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Seriously...M-80 or BDDI?
- Thread starter raul
- Start date
I HATE my M-80. The distortion is very mechanical sounding, the gate doesn't work at all, and the centers on the EQ seem off and weird. At full volume you're only getting the original signal strength of your bass, there's no boost at all.
I only use it to clean blend the low frequencies of my clean signal via a Y cable with my distortion box, otherwise I would have sold it long ago. I highly recommend NOT buying the M-80.
I only use it to clean blend the low frequencies of my clean signal via a Y cable with my distortion box, otherwise I would have sold it long ago. I highly recommend NOT buying the M-80.
wow, it's amazing how many people like the M-80 over the venerable BDDI!!! i mean, there are those who dislike the M-80 but many seem to like what it does more than the BDDI...from what i'm hearing, my ears seem to like the BDDI a lot more though for some crazy reason, call it insanity, call it me, call it free will...just don't call me if you put anchovies on a pizza! i strongly dislike anchovies! but, i love green olives, fresh tomato, garlic and maybe some goat cheese...yeah, i think i like the BDDI...don't even ask about the VT though, i'm not sure...
The BDDI makes you sound like every other bass player while the M80 holds the true voice of your bass while being able to eq it. It's kinda like buying a ferrari and then putting a muffler on there. You're still driving a ferrari but your ferrari sounds like every car on the road.
My bass is an expensive instrument and I'm not going to let e $100 device change the sound of my bass. No way jose.
If I had a $20 bass then yes, I might consider the BDDI for about 10min before going out and buying a M80.
My bass is an expensive instrument and I'm not going to let e $100 device change the sound of my bass. No way jose.
If I had a $20 bass then yes, I might consider the BDDI for about 10min before going out and buying a M80.
wow, i was kinda under the impression that the M-80 had some kinda preset eq going on that was difficult to dial out, unless i'm just not thinking or remembering the right thing...
i know the BDDI/VT units are kinda SVTish at it's heart, and that's alright i guess if you want that sound...i just didn't know to what degree they emulate those sounds...but the M-80 is more clear/clean and able to blend more if used with an amp? and BDDI/VT have more coloring? right...?M-80 more of a clear/clean signal as far as EQ? and maybe a bit easier to blend in tones with an amp of choice? is that correct?
i know the BDDI/VT units are kinda SVTish at it's heart, and that's alright i guess if you want that sound...i just didn't know to what degree they emulate those sounds...but the M-80 is more clear/clean and able to blend more if used with an amp? and BDDI/VT have more coloring? right...?M-80 more of a clear/clean signal as far as EQ? and maybe a bit easier to blend in tones with an amp of choice? is that correct?
The BDDI makes you sound like every other bass player while the M80 holds the true voice of your bass while being able to eq it. It's kinda like buying a ferrari and then putting a muffler on there. You're still driving a ferrari but your ferrari sounds like every car on the road.
My bass is an expensive instrument and I'm not going to let e $100 device change the sound of my bass. No way jose.
If I had a $20 bass then yes, I might consider the BDDI for about 10min before going out and buying a M80.
I've found this to be completely untrue. My Warwick sounds nothing like my Spector, Samick, Brice or Dean through the BDDI. They all sound like the basses that they are.
I've used both pedals in question. I don't like the M80. It's ok, but nothing special to me. The BDDI, however, is versatile enough to give me that tiny bit of grit that I like, and when I throw my Pork Loin OD in front of it it screams.
The M80 has a contour (mid scoop) button that can be engaged, but otherwise the clean channel is quite transparent. It's basically an active DI with EQ. The distortion/gate part is pretty poorly implemented, but the rest works great.
fwiw, the Pork Loin is pretty awesome in front of a VT too! Love the Pork Loin!!
I gigged pretty heavily with the M80 for 5 years, then switched to a PBDDI. The M80 is reliable and can get some good sounds. The main advantage is the switchable distortion. However, I never really like the distortion all that much, so when I went to some separate dirt pedals, I switched to the sansamp (which I just run clean). I think the clean sounds on the sansamp are way better than the M80, and can be tailored to a lot of different styles of playing.
First off, I'd like to congratulate you on your misspell of 'a'. Epic move there, bub. Secondly, I'd like to ask how do you like playing an instrument with no strings, tone pots, tuners, frets, or any other $100 devices that might change its sound.
Hey yo danomite64 thanks for the spell check. Let me know if I misspell anything in the following and I'm glad you could still read my post with one misspelled letter.
Let me clarify for you. Tuners, frets, tone pots, strings are parts that make up the whole instrument. Without them you would not have an instrument (maybe you could). Each of those parts change the sound, I agree. What I am referring to is that the BDDI will make your bass sound like it is running through an ampeg amp. Yes, different basses might sound a bit different but as a whole all basses will sound like you are running an ampeg amp. Which is not for me and some people like it. Personally, I do not like the ampeg sound. Why do you think people obsesses over a TRANSPARENT boost or a TRANSPARENT overdrive?
