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Want to replace individual stomps with mulit-effects

#45
Yeah, Bassman100. I need to be able to bail if I don't like it as good as my individual stompboxes.

I'm looking at the Boss GT6b and the ME50b for about the same price right now. Obviously the GT has (many) more features and the ME50 is newer. Both have much more than I would ever use onstage. Although no TB'ers seem to be really in love with the ME-50b, it does have some really great reviews for stage usage.

My two most important issues (besides $$) is easy of use, especially onstage (simplicity),........ and do the effects sound pretty much authentic (given a band playing live).

Not looking for perfect sounding effects. That's pretty much up to the ears of the beholder, and in a band mix, perfection isn't needed. Just don't want obvious suckiness. :eek:
 
#46
See where your coming from. The first thing I would do with the ME50-B is learn the correct use of the compressor, because without it, it can suck. The EQ Control is fantastic. Be sure to get a spare power suppply - I've heard of them burning out quickly here, I've got mine for perhaps five years, still on the same power supply. However I use batteries frequently. I get about eight two hour gigs from a set of batteries. The power supply is a "wall wart" (hate them) I've not used the new ones, I'm afraid to, I havn't looked into it enough. The GT6-B is an in-line power supply - Mains only. The GT6-B is a lump of a pedal if you've been used to indivudals. The 50-B is lightweight. The GT6-B will sound much clearer, louder & has more stomp boxes if you set up manual mode, personally I toggle between banks and manual, & I never go up the banks. You can also limit the banks, so no fear of scrolling too far up/down. Also, when you power down, it powers up exactly where you left it. It's hard decide !
 
#47
Good post bassman100.

The bids shot up the GT6, but I can get one with the bag and power supply for just around $200 incl s/h.

I've been reading the manual on the GT, but I still don't think it would do any more for what I need than the ME50b, which I think I can find for less than the GT.

I really like the manual settings as opposed to scrolling through digital numbers,etc. And I like that the comp is separate on the ME50b. I like some synth sounds. My Digitech synth/wah can get some crazy sounds, with or without octaver, but I don't use them onstage. I'm a comp, chorus, overdrive, delay, octaver, some wah, some synth (plus a tuner) guy. I'd like to try that octave-up effect on the ME-50b.

I wasn't considering the ME to begin with. The GT's. XL Live's, M9's, and B9's just look so much more serious, but looks can be deceiving, and everyone's needs are different.

I wish I could hear someone demo them side by side (and some of the other pedals, too), but I'm not the type that will go into a music store, try out everything, then buy something somewhere else. Thank God for TB, and folks like all those that have posted on this thread.

Thanks again, CD
 
#48
martyman5000 said:
IMHO not a breeze...never got it to work.
Click to expand...

Admittedly it is a fiddle using midi cables to do this, and the fact the usb midi adapter I have doesn't work if it's plugged into a hub, except the one in my keyboard. Grrr.

For the life of me I can't work out why Zoom saw fit to include a usb connection in the unit but not use it to support midi. Would be so much easier.

Still once you do get it up and running, it's a darn sight easier to edit than sitting on the floor twiddling knobs.
 
#49
this looks like a good time to bring up what i call "the golden rule of multis":

2-3 effects you will like pretty well

2-3 effects will be passable

everything else will suck, and none will be as good as individual pedals

i am not up to date on the state of the art of multis, but this has been true for every single multi i've bought or tried out. i ended up with a zoom b2 because it was cheap and because it had the quickest patch switching of any multi at the time (2 years ago). i now only use it when i need an effect for which i don't have a pedal. i keep thinking about the m9, but from what those who have one have said, the golden rule of multis seems to apply to it, too.
 
#52
JimmyM said:
this looks like a good time to bring up what i call "the golden rule of multis":

2-3 effects you will like pretty well

2-3 effects will be passable

everything else will suck, and none will be as good as individual pedals

i am not up to date on the state of the art of multis, but this has been true for every single multi i've bought or tried out. i ended up with a zoom b2 because it was cheap and because it had the quickest patch switching of any multi at the time (2 years ago). i now only use it when i need an effect for which i don't have a pedal. i keep thinking about the m9, but from what those who have one have said, the golden rule of multis seems to apply to it, too.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I disagree with regard to the M13. I legitimately like a good deal of the effects, find most passable, and only a few suck (if your input level is set right). The octave, pitch shifting, and delays are top notch. I like most of the modulations, although I seem to have settled mostly on the choruses and phasers for most of my fun. There's a couple comps that I like, and a couple distortions I like, too. The biggest weakness of this unit, IMO is the inability to make a good throbbing envelope sound with either the synths or the filters.

