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Want to replace individual stomps with mulit-effects

#121
temporal,
After reading your post twice, it actually reads like your are making the case for the M9/13, instead of the Boss's. At this point, I'm not using loops (at least onstage), but our guitarist does. (We are three pieces) He records some acoustic stuff, like on the beginning of "Interstate Love Song", and plays the slide part over it. And my entire decision is about how it works onstage. My main effects usage is to make a bigger, more complex sound especially during guitar solo's, and to cover certain distinctive parts from songs. I can do that pretty much with my stomps now, but I'm tired of lugging that around, and I would like to have more effects at my disposal should I want them in the future, without having to buy more individual pedals.

The linking to the computer and all that is not important to me, at least in the near future, except for updates, etc. We're not doing any recording except for live stuff. Been there done that, so now we are just having fun and making some mad-money. I'm trying to simplify, not complicate, my rig. I have no doubt that the GT-10b is awesome..I love Boss stuff. But I think the M's fit what I'm trying to accomplish better.

I'm mainly trying to decide now between the M9 and the M13. I'd like it if the M9 would satisfy my needs, but I'm concerned about the things in my last previous post.

logicman, I would love to demo one of the XT Live's sometime. They look intriguing, but I am more into pedal modeling than amp modeling right now. I like my rig's sound straight up. I have heard some good sounds out of the XT on demo soundclips. But I can only have one, and based on my thoughts and desires and the input from all the great TB'ers who have contributed to this thread, it appears the M9/13 have what I need. Who knows? If I tried all of them out side by side, I might have a different opinion. I surely could save some $$$ on an XT over a M.

Remember the name of the thread. I'm not looking for far out, or something to record with, or something to toy with. I want a tool that will help me onstage. I only use about 6 effects, but like I said above, I'd like the ability to discover more, just not a lot more. :)

Thanks for all the input, guys. CD
 
#122
clubdude said:
logicman, I would love to demo one of the XT Live's sometime. They look intriguing, but I am more into pedal modeling than amp modeling right now. I like my rig's sound straight up. I have heard some good sounds out of the XT on demo soundclips. But I can only have one, and based on my thoughts and desires and the input from all the great TB'ers who have contributed to this thread, it appears the M9/13 have what I need. Who knows? If I tried all of them out side by side, I might have a different opinion. I surely could save some $$$ on an XT over a M.
Click to expand...

The XT does have pedal modeling on it. You can even shut off the amp and cab modeling all together. Worth at least taking a look at. I haven't tried any of the "M" series pedals from Line 6 yet.
 
#123
Yeah, I understood about halfway through my post that while the GT-10B is the perfect choice for me (spending hours messing with the cross-fading of effects), that probably wouldn't be the choice for you.

As for doing things on the fly, I'm going to have to call a draw here, and that's what made me hesitant to pick sides :lol:. The 10-B fixes most of my gripes in that you can push one of the effects in the row below the display, it pops up to the display window, and you've got four control knobs. Pretty much the same thing on the M9/13.

I say get the M13 since you're talking about having 6-7 effects, and I'd honestly rather not mess with the patch up and patch down function mid-song, as I have had a few semi-catastrophic experiences with this, and you wouldn't lose the functionality of having individual pedals with a multi-effect setup.

I am curious to know how you can mod one of those for bass though, especially if you got it used. I heard someone say something about supplemental packages a few pages back, but I don't know anything about that. I'd have to hear the chorus on the M13, because Boss Chorus is really as good as it gets IMO.
 
#124
Hey club dude, sorry, have been away from this thread for a bit. I had the same battle with M9 or M13 - in the end, it came down to a simple question: "How many effects do I use simultaneously?"

I'm in very much the same boat as you by the way - cover act, 3 piece plus a singer. So I A) Like fiddling around with effects occasionally, and B) try to fill out the sound behind solos...

