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How was your experience with a multi effect pedal?

#81
I have the BOSS GT-10B and GT-1B. I swear by both units. The GT-10B is built like a tank and has been through many years of gigs with me and had not let me down. The only limitation really had been the tracking for octave and whammy, which I had solved by purchasing a digitech whammy and putting that through the send/return on the unit. The GT-1B has also been indispensable as a smaller and lighter unit for headphone practice, travel, and even recording with its USB connection.
 
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#82
1). I'm not a big effects guy, and

2) I've worked with more than a few guitar players that had a large, cobbled-together pile of noise and aggravation at their feet, a patched together collection of pedals that just didn't play together nicely, so

3) When I do decide I need a chorus or anything else, I drag out the BOSS ME50B. No pile of patch cables, not much noise, one cable in and one cable out. Works fine, and some day I'll nab a GT1B so I'll have XLR outs.
 
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#83
I used to have this, with two more pedals than I used sporadically. But this pedalboard was with me everywhere I played.

Now, there are gigs (most of them, actually) that I only need the HX Stomp. I also take with me a Radial DI. There is one project that requires a lot of effects (because of synthy sounds) so I also have an external compressor to save one block and a tuner (because I use the Snapshots mode).The HX replace the whole board. I used to combine it with my Aguilar Fuzzistor, but after some time, I could also replace it.

Effects I still use sometimes: Fuzz, preamps (to look for another flavour) and compression.

I think the HX was created with the purpose to be combined with other pedals. Most bassist won't need any more than the HX, but it has its limitations. I am a pedal geek and I kept some of my pedals because I like them, but I must admit that I could sell all of them because it's been a while since the last time I took them to gigs.

PS I have a Markbass Vintage Pre that I hadn't used in months. I combined it with the HX Stomp the other day and I have to admit that (for me) it's difficult to replicate the warmth of that tube preamp. I'm sure a lot of people can, but to this date, I haven't been able to do it.

EDIT: I forgot to say that I have recently joined a rock band with only one guitarist. I wanted an octaver with an octave up to fill more space when the guitarist plays a solo, but I haven't found any effect in HX Stomp that makes me happy. I ended up buying a MXR Poly Blue Octave and it does exactly what I was looking for. In that project, I must have that pedal besides the HX.
 

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#84
I've been happily using multifx with amp/cab modeling simulation for 12+ years, almost exclusively for live performances.

For anyone else, YMMV depending on:
- wants and needs
- budget
- workflow and usage environment
- SELF CONTROL

Many criticisms of multifx are well deserved, others are not. Multifx can't be expected to be all things to everyone, but they can excel for reasons of portability, flexibility and programmability. If you are honest with yourself about your needs and employ due diligence in researching your gear, there's no reason why anyone couldn't benefit from a multifx that is implemented thoughtfully.

Buy a cheap multifx, expect lower grade performance and limitations (not always a bad thing). Fork over more $$$$ for a high end modeler and you get high end performance and infinite flexibility, naturally.

It is folly to enter the multifx realm with a stomp-box mindset, and vice versa. The biggest hurdle being on-the-fly editing. Unless you would consider the ZOOM G11 or G5n, the "rabbit hole" nature of most modelers makes this a challenge. IMHO, a marriage of the aforementioned ZOOM design (4 parameter knobs per stomp, always available) with the depth of editing of high end multifx modelers has yet to happen.

Again, focusing only on ZOOM's physical layout of the G11, in stomp mode, you have all amp controls available always, as well as 5 fx slots with 4 knobs per slot always available. That design should appeal to the traditional stomp box fan who needs immediate access to tone and effects control.
 
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#87
Road Hat said:
I still have a top notch pedalboard, but I'm using the Boss ME-50B now exclusively.
Click to expand...

J Wilson said:
...I drag out the BOSS ME50B.
Click to expand...

