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Multi effect pedals

JazzCrazy

JazzCrazy

Inactive
Mar 25, 2018
145
51
Joshua Tree
#1
I have a DigiTech BP 90 that's not too great. Effects seem a bit washed out & lacking palpability. I'm equally unimpressed with Zoom

Prioritizing the effects, 1) compressions the most important. 2) an octaviser (octave above, like when Marcus Miller slaps teen town 3) fuzz 4) reverb 5) chorus, & maybe delay. That's it. Really basic stuff.

I also dont want to throw away $$$ getting separate pedals & prefer not to have too many effects to choose from. I just want those effects done well--particularly compression. iChoices are limited, maybe Boss

Any suggestions?
 
#2
What Zoom pedals have you tried? They are well regarded around here. I have the simple B1on myself, but don’t use it much (it’s not for sale yet, but I can see myself parting from it). I really prefer separate pedals. They don’t need to be really expensive to work well. On a real tight budget, some brands like Joyo, Caline or Donner offer some nice product around $25 to $40 a pedal, mostly clones of current or past products from major brands and usually well built and sound good. For my part, I have a Joyo Classic Flanger which is quite nice.

Otherwise, depending on the combinations you thought using, the EHX Canyon delay does an octave up sound, reverb and delay, even modulation delay which could fill your chorus needs!

I never found a multieffect that did everything I wanted, fuzz being among the things that were harder to dial in. What happens all the time is that I ended up having to use the multieffect with separate pedals, then would switch back to separates!
 
#3
Inconnu said:
What Zoom pedals have you tried? They are well regarded around here. I have the simple B1on myself, but don’t use it much (it’s not for sale yet, but I can see myself parting from it). I really prefer separate pedals. They don’t need to be really expensive to work well. On a real tight budget, some brands like Joyo, Caline or Donner offer some nice product around $25 to $40 a pedal, mostly clones of current or past products from major brands and usually well built and sound good. For my part, I have a Joyo Classic Flanger which is quite nice.

Otherwise, depending on the combinations you thought using, the EHX Canyon delay does an octave up sound, reverb and delay, even modulation delay which could fill your chorus needs!

I never found a multieffect that did everything I wanted, fuzz being among the things that were harder to dial in. What happens all the time is that I ended up having to use the multieffect with separate pedals, then would switch back to separates!
Click to expand...

Zoom B3 seemed to have weak transient & signal loss. Pretty watery sounding, maybe convdrting to digital & back to analogue just does that. Mark Smith used it on a Talking bass video--maybe I should give Zomm another chance.

You re commended a $40 pedal that can do 3 out of the 5 things I want. It's very unlikely that I'll find a $40-60 compression pedal that works like an $187 mxr, but that'most important.

Also daisychaining pedals is untidy, & supplying batteries is a pain in the rear.
 
#4
JazzCrazy said:
Zoom B3 seemed to have weak transient & signal loss. Pretty watery sounding, maybe convdrting to digital & back to analogue just does that. Mark Smith used it on a Talking bass video--maybe I should give Zomm another chance.

You re commended a $40 pedal that can do 3 out of the 5 things I want. It's very unlikely that I'll find a $40-60 compression pedal that works like an $187 mxr, but that'most important.

Also daisychaining pedals is untidy, & supplying batteries is a pain in the rear.
Click to expand...
No, sorry for the confusion. The EHX Canyon is not one of the $40 pedals. I think it must be around $125 US.
I got used to daisy chain. Velcro helps!
 
#10
I keep going back and forth between individual pedals and multi effect units. And have played a number of different multi effects.

Right now I'm trying out the Line 6 HX Effects. Used it on a couple of gigs. Sounds great and very versatile. Plus the learning curve isn't too bad.
 
#11
I like the Zoom MS-60B the best. I have not tried the modellers like the more expensive Line 6 or Fractal Audio.

If you want to do it on the cheap and would like to try individual pedals, then look at the the mini Mosky pedals. I think they have some good Reverb, Delay, and Chorus options. You will have to search other brands like Donner to find the rest I think.
 
#12
JazzCrazy said:
I have a DigiTech BP 90 that's not too great. Effects seem a bit washed out & lacking palpability. I'm equally unimpressed with Zoom

Prioritizing the effects, 1) compressions the most important. 2) an octaviser (octave above, like when Marcus Miller slaps teen town 3) fuzz 4) reverb 5) chorus, & maybe delay. That's it. Really basic stuff.

I also dont want to throw away $$$ getting separate pedals & prefer not to have too many effects to choose from. I just want those effects done well--particularly compression. iChoices are limited, maybe Boss

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
It's hard to beat the HX Effects by Line 6 for the money. Almost all the effects sound good to awesome and it's well suited for bass. Has really good comp chorus and delays. Some dirt is pretty good as well. The bass octave is pretty good too but could be improved upon depending on who you ask. I like it though. Overall, you really can't go wrong. A little pricey but well worth it. You get a TON of stuff and options in that pedal. I love mine.

If you don't want to spend that much money, the newer Zoom stuff is great. Doesn't sound as good as the HX, but its not bad at all for the money. Lots of good stuff in those units like the ms60b, B3n or the newer B1X4
 
#13
i bought a digitech element xp pedal for my guitar rig, that sounds pretty good with bass, too.. most of the 100 presets don't do my bass rig justice, but after a bit of patch editing, i'm quite pleased with it.... that said, i still prefer a board full of individual pedals, mostly because i enjoy a challenge.
 
#15
What you
BioDriver said:
IME the compression on ALL multi-fx units has been lacking, so even if you want a multi unit I'd still strongly recommend getting a separate compressor.
Click to expand...
What you say about compression seems very likely. Compression is the one thing I must have for slapping, harmonics & maybe tapping if I can learn that. I just sent away for a Zoom B1on that I'm wary about.

I did see an impressivs demo on small practice amps & the 8" 50Vox bseems to have decent compression
Dave W said:
Agreed. No matter what multi I've used I've always had a separate compressor pedal on my board.
Click to expand...
Not encouraging since I'm a cheap skate. I did order the Zoom B1on cuz I'm a cheap skate
 
#20
Gee Man said:
No mention of the Tech 21 Fly Rig, but swap out chorus for reverb and it pretty much covers your requests, along with a sweet pre-amp to boot.
Click to expand...
I've heard nothing but good things about the Sans Amp preamp, but the preamp section of my G&K hybrid is perfect.

I also have heard good things about the Zoom B1on, & at $60 vs $229? I have the Zoom in my possession but it bears too much of a resemblance to my Digitech BP-90. It will take a lot of work figuring out how to use it, hopefully it will sound as good as people claim. If not I'll consider spending more, though reverb is pretty basic.
 

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