Multi Effects Recommendation for Gigs

[overit]

HX Stomp and done.

 

[pb9717]

ZOOM B3. The old one. Three pedals at once. Excellent sound Octaver, Chorus, usable compression, and pretty much any effect you could want is in there, except maybe a good synth. You can get em for about $100 bucks. Has a built in DI, amp sims, models of multiple DI & preamp pedals. It’s a simple, yet completely practical Swiss Army knife. Reverb, delay, phaser, flanger, auto-wah, you name it, it’s all in there. And cheap.

In a perfect world maybe you want a $500 starter multi pedal, but not everybody wantsa learn to program an HX Stomp. Zoom B3…no programming. Pick a pedal, its there. Wanna tweak? Turn the knob. Simple, quick learning curve. Oh, and a drum machine, looper, Tuner. Just get one. If you don't like it, it’ll sell in a week .

 

[petestrummer]

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?

The main issue was that I wasn’t getting consistency with the octave and fuzz selections . It appeared like the fuzz was bleeding into the octave section when the fuzz was off and when I played with just the fuzz on , the notes wouldn’t sustain- notes would fizzle out/decay. I am using passive basses. Sales rep said that I might have had better luck with an active preamp. But I felt like the circuitry in that section got crossed because it wasn’t happening when I first got the pedal.

 

[petestrummer]

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.

Thanks for the reply.
Sorry specifically which Line 6 pedal are you using?

 

[Joe Lonsdale]

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.

If you are not used to pedals, jumping into the Line6 Stomp HX that people are recommending is going to blow your mind, and not in a good way. Even something like a cheap and cheerful Zoom MS-60b+ multi FX pedal requires some background knowledge of pedals to use effectively.

If you are new to pedals, I suggest get separates and develop get a feel for what you like and what you don't. The Fly Rig should be AMAZING and reasonably simple to use once you figure out the octaver! The Boss OC5 octaver is wonderful and simple to use too - no learning curve at all!

 

[Agosix]

Headrush Flex…a great alternative to the Stomp

 

[petestrummer]

There's one thing we have to say about the HX Stomp though: it's a very mature platform.
We can except a hardware update soon (2025?)

I would hesitate buying one now if I had to, I would try to get one used.
But if you buy one new now, you have the risk that they release a new model shortly after, with a large color display, touch screen and usb-c.

Review: Line 6 HX Stomp

The Bass Whisperer himself takes Line 6’s encompassing effects box for a spin…

bassmagazine.com

Just found this article from the one and only Ed Friedland who is coming at this from a very similar perspective as mine, not that I'm claiming to have anywhere near the experience as him, but in regards to not requiring pedals in my playing history. Based on his take and the feedback here, I think the HX Stomp is worth the $ and the time to learn how to use for the long haul.
Although it's interesting that this article came out last October - Gtirad and others think there could be an updated unite coming soon.
Any other insight regarding this?

 

[Djadja]

Thanks for the reply.
Sorry specifically which Line 6 pedal are you using?

Sorry this response took so long - the HX Effects

 

[smatanovic]

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.

I use a POD express on my office rig:

My needs are very simple: I use it as multi-effects exclusively (like an HX One) feeding one effect at a time. I made my own presets using the editing software and keep them in an order that makes sense to me. I never got comfortable with the amp or cab models, and so don’t use them. The only thing I wish this had is a display to show what preset it engaged.