Can you narrow down for us:
- your level of skill/tolerance for programming, i.e. ease of use and customization?
- what size footprint?
- how many physical switches for changing sounds?
Using my current pedals as an example, on the low-end side, I have the Zoom B6 ($499USD) which is fairly simple to use, has a slew of bass specific features, though it designed with limitations of selection and programming. Perfectly good sounding pedal for basic effects with adequate switching features, and actually has some features you won't find in much more expensive pedals.
On the high-end side, I have the Fractal Audio Systems FM9 Turbo ($1800 USD), which is so deep that it's as though it was designed by engineers FOR engineers. All effects are deep with adjustable parameters, able to be extensively programmed with almost limitless control/switching capabilities, and the effects are world-class quality. The FM3 is a scaled down version for $899. Since I use Fractal stuff, I can vouch for the high quality and selection of delays, reverbs, compressors...pretty much all the effects have been painstakingly modeled and sound great. But....learning curve is high for novice level programming.
Other recommendations:
- Line 6 HX Stomp (XL) and HX Effects (effects-only version)
- Line 6 Helix/Helix LT (their flagship)
- Boss GX-100 (lots of features and programmability for the price)
- TC Electronic Plethora X5/X3 (effects-only using TonePrint technology, a little bit esoteric, but TC is good stuff)
Google "Multi-fx pedals" and you'll see what's out there. Tons of choices in your price range.
I cant really narrow it down because I'm not exactly sure what im looking for. I used to use individual pedals for each effect but sold them all when I quit playing out. Now im thinking being able to swtich between eq settings, compression and fx with the all at once with the click of a button sounds amazing.
Now when you say engineers, do you mean audio engineers or engineers in general? I ask this becuase an audio engineer thinks very differently from say a structural engineer. Structural guys tend to do some pretty convoluted type stuff becuase it looks good on paper, but often isn't ideal in the real world (I build stuff for a living).
Audio engineers I get. I have a pretty good background in music production and a crazy amount of background in audio reproduction. I can operate complicated daws and all sorts of plug-ins easily as well as many overly complicated analysis programs that incorporate multi mics arrays.
I assume even the deepest gear for bass isn't too terribly complicated in comparison. I imagine many sub menues and access to all parameters for each effect as well as routing options (which effects come in what order inside the box) . Is this what you mean by "deep"?
If so, learning new toys is half the fun, though I want this for a more simple roll.
Being able to drastically change my tone on the fly.
I think any of the units you mentioned will let me do this, but the more control the better imo.
I dont think I want to spend $1800 on a box though. It speaks to the knob tweeker in me, but ive learned that I'll wind up spending more time twiddling parameters than playing. A.D.D. is a "B"!
So I guess I am narrowing it down after all. Something in the middle of both price and depth of features.
The line 6 stuff seems to be a pretty common and popular choice. I'm not after their flagship , but maybe 1 step down. What other units would you consider comparable at a similar price point ?
Ps. I did think of something else I'd like to have in the box. Nice filters. Something where I can adjust the cut-off and peak of the resonace. That would be handy. I've found cheap filters sound really bad, especially when pushing the res.
