finally got around to getting one of these ........

i been using just the boss gt-10b processor exclusively for about 2 years now. i really dig this unit ... and i have by far gotten my $500 worth outta it. the overall tone is great and most of the effects are awesome and bass tailored.

shortcommings ........

the output level is touchy. theres all the effects in a chain, how they are placed in the chain and now, on what channel, the compression output level, the eq level, the preamp and the master output volume on the unit. its a lot of places where even just nudging a setting up can make my amp clip or nudge down and i loose all the tone or attack. its just too much stuff and no global way of controlling the output level after everything, going to the amp.

the synth effect, the effect i enjoy using the most, that is factory installed in this unit by boss really stinks. strange ... the individual boss synth pedal for bass isnt bad and the synth effect in the boss me-50b was decent. the overall sound of it isnt the best, but the worst part ... the tracking is horrible.

the unit comes with 12 different models of distortion. i use only 3 ... and all of them deteriorate the more i try to saturate them. saturate? ... lemme clarify. the 3 distortions i use are the metal zone (sounds like guitar distortion), bass fuzz and muff fuzz. saturate, to me, is the waves of the fuzz frequency moving farther apart. now, eric and i have had discussions about distortion tone falling off at the low end ... thus, him and i messing around with 2 channels, one exclusively for holding that low end while overdriven ... i've had minimal success with these boss distortions.

now ... i figured the best way to fix these last two shortcommings is just by using a better effect. today i bought this .........



yes, thats a EHX little muff pi ... i know, great name! ya know what ... awesome sound! my processor has the availability of having a separate effects loop that can be saved in a bank patch ... i just leave it on and when i step on that patch ... BOOM! i removed half of the boss overdrive in effects patches and replaced them with the little muff. there are places where i have it going to just one channel (hf left side), but more important ... two of them i sent it to both. holy sh** ... problems with the bottom end dropping out??? not even close.

now, next, and i gotta save some loot to get it, i'll solve the other problem with a EHX micro synth.

i wanna get an enigma Q envelope filter as well.

Cool! I've always been curious about the Big Muff units! Can you post any sound bytes?

Nice review thanks for sharing it. I always had trouble going over the price of a bass for an effect unit.

glad you got something you like, can work with, and don't put 3000% hiss into the signal Mike.

wow the cost was high, but hell if it works for you, then why not. It's not like you bought it to use once and let sit on the shelf

i'm gonna buy another.

when these units were introduced there was no difference between using it for guitar or bass ... the thing has so much analog low end distorted boom ... it gets me where i'm going. i didnt know any different.

but ... they make a new one specificly for bass now. i'm curious how thattl sound!!!

http://www.ehx.com/products/bass-big-muff-pi

kewl.

Rock.

Isn't it ironic how you can spend $500 on a pedal two years ago that doesn't entirely work perfectly, only to turn around and buy a $70 pedal today that fixes the problem?

I used to have a Boss ME-50B, and it worked really well for the most part. But it was a bit complicated, so I ended up pawning the thing.

Sound bytes, MadMike?

i had a me-50b before i got the gt-10b.

i upgraded because the me-50b had that annoying delay while switching from one patch to the other. the gt is instantaneous. the overall sound quality and control of the levels was much easier out of the me-50b. the synth ... still iffey.

i wish i didnt trade in the me-50 ... i will buy another someday.

soundbytes? ... my guitar player will not relinquish the zoom. i really dont want to use that confounded thing anyhow ... very bass unfriendly / clips easy.

soon enuff tho ... we're going back into the studio next month.

that leads me to another thread ................................................................

madmike wrote:

they make a new one specificly for bass now. i'm curious how thattl sound!!!

Here ya go

http://bassfuzz.com/2008/07/12/electro-harmonix-bass-big-muff-pi-review/

If you're interested in buying more fuzz pedals, this is one of the best places to go for reviews, especially for ones made by smaller boutique companies where you won't find a million demos of the pedal on youtube