Personally I never have more than 3 effects running simultaneously, so the M9 is more than plenty for me. Plus, with 24 "scenes" I have plenty of room to sash more crap to play with thatt will be just a few clicks away.

Hope this helps a little at least! Good luck!
 
#125
temporal,
It's my understanding that the last update, which is a free download on their site (even for used ones) that has a lot of new features for bass, like clean octaver, for example. Many of the stompboxes modeled are bass effects. One of the main developer/tech guys for Line 6 is a bassist, so that helps. In essence the only mod for bass is the addition of more bass effects models, and/or effects that can be used for either guitar or bass.

Gus,
Kindred spirits, eh. Glad to have someone in the same boat. I've been racking my brain to see if there were any occasions where I would use more than three effects at once, and can't think of any. Since I keep the compressor on virtually all the time, that leaves two "effects" that I can use in addition to the comp. I also need to learn more about the "scenes" and how to activate/disengage them, in addition to the individual stomps.

Good imputs, guys. Sometimes I think it would be good to have both a M series and an amp modeling pedal running together at the same time. And I said I wanted to simplify! Sheesh. I probably ought to order an M9 and be done with it. If one buys right, shouldn't take a beating if you decide to upgrade to the M13. I'm a value buyer.. And the M13 is definitely a better value, imho. Lot's more stuff, but not that much difference in price. But if the M9 will do the job, it would be nice to have such a small lightweight unit.

Besides the price, I've heard some really good stuff out of a bass pod XT LIVE. But I still think the M's have it.

I've written to Line 6 with my scenario. We'll see how and how long they (take) respond.
CD
 
#128
We had an awesome gig last night at a local club, but the stage was tiny. Add to that the fact we use a plexiglass screen for the drummer. I kept thinking how a M9 or even an M13 would have given me more room where I wouldn't have to tip-toe around my pedalboard, and the guitarist's board is even wider. Getting ready to put my five-string on the bay. That'll loosen up some discretionary spending. :hyper:
 
#131
The M13 options sound great in theory. Who doesn't want to have as many options as possible.

So I bought one. It is, shall we say, LARGE and what I found to be way overkill. Unless you want to have tons of effects options availble.

Even the M9 I bought after I sold the M13 was still way more than enough YMMV
 
#132
Jibreel,
So, you think the M9 is overkill, and the M13 a WAY overkill? :)

I play guitar, too, and even though I'm not gigging on guitar right now, you never know what the future holds. If it's fun and pays...... This pedal would allow me to use it for guitar, too, should the need arise. Since I don't use them at the same time, and I keep my effects with me, that would be some more stomps I could get rid of, if I liked the "M". I wouldn't get rid of them until I was sure, though.

I mentioned to Rich from Line 6 that I thought the M9 should cost about half what the M13 does, based on the amount of effects for the buck. I think I need to take that out of the equation (which one is best "value"), and just be practical. There should be nothing I need that the M9 won't do, and I've seen a few used M9's for less than $300, and new ones just over $300. It would be sweet just to have that one little pedal to deal with.

"preciate the post. CD
 
#133
In the 42 years I've played bass I've tried all the multi FX that a bassist can use from the conception of them way back when until last years models, except for the new line 6 stuff.

Pedals are nicely interchangable but with multi's your stuck with what's in the board and only to their built in tweakability. Some of that stuff is just cheesy and their is no way around it.

Many years ago when ADA came out with their digital pre-amp, I of course had to have one. How many patches did I use out of the 256 available? 3 to be exact. One for my fretless, one for fingerstyle, and one for slap when slap bass was just coming into it's own.

I've been collecting pedals for the last 6 years or so now. My original goal was to get that Mark Egan fretless sound and I'm happy to say, I've got it.

I now buy em to swap out on my bass pedalboard or for clients to use in my studio or on my own projects. That includes guitarist, which I also am.

They're fun live and that's probably the main reason for not using a multi board. Live is literally a nightmare of paging through and setting parameters, one turn on a pedal and I'm done, lets play!

