Multi Effects Recommendation for Gigs

[jam.majors]

I recently got a GT1000CORE and it definitely does the things you need with a LOT of extra horsepower besides. It is a very fun multi that has more processing power and seamless switching, while using way less power than the HX Stomp.
I've heard good things about the GX-10 someone else mentioned. Neither has XLR out, though, if that's something you need.

 

[petestrummer]

All I can say is WOW for the quick response from all the kind and knowledgeable people here. Thank you!
Money is not necessarily an issue but saving it is always nice. I think I can get enough overdrive out of my new and fantastic WD800.
I'll steer away from individual pedals and have a look at those suggestions.
The new Zoom 60+ looks interesting but because of the small footprint I was discounting it, but putting it on my amp and using my hands could do the trick! Plus it could tie me over if/when a new HX stomp comes out.

Any insight on the Line 6 POD Express? Didn't see it mentioned above.

Cheers.

 

[sawzalot]

I use the HX Stomp XL. Great little unit.

 

[meisi]

IMO individual pedals stand the test of time but multi units do not. It’s fascinating but speaks to the quality and usability of a single box.

IMO, ymmv. 30yrs ago I bought a zoom multi effect and said never again. Was tempted by the GT-x stuff but in the end when you only need 3-4 sounds the individual boxes cost about the same as the multi unit.

 

[GotGroove]

Any insight on the Line 6 POD Express? Didn't see it mentioned above.

It was

If you want a more straightforward and simpler device, the line 6 Pod Express Bass might be all you need for now. But it's limited in what it can do and adding more effects to the chain isn't an option within the device. If you think you may need more in the future, the Effects or a stomp might be a better choice.

And by limited I mean what you see is what you get. There's a noisegate hidden behind an extra feature, and I think you can load cab IR's now with the new editing software (not 100% sure), but that's all. There's no 15 different choruses and 30 reverbs or something to choose from like on the larger Line6 pedals. Perhaps the editing software gives you more options now, but I'm not sure.

 

[mikeynets]

I was waiting for someone to mention the MS-60B+

I’m also waiting for mine to arrive! I have a stomp and really like it. I find it very easy to use. I like the flexibility and tons of available effects, though in practice I keep making variations of about three patches.

I’m hoping/wondering if the 60B+ can replace the stomp for gigs. For size reasons and less exposure of expensive gear getting stolen.

How do you find navigating the buttons to turn on/off effects in a single patch on the Zoom?

Back to OP: do you have size/budget requirements? Are you turned off by menu diving? There are multi-effects units that cater to every answer to the above questions.

But like you’re seeing in all these responses, the hx stomp is kinda a Goldilocks

 

[waveman]

I will vouch for the Zoom. I have three of the original MS-60Bs. I hear the Octave tracking is better in the new one, I just haven't picked up one to try, but not something I need these days. I would definitely recommend trying one first. If you decide it's not the thing, you can always use it as a backup and pickup something like the HX. I went with ToneX myself verses the HX, but I only wanted that for amp/IR/cab simulation and am using outboard pedals for everything else with that setup.

What is funny, is I had a gig one time with my individual pedals, for which the Zoom is mostly used as a limiter and tuner for that setup, I also have settings to replicate the sort of thing I do with all my pedals. Well, there was an electrical issue, and it fried one of my nice pedals,so I disconnected everything and to my surprise, the Zoom sounded better. I would sometime just use the Zoom on super small stages.

 

[petestrummer]

Getting the right gear is more important than money- within reason-I’m a weekend warrior.
I like things that do not have a steep learning curve with as little menu diving as possible.
Plug and play ideally and easily set up a gig.

 

[Parzival]

Yep, either the stomp or the HXFX. I personally like the HXFX because of its layout. But the stomp is much smaller and lighter. Just a little trickier to get more than 3 effects in the chain whereas the HXFX you have 6 right in front of you at all times. No amps or preamps on the HXFX though.

Pretty sure you have 3 preamps on the HXFX. The Regal (Noble), Zero Amp (BDDI), and Obsidian (B7K). They put them in the distortion section so that bass players could use them on the HXFX and HX One.

 

[gregmon79]

Pretty sure you have 3 preamps on the HXFX. The Regal (Noble), Zero Amp (BDDI), and Obsidian (B7K). They put them in the distortion section so that bass players could use them on the HXFX and HX One.

Yeah, that's true. But it's not the plethora of amps and cabs you get in the helix stomp, floor and others. Technically.

 

[Krisfield]

Boss GT 1000Core. Very powerful. Can load up all 24 effects blocks and it work perfectly. Amp models sound fantastic, maybe a bit underrated IMHO. Has no balanced DI output so you'll need a ISO/DI box.

 

[singlemalt]

I’m into used Zoom 3n units for both bass and guitar.

The G3n cost me a whopping $85 shipped in mint condition.

The only stand alone pedals that have survived the churn are a couple compressors and the MXR M80.

The M80 is a tank, preamp, eq and Di.

I did the pedal go round for years and finally punted to used multi fx units.

They are cheap and plentiful. Once you learn the ins and outs, they are endless fun.

I like the Zooms because they have drum machines and loopers that work together. Plus lots of other great amps, cab sims, fx, tuner, di, tap tempo, aux in, and can take an expression pedal for volume or sweep effects.

There’s always the the editor software and usb connection if you’d prefer to dial patches on a computer screen. But these are so easy, I’ve never used the editor.

Oh, yeah, it’s a usb interface too.

All in one, flip it on and play practice station.

 

[doran.dragic]

How do you find navigating the buttons to turn on/off effects in a single patch on the Zoom?

First you use the bottom 2 pads to choose the effect that you want to turn on or off. After that you press the central footswitch to turn it on/off. It's simple but can take some time if you have many effects in your patch.

