I had a Trace Elliot amp a few years ago, a GP11 I think it was which had a pre shape button. When this was engaged it applied a mid scoop. Do you think this sounds like a similar feature to the color button on the M80? If I remember correctly this was for the modern slap tone, and not the sort of thing to be used for a classic Fender bass tone. To get a classic Fender bass tone I guess the color button should not be enaged.
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MXR M-80 color button
- Thread starter the low one
- Start date
What about the fretless players out there, do you use the color button or doe sit kill your tone?
The color button is my saviour. Makes my talentless self sound better!
I found the distortion lacking, so I finally purchased another OD pedal this week (waiting for a EBS Multidrive). I wish I could have the color knob as a smaller separate pedal.
I found the distortion lacking, so I finally purchased another OD pedal this week (waiting for a EBS Multidrive). I wish I could have the color knob as a smaller separate pedal.
Thats exactly it, its a pre-shape, scoop, colour, enhance, contour, etc etc, loads of companies have a mid-scoop on amps and pedals.
Yup, I think it is purely to make the amp sound fatter solo, and in the shop so you want to buy it.
I recently plugged into the desk from the back of the hall during a sound check and really liked what I heard through FOH, and at a recent gig I was complemented by the sound engineer for my sound, and all I used was the M80 with the color button in. I still prefer the sound through my amp without the color button though.
After reading many other threads about this pedal Im quite surprised to see that almost 75 % of people say they use the color button. Mast people see to prefer the clean channel without the color engaged, and then use the distortion channel where the color is always on as an alternative. Do some of the 75 % of people who voted yes in this poll actually use it in this way also I wonder.
I have never used a GP11, but I own a Trace 7215 amp and the MXR pedal. The mid-scoop on my Trace is much deeper and cuts a larger frequency range (larger Q) than the MXR pedal's color button. I find the scoop on the Trace is too much for my needs while the one on the MXR is quite toneful. Of course, everyone has their own take on things.
As for EQ or tone settings on any gear I have: I don't "always" do anything. I play through a variety of different basses into a variety of amps and PAs in a variety of different rooms. It would be insane for me to assume that any particular setting is "always" best.
Whenever I set up my gear, I start with everything flat. Then I make adjustments until it sounds "right". I let the sound folks handle the FOH side of things (with a double check from a band mate). When in doubt, whatever sounds best for the whole band is how I set things up.
Would anyone say that the distortion on this unit is less useful BECAUSE the color button can't be bypassed (in distortion mode)?
I have one or two songs that require distortion, so I'm in the market for a nice DI/EQ/Dist box to replace my Sadowsky DI. Given that I just need a little occasional growl here and there, would anyone not recommend getting the M80?
Many thanks!
I have one or two songs that require distortion, so I'm in the market for a nice DI/EQ/Dist box to replace my Sadowsky DI. Given that I just need a little occasional growl here and there, would anyone not recommend getting the M80?
Many thanks!
Id say the distortion was very 'obvious' if that makes sense.
A gentle tubey grit it isnt, maybe even a slightly 'metally' sound to it? (Is something that sounds like metal music metallic or metally?)
Personally I think it is less useful, to get the kind of distortion I want, I have to boost the mids, which means I have to have the other channel's mids boosted too. Not a huge problem, I still bought one and love it to death.
IMO everyone needs a box like this, be it the MXR, Sansamp, Sadowsky, EBS, whatever. Its saved my bass-playing life more times than I care to count.
A gentle tubey grit it isnt, maybe even a slightly 'metally' sound to it? (Is something that sounds like metal music metallic or metally?)
Personally I think it is less useful, to get the kind of distortion I want, I have to boost the mids, which means I have to have the other channel's mids boosted too. Not a huge problem, I still bought one and love it to death.
IMO everyone needs a box like this, be it the MXR, Sansamp, Sadowsky, EBS, whatever. Its saved my bass-playing life more times than I care to count.
I just picked one up the other day and used it at the gig last night.
I tried various settings, and the color switch was NOT for me with my active spector/aguilar pre, it took much of the dynamics out, and I really couldn't "dig in" to my notes, it almost made my cab sound pillowy. So, I think I'll use the pedal for some slight grit from time to time. When not using distortion, the color will be off. It's great at what it does. The color switch does give you a very good punchy slap tone!
I tried various settings, and the color switch was NOT for me with my active spector/aguilar pre, it took much of the dynamics out, and I really couldn't "dig in" to my notes, it almost made my cab sound pillowy. So, I think I'll use the pedal for some slight grit from time to time. When not using distortion, the color will be off. It's great at what it does. The color switch does give you a very good punchy slap tone!
- Jun 16, 2005
- 3,584
- 31
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Spector, Aguilar, Darkglass
i would honestly say if you have a sadowsky DI just get a distortion unit along with it...
It's a pity the color button can't be bypassed in the distortion channel but I still think it's pretty good. Because the color button boosts lows it actually helps add in the lows sucked out by the distortion. I tend to leave the color button off when using the clean channel because I like the way the P bass sounds as it is, but for distortion the color puts back the missing lows and doesnt kill the mids so I can live with it.
the secret to the MXR M-80 is the color switch. I always have my M-80 on, and the color switch is always on. W/ the color switch on all you need to do is dime the mids knob and your good to go.
yes the distortion on it is not useful, atleast to me.
yes the distortion on it is not useful, atleast to me.
OK, so for those that use the distortion, is the main complaint what Jack said (i.e., that it's too 'obvious', and there's no real way to get a subtle grind out of it)?
I really think this pedal would be perfect for my needs, but only if it can do a slight growl, as opposed to a rip-your-face-off saturation.
I hope I didn't hijack this thread too much....
I really think this pedal would be perfect for my needs, but only if it can do a slight growl, as opposed to a rip-your-face-off saturation.
I hope I didn't hijack this thread too much....
OK, so for those that use the distortion, is the main complaint what Jack said (i.e., that it's too 'obvious', and there's no real way to get a subtle grind out of it)?
I really think this pedal would be perfect for my needs, but only if it can do a slight growl, as opposed to a rip-your-face-off saturation.
I hope I didn't hijack this thread too much....
aram- I use it for both, it's surprisingly versatile because it has a blend knob, and the other controls are pretty responsive. Everytime I try to use a muff, I just keep going back to the MXR.
-chris
In the distortion section i find the separate volume and blend knobs very useful for kicking in a nice OD/db boost for chorus'.
The distortion isn't that bad, in a band situation it cuts through mix nicely with my rig.
I also use the colour switch engaged and just boost the mids. The M-80 sounds fat and juicey through my swr.
The distortion isn't that bad, in a band situation it cuts through mix nicely with my rig.
I also use the colour switch engaged and just boost the mids. The M-80 sounds fat and juicey through my swr.