I've not heard a better octave. The smart harmony isn't as useful as my HOG was, but tracks almost as flawlessly and sounds pretty good, just different. I've played individual filters that I like less than the filters on the M13, but the M13 wont throb in the low end like I get out of my Qtron+ or ext. trimpot Bassballs; the units biggest weakness, IMO. The choruses sound as good or better than a lot of chorus pedals I've used.

I guess the point of this rambling is if you have exhaustively searched in every type of pedal that is in the M13, you will have found one that better suits your needs. The effects that are in there aren't bad, though, and will beat a fair number of boxes at their own game. IMO.

The Boss and Zooms that I've owned did fit into the Golden Rule of Multis as you described it.
 
#53
I think the GT6-B's are pretty good - I've had one for a while and am now doing the opposite to you - trading away from my multi fx to a board of individual units.

If you're at all interested in it I'm not looking for much money.

The compression is pretty good, the distortion tones are pretty versatile - the only thing I wish I could do more of it's parallel processing. Apart from that it's a great unit, very sturdy and won't fall apart from gigging, mine's done over 100 easily with only some cosmetic damage.
 
#54
PM sent, Jake.

I might do the same thing.. That is, keep my individual stomps, but I have this nagging desire to try the multi's, plus I'm tired of dragging the pedal board around. I went to a bag and powered pedalboards, and it was better, but then the bag split, and my board is full (again).

Like many have said, the M9/13 stomp modelers look like the best compromise between indie stomps and multi's.

I just don't want to spend mucho bucks, that I can't recoup if I decide to sell, on a multi that I'm not pretty sure I will keep. So, it's either something like a M9, or something really cheap (just for a trial).

Thanks. cd
 
#55
Bassman 100 said:
Hi JimmyM,
if you were hard pushed to make a choice for the purchase Multi Bass Pedal in 2010, adding to your golden rule of multi's, "banking different EQ settings for different basses & rigs," what multi would you choose ?
Click to expand...
if it's just eq you want, that programmable eq boss has is pretty cool. otherwise, no clue about what's hot these days.
 
#56
clubdude - grab an Line M9 via MF - you have 45 days to test fly it and see what you think. Heck, you can return it either way and buy it used if you find out you like it. But... MF is your friend!

I say the M9 for two reasons:
1) You voiced concern over plunking down that much cash on the M13.
2) I personally own an M9 and I love it - I find that for me it's sufficient, I don't need the additional real estate of the M13.

An aside - I've found that the one fail on the M9 are the distortion/dirt/OD's - I am (or will be when it gets back to me from being repaired) using a GeminiDrive in addition to the M9. That said, they are the only two effects units I need.

Good luck!
 
#57
Thanks gus. I had thought of that. I guess I have a lot of conscience (too much for my own good), and sympathy for small businesses. But, MF isn't that small........... :D

I agree the M9 pretty much fills the bill. I have a "Badder Bass Monkey", but if I go multi-effects, that's all I want to carry on gigs. Either all pedals, or one multi-pedal. If not, I'm headed right back to what I'm trying to get away from... The hassle of a pedalboard.

I will consider that scenario. Thanks for the help.
cd
 
#58
Im in exactly this same situation. I am hating lugging around a pedal board, and the wires all seem to get messed up or stepped on/pulled out on a crowded stage. Plus, I could get rid of all but 1 stompbox (and the tuner) and really not miss them. So its not like I am married to the individual effects.

I did have a Line6 XT Live that I sold mostly because I didnt want amp/speaker modeling, and I still dont. And the volume between patches was wildly uneven. I really like the looks of the M9 but its pricey. Truth be told I dont really *need* any effects so $399 is quite a chunk. On the other hand, I could probably sell all these stompboxes to fund it.

Does the M9 have fluctuating volume between patches like the BOD XT did? Does the Boss stuff have amp/speaker modeling along with the effects?
 
#60
I'm widya. But if I bought a M9, I'd be hoping I would not have to bring along a single extra pedal. I don't use fuzz or ballstothewalls distortion. I use a little overdrive just during certain songs for a bigger sound.

In general, I like the sound of my rig clean. It has that Entwhistle/Lee kind of deep-slightly scooped mid-bright roundwound sound. Then I use the effects to "color" it somewhat, not totally change the sound. I love chorus on slow songs, especially, some Jack Bruce sound on some songs, and an octaver for when the bottom drops out during guitar solos. (Remember I'm in 3-piece rocknroll band). As our repetoire continues to grow and grow more ecclectic, I find the need for some new sounds (for cover songs).

I saw one M9 somewhere for $280. Best price I've seen.
Thanks. CD
 

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