In all the time I've been playing it's always about the cash I have to spend on gear so multi boards always sounded like a good idea, but in the long run they were a huge waste of money for me always searching for the right one.

When you sell your stomp boxes let me know, I may want something you've got.

On another note not pertaining to you. I think TBers, especially, over price their used stomp boxes. It doesn't matter to me if you used it for 5 minutes and hated it or 2 years, it's now used. Half of the original purchase price is about right. If you didn't like it after 5 minutes you should have returned it and got a refund.

Have fun on your search for the right board, it could be a long one!
 
#134
Well the M9 lacks nothing in direct comparison to the 13, it has all of the same features as the 13. It just does it with less real estate and buttons.

I haven't used the M9 live yet, b/c I have not had the time at home outside of practice to fully set the effects up as I want them; although I am pretty close as of yesterday so I think its going to make its debut @ this week's show! I use itvat rehearsal every week. I've never had can problem using Line 6 effect units live, my original Bass Pod and Guitar Pod, my Pod LiveXT, even the effects on the Lowdown combo amp I had briefly.

Conversely, I've never even got the Boss, Rocktron, Digitech, or Zoom out of the rehearsal room. They were fun and I got good sounds, but in a band setting, they didn't do it for me.

Line 6 has always translated live for me.
 
#135
People over price stomp boxes because of egalitarian beliefs about their superiority over multi units, and sometimes they do it with just cause because the parts within can be expensive to replace or are of a higher quality.

I'd like someone to tell me what "translates live" or what particular problems are associated with using a plastic/metal box with a bunch of computer cards emulating natural effects, versus a metal/plastic box with tubes, capacitors, and other parts (ALL of which are just as easily broken as their multi counterparts) in a live setting, not to mention the role of 9V batteries if you're not using power supplies.

I've heard this argument for years, and the ONLY problem I've experienced with my multi pedal in a live setting is the master gain on the effect patch, or the gain level on a particular patch setting, in reference to the settings the mixing engineer at the club had already set before the patch switch. That's not the pedals problem, that's my fault for not checking my volume levels on all of my effects and how they relate to one another. I don't think it's fair to assign the blame of ignorance of the pedal on the pedal itself, but I'm sure many of the awesome used gear deals I've found were victims of such stupidity.

However, I believe it's important to realize the best way around cheesy multi effects is just to not use them. I think all defretter effects are absolutely stupid. They sound nothing like a fretless bass and they lack the depth of expression that even a 300 dollar fretless bass would have.

Either way, clubdude's made his choice for the M9/13 and none of us could blame him with this much info to go off. I just think it'd be nice for people of this forum to use complete sentences and ideas if they're going to categorically disregard the useful nature multi effects pedals offer people not wanting to spend a couple hundred dollars on JUST a compressor, no matter how good it sounds. This is the main reason I don't frequent this place, it feels like Sadowsky and Line 6 pay all of you to be here some times.
 
#136
I use a GT-10B that I got here @ TB for $265.... I had a Zoom B2.1. No comparison.. I don't know about the M9/M13 or the Line 6 stuff.. and ai was not impressed at all with the Me-50B but the Gt-10B is a great unit.. Very easy to program.. very flexible. I don't use much in the way of synth sounds.. but the over drive, compression,chorus and delay are nice...
 
#137
low2groove said:
Pedals are nicely interchangable but with multi's your stuck with what's in the board and only to their built in tweakability. Some of that stuff is just cheesy and their is no way around it.

[clip]

They're fun live and that's probably the main reason for not using a multi board. Live is literally a nightmare of paging through and setting parameters, one turn on a pedal and I'm done, lets play!
Click to expand...

Your first point here is dead on. If you are trying to dial in THE perfect sound and wont compromise, then you shouldn't get an M#. The effects in the M# are pretty good, they can be arranged in any order and used multiple times in the same patch, and there are multiple versions of almost every type of effect so you can find that 'close enough' sound if that suits you. It suits me (for the most part), and am often surprised by what I can dig out of it.

