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Want to replace individual stomps with mulit-effects

clubdude

clubdude

The Ten Man
Aug 15, 2008
298
3
Greenville, North Carolina
#1
I did a search first, but looking for something more up-to-date....

I'm bassist (and lead vocalist) of more than 40 years, with a 20 year break to play guitar. I used to play bass with no effects, but playing guitar really got me into them. I'm playing in a 3-piece band, and use effects to help fill in during guitar solo's mainly (but at other times, also especially covering songs).

I'm tired of dragging around a heavy pedalboard with individual stompboxes, and I'm always buying new pedals to experiment with, and bigger pedalboards. So, I'm looking for a STAGE multi-effects that will accurately do (or close to it) what my individual ones do. I do not need the wildest synths, and we play a lot, so I don't have time or desire to be computer/pedal programmer.

I mainly use compressor (on almost all the time-very subtle), chorus, delay, overdrive/distortion, octaver (a lot), little synth-wah + tuner. Some, but not all, of my pedals include: Boss bass chorus, Digitech bass synth wah, Humphrey Audio Badder Bass Monkey, Digitech BP-10 vintage compressor. That's the keepers, but many more have been tried.

I've looked and read reviews of everything from Line 6 Floor Pod to Boss GT-6b (used), in what I'm willing to spend. It's not worth it to me to spend $500 on a GT-10b or XT Live. They will do so much more than I require. I've got a chance to get a MB-8b (old, but good reviews) at a good price, and the ME-50b seems sorta like the direction I'd like to go. I also like the Zoom B9.1UT, because of it's tube pre, if I could find one at a right price. (I'm not cheap, but I buy stuff virtually every week. Just bought a new PA)

In summary, please post which multi-effects unit you like because it's easy to use onstage, doen't need a lot programming, but the majority of its' effects are reasonably authentic-sounding. Not really looking for amp-modeling or infinitely adjustable synth. I love my Hartke LH1000/Avatar rig. I do like stompbox modeling, but the Line 6 one is out of my price range. I just need the basics, plus usability and reliabilty. And I don't believe that just because something costs a lot more, it's a lot better, necessarily.

I know this has been discussed before, but please work with me. I've read reviews ad nauseaum. Thanks a lot! CD
 
#6
The ME-50B has good compressors and the distortion is decent. The octaver is not so good by itself. In combination with another effect it's passable. Chorus, delay and reverb are nice. Synth is uninspiring. The auto-wah with the octaver is good. I was pretty pleased with mine but ended up upgrading to the GT-10B. Had for a month and I'm still just tapping into that thing. So many sounds.
 
#8
Thanks a lot guys. Good thoughts there.

If I decide on either a BP8, or a ME-8b, I have to make a decision immediately. Between those two, which you pick?

There will be some ME-50's, ME20's, B9's, and a couple of GT-6b that I can wait to decide on....... Key for me is good sound, and easy use. Not the total amount of features.

I admit, I'm a little leery of buying older electronics, unless they have just been sitting in a closet
 
#11
I used a BP-8 for quite some time. I remember thinking the overdrive sounds were odd - like maybe they'd work in a blend, but they definitely sucked low end out, and they didn't really sound all that great anyway...even if there is technically a tube stuck in there. I thought the chorus and delay sounds were nice and warm though.

Some good suggestions made so far - really it's the same as all these threads. I'd look on the respective manufacturers websites for the manuals to some of these (I know Boss, Line6 and Zoom all post them online in .pdf) and read up on the functionality - it's the easiest way to find out what will work out easiest for you.

I like my GT-10B - I bought it used for the same price as a new ME-50B goes for up here, and I'd used and liked the GT-6B before, so it was a no-brainer for me.

The cool thing about having waaay more processing power than you think you need - is that it just provides options. Don't like the way the octaver sounds? You've got 8 kazillion ways to alter the sound of it, to make it work for you. To me this is hands down better than buying a pedal, trying it out, deciding I don't like it/doesn't work with my rig, selling it, buying another one....;)
 
#14
Sounds like an M9 to me. I don't use effects at all on bass. I like it simple. If I used anything it would be an M9. Simple to use, lots of effects, and I thought it sounded pretty good.
 
#16
bassbrad said:
The Zoom B2.1u is very cool but it takes some serious programming to use for performance but well worth the effort.
BTW there are some cheat sheets floating around to make that easier.
Click to expand...

Ditto.. I enjoy that you can fit it into a small gig box vs having a huge board... with an optional remote foot switch, you can quickly go through the patches.

Takes a bit to learn it.. once you have it dialed in, it's rock solid.

I was skeptical because it looked like a toy.. glad I popped the money for the pedal and remote switch.

(yes I've owned the Line6 (several, roland etc).

The programming is straight forward once you learn the book (about an hour)

Can get them used for under $100
 
#17
I passed on the ME-8b. There will be more from time to time.

I'm still thinking about the BP-8.........................
I worry a little about old electronics. This one's a few models old, isn't it? Any drawbacks, from anyone with experience with it? Reliable, easy to use?

If I could try out a MP-9 or a MP-13, and then find one at a reasonable price, I think I would jump on that. But I haven't seen one less than about $325, and I'd hate to sink that into it, not know if I'm going to like it or not.

ME-50 or the B9, or even a GT-6b are still in the running. The right price on one of these might motivate me. But I still agree with those that suggest the M series stomp modelers. Thanks so much, guys. CD
 
#18
clubdude said:
I'm still thinking about the BP-8.........................
I worry a little about old electronics. This one's a few models old, isn't it? Any drawbacks, from anyone with experience with it? Reliable, easy to use?
Click to expand...
I have had no issues with my BP8 that I got used, what are they 10 years old at this point? Mine has seen regular use in the studio, many gigs in the past and only occasional gigs these days. The only reason I don't use it more is the size, only because I use several other outboard pedals. The only drawback is the layout grouping many of the effects all together in one module limiting choices to a serious degree.
 
#19
Line6 is nice, but I like Zooms upper end units better sound wise. Currently useing Zoom B9.1ut. It replaced a broken Zoom Player 3000B. While not as easy to program for great voice as the player series was. The newer unit is a little nicer for most of the effects. And can create very satisfying ready for recording and sending to Pa, voices. It is a pretty large unit. So far best gigbag Ive found for it is same kind that I use for my Korg Microkorg synth.
 
#20
The line 6 processors are pretty decent. the pod x3 live has useful effects for bass. I was informed that the m9 and m13 is usable on bass. the boss me-50b is not too shabby. you might like this one since it has some compression options. also the zoom processors are good choices for multi-effects processors. the zoom b2.1u is a good choice if you want something portable. and the zoom b9.1ut is a good choice if you like tube pre-amps. and if you're lucky to find one on either ebay or craig's list, the korg ax3000b is an awesome multi-effects processor to own.
 

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