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Multi Effects Unit To Replace Existing Board

mam1862

mam1862

Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Nov 10, 2008
1,462
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Roaming Shores, Ohio
#1
I am very interested in the idea of a multi effects unit. The problem I have is that it won't give me all of the sounds I need and or the quality won't be as good. I am currently using the following effects, compressor, chorus, drive/distortion, a Boss SY-1 for some synth and organ and a Zoom MS 60b Z-Syn to cover Too Much Time On My Hands and the envelope filter to cover a few songs. I know the Zoom has all of these but I think most of them while usable lack in the sound quality.

Is there a unit out on the market that could cover these and do it well? I've searched the new Zoom B6, Line HX Effects and the Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig V2 and haven't heard enough from them to make a decision.

Checking to see if anyone has experience with any or all of these or something else that would fit the bill?
 
#2
Personally, I don't care for any of the Helix drives on bass. The modulations, delays, reverbs, and pitch options are all quite good, though. Comps are fine (and can be improved with use of the internal signal path options), filters are limited in my opinion, but can get the job done with some time investment.
 
#4
Try putting your pedals on a board. Then get some marker stickers or use a wax pencil to save your positions. Then you will have a multi effect unit that meets your needs precisely.
There are some great multi fx units but I never found one that was exactly what I needed.
Good luck.
 
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#6
It could easily be said that many of us would love an all in one multi effects solution that would make our gigging lives easier, but there will always be some compromises with that, too many for a lot of us. Most companies that do offer solutions that cover a lot effects lack a certain character or come across generic and none really offer a fully comprehensive selection of effects for bass players again the offerings are for the most part the same old same old - plain jane and not much exotic.

For those of us that have taken time to explore better offerings in compressors, drives, octavers, envelopes, synths, modulation, delays and reverbs - generic choices are always going to feel a bit ho hum, lackluster or even outright disappointing. Depending on what effect directions each player has explored there will be areas where we are simply not willing to compromise and for many of us there are more than one area. It is a tall order for any manufacturer to cover all of those areas.

Just look at how many discussions there are on any given day about any effect type, brands, vintage over contemporary, tube vs solid state, analog vs modelling and the list goes on.
 
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#8
I've been playing with a recently-acquired Zoom B3n. AFAIK, it has the same options as the MS60B but can be programmed into a more easily accessible menu array...more "stompable", so to speak. Some of the effects are good, others are passable but all lack something when solo'd IMO. They sound better when mated with a least one addt'l effect, usually a preamp or full amp profile. Resign yourself to the fact that only 25% of the options will suit your particular tastes. For example, you may have 10 compressor models but only 1 or 2 will really catch your attention.

If I had to run out the door at this very moment for a pick-up gig, I'd grab my Bass Fly Rig v1. The OctaFilter does some neat stuff but I'm not a fan of the Fuzz or Octave.

Riis
 
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#9
I for one am a big fan of multi-FX units. They sound so good, and are so powerful, that it's downright silly.

I'm using the GT-1000 Core, which sounds fantastic, and is packed to the gills. The big issue for you, as far as I know, is it doesn't have any synths, I assume that's because they offer the SY models. Fortunately, you can also connect the SY-1 to the GT's effects loop, and put it anywhere you want in the signal chain.

Another option is the Zoom B6, which has tons of FX, gobs of preamps and cab sims, at least 2 bass synths, DI out, looper, USB out, lots of foot controls. Kind of a no-brainer....
 
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#10
Hotone released a new version of their Ampero.
Products - Hotone Audio
It seems to have an FX loop, meaning you can still keep the external effects that you like and add them somewhere in the signal chain.
I can't vouch for it in terms of sound quality, but have a look at the reviews ; the first Ampero was already well appreciated and I don't imagine they'd release a lesser product. Price got upgraded too :bag:
 
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#11
I recently picked op a TC Plethora X5. It sounds good, is easy to use and is very flexible. The thing it’s missing, and I give them credit for that, is distortion/overdrive/fuzz. From what I’ve read, since it’s all digital, they accepted the fact that they couldn’t produce an acceptable distortion/overdrive/fuzz sound so they left it out. It does have a flexible effects loop, you can place it anywhere. I insert my distortion/overdrive/fuzz where it sounds best, and it’s very easy to move pedals around to try different signal paths as well as easily make adjustments to individual pedals. My favorite option it the ability to have multiple boards. I play is three very different bands, so I can have a board, or 30, for each. Finally, I happen to like TonePrints for the most part, and that’s pretty much what it is; a collection of TonePrint pedals. It for everyone, but it works for me.
 
#13
mam1862 said:
I am very interested in the idea of a multi effects unit. The problem I have is that it won't give me all of the sounds I need and or the quality won't be as good.
Click to expand...

That's the crux of the biscuit - if you're picky (like me), it takes a dozen tries to get a decent overdrive, another dozen to get a decent boost, and so on - the likelihood that I'll be able to get all of what I need, ad have it sound just like what I want it to, all in one device, is....astronomically small. You have to either compromise on something, or use something that will do a good job of "profiling" your preferred pedals - that idea may be the way out of this. And then the issue is giving yourself the controls you want at your feet, but no more.
 
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#14
Old school as hell, but I like the BOSS ME50B because with all the knobs, I can see at a glance how each effect is set . . . . instead of standing there and scrolling and scrolling through an itty-bitty screen.
 
#15
I highly recommend the Line 6 HX Effects (unless you need cab sims, in which case you'll want the HX Stomp or the full enchilada Helix Floor or Rack). There have been a lot of good updates and there's a ton of effects on tap that work great for bass (They recently added a tape saturation effect that is phenomenal, for example.)
 
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#17
I've been saying I want to replace my pedalboard with a modeler for a long time. I'm 100% certain a Helix, or one of it's variants, could do everything I want.

I've never done it and don't think I will in the future either. Because I know I'm not going to sit there and program the thing. And then, when I get onstage and need to tweak something, it's a bunch of menu diving. Now I can just twist knobs.

So if you've got things that are working for you, I'd take a long look at what's not working for you and maybe check out those specific effects on the units you're considering. If they do it better, and give you the environment you're looking for, then go for it. But don't make compromises either because you'll end up with a complicated setup using the modeler and the pedals you have now.
 
#19
lucas303 said:
I highly recommend the Line 6 HX Effects (unless you need cab sims, in which case you'll want the HX Stomp or the full enchilada Helix Floor or Rack). There have been a lot of good updates and there's a ton of effects on tap that work great for bass (They recently added a tape saturation effect that is phenomenal, for example.)
Click to expand...

I was looking at one of these. I do not need the cab sims so if the effects are there it could work.
 

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