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Pedal virgin help. Singles or multi processor
- Thread starter Jazzcaster89
- Start date
I started my most recent iteration of pedal GAS with a Boss ME-50B. I almost immediately bought a separate tuner because the built-in tuner required a tapdance to turn on and off. I then started buying individual pedals as I found sounds that I liked, sold the ME-50B, and it's been all individuals since. IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME! SAVE YOURSELF!
Both, multi effects give you lots of directions to explore, single effects will give you things a multi does not do as well.
My first multi, the Korg A5, did something much better than many single pedals, that being add noise.
Luckily my second, the Boss ME6B was much quieter and some of the sounds were pretty close to Boss pedals, although with relatively few choices. Sometimes lack of choice is a discipline!
What sounds do you want?
Mostly dirt, OD, fuzz = stomp
mostly different types of modulation = multi
Synth type / dirty octave sounds= stomp
Clean octave sounds = multi
Filter = stomp
Delay/reverb = either
Compression/limiter = stomp but some multis do an ok one, apparently
YMMV etc
Mostly dirt, OD, fuzz = stomp
mostly different types of modulation = multi
Synth type / dirty octave sounds= stomp
Clean octave sounds = multi
Filter = stomp
Delay/reverb = either
Compression/limiter = stomp but some multis do an ok one, apparently
YMMV etc
I'm pretty new to pedals/effects, myself, but As mentioned before, the ZOOM MS-60b is a great intro to effects pedals. Lot's of options and sounds, all in one very small, relatively sturdy and inexpensive package.
That probably sounded like a commercial, but no I don't work for Zoom lol. I just like the product a lot.
I think my only gripe with it is that its battery powered. Yeah, you can get the A/C adapter separately, but I'd prefer that power source as a default as opposed to batteries.
Aside from that, it's a really cool pedal. It'd be my suggestion to start with.
That probably sounded like a commercial, but no I don't work for Zoom lol. I just like the product a lot.
I think my only gripe with it is that its battery powered. Yeah, you can get the A/C adapter separately, but I'd prefer that power source as a default as opposed to batteries.
Aside from that, it's a really cool pedal. It'd be my suggestion to start with.
Multis can be good for synth sounds, especially ones that allow compression, dirt, octave, filter EQ, and modulation together, or as many of those as possible, as you can have a series of different sounds saved. Sadly few multis let you have all of those, e.g. Zoom B9 gives you compression, filter, dirt, pitch shift, but then no chorus or flanger. The B3 doesn't have enough slots, the B1on almost does, but it's less convenient for patch changing with only two pedals. The saving grace of the B9 is that you can run an octaver as a stomp (e.g. OC2) in the loop, provided you don't want to change that much. A B1on with 6 effect slots for that extra EQ in a B9 package would be handy...
I've been a Zoom B3 advocate and user for a few years. I'm a fan of all of the bass-specific stuff it offers, but not of the clunky implementation for switching sounds and tuning live.
So, I stepped outside the box and took a flyer on the Zoom G5n pedal, even though it is a guitar-oriented pedal. You have a dedicated tuner switch, switchable to BYPASS (uneffected), MUTE (no sound), or EFFECT (sound of your current preset stays as-is while tuning). It is dead simple to use and understand. It has plenty of pedal switches so you can have access to all of your desired stomps in stompbox mode, or make wholesale sound changes using different presets. Also, for a digital pedal, the overdrives and distortions are a LOT better, IMHO, than those of the previous generations from Zoom, and I think they sound good on bass. Zoom has reworked the algorithms in all of their amp, stomp, and effect emulations in an effort to upgrade the quality (perhaps at the expense of some features and sheer quantities of effects and amp models). Soncially, I think they've succeeded.
A lot of posters have already described the practical benefits of programmable all-in-one multi-fx, so I won't re-hash them here. Needless to say, for me the G5n has been great to use for all of the reasons that multi-fx make sense to use, and with very little down side in my experience. YMMV. I personally don't buy the notion that digital multi-fx are necessarily not as good sounding as individual analog stomps. It really does depend on the specific gear and the skill of the operator IMHO. It also depends on how microscopic you want to get examining the sounds. Great gear can be made to sound awful in the wrong hands, and with multi-fx, there are a lot more opportunities to foul things up compared to using single stomps. Let's just leave it at that.
So, @Jazzcaster89, since you're already a guitarist, you could likely kill 2 birds with one stone for not a lot of coin with the G5n, or the new smaller version, G3Xn (with expression pedal). It's very, very easy to use and understand. All of the supplied effects are solid IMO. I use it for bass and feel nothing lacking, using it as an effects device, though I sometimes use the amp and cab simulations (HiWatt Custom 100 amp model, which sounds cool IMO). You could also use it for your 6 string guitar, for home practice, recording (USB), backup B-rig, or perhaps on your gigs as a front end stomp box pedal.
So, I stepped outside the box and took a flyer on the Zoom G5n pedal, even though it is a guitar-oriented pedal. You have a dedicated tuner switch, switchable to BYPASS (uneffected), MUTE (no sound), or EFFECT (sound of your current preset stays as-is while tuning). It is dead simple to use and understand. It has plenty of pedal switches so you can have access to all of your desired stomps in stompbox mode, or make wholesale sound changes using different presets. Also, for a digital pedal, the overdrives and distortions are a LOT better, IMHO, than those of the previous generations from Zoom, and I think they sound good on bass. Zoom has reworked the algorithms in all of their amp, stomp, and effect emulations in an effort to upgrade the quality (perhaps at the expense of some features and sheer quantities of effects and amp models). Soncially, I think they've succeeded.
