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Want to replace individual stomps with mulit-effects

#141
clubdude said:
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:
Click to expand...

Im the same way with liking what I already have and really having to convince myself to do it but wow, if it works out, I will really have a good sounding compact setup (LMII amp, mainly an Ampeg 410HLF but also just bought an SVT210AV for small places, and now this little M9). The biggest pain for me was dealing with my pedalboard but hopefully now that is a thing of the past...for now...at least until I get GAS about something else :D
 
#142
lol.... glad I wasn't this only one this thread convinced to "take the plunge." Im really curious to hear how your M9 works out live. I just bought one on ebay and will have probably have one rehearsal to try it out before I need to decide whether or not to bring it to gigs with me. I figure the eq, compression, and delay wont take too much tweaking. Lemme know how the fuzz works out live though. Does it cut through well? Can you still hear the bottom end alright?
 
#143
My main point about multi units is trying to tweak your sound live and the plethora of useless default standard patches. You really have to spend hours with the unit tweaking it before it's really usable unless you're just going after that one great sound which is all most bass players really need.

I also wasn't talking about what's in the equipment, just what you can get out of it.

Oh! even though I play and truely love my Sadowsky over any Fender ever made, I still haven't received my check from Roger for doing so, LOL
 
#145
low2groove,

I think the M-series Line 6 pedals are different than any multi-function pedal I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot, and demo'd a lot. And I've always stuck to individual stomps. This is a new ballgame, so I have forgotten about all the other multi's, and have focused on what this one will do for me onstage. Too me, it's more like a pedalboard than it is other multi-effects pedals. I'm keeping an open mind.....

I written to all the big pedal effect manufacturers over the years about the market need to a mulit-effect pedal that was just an assortment of the most popular individual effects pedals, all in one unit, with one power supply. Usually, they would just say they would put my thoughts into a proverbial "suggestion box".

This is the closest thing I've seen to that. No amp modeling. No patch up and patch down. No programming really. Just twist a dial until you find a stompbox effect you like, then assign it to a button/switch, and it saves it. It's like having six pedals (M9) at your disposal all the time, with any three you can use simultaneously. Need to switch out "pedals", just turn a knob. If you like a Tron sound, just turn the dial to "Tron", and click the switch you want it to be assigned to. Couldn't be simpler.
 
#146
I went from a ridiculous pedal board (including an Ibanez EPP400 rack mount effects loop switcher right on the board) that had multiple envelope followers, distortions, a whammy pedal, an old chrome Morley wah/volume, etc. etc. There was also a 12 space rack with Lexicons LXP-1, 5 and a Jamman with an MRC to control those. I even wired in an extra pot onto my bass to send parameter changes right off the bass. It was huge, heavy and sometimes had mechanical issues, what with audio snakes, control signal snakes and power snakes. However, it sounded great and was a breeze to use and it was really possible to improvise effects. Given that I could reprogram the combinations and order of the pedalboard effects on the fly with the EPP400, it was really simple to go from conception to reality in creating new sounds.

However, I replaced it all with a Lexicon MPX G2 and R1 foot controller. The sound quality of most of the effects were equal to what I had before, although it took a lot of tweaking to get a good envelope filter, although it never had the greasy funky warbly sound of my Mutron. The upside is that it's absolutely repeatable and sounds really good. It's also very cool in that there are all kinds of control sources that can be mapped to any parameter. The major downside is that improvising with it is near impossible. Everything needs to be worked out in advance and the presets are damn near useless. Editing is moderately convoluted, although it does mean that effect ordering, both in series and parallel, is very cool. I haven't been tempted to go back to stomps yet.

I did try a BP8 for a little while and hated it. Next to the G2 or the stomp boxes, the tones were utterly crappy. That put me off other multieffects for a long time, but I have to admit that I'm tempted by the M13. The Eventide boxes also look interesting.

However, I'm now thinking of experimenting with laptop based effects. So many options these days!
 