Old school! Always wanted to check out the ME-50B. I never got around to getting one personally, but the sound of Christian McBride using it with The Philadelphia Experiment's Ain't It The Truth (2001) was a defining moment in my envelope filter fetish. That's the sound I was after and has been my baseline filter sound ever since: Lots of character and sits forward in the mix without being obnoxious, and that track still is one of my fav jams all these years later.

5sg.
 
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#88
J Wilson said:
1). I'm not a big effects guy, and

2) I've worked with more than a few guitar players that had a large, cobbled-together pile of noise and aggravation at their feet, a patched together collection of pedals that just didn't play together nicely, so

3) When I do decide I need a chorus or anything else, I drag out the BOSS ME50B. No pile of patch cables, not much noise, one cable in and one cable out. Works fine, and some day I'll nab a GT1B so I'll have XLR outs.
Click to expand...
Just FYI, as awesome as the GT-1b is, no XLR out.
 
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#92
I had a Line6 HX Stomp and getting it setup so it did what I needed for myself was next to impossible. I followed the manual but nothing worked and I am sure it was me and mot the poor little box. I also had a GT-10B that I wish I could get back. Easy to set up and most of the effects sounded at the least decent. Sold it to move to the Line 6 box . Now I have all individual pedals.
 
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#93
ThudThudThud said:
I think the biggest problem with nearly all multis is the 'presets.'
When you buy a single pedal there is never a preset. You dial it in to your own taste, or to your rig/bass, and you add other pedals the same way. Eventually your board is dialed in, and your gain staging is on point.

With multis there's nearly always four different things going on in each preset that you'd need to tweak all of the settings for all of the effects to make your sound. It takes a LOT of tweaking to make a from-scratch setting, and many give up before this happens.
The 'celebrity endorser' presets are the worst for this. You'll never sound like x player, so even if you use the preset it won't be right for you.

I like multis in theory, and have put a lot of hours into programming them, but sometimes they're confusing.
Every manufacturer has its own, proprietary way of shuffling through. It can get tedious (up, up, left, down, hold, tap, up, up, up.... congratulations, you've entered the settings menu...).
If you take the single pedal mentality it can go a long way. If you're adjusting presets? That way madness lies.
Click to expand...
I never use the presets on multi pedals. They’re all silly and way too loud. I build from scratch.
 
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#96
I've been thru' 3 different "paradigms" of multiFX use.

I started early on with a Korg A4 Bass. Back then my sound was 100% clean, so I really used it for effects, mostly modulation effects and delays. Also went thru' the Boss ME-8B, nice gadget, got the taste for synth bass with it. Also owned a Zoom BFX-708 and a Boss GT-6B in this era.

Then I switched to carrying my uneffected tone in a preamp (SansAmp RBI). I still used a clean tone, but kept using multiFX, even tho' not as intensively. Went thru' it with the aforementioned GT-6B, then a Zoom 708II, also a Zoom B2.1u.

Then I started to play more punk/HC/metal, consistently using a pick. Since then I've mostly been using a fixed tone. I cranked up the SansAmp gain for some time in the beginning (with an added compressor and para-EQ in my rack). Then the Zoom B3/MS-60B/B1on generation came out and since then my SansAmp did never again leave my studio. I've been using multiFX as "my tone in a box". Most of my patches consist of SansAmp emulation+compression+EQ (when needed)+noise reduction (mostly when dealing with higher gains). I have a set of "clean" SansAmp (my fingerstyle tone, not too clean really), dirty SansAmp and a Darkglass'ish dirt for each of my basses. I plug in any amp and have my pre-baked tone there with me. I use the EQ in the provided amp (or one of my own) to adapt to the room. I've used Zoom's 708II, MS-60B, B3, G1Xon (hacked with added bass FX) running this scheme. Also own a B1Xfour, which hasn't seen live use yet, but eventually will.

So, I went all the way from clean tone hardcore FX user to fixed fat crunchy tone dude in a matter of a mere 30 years and multiFX served me well in every scenario. I'm pro-multiFX. I've been able to sound any way I like thru' them. They've been capable of sounding great maybe for the past 2 decades as long as I invested the needed time tweaking (mostly in the beginning, there's a fluidity to be gained in their operation, of course). You have to be into navigating menus and params, tho' not for everybody.
 