So, technically you are correct BUT you should grab the 'point' from the context of my post and not isolate one phrase.
Let me clarify for you. Tuners, frets, tone pots, strings are parts that make up the whole instrument. Without them you would not have an instrument (maybe you could). Each of those parts change the sound, I agree. What I am referring to is that the BDDI will make your bass sound like it is running through an ampeg amp. Yes, different basses might sound a bit different but as a whole all basses will sound like you are running an ampeg amp. Which is not for me and some people like it. Personally, I do not like the ampeg sound. Why do you think people obsesses over a TRANSPARENT boost or a TRANSPARENT overdrive?
So, technically you are correct BUT you should grab the 'point' from the context of my post and not isolate one phrase.
I would venture to say the M-80 is better if you want one of (or both) extremes - a nice clean uncolored DI with solid tone controls or a full on distortion.
Whereas the bddi is more of an inbetween - constant slight overdrive/tone shaping. It wont sound clean per-se, but the color it provides is desirable to quite a few.
Whereas the bddi is more of an inbetween - constant slight overdrive/tone shaping. It wont sound clean per-se, but the color it provides is desirable to quite a few.
What's poorly implemented about it? I love the distortion on my M-80. As I said before (I think), it's the only pedal I need for shows.
Here's how I use the distortion FYI: volume set just a bit above clean volume with Color on, blend is set at 9 o' clock, so is gain, so is the gate (but I don't use the gate so who cares). I engage distortion not to get a big crunchy sound but instead to get a volume boost and some warmth when I solo, which is 3-4 times a night. It works VERY well in this application.
MXR had a nice pedal with the EQ/DI but because more is better and there was room left in the enclosure -- I suppose -- we also got a bunch of extra knobs and a pretty mediocre distortion. It's kind of silly really to put a distorted gate on a relatively transparent active direct box -- not two devices I want or need in the same pedal. It's poorly implemented because it just doesn't sound that good (my opinion and that of the overwhelming majority of people who have posted on the subject).
I agree, and my Leeds pedal sounds nothing like the Ampeg sound.
So many times i thought I was hearing an Ampeg when really, I was hearing a Hiwatt, a Mesa, or even an old Peavey solid state amp(with excellent grit when pushed).
I like grind, but not the "waterlogged" kind, that I always felt Ampeg amply provided. I more like the explosive Hiwatt and Marshall grind.
Well guys, I am as well, in need of advice...
I have an M80 and I am thinking of replacing it with the BDDI.
The reason is this: I mostly play alternative rock on my Spector and quite a few times I feel like pushing my sound to the "heavier" territory...
The reason that I am let down by the M80 is it's distortion:
I just don't dig it! If blended a little, with a low gain, it sounds weak, it totally disappears in the mix. If I start cranking it, it goes too "modern metal"... too buzzy for my taste.
What I would love to hear is GRIT, the rumble in the lo-mid frequencies, yes, think of an overdriven TUBE bass head - any head, not just Ampeg.
I regularily play through my solid-state 300W Ashdown, which has a lovely, warm and balanced clean tone, but when I look for some dirt, I want the classic "DRRRT-n-GRRRRT"... not the "BZZZ!"
So, should I let go off the M80 for the BDDI, depending of course on that reason?
Cheers!
I have an M80 and I am thinking of replacing it with the BDDI.
The reason is this: I mostly play alternative rock on my Spector and quite a few times I feel like pushing my sound to the "heavier" territory...
The reason that I am let down by the M80 is it's distortion:
I just don't dig it! If blended a little, with a low gain, it sounds weak, it totally disappears in the mix. If I start cranking it, it goes too "modern metal"... too buzzy for my taste.
What I would love to hear is GRIT, the rumble in the lo-mid frequencies, yes, think of an overdriven TUBE bass head - any head, not just Ampeg.
I regularily play through my solid-state 300W Ashdown, which has a lovely, warm and balanced clean tone, but when I look for some dirt, I want the classic "DRRRT-n-GRRRRT"... not the "BZZZ!"
So, should I let go off the M80 for the BDDI, depending of course on that reason?
Cheers!
yes, what Panos said...that's it! right there. i use a GK head and it'[s just crushing me that i can't make up my feeble little(big) mind as to what to get...ugh! but that's the kinda thing i want for my GK1001RBII...just to blend in some grit and "DRRRT-n-GRRRRT"... not the "BZZZ!" thanks for the quote, Panos...you nailed it, that's what i want...
the problem on TB is there's no universal definition of "dirt" or "Grit"
I'd flip it around...
Post a youtube link and ask how to recreate the sound.
I'd flip it around...
Post a youtube link and ask how to recreate the sound.
This is going to sound like a weird generalization but I felt the M80 worked a lot better in a 3-piece than a 4+ piece. Its distortion and beefy tube-sim sound great when you're only working around one guitar.
I never used it much when I was in a band with 2 guitars and an acoustic. It just disappeared.
I never used it much when I was in a band with 2 guitars and an acoustic. It just disappeared.
