Closest Thing To A Korg Pandora PX4?

[Misdee]

Okay, the situation is that about sixteen years ago I bought a Korg Pandora for silent practise at home. Looking back, it was the best £90 I ever spent iny life. The amp models ect sounded shockingly good and we're excellent for home recording. The unit was easy to use and I had year after year of sterling service from it.

 

Unfortunately, even though it still works (just) it's absolutely knackered. I need a suitable replacement. Recommendations and suggestions gratefully received. 

 

I should mentionI bought a Boss Katana Go, but it's not as convenient as I thought it might be despite Bluetooth connectivity because if you plug it into a bass with an input jack at the bottom it's both inaccessible and awkward. Also, the quality of the amp models is nowhere near as good as my old Korg Pandora.

 

I asked the question of AI and it came up with the Line 6 Pod Express Bass, and that does seem to fit the bill, unless someone can tell me why not. 

Edited January 18 by Misdee

[Mcgiver69]

I have the NUX Mighty plug (original) and it comes with 3 bass amps and 8 cabinets, the new version accepts 3rd party cabs. It comes with effects that work very well with bass, Bluetooth streaming, drum patterns, can be used as recording interface and you can edit the patches using your phone. All for £57 (on Amazon and the Mighty Pro is £77).

 

I still have a PX4D that I used to use and I think still works (haven't used it in ages).

[lemmywinks]

I own this and it's great for silent practice. Bluetooth aux in, rechargeable battery, tuner, NAM captures, IR etc. It's also absolutely tiny:

https://www.sonicake.com/products/pocket-master

 

 

There's also these which look great, no experience of them though:

https://www.sonicake.com/collections/multi-effects/products/smart-box

https://www.valeton.net/product/gp-50/

[Misdee]

6 hours ago, Mcgiver69 said:

I have the NUX Mighty plug (original) and it comes with 3 bass amps and 8 cabinets, the new version accepts 3rd party cabs. It comes with effects that work very well with bass, Bluetooth streaming, drum patterns, can be used as recording interface and you can edit the patches using your phone. All for £57 (on Amazon and the Mighty Pro is £77).

 

I still have a PX4D that I used to use and I think still works (haven't used it in ages).

I've looked at the NUX but I think I'd have the same problem as I had with the Boss Katana Go, i.e it's in the way and not easy to adjust when I plug it into a bass that's a bottom-loader.

[Misdee]

5 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

I own this and it's great for silent practice. Bluetooth aux in, rechargeable battery, tuner, NAM captures, IR etc. It's also absolutely tiny:

https://www.sonicake.com/products/pocket-master

 

 

There's also these which look great, no experience of them though:

https://www.sonicake.com/collections/multi-effects/products/smart-box

https://www.valeton.net/product/gp-50/

 Thanks.

 

That  Sonicake looks a prospect, especially if it's £50. Very similar to my old Pandora PX4 in many ways, but with Bluetooth aux in.

 

Are the bass amp models any good, and is it easy to navigate for a luddite like me?

 

I'll investigate the Valeton as well.

[lemmywinks]

18 minutes ago, Misdee said:

 Thanks.

 

That  Sonicake looks a prospect, especially if it's £50. Very similar to my old Pandora PX4 in many ways, but with Bluetooth aux in.

 

Are the bass amp models any good, and is it easy to navigate for a luddite like me?

 

I'll investigate the Valeton as well.

 

 

You can add your own IR files and NAM captures to it so just a case of finding one you like, loads here:

https://www.tone3000.com/search?q=bass

 

 

I did a thread about it here:

 

It's pretty intuitive to control and you can also connect it to your phone or laptop and use that to configure it. I just bought it for silent practice really, I had two sets to learn for dep gigs while looking after my mum post hip operation so it released at just the right time!

[tauzero]

There's also the M-Vave Blackbox/ANNBlackbox or Lekato ME-01. I've just got one which I've started describing in 

 

[matybigfro]

Alternatively have you considered a small usb-c audio interface like the iRig hd-2 or fender link I/I both around £80 and then you can connect your bass to your smart phone or tablet/laptop and use any number of apps.

