Off Topic Multi-effects

[Powman]

I am not a huge fan of effects. I like the Music Man bass sound into a quality amp like a Markbass.

However, once in a while, I do have the urge to add a little distortion, or chorus or whatever.

So, I picked up a Boss ME-20B really cheap yesterday at a Boxing Day sale. It was half off. Seems like a good idea in that rather than buying a bunch of pedals for this occasional event, I have one easy to carry unit.

A couple of questions about this.

1. Anyone else using a Multi Effects pedal? If so, what type of effects have you found useful?

2. I have the option of running it in front of my Markbass, or using the effects end/return loop. I am opting for the effects loop since it mixes 50% direct signal which I think sounds better. I can also switch the effects pedal off and the just have the bass sound. Opinions on that?

 

[oli@bass]

Effects are highly subjective, and whether they sound good or not is also very much dependent on the band sound.

You have to try for yourself and find out what sounds good to you...

 

[Thornton Davis]

I use a Boss ME-50B Multi Effects unit in the studio and for gigs (to reproduce studio effects). Although it has lots of different sounds available, I only use the compressor, chorus, octive and overdrive sounds but I also use it as my volume pedal and tuner.

It's a great unit for practicing with. You can plug your mp3 player into it as well as headphones and play along with songs on the mp3 player.

TD

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I've tried most of them and to be honest with you I have always returned to basic set up, i.e. straight through (Mark Bass amp) or with a compressor of some sort to avoid losing bottom on crappy stage sounds.

The best of the bunch are:

Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live - very cool but I've found too much often causes distraction and you end up with some sounds that are useless when playing live Line 6 - Bass PODxt Live - Guitar Multi Effects Pedal

The Zoom B9.1ut - another great pedal, valve driven, and in my opinion out of the 2 this one accurately emulates cabs and popular amps / effects. A bit too expensive though. B9.1ut

Just find one in a shop and try for yourself (if the wife let's you)

 

[MK Bass Weed]

I use distortion and fuzz...pedals that specialize in those effect rather than the multi-effect route.

I use two amps...one for highs..one for lows, no problems whatsoever...more complicated, but I need this setup for my band.

 

[T Alan]

Yeah, I've gone from an Alesis Wedge

To this-

To this-

 

[danny-79]

I Personaly prefer single stomp boxes for the simple reason of getting the exact sound you want out of one single pedal rather than a multi unit that does everything an everything very basicly. (got more room with single effects) but saying that effects come an go, i personaly get bored with them and the only thing in my chain at the minute is a tuner! but then you get the idear "a bit of chorus there, bit of that there etc..." an before you no it your swamped in a mass of digital noise and thinking you like it ...???...?? having lost the beautiful powerful natural sound you had in the first place from your choice of amp (whatever that might be) an you E.B of choice.
(yeah im off effects at the present having not long coming out of a stomp-box-pull-ya-hair-out-p****d -off-with-them-bender)

Stingray-Tuner-Amp =

"BUT!!! i no thay will be coming back when ?? but thay will be back, (thay always do...)"

Sorry if went off on one there ... just in anti-effect mode today

 

[Powman]

I use a Boss ME-50B Multi Effects unit in the studio and for gigs. Although it has lots of different sounds available, I only use the compressor, chorus, octive and overdrive sounds but I also use it as my volume pedal and tuner.

It's a great unit for practicing with. You can plug your mp3 player into it as well as headphones and play along with songs on the mp3 player.

TD

I am thinking the same thing, which is why I went with the little brother of your pedal, the ME-20B. The tuner on it is totally fine...So instead of lugging my one tuner, now I will lug this one unit.

95% of the time I won't be using any effects...since the MM bass guitars and a good amp like Markbass is all you really need.

But once in while, it's nice to add a little bit of spice like chorus, octave, and overdrive. I don't want to lug around a bazillion pedals for such an occasional application. I guess what I am saying is that I think this was a good Boxing Day purchase. It was 50% off plus I used a few gift cards so it didn't cost me a lot.