 

[MrLenny1]

I have a Bass Fly Rig & the Octave works fine.
I do gigs with just that pedal, no amp.
What is the issue you are getting?

 

[singlemalt]

With the Zoom B3n or G3n, I put the amps and always on effects to the left and then move the display to the right see the three fx I want to toggle on and off. For practice, I might want to see the fx flavor of the moment plus the dum machine and looper. It’s just like having three stomps. That’s stomp mode. (Up to six slots, three visible at a time, you have to use the scroll pedal to move across all six slots). It’s easier than it sounds.

For other jams, I might want three fx, drive, filter, and delay. Reverb might be tucked away since it’s mostly a constant. With amp models taking up two slots, and cab sim another, the six space patches are half full. You don’t have to include amps or cabs in a patch, it could be six fx.

I arrange patches around amp models, and put them adjacent to each other with different effects, or drums and looper. In patch mode, I’ll see three patches and their names.
Step on the far right switch to flip from stomp to patch view. Hold it down for tuner and tap tempo.

One big knob for quick master volume adjustment. Press it and you’ll see all your parameter in each slot for quick adjusting, press it again and you’ll see all see the fx name.

If you are a neat freak and like to organize things, this thing is magic.

Limits: if you have loops or beats running, you can’t change patches and have them continue. Some effects and amps combined max out the processing power.

But hey, it was under $100!

 

[Parzival]

Yeah, that's true. But it's not the plethora of amps and cabs you get in the helix stomp, floor and others. Technically.

This is true. They have some good options in there. About any amp sim you would want.

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

All the main brands of digital multi effects units are pretty good these days. Fast DSP chips became cheap. Going up in models gets you more foot switches. Decide first how many foot switches you need. Then, pick the brand. POD, Zoom, and Boss have been making multifx units for decades.

Many analog octave pedals don't track low notes well. Digital pedals can do so better due to FFT waveform tracking.

As mentioned, Zoom products are a good budget option, especially since you already have a good distortion pedal. Cheaper models have good distortion, but not great.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I love my Zoom B1X FOUR and it gives me distinct presets I created (or modded from the basic ones) I swap between regularly, and it has all of what you are looking for (Octaver, Chorus and Compression. Fuzz and Tuner) and so much more. Also has a looper, 50 adjustable tempo drum tracks, 50 preset sims you can mod, save or create your own. Tons of different effects at your disposal. I ordered the one with the foot pedal though I don't use it on the floor at the moment.

I run it into a Xenyx 4 channel mixer which goes either directly into my amp, or my laptop (via USB) or DI'd to to a PA/monitor system,. depending on what I'm using it for.

On gigs this is velcroed to the top of my combo.

 

[NullFuture]

Another vote for HX Stomp. Sure individual pedals will get you there, but most music stores don't carry a wide variety of options for bass effects. Meaning you'd likely have to purchase multiple and go through a lot of trail/ error, which will take time (and money).

 

[Djadja]

After playing for several decades without any pedals, I just joined a cover band and now need effects.

I tried the Tech 21 fly rig v2 and on paper is the perfect unit but couldn't get the damn Octave working properly which seems to be a common problem.
I think the unit was defective but the store says it works fine, just that the octave function is not very good.
It is also the perfect size and has dedicated foot switches.
I briefly tried a used Boss GT-1B that the store gave me as a loaner. Seemed OK, but before I could dive into it, it fell off my amp and stopped working.
I was ready to give up on the whole effects thing, as I like to keep things simple.

Essentially I need an Octaver, Chorus and Compression. Fuzz and Tuner would be nice.

I'm reluctantly considering going with separate pedals and tomorrow I'll be checking out the Boss OC-5 as a start as well as the Boss ME-90.

I'm at my wits end watching videos, reading reviews and posts when I should be practising or cleaning the house. Hopefully somebody here can help put me out of my misery.

Cheers.

A few years ago I went through a similar search. I tried the Tech 21 Flyrig and a couple of cheaper knock-offs and hated all of them. To my ear, none of the effects on any of them were worth using. The clean sounds ranged from nice to not so nice.

I put together an analog board that worked OK for a while but still didn't quite get there without spending a lot more cash than I wanted.

Next, I picked up a Boss GT1000Core for a while and found it way too difficult to get a good sound from it. The interface and software were just too much for me.

Then I went back to a mostly analog board with separate pedals, spending more money on a few of them, that worked fine for what I was doing. The board was bigger than I wanted and needed to get bigger still to have the better pedals that were catching my attention. Plus making decisions regarding which envelope, which, octaver, which distortion, was more complicated than I wanted to wrestle. I didn't do that so the board was never quite what I really wanted.

Then got a gig with a band that required me to do some synth like patches. I had/have a Source Audio Spectrum on the mostly analog board which should do much of what I needed but the interface had me flumoxed and switching between sounds without a midi interface is cumbersome. Again, that board required me to upgrade a few of the pedals to get what I really wanted. So... I looked into a Stomp and the HX Effects.

I didn't feel as if I needed/wanted the amp, cab, or preamp options so went with the HX Effects. They are significantly less expensive on the used market and less expensive new. They include all of the effects and blocks of the Stomp except those three types. They are also missing the digital out and the headphone out. What they offer instead is a much easier interface, scribble scripts, and more buttons. You can actually adjust things on stage pretty easily Any patch made for a Stomp that does not include an amp, cab, or preamp works fine on it. I have found lots of good ones. I don't miss the amp, cab, or preamp options although I do wish that the folk selling patches would let you know whether they include those blocks in their patches so you would know whether the patch works on the FX. If you try to install a patch with any of those blocks, the software throws an error and does not allow you to install it. I do wish the FX had the headphone out...

Bottom line, I'm happy with the Line 6 ecosystem and for the most part glad I went with the FX.