What amp to use with multi-effects units?

My suspicion is that whatever amp you use, you'll probably hear something different coming out of it when you alter what you're putting into it. Our pals may have some ideas about amps that have too much character to reproduce a signal very well, but it could just be that your ears will have to be your guide.

I just got a Zoom B6 and used a couple of its patches at a gig last night for the first time. My head was a GK MB 500. I'm sure that his amp has some of its own personality, but it also seems to be neutral enough to allow for other gizmos to speak nicely with their own voices. I'm sure that there are others, but I haven't used a huge array of different amps.

I do also have a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 that I use as a backup/alternative. It seems to have a relatively neutral personality in its sound as long as I don't crank the gain in the tube preamp. I'd expect the newer Genzler amps to also be rather "true" in terms of their sound. Another option that could be really good for playing at home could be something from Phil Jones Bass.

I know that I'm not terribly concerned with any of the amp or cab models for when I'm playing gigs. I don't expect those subtleties to matter too much from one room to the next when I'm turned up and playing with the band. I think that there's more of a significant difference in my sound when I switch between my P/J and my Jazz. If I do some recording using my B6, perhaps some of those models will be more of a factor with getting whatever I'm going for in that setting.

 

I'd go Quilter BB800 and keep it on the pedalboard.

 

I have been super happy with The Headrush 112 FRFR.