Your second point doesn't really apply to the M# pedals. They are set up with 5 knobs and are adjustable on the fly with no menu surfing. Easy, easy.
 
#138
I think it's great that everyone has different opinions. Who would want a consensus regarding anything musical? (We could just have one giant synthesizer, then.) That is the purpose of a discussion, anyway. I, for one, am appreciative of everyone's thoughts and input. I get to use everyone's experiences, and opinions based on those experiences, vicariously.

Since someone mentioned experience, this is my 48th year (I started before I was 10) playing bass, but I'm not a stick-in-mud, older is ALWAYS better, kind of person. I will try almost anything, at least once. This is nothing compared to all the different amp rigs and basses I went through in the 70's and early 80's. Ricks, Crowns, pre-CBS Fenders, Acoustics, SVT's, Marshalls, Suns, Gibsons, mono, stereo EQ's, etc. All with no pedal effects. By comparison, this is pocket change.

I've never understand why folks would spend mega-bucks for a single effect, or crazy money on a bass, then cover up its' sound with effects. My main axe is a $299 Ibanez SR300M (the one with the maple fretboard), with USA Barts on it, with DR Steel Hi-Beams, played through a combination of Hartke and Avatar cabs, with an LH1000, and direct out to our PA. I'm a bang for buck guy. I could care less about boutique or most vintage equipment just for the sake of saying you own it. (To me the Ibanez with the Barts and Maple is the best bass you can find for under $500. At least the most versatile, but that's another thread. I play it a lot more than my Stu Hamm Urge)

To me, the M series is a different animal from the rest, in that it is what it says it is, a model of lots of different stompboxes. And to me, it looks like it was built for live performance. Seems every year I think about multi's, and never have found anything that really made me want to jump on it. Although I'm not jumping now, the M9 has captured my curiosity, at the very least. I feel strongly enough about it to try to find a used one at a price that I could get out without getting hurt too bad, or utilize the 30-45 return period on a new one. Since I'll still have all my stomps, it would be a perfect time to have some fun playing around, and coming up with an analysis. Gotta keep it fresh.

One thing for sure, if I get one, and it sounds cheesy, or is too difficult to manage onstage, it will be gone. Period. I'm not trying to create more work for myself, or sound worse than my rig does now. Before retiring recently (to have some real fun) I ran my own financial services company for 30 years, so I'm not into just throwing money down a drain, with no hope of getting most of it back. It's my hope that this thread will enlighten everyone, so that won't happen. Plus, I just like discussing anything music-related. My dad's 86, and plays (banjo, guitar, and harmonica) four nights a week. It's in my jeans [sic].

Thanks to everyone.
Again, I appreciate all of your diverse opinions and thoughts in general. I've enjoyed participating. CD
 
#139
Well man, I took the plunge, I bought an M9 today. The only GC's are an hour north or south from me, so I convinced the wife to let me venture out today sans kids and I said, hell with it, Im getting me an M9! i figured Ill sell my individual stompboxes to recoup the cost, so no big deal.

So I drove an hour, took my 10% off coupon I got via email and made it home in enough time for the family birthday party I had to go to before band practice tonight. Needless to say, I didnt get a chance to mess around with it before practice but man, that thing is alot smaller than I anticipated (and thats a good thing). Ill report back once I get some time under the hood.
 
#140
Looking forward to your "report" John. Congrats on your purchase, you #$%%!!! (j/k)

I put my five-string on craigslist yesterday, and if it sells, I'll be right there widya. I still need some stuff for my PA, like some more speaker stands and stuff, but this pedal is just too compelling, not to at least try out.

If the bass doesn't sell quickly, I still might take the plunge. It's not just about the $$. It's about justifying it to myself, since I like what I got ok, just not in love with it's size and limitations. Plus I'm just the curious sort. I wanna find out what all the fuss is about. :hmm:
 

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