 

Alternatively I've never tried em but the mooer prime always looked pretty nifty for pocket handy effect or for that fact a Valeton GP-5 is probably isn't bigger than the pandora but also doubles up as pedal you can also put on the floor.

[MichaelDean]

I've got a Sonicake Pocket Master and very much like it with an SVT NAM profile I've loaded on to it and a bit of an EQ tweak. You can do all of the editing on the device itself (except NAM loading), or you can use the app. I do more practicing because I've got it. Combine it with a cheap wireless unit and then you've just got the headphone cable going to you.

 

I've also got a Valeton GP-5, which is a great little thing too. No battery, so it needs power and you can't edit on the device itself, you need to use the app. That's where the GP-50 is a better bet for practice as you can edit on the device and it has a battery. I like the Mesa amp sim on my GP-5. I also think I'm going to put my GP-5 on my pedalboard so that I can have it on the spare output from my Boss GX-100 to use as an amp sim and headphone amp for practice when I want to use the whole shebang but not wake my daughter. (Yes, the GX-100 has amp sims built in, but I go out to my amp for gigs, don't want duplicate patches with an amp sim at the end just for practice)

 

I have had a Mooer Prime P1 and it was the worst bit of gear I've ever purchased. I didn't like any of the sounds in it and I spent so long trying to find something half decent that I didn't practice. Then I'd turn it off being somewhat happy with the sound, but the next time I turned it on I would start the tone search again. With my Pocket Master and GP-5, I plug in and play.

[Mcgiver69]

13 hours ago, Misdee said:

I've looked at the NUX but I think I'd have the same problem as I had with the Boss Katana Go, i.e it's in the way and not easy to adjust when I plug it into a bass that's a bottom-loader.

You don't adjust parameters from the device; you use your phone to do that. It is very convenient.

[floFC]

Hi @Misdee - if you are not bothered by the convenience of BlueTooth, USB-C etc and want to remain in the Korg Pandora stable, I have a choice of a Korg Pandora Mini and a Pandora Stomp that I do not use and would be happy to ex/part-ex for your Katana Go. PM me if interested.

[Misdee]

1 hour ago, floFC said:

Hi @Misdee - if you are not bothered by the convenience of BlueTooth, USB-C etc and want to remain in the Korg Pandora stable, I have a choice of a Korg Pandora Mini and a Pandora Stomp that I do not use and would be happy to ex/part-ex for your Katana Go. PM me if interested.

I sent the Katana Go back to Amazon, I'm afraid. Thanks anyway, though.

[Misdee]

Thanks for all the great  suggestions everybody. For someone as out-of-touch as me it really is invaluable. I just want something faff-free to practise with when I can't access my preamp and pedals that I plug into my pc via an interface as my main rig at home.

 

I really know very little about with the digital side of music technology and how it applies to bass. This is the first time I've heard anything about NAM profiles ect, but I think it could be really useful to learn more. 

 

I'm doing some investigating this afternoon, but the Sonicake Pocketmaster is so cheap I'm very tempted to give it a go.

[Bleat]

Personally I would just look at replacing with a used PX4, as it is something you are used to and obviously think highly of. I did see a used PX3-B (the older red one) somewhere online recently going for about 40 quid. I've been consistently dissapointed in some of the more "modern" effects. Most of it doesn't sound much if at all better than older gear imo.

[Misdee]

23 minutes ago, Bleat said:

Personally I would just look at replacing with a used PX4, as it is something you are used to and obviously think highly of. I did see a used PX3-B (the older red one) somewhere online recently going for about 40 quid. I've been consistently dissapointed in some of the more "modern" effects. Most of it doesn't sound much if at all better than older gear imo.

That's a good point.

 

A few years ago I tried a Zoom B1 Four a few years ago but these was a harshness to the sound of all the models on it that I couldn't get rid of. The Pandora is more basic but it's fundamental sound is better.

 

I've actually resurrected my almost-dead Korg Pandora (I'm using a bit of metal to manipulate the broken on-off switch) and it still sounds good, although I'm seriously looking to replace it in the next few days.

Edited 1 hour ago by Misdee

[warwickhunt]

I think I've had a PX3 in my gear draw for 20+ years and it's not been used more than 5-6 times!