Which Multi effects pedal for Bass?

[Tombolino]

Hi

I currently own a Line 6 POD X3L Multi effects unit which is designed for guitar. While many of the effects could work on bass, I may still consider buying a multi effects designed for Bass. Im primarily interested in an Octaver (that can go ocatve up or down, both ideally), Compressor, Chorus, distortion/ dirt, fuzz and a bonus if it has well tracking synth fx and of course the tuner.

I have been reading up on units by Boss, Zoom, Boss, and Digitech.

Thanks

 

[vlsndgrdn]

The Zoom B3 have an excellent octaver.

 

[lakefx]

I love my Zoom MS-60B, but the dirt models are not great. I use a Barbershop with it for dirt.

 

[Tombolino]

I know analog pedals are often better, but I like to be practical

Would you all normally plug it via 4 cable method or guitar>pedal>head input?

 

[nendo]

The only experience I have with multi effects pedals are the Boss ME-50B and [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I wouldn't recommend either tbh as i'm not a fan of their tone. They seem too fake, which is why I stick to individual effect pedals.

I have heard really good things about the Zoom B3 though

 

[pedroims]

I have a zoom ms-60, great unit for the money, i like the effects but I dont like that it color your sound on bypass mode.

 

[Tombolino]

Can you avoid coloring by going via Send Return on the Bass amp/head?

 

[Feral Feline]

Line 6 M5, or for several FX at once, the M9/M13

MS-60B is great size that can do 4 FX at once.

 

[jasonmitsch]

What is your budget? Do you need multiple effects at once? Is amp modeling important?

These three questions will help you whittle down your choices. Otherwise buy an H9 and an AxeFXII. They will solve all your problems.

 

[SteveCS]

Personally, I like to Zoom MultiStomp series. All of them share the same DSP and many of the algorithms are the same. I would go with the MS-100BT and use the Bluetooth/StmopShare capability to install the bass-specific effects and amp simulators, many of which are FOC at the moment. The advantage of the 100BT over the 60B is that a patch can contain up to 6 effects in any order, compared to the 4 of the 60B.

Comparing the Zoom units to the others, two things really stand out.
1/ The Zoom units allow easy configuration of the effects chain order, which many of the others do not.
2/ The Zoom units allow use of multiples of the same 'type' of effect. Many of the others have a 'slot' for 'Compressor', 'Drive', 'Amp', 'Reverb', etc. This means you can only use one Compressor, Drive or Reverb in that slot at a time. The Zooms do not, so you can have a 'Booster', 'Squeak' (ProCo Rat) AND 'Scream' (Tubescreamer) all in your chain at the same time. Alternatively you could stack three different reverbs or choruses in a line if you so wished. Following on from this, you can actually use multiples of the same effect unit in a chain - you could, for instance, have a chain that went Tremolo, Delay, Chorus, Delay, Chorus, where each of the delays and Choruses are the same effect unit but with different settings. With all of the modulations/delays synced to the central tap tempo but with different note divisions, think of the possibilities.

I think, but don't know, that most of this holds true for the B3 also.

 

[BazzTard]

The only experience I have with multi effects pedals are the Boss ME-50B and [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I wouldn't recommend either tbh as i'm not a fan of their tone. They seem too fake, which is why I stick to individual effect pedals.h

I agree, the multi fx units are digital and they just don't sound 'right'. I have the ME50B, it has 3 different compressors, or 4, they are all rubbish. I got it at a great price when I got back into playing again, but I've gone back to analogue individual pedals, much more satisfying.

 

[Feral Feline]

@SteveCS. Yahzaoki! I wasn't even aware of the MS-100BT. When did that turn up in stores?
I thought you were talking about one of the newer cheap-plastic Zoom boxes, but it's got the same form factor as the MS-60B.
Major GAS diversion! MS-100BT instead of the MS-60B...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


PS! How much longer will the bass bluetooth algorithms be free?

 

[SteveCS]

@SteveCS. Yahzaoki! I wasn't even aware of the MS-100BT. When did that turn up in stores?
I thought you were talking about one of the newer cheap-plastic Zoom boxes, but it's got the same form factor as the MS-60B.
Major GAS diversion! MS-100BT instead of the MS-60B...

PS! How much longer will the bass bluetooth algorithms be free?

I think the 100-BT appeared at about the same time as the 50-G, with the 70-CDR and 60-B coming out some time later. I would agree with BazzTard that the compressors are probably the weakest link on these, but that goes for all digital simulators. They are not 'bad', just not as good as a high-quality analogue device. I use a combination of discrete analogue pedals for comp/limit and drive (BOSS LMB-3, Digitech Bad Monkey), sticking to digital multi-FX mainly for where they excel - delay, reverb, chorus, off-the-wall 'specials' like step filters, slicers, pitch-shift/harmonisers where I struggle to justify (normally to the wife!) the ££ and pedal-board real-estate investment in what are essentially one-trick ponies, and of course, the ability to store and recall patches.

I've no idea how long the free effects will remain free or if the range of free ones is likely to change. Just looked now and most of the bass amp models are still free whereas the bass-specific effects appear now to be 'paid'.

EDIT: PS - apologies for the GAS diversion - I hate being responsible for other peoples' GAS

 

[Tombolino]

ordered the Zoom B3, Ill see how I like it thank you!

 

[Mortom27]

My 1st multi effect was a ME50-B then I got a Line 6 BASS POD which is more versatile then the me50-b, a lot more complicated to use but a lot more features, the me50-b is built like a tank
and never gave me problems the only thing I didn't like about it was the slightly cut of the of signal when it was in preset mode, when u change from one preset to another, line 6 don't have that issue, never tried a Zoom,Korg or Digitech now days I used individual stomp boxes

 

[Caddywhompus]

My Zoom MS-60B just arrived yesterday and I spent about an hour playing around with it. It's seriously awesome and I highly recommend it. The sound quality is stellar and the controls are surprisingly intuitive and easy to learn after a little hands on practice. In the past I always thought Zoom made crappy plastic covered effects units but they have really stepped up their game in recent years. If you're looking for a bass multi effects with a small footprint than this is a choice that you won't regret.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I had the pod HD and M5 the m5 actually has a much better bypass, you don't even notice it being in the signal chain when off.

Thinking about picking up a used rack unit like a g major or g major 2 because they have all the effects I like and I could just get a little tech 21 midi mouse and not have to carry a pedalboard anymore.