply sold separately.
“60 minute looper!” SD card sold separately.
The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away….
watching YouTube reviewers gush over a new toy is only going to get me so far.
In the end, will I open my wallet or pass? Trick question! I’ll buy it used for less than half of retail, maybe.
Boss brings us this new toy, msrp $400. And here we are talking about it. I can only hope somebody at Boss is following Talkbass.
We all have a list of features we really want, and different ways we would use the device. The manufacturers have their own set of goals.
What I’m seeing in all these players in the multi fx world is a bit of bait and switch.
“It’s bluetooth capable!”
Bluetooth adapter sold separately. Power supply sold separately.
“60 minute looper!” SD card sold separately.
The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away….
watching YouTube reviewers gush over a new toy is only going to get me so far.
In the end, will I open my wallet or pass? Trick question! I’ll buy it used for less than half of retail, maybe.
Boss should sell their lack of proper polyphonic pitch shifter as a feature: "you can add your preferred one in the effects loop"
Apart from that, I'm
The Hx One is far from perfect but at least Line6 got the pitch fx's right in comparison with what the ME90b has to offer at first glance. I think the synths in the Hx One are also better however I'm not sure as I haven't tested them all but I have a feeling that those are also better then the ones from the ME90b.
Those are my only remarks for the ME90b but besides that, I can't wait to test it, it's very interesting for its price.
I own a Line6 HXFX. It has a lot of features:
-No amp/cab sims, that might only clutter the device!
-No global EQ, would not fit the design!
-No master volume knob, it would only confuse me!
-No direct mix on the distortions. The 'originals' they are modeled to do not have it, why spoil the customer with such an option, just 'waste' my parallel path on that!
-Everything 'costs' an effect-block: FootVolume, Send/Return.. Keeping it visually clear!
(But it has scribble strips, I like that feature. I bought it as a luxurious back-up for my GTCore centered pedal board. But I was struggling for good tones, it is in a box for the moment..)
I do not think that Helix is bad, I find it annoyingly overrated here on TB though. But I think I am a Boss 'zealot' (new English word I learned today, had to look it up).
-No amp/cab sims, that might only clutter the device!
-No global EQ, would not fit the design!
-No master volume knob, it would only confuse me!
-No direct mix on the distortions. The 'originals' they are modeled to do not have it, why spoil the customer with such an option, just 'waste' my parallel path on that!
-Everything 'costs' an effect-block: FootVolume, Send/Return.. Keeping it visually clear!
(But it has scribble strips, I like that feature. I bought it as a luxurious back-up for my GTCore centered pedal board. But I was struggling for good tones, it is in a box for the moment..)
I do not think that Helix is bad, I find it annoyingly overrated here on TB though. But I think I am a Boss 'zealot' (new English word I learned today, had to look it up).
I think it's really important here to remember that the ME-90B is selling for $400 USD at retail and can serve as a potentially all-in-one solution for many players (but not all, of course), and the HX one is selling for $300 at retail, and does exactly one thing at a time (and also does not include Bluetooth).
I get that the HX One may perform some particular function or other better than the ME-90 or ME-90B, but comparing these two units is comparing apples to paperclips. There serve entirely different needs in different ways, and neither of them pretends to be the be-all/end-all for anyone. I would also note that Line 6 does not anywhere provide for any of the Helix devices, even its most expensive ones, any complete documentation of the parameters of any of its available effects.
It's also really important to understand that not every player wants or needs or will even use Bluetooth, but if you do, for $60, you can add it at any time in the future. The ME-90B, after all, is designed to minimize the need for computer connections, in the first place, by having immediate access to most important functions from the front panel.
Complaining about a power supply no being included, when the device runs on 4xAA batteries and a lot of users will already own a suitable power supply, seems a bit nitpicky, to me. A typical 9 V switching power supply from Boss or 1Spot or whoever, will cost you about $30, if you need one.
Incidentally, the ME-90B does not offer "60 minutes of loop time (if you buy an SD card)"; there's no way to add memory to the ME-90B. And again, an SD card with more than enough memory can be had for a handful of ducats.
However, the most important thing people should bear in mind is that not every device on the market is going to meet every player's needs, nor should it.
You might not be the target market for the ME-90B. I know I'm not. I already own a GT-1000Core (which also doesn't have Bluetooth, and can't have it added internally, and I don't care), and I'm planning on buying a second Core, possibly a third. Given how I use effects and given the needs of my music, the $600 Core plus two $70 FS-7 footswitches turns out to be the best fit for me on the market by a very wide margin, in terms of multiprocessors.
You can safely ignore the YouTube reviewers. Most of them are being paid to make reviews, and most of them will do a quick rundown of the product, and then forget it even exists. They will rarely, if ever, drill down into the nitty-gritty of long-term ownership and use of any device. They only thing I rely on YouTube reviewers for is a brief run-down of features. Always, always, always, no matter the manufacturer, download and read the documentation *first*.
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