A lot of posters have already described the practical benefits of programmable all-in-one multi-fx, so I won't re-hash them here. Needless to say, for me the G5n has been great to use for all of the reasons that multi-fx make sense to use, and with very little down side in my experience. YMMV. I personally don't buy the notion that digital multi-fx are necessarily not as good sounding as individual analog stomps. It really does depend on the specific gear and the skill of the operator IMHO. It also depends on how microscopic you want to get examining the sounds. Great gear can be made to sound awful in the wrong hands, and with multi-fx, there are a lot more opportunities to foul things up compared to using single stomps. Let's just leave it at that.
So, @Jazzcaster89, since you're already a guitarist, you could likely kill 2 birds with one stone for not a lot of coin with the G5n, or the new smaller version, G3Xn (with expression pedal). It's very, very easy to use and understand. All of the supplied effects are solid IMO. I use it for bass and feel nothing lacking, using it as an effects device, though I sometimes use the amp and cab simulations (HiWatt Custom 100 amp model, which sounds cool IMO). You could also use it for your 6 string guitar, for home practice, recording (USB), backup B-rig, or perhaps on your gigs as a front end stomp box pedal.
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I have found through experience that there can be some truth about noise, prudent attention to gain staging can keep that to a minimum.
Start with a multi FX, and then figure out which effects you use more, then start buying individual pedals.
The Zoom B3 is pretty much a really good multi FX to start with, reasonably cheap, but good quality sounds, a good variety of effects and pretty easy to use. The MS60B is smaller & cheaper, but can be a bit awkward to use.
Been through both multi FX's and individual pedals, now back with a multi FX unit (POD HD500x), today's multi FX units sound so much better than they ever have (and keep getting better).
The Zoom B3 is pretty much a really good multi FX to start with, reasonably cheap, but good quality sounds, a good variety of effects and pretty easy to use. The MS60B is smaller & cheaper, but can be a bit awkward to use.
Been through both multi FX's and individual pedals, now back with a multi FX unit (POD HD500x), today's multi FX units sound so much better than they ever have (and keep getting better).
no dedicated synth block...yet. Who knows if Zoom will add one as an update. I'll see what I can come up with tonight if I have some time.
Every month Zoom has been releasing new amps and effects, along with (guitar) Artist presets. Would be nice to see a bass amp or bass pedal drive included one of these days.
As for replicating some sort of synth sound, you'd have to go about it in sort of the same way the Tech21 Bass Fly Rig approaches it, using a combination of pitch shift/octaver, distortion, envelope, and flange. FWIW, they just added a Bitcrusher last week, and there are a number of various filters/auto filters available for synthy-type effects.
It's a shame the architecture isn't a bit more open to user contributions.
The ultimate in control is probably using one of the USB equipped Zoom with a VST host and using audio over USB and MIDI switching over USB, but using a tablet or PC for effects would seem a bit vulnerable on stage. I use a PC for lighting control, but it's away from feet, drums, beer
I like stand alone pedals. The dirt stuff in every multi I've ever tried was terrible and as you can see dirt is what I find most usable for my band.
Earlier, the OP wrote, " I think I'd just like a good compressor, chorus/reverb, and a blues overdrive and I'm good......Ok, maybe a flanger too. "
The B7k is an iconic pedal. Really great. Not sure I'd ever describe it as the best "blues overdrive", though. Of course, this is all individual taste anyway. I never liked the drive stomp sims in the Zoom B3/MS60B, and I agree that a lot of digital drive stomps are not very good. Surprisingly, I think that the drives in the Zoom G5n are really night-and-day by contrast. Very usable, and very worthy when I want plenty of grit, grind and drive (RATM, for example).
Really, I'm not trying to sell anything to anyone - other than recommendations from my own experience - but digital multi-fx and stomps have come a long way in the last few years, and will progress to the point that the stigma will be dropped by many....once they get a taste of some better modeling. Unfortunately, it's slim pickings for bass multi-fx modelers these days.
Just out of curiosity, what are the multi-fx that you've tried? I won't guess, but I think I have a clue. You tried any of the better, more expensive ones, from the Atomic Amplifire up to the Line 6 Helix or Fractal AX8 or FX8?
I absolutely love my Line 6 Helix. If it's in your budget, take a look at that. It could cover your needs for both guitar and bass. It's expensive, but compared to putting together a full pedal board, it really isn't; this is doubly true if you put together a separate board for guitar and bass.
While I personally use the Helix, I'm confident you would be just as satisfied with a Fractal option. Pros and cons to both. Sound is comparable in my opinion. Number of models favors Fractal. UI favors Helix. Etc.
If Helix is outside your price range, the HD500X from Line 6 or B3 from Zoom are great for the price. The G5n also looks good, but I have no personal experience with it.
While I personally use the Helix, I'm confident you would be just as satisfied with a Fractal option. Pros and cons to both. Sound is comparable in my opinion. Number of models favors Fractal. UI favors Helix. Etc.
If Helix is outside your price range, the HD500X from Line 6 or B3 from Zoom are great for the price. The G5n also looks good, but I have no personal experience with it.
The Line6 Helix is getting some very good reviews, though it is quite an expensive piece of kit. The HD500x is a fair bit cheaper from new, and some good deals can be had buying pre-owned.
Although there aren't that many bass amp models available on the HD, they and the effects sound great.
If you're just after effects only, then maybe look at the Line6 M5/M9/M13 pedals too.
Although there aren't that many bass amp models available on the HD, they and the effects sound great.
If you're just after effects only, then maybe look at the Line6 M5/M9/M13 pedals too.