 

[Powman]

I Personaly prefer single stomp boxes for the simple reason of getting the exact sound you want out of one single pedal rather than a multi unit that does everything an everything very basicly. (got more room with single effects) but saying that effects come an go, i personaly get bored with them and the only thing in my chain at the minute is a tuner! but then you get the idear "a bit of chorus there, bit of that there etc..." an before you no it your swamped in a mass of digital noise and thinking you like it ...???...?? having lost the beautiful powerful natural sound you had in the first place from your choice of amp (whatever that might be) an you E.B of choice.
(yeah im off effects at the present having not long coming out of a stomp-box-pull-ya-hair-out-p****d -off-with-them-bender)

Stingray-Tuner-Amp =

"BUT!!! i no thay will be coming back when ?? but thay will be back, (thay always do...)"

Sorry if went off on one there ... just in anti-effect mode today

Trying to tease out some advice here..I think some salient points are:

1. Natural sound of bass + amp is good. I agree
2. You personally like single effect stop boxes. Again, I agree, but I am not prepared to spend money of a bunch of boxes I will rarely use.
3. You are in a funny mood...I agree.

 

[Powman]

I've tried most of them and to be honest with you I have always returned to basic set up, i.e. straight through (Mark Bass amp) or with a compressor of some sort to avoid losing bottom on crappy stage sounds.

The best of the bunch are:

Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live - very cool but I've found too much often causes distraction and you end up with some sounds that are useless when playing live Line 6 - Bass PODxt Live - Guitar Multi Effects Pedal

The Zoom B9.1ut - another great pedal, valve driven, and in my opinion out of the 2 this one accurately emulates cabs and popular amps / effects. A bit too expensive though. B9.1ut

Just find one in a shop and try for yourself (if the wife let's you)

The Boss one was half off...special boxing day purchase. So it got approved by the wife-boss.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

2. I have the option of running it in front of my Markbass, or using the effects end/return loop. I am opting for the effects loop since it mixes 50% direct signal which I think sounds better. I can also switch the effects pedal off and the just have the bass sound. Opinions on that?

Ref question two: I've asked the Mark Bass customer service the same question and this was their reply:


E’ più idoneo inserire il Compressore in serie e quindi collegarlo all’input frontale del combo (basso>Compressore>ampli), in quanto la mandata effetti è settata di default in parallelo ed è più indicata per effetti di modulazione come Chorus, Flanger, etc.

La mandata effetti può essere modificata da parallelo a serie intervenendo all’interno della Combo Head, questa operazione deve però essere fatta da personale autorizzato Markbass (quindi tramite il nostro distributore in UK) ma come suggerimento utilizzerei il Compressore nell’input come descritto sopra evitando la modifica in modo da poter utilizzare comunque il loop effetti per eventuali altri pedali effetti di modulazione (ad ogni modo il collegamento del loop va fatto in questo modo: effect send nell’input del pedale e effect return nell’output del pedale).

Per qualsiasi ulteriore domanda non esitare a ricontattarmi.
Grazie ancora.

Riccardo Damiani
Markbass Online Customer Service
Parsek Srl
Via Po, 52
66020 San Giovanni Teatino (Chieti) Phone: +39 0854463755 Fax: +39 0854407764

 

[Powman]

Gracie!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Translation:


E’ più idoneo inserire il Compressore in serie e quindi collegarlo all’input frontale del combo (basso>Compressore>ampli), in quanto la mandata effetti è settata di default in parallelo ed è più indicata per effetti di modulazione come Chorus, Flanger, etc.

It is better to use the Compressore in series therefore connecting it to the front input of the combo (bass>Compressore>amp) because the effect send and return is wired in parallel by default and therefore is more suitable to modulating effects such as Chorus, Flanger, etc.

La mandata effetti può essere modificata da parallelo a serie intervenendo all’interno della Combo Head, questa operazione deve però essere fatta da personale autorizzato Markbass (quindi tramite il nostro distributore in UK) ma come suggerimento utilizzerei il Compressore nell’input come descritto sopra evitando la modifica in modo da poter utilizzare comunque il loop effetti per eventuali altri pedali effetti di modulazione (ad ogni modo il collegamento del loop va fatto in questo modo: effect send nell’input del pedale e effect return nell’output del pedale).