#147
"So many options these days!"
So true. I got a headache reading all the stuff you had on your pedalboard, and all the work you put into it beforehand.

Since I'm a lead vocalist, too. I can't afford to take that much time tweaking in my studio. I need to take that time memorizing lyrics, working on phrasing, doing vocal excersizes to strengthen my voice and extend my range, in addition to working on my bass chops. Since I play with my fingers some and with a pick some, I'm also working on slap and pop to have all three styles at my disposal.

There comes a point in time where practice becomes more important to "your sound" than fiddling with effects. But effects are fun, and they certainly have the place in your sound. Just need to balance your time.

I like these M series pedal because I don't think I would spend a lot of practice time tweaking them. Just my $.02.
 
#148
I think you've got the right attitude.

I got way into effects in the 80s and decided to learn how to play effects like an instrument and it required as much practice as bass playing did. I had a background in electronic music (NOT the dance music called electronic music, which I think might better be called electronica), musique concréte, etc. so I was very interested in alternative sounds, most of which had no business being in the music which most of us play. Once I started freelancing and playing with singer/songwriters, bluegrass/country rock, etc. bands, the effects made little to no sense and stayed home. 99% of what needs to be done can be accomplished with your fingers.

My main criteria for good use of effects is that if you can't hear it in your hear first, there's no reason to have it, just like choosing which notes to play.

These days I have been doing some playing in a Grateful Dead cover band that likes to do the Space segment, so that's been a good opportunity to create some fun sounds. Being paid for indulging yourself is always a nice thing!

Edwin
 
#151
g&lplayer said:
lol.... glad I wasn't this only one this thread convinced to "take the plunge." Im really curious to hear how your M9 works out live. I just bought one on ebay and will have probably have one rehearsal to try it out before I need to decide whether or not to bring it to gigs with me. I figure the eq, compression, and delay wont take too much tweaking. Lemme know how the fuzz works out live though. Does it cut through well? Can you still hear the bottom end alright?
Click to expand...

I will definitely let you know how things go. I plan on playing with it heavily tonight after the kids and wife go to bed. I did have the Bass POD XT Live before so I am at least a little familiar with how the line6 software works. I unfortunately wont have another practice with the band before our next gig to test it, but I may bring my Boss LS-2 to bypass it altogether in case I have any trouble.
 
#152
ps - the reason I prefer individual units is many fold, but put simply.
Mojo.

Pedals have their own mojo. Multis DO NOT IMHO.
Plus it takes a lot of time, money and effort to get a really good board and sound. Practice and a good ear will make you a master.

Multis are kind of ... lazy.
IDK. Just my two cents.

Similarly -
Having an M-audio interface and couple of 57s doesn't mean you're an "engineer."

/rant :D
 
#153
Be interesting to know the percentage of players that head to a multi then end up going back to pedals vs those that stay with multis. And correlate that with people who play out regularly.

I think multis have a place, and if you like to tweak, then they are the cat's meow. And they are fun at home or in the studio where you've got time to mess around. I personally want to immediately see what my settings are, and I only have a few effects that I really use/like. So for me a small pedal board is the solution. It isn't for everyone.

One thing that does drive me nuts - the guitarist in one of my bands has a multi unit and during rehearsal he invariably has to tweak something...and of course that means bending down and paging through various screens to get at the particular parameter. When that happens a couple times in a row I'm ready to bring out the 5lb sledge to "fix" the multi :p
 
#154
I know you've already looked at the GT-10b but IME it's the best multi effect. It sounds great, it's sturdy and it's not terribly hard to use. Also, every multi effect has sounds that aren't usable, you need to let them sit there or replace them with something you like. Also, it has balanced XLR outputs so no need for a DI box.
 
#155
As I said, I'm not getting rid of my stomps until after I have worked with a M9 side-by-side with them. If I don't like the M9 for stage, back it goes. End of story.

