How do multi-effects units w/ amp modeling affect your basic sound?

I used to have a Zoom thing too. And I think you're right about not being able to turn off the amp models I don't think I was ever able to figure it out, but back then I was a total noob

But anyway, I think you should check out the bass PODs by Line 6. I think you'll find want you want in that line. You can turn off the models and save a bunch of different patches for every song or even different patches in same banks for different parts of a song. This is pretty much standard in most multi effect units, but the POD IMO is prettty easy to use and doesn't color your tone too much.

You might also want to chech out the Boss stuff, maybe the ME-50B or the GT-6B? The ME-50 works almost like a bunch of stompboxes in one unit, without patches, which you might like.

 

Honestly, I bought a Digitech BP200 and can't find a single good sound on there. Great for practicing on the couch through headphones, but I'd NEVER gig with it. I can't find my "natural" bass sound through that thing. I rekon than Zoom pedal is similar.
Did you try some of your guitar effects with your bass yet? There might be some good ones in there. Here's what I use on my bass (only one bass specific effects)
Ross Compressor
ADA flanger (for a dreamy chorus)
EH Bassballs
Vintage Fuzzface (once in a while..kinda kills the lows though).

I'd say skip the cheap multi effect boxes and look into the LINE6POD or BOSS boards. They have sound you can actually use =)
I'll stick with pedals though.

FYI- I play funk/R&B so I rarely use heavy effects.

 

i had the plastic model till i traded it of fer 30 buck and tax exemption i couldn't tell the difference

 

I have a Zoom B2.1u since last week. First of all, ALL MODULES CAN BE SWITCHED OFF, INCLUDING THE DRIVE/SYNTH MODULE in which the amp emulations are.

I bought this B2.1u for having MY tone in my pedalboard instead of in my preamp (a SansAmp RBI) for occasions when I don't carry my rack with me. It debuted in a gig last saturday night. Simulations don't seem to be too faithful to the real thing but I still managed to find my tone using the "Tube Preamp" model (the SansAmp model just didn't cut it for my purpose -with only 3 parameters+mix it can't be as flexible as a real SansAmp-), some EQ and some compression. It's WAY more transparent than the RBI (doesn't hide my Stingray's tone as the RBI did) and WAY more quiet too (A/Bed side by side). I'll still keep the para EQ and compressor I use in my rack before the power amp (RBI was first in the chain -now B2.1u is-) for "on the fly" tweaking.

I'm happy, our soundman is happy too (gets the signal from the B2.1u's XLR plus a bass only signal he always likes to have -but barely mixes in-). I'm not comming back. And the RBI is definitely for sale.

The effects are reasonably nice (except for the synths that have a very limited use range). By the way, THERE'S NO MUTING GOING ON WHEN CHANGING PATCHES!!!!

ANDRUCA

P/S: Yes, I also had the two previous plastic models (BFX-708 and 708II, 20bit/32KHz sampling rate) and they sucked (except for the sampling and SmartMedia storage in the 708II, a nice feature I hope the B2.1u had), but this is a totally different animal (24bit/96KHz). Check out my review at Harmony Central (right now it's the first one, submitted 06/07/2007 at 04:55am).

 

The amp models on the B2 can definitely be turned off. And I agree that the tube pre is very nice. Take another look and save yourself a couple hundred $.

 

There's your answer. Or are you of the impression that a bass' signal might hurt your effects? You already have the tools, so use 'em.

 

The models can be switched off.
The zoom unit is very good. I have the B2 and like it more every day.

 

Every module can be switched off on the Zoom except for nr and maybe control. When you turn the leftmost knob to the drive/synth module just hit the foot switch so that the LED reads "of." It works just like every other module.

 

Well, if you can't turn off the amp models, then your signal will be going through some amp model. That means it will sound different.

Only you won't sound like you are playing through an Ampeg, but rather an Ampeg that is connected to a Yorkville...

Maybe different won't be bad, though. You might like it. Try it out and see.