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#97
BassDad1964 said:
I have a zoom b3n. Its great for chorus effect and the EQ's are pretty decent. The octaves blow chunks Delays are ok. I have considered switching to just a pre and a compressor and an envelope and an octave. It comes pre loaded with about 150 preset patches of which I probably use 3 after I went in and tweaked them HOWEVER, after I made my changes those three are patches are pretty much the bomb. I am seriously considering just adding the compressor and a good filter then I would be good. I guess that's no help to you. To sum up, i sometimes want to ditch it and yet I cant seem to cut the cord.
Click to expand...

As little as I play these days the Zoom B3n holds up well for me. The models are good enough for me. I was a constant pedalboard re-arranger and buyer and trader of pedals. Got exhausting so I just stuck with the B3n. I like a couple of the compressor models in this unit, the Zoom noise gate is fantastic. Darkglass sims are usable. I mostly just run a clean tone using the Avalon DI sim.
 
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#98
Fine, and for most performance situations the clone tones were more than adequate. However, I use a
10 stompbox board now because I like to use more than one octaver/chorus, etc at the time.
Modern boxes probably allow for that, but I've gone through 40 + pedals to find these "keepers" and am not
interested in losing more money or going on this chase again and my tones are "Better" through the
real thing (at least, I think so).
 
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#99
tl;dr : In the end i got an amp instead.
Had experienced with VOX stomplab, B3N, Ampero, even the Kemper profile stage.
None of them hit the sweet spot im looking for, it just doesn't sound right. I don't need that much tone also.
Did considered the B6 before i bought the amp, looks and sounds really decent but i think i had enough with the multi FXs.
 
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#100
andruca said:
I've been thru' 3 different "paradigms" of multiFX use.

I started early on with a Korg A4 Bass. Back then my sound was 100% clean, so I really used it for effects, mostly modulation effects and delays. Also went thru' the Boss ME-8B, nice gadget, got the taste for synth bass with it. Also owned a Zoom BFX-708 and a Boss GT-6B in this era.

Then I switched to carrying my uneffected tone in a preamp (SansAmp RBI). I still used a clean tone, but kept using multiFX, even tho' not as intensively. Went thru' it with the aforementioned GT-6B, then a Zoom 708II, also a Zoom B2.1u.

Then I started to play more punk/HC/metal, consistently using a pick. Since then I've mostly been using a fixed tone. I cranked up the SansAmp gain for some time in the beginning (with an added compressor and para-EQ in my rack). Then the Zoom B3/MS-60B/B1on generation came out and since then my SansAmp did never again leave my studio. I've been using multiFX as "my tone in a box". Most of my patches consist of SansAmp emulation+compression+EQ (when needed)+noise reduction (mostly when dealing with higher gains). I have a set of "clean" SansAmp (my fingerstyle tone, not too clean really), dirty SansAmp and a Darkglass'ish dirt for each of my basses. I plug in any amp and have my pre-baked tone there with me. I use the EQ in the provided amp (or one of my own) to adapt to the room. I've used Zoom's 708II, MS-60B, B3, G1Xon (hacked with added bass FX) running this scheme. Also own a B1Xfour, which hasn't seen live use yet, but eventually will.

So, I went all the way from clean tone hardcore FX user to fixed fat crunchy tone dude in a matter of a mere 30 years and multiFX served me well in every scenario. I'm pro-multiFX. I've been able to sound any way I like thru' them. They've been capable of sounding great maybe for the past 2 decades as long as I invested the needed time tweaking (mostly in the beginning, there's a fluidity to be gained in their operation, of course). You have to be into navigating menus and params, tho' not for everybody.
Click to expand...
I would love to see some of your Zoom Sansamp settings! Its one of the things I'm struggling with on my Zoom B1 Four.
Thank you in advance,
Brent
 
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