The effect send and return can be modified from parallel to series by means of internal modification of the Combo Head, however this operation can only be carried out by authorized Markbass personnel, (in your case through the UK distributor) but as an advice I would use your Compressore in the front imput as desrcibed above in order to avoid the "mod" and continuing to use the loop for other modulating effects (in any case the send / return loop is to be used as follows: effect send in the pedal input and the effect return in the pedal output).

 

[Powman]

Again, Grazie. That makes sense. Compressors should be in front of the amp. Other effects using the send/return loop.

 

[smallequestrian]

I've been using a Line 6 M9 for the last month and am very happy with it.

Main reason I wanted to try it was for the modulation/delays. I never liked any one phaser or delay enough to be able to only have one on my board. Now with the M9, I have access to dozens of phasers, flangers, delays and reverbs. If I were to put one of each on my board, I would easily spend more than the M9 costs and I wouldn't have much flexibility.

What I didn't think I would have much use for were the fuzzes and the overdrives. Some of them do sound very digital...on the other hand, some of them have turned out to sound really freaking awesome. More importantly, live, no one would really be able to tell.

I am still going to keep a dedicated fuzz and O/D on my board, because I have a couple that I really like, but so far I've been able to do a lot of tasteful additions to my bands songs with the M9. I run mine before the input.

Oh and not to forget to mention that it has a pretty kickass looper built in as well.

 

[Jornan]

I used to have a Boss OC-2 and a black Big Muff. But Chris Wolstenholme has influenced me way too much, so I wanted more effects. Therefore, I ordered a Boss GT-10B I will pick it up tomorrow when it probably arrives by mail

 

[syciprider]

Multis that can be programmed for patches are the best for lugging around. I had a GT6B that I had programmed for every song I used FX in and in set list order so I just hit the "next patch" pedals as I progressed through the set. I found the wahs and env filters weak in that multi however.

 

[danny-79]

Trying to tease out some advice here..I think some salient points are:

1. Natural sound of bass + amp is good. I agree
2. You personally like single effect stop boxes. Again, I agree, but I am not prepared to spend money of a bunch of boxes I will rarely use.
3. You are in a funny mood...I agree.

1= Agree
2= Agree Got me thinking now about a BOSS ME-50B that i sold a few months back and wishing i hadnt sold it after writing all that (calming down and digging my effect board out for a play an having a nice afternoon with it) effects are fun and if used spairingly are "effective"
3= Agree totaly . Im good now and im friends again with my stomps... till nextime

Good luck with your new ME-20B and have fun with it

 

[Powman]

I used to have a Boss OC-2 and a black Big Muff. But Chris Wolstenholme has influenced me way too much, so I wanted more effects. Therefore, I ordered a Boss GT-10B I will pick it up tomorrow when it probably arrives by mail

I was reading about his effects chain...definitely not for me, thats for sure. I would get too confused.

 

[Powman]

I've been using a Line 6 M9 for the last month and am very happy with it.

Main reason I wanted to try it was for the modulation/delays. I never liked any one phaser or delay enough to be able to only have one on my board. Now with the M9, I have access to dozens of phasers, flangers, delays and reverbs. If I were to put one of each on my board, I would easily spend more than the M9 costs and I wouldn't have much flexibility.

What I didn't think I would have much use for were the fuzzes and the overdrives. Some of them do sound very digital...on the other hand, some of them have turned out to sound really freaking awesome. More importantly, live, no one would really be able to tell.

I am still going to keep a dedicated fuzz and O/D on my board, because I have a couple that I really like, but so far I've been able to do a lot of tasteful additions to my bands songs with the M9. I run mine before the input.

Oh and not to forget to mention that it has a pretty kickass looper built in as well.

Is the Line 6 gizmo expensive?