pmjos Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) Guys help, I want a decent multi effects something decent and all roads on the way lead to Boss or Zoom. Is there anything better??? Nothing seems to have improved in 5 years. What am i missing?? Edited March 15, 2016 by pmjos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Where do you want your multi-effects placed? What's your budget? For the smaller floor based processors that are easy on the pocket, then yes you are right. The Zoom B3 for example is actually very good indeed. But if you are serious about your effects then Eventide and TC Electronic (my choice) are going to be on your shopping list. If you want premium amplifier simulations on your hardware too, then it's off shopping to Kemper and Fractal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 Price is not a limitation, nut I want to get what I pay for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfFrink Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 If price is not an issue - check out Fractal Audio stuff. There are various opinions, but I think anyone will give it "decent" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Bizarrely enough, I was looking at Fractal Axe-FX the other day, if they have anything Bass-centric, they're certainly doing a good job of not advertising it. To m knowledge, none of the high end processors cater for the bass player. I think Multi FX for bass are very limited, so it really depends on what you want to use the unit for, will it be for amp modelling and some effects, or purely as an effects processor? How about the Line6 M9 / M13 effects modellers for pure effects processors? The Boss GT6B & GT10B are more reknown for their effects rather than amp modelling, where the B3 packs effects and amp models. There's always the Line6 HD500 / Firehawk options, though you may need to add the Bass Expansion pack to them, or you could track down a POD x3 which has both guitar & bass model's already loaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1458076469' post='3004559'] Where do you want your multi-effects placed? What's your budget? For the smaller floor based processors that are easy on the pocket, then yes you are right. The Zoom B3 for example is actually very good indeed. But if you are serious about your effects then Eventide and TC Electronic (my choice) are going to be on your shopping list. If you want premium amplifier simulations on your hardware too, then it's off shopping to Kemper and Fractal. [/quote] +1 what dood said it would probably help if you described what you are looking for - equivalent single effects etc - and what you think as issues with the current Zoom / Boss offerings etc. If price not a problem then should probably look/listen to 'high end' Eventide / Fractal etc...??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 You need to be more specific as to what you need. The latest Zoom units are really good but they're in a completely different bracket to things like the Fractal Audio stuff or the Line6 Helix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 What do you actually need from your multi-effects? Lots of new sounds that no-one has used before? Programmability? MIDI control? What's wrong with the technology of 5 years ago? TBH once you beyond the products being offered by Zoom and Boss you are into the realms of niche and specialised uses. I'm still perfectly happy with my Line6 Bass Pod and Linn Adrenalinn - both over 10 years old and still going strong giving me all the sounds and controllability I need. My guitar rig is built around a Roland GP8 from the mid 80s! If money really was no object I'd be filling a rack-mount flight case full of hand-picked effects and routing them through a MIDI controlled switching system. It would be big heavy and probably cost thousands of pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I have a Johnson J Station which I use occasionally - surprisingly good considering nobody's heard of them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1458127058' post='3004894'] I have a Johnson J Station which I use occasionally - surprisingly good considering nobody's heard of them.. [/quote] Nobody's heard of them because they didn't exist for long. They were absorbed by their parent company Digitech. Great product. Love my J station - covers guitar and bass POD territory, and sounds better than the original Line 6 offering. They sell stupid cheap nowadays... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 I have tried, the Boss and Zoom and found that they break up on low frequency effects. Some of the effects are weedy. I'll have a look at Fractal and eventide. Any others out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1458081960' post='3004642'] Bizarrely enough, I was looking at Fractal Axe-FX the other day, if they have anything Bass-centric, they're certainly doing a good job of not advertising it. To m knowledge, none of the high end processors cater for the bass player. I think Multi FX for bass are very limited, so it really depends on what you want to use the unit for, will it be for amp modelling and some effects, or purely as an effects processor? How about the Line6 M9 / M13 effects modellers for pure effects processors? The Boss GT6B & GT10B are more reknown for their effects rather than amp modelling, where the B3 packs effects and amp models. There's always the Line6 HD500 / Firehawk options, though you may need to add the Bass Expansion pack to them, or you could track down a POD x3 which has both guitar & bass model's already loaded. [/quote] I've personally found that most guitar effects, though sometimes requiring a little bit of tweaking, actually work fine with bass. The Lexicon MPX G2 for instance, is a guitar effects unit that Steve Lawson has used for years, and sounds incredible. Don't get too hung up on the fact they're marketed at guitarists, try them and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 [quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1458130545' post='3004938'] I have tried, the Boss and Zoom and found that they break up on low frequency effects. Some of the effects are weedy. I'll have a look at Fractal and eventide. Any others out there? [/quote] I think if you are after really good quality you are going to have to "roll your own". A big box full of your favourite studio-quality rack-mount processors and boutique pedals all hooked up to a MIDI controlled switching and routing system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 Thanks again Guys. I will test drive Eventide and TC next week having managed to get the local shop to get them in. So you know where I have come from I have and OLD Boss multi and its fine its just getting flaky, the new one seemed little better TBH. I have Carl Martin dual Chorus, Big Muff, MXR Octaver and Boss Looper also plus some vintage stuff. I'm interested in the difference I might get with a new approach especially in the higher register on E-C bases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swijn Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1458132175' post='3004957'] I've personally found that most guitar effects, though sometimes requiring a little bit of tweaking, actually work fine with bass. The Lexicon MPX G2 for instance, is a guitar effects unit that Steve Lawson has used for years, and sounds incredible. Don't get too hung up on the fact they're marketed at guitarists, try them and see. [/quote] +1 I use the Boss GT10 (Guitar) multi-fx pedal for live work and it gives me exactly the effects i require.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Ambient, I don't... I'm currently running a Line6 POD xt Live (guitar version) with the Bass Expansion pack, and I'm very happy with it. I previously had a Zoom B3, which was great, but not flexible enough. Prior to having that, I used my very old, but very trusty Line6 POD xt (red kidney bean version) for years without the Bass expansion pack for both bass and guitar. BigRedX, totally agree with trying tech from 5 even 10 years ago. The POD xt Live being case and point, bought it second hand, totaly meets my needs, and well worth the money. My good old kidney bean POD xt is now 13 years old, and still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I had the Boss ME-50B for years and years, good sounds, but unfortunately a little limited with what you can stack together because of how each section is arranged (for example you can't select an Octave and Envelope Filter together). I have just got a Line6 M5 which seems excellent for Pitch & Modulation effects (The M9 & M13 has exactly same sounds), but the drive effects leave a lot to be desired. I'd really like to try the Boss GT-10B, it's a little old now, but looks like a very complete solution for bassists. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 If multi amps are included in your thinking then the Mark Bass multi amp does everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Just bought the eventide................ its pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Ohhhhhhh FEK...... it is a beast....... i wanted different and I got it. Thanks so much for the recommendations, its the shidt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 [quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1458654842' post='3009454'] Just bought the eventide................ its pretty cool. [/quote] [quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1458679276' post='3009845'] Ohhhhhhh FEK...... it is a beast....... i wanted different and I got it. Thanks so much for the recommendations, its the shidt! [/quote] No problem! Happy to help I love bass gear massively and I am lucky to do a job that means I get to 'study' it often! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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