But, I think there is nothing wrong with at least trying something new and different. That's one thing that keeps the excitement up. If it doesn't work out, big deal. But if you don't ever try anything new and different, you will never know. I think a lot of the anti-multi-effects sentiment comes from those that have not really explored the Line 6 M9 & M13. They're just a bunch of stompboxes lumped together, imho.

In marketing we say, "If you don't ever take a chance on getting a 'no', then you will never get a 'yes'"
 
#156
Pandafist said:
ps - the reason I prefer individual units is many fold, but put simply.
Mojo.

Pedals have their own mojo. Multis DO NOT IMHO.
Plus it takes a lot of time, money and effort to get a really good board and sound. Practice and a good ear will make you a master.

Multis are kind of ... lazy.
IDK. Just my two cents.

Similarly -
Having an M-audio interface and couple of 57s doesn't mean you're an "engineer."

/rant :D
Click to expand...

I hear where you are coming from but, in my experience, once you are playing live with the band and in the mix, you probably couldn't tell the difference between a really expensive chorus pedal and something on a (decent) multi. I (and I think clubdude the OP as well) dont use a ton of effects. I get mileage out of a little chorus, overdrive, maybe some filtery stuff on a song or two and maybe one or two other things)

And even though I am picky and like to have the best stuff, no one in my audiences can tell the difference. If I was recording alot or playing really high profile gigs, I would worry more but, in my band and position, I dont think I need to get that nuts over it.
 
#157
jgroh said:
And even though I am picky and like to have the best stuff, no one in my audiences can tell the difference. If I was recording alot or playing really high profile gigs, I would worry more but, in my band and position, I dont think I need to get that nuts over it.
Click to expand...

But YOU'D know the difference.
If I did everything with the audience in mind, I wouldn't have half the **** I do, cause you're right. For the most part they cn't tell the difference. They also probably don't realize it when you flub a note, or play the wrong part in the wrong place... but you know, and your band knows, and the people who really pay attention (largely other musicians) know.
These are the people that appreciate parts and tone, so really... they are the people I'm playing too.
IDK
Fans are fans.
Often times, they'll give you praise for the simplest of things, while completely missing the nuances of certain parts and/or tones.


So I say -
We bassists do it for ourselves and for each other.
Let the sheep focus on the vocals, snare and lead melody.
:D
 
#158
Ironically, our band says we do not play for other musicians. We play for the folks that PAY. We play to see the smiles on their faces and to see them moving to and moved by, the music. And then get paid at the end of the night. We're all very experienced, and have played for musicians in our careers. All of us have been on recordings in Nashville, and decided at some point we didn't want to live on the road. So, now we just have fun, and make more money as three pieces than we ever did when we really tried to impress others musically.

Whatever motivates you is great. Different things motivate different folks. As long as you enjoy it, that's all the really counts.

On another note, I don't know if this thread is responsible or not, but the M9 and M13's are flying off eBay. I just saw a year old M13 go for $335 (had a missing knob, though). New M9's going for $310, $319, $329 with free shipping. Just sayin...
 
#159
I played with the m9 in Guitar Center for a little bit and I'm pretty shocked by the usability.

Other than that, I'd like to go with the m13 if only for the 4th slot; but I am definitely curious about the other 5 buttons as well. It'd probably be easiest to look at a diagram. I'm off to google.

And about having an mAudio and two 57s not making an engineer, I whole heartedly agree, but appreciate that people have been around recording acts on the grassroots level none-the-less.
 
#160
I don't have a Line 6 dealer near me. We have three music stores in this college town, but none of them carry Line 6. If we did, I would have already been there working one over. Closest one is in Raleigh, which is about 75-80 miles away.

I was thinking about the M13 at one time, but I really don't think I will ever use more than three effects at once. Since I like to use compression virtually all the time, I was thinking that might require more options, like the 4 on the M13, but I realized I can put the overdrive in the same fx "bank", because you don't need comp when you are using overdrive. OD compresses the signal anyway.

Please post your thoughts, whether you get the M9 or the M13. Thanks. CD
 

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