Line6 M13 or pedals?

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PBGas

PBGas

Well-known member
Hi Folks,

Kind of trying to decide on what to use effect-wise. Here is what I was going to go with:
-Strymon Mobius
-Flashback X4 (have this already)
-whammy DT (have this as well)
-Simple loop switcher
-probably a boost or distortion pedal for when I am using a smaller amp
-Voodoo labs 4x4 power supply
-some kind of Wah....(still trying to figure that one out!)

However, the M13 caught my eye. I've tried it but not extensively enough. I mean....it would eliminate a lot of cabling, I could hook up an expression pedal and as well be able to switch my amp channels with it, apparently. It would be a much cheaper solution as well. I gather to have the pedals running pre-post kind of setup that I would have to run it with the 4CM setup? That kind of bothers me.

Are these things big tone suckers?

Would I be better off just wiring up the pedals, a simple loop switcher along with a buffer and leave it at that?

Tough decisions......any help is appreciated.

:)
 
Crap....I didn't want to open a can of worms........
 
i have kicked this idea around in my head over the last few years since the M13 came out. pedals sound great but setup, wiring, signal chain etc is new for me. the ease of use of an all in 1 pedalboard is interesting (if it sounds good and is quality) - I don't need amp models to M13 or M9 sounds good on paper
 
I'm a reformed former multi-effect disciple. I used to HATE dealing with a bunch of pedals. Hated tap-dancing at gigs, hated perceived tone loss due to chaining a bunch of pedals, hated having to deal with batteries or power-supply issues, etc. I've owned a TC G-System, TC Nova System, Vox Tonelabs, Boss units, etc, etc. I recently took an M9 and M5 home and tried those as well.

And now I'm back to separate pedals. Why? Because simply... multi-effect pedals are comprimises. You've got a helluva lot more circuitry in there, so I find the tone to be more likely to be compressed or otherwise affected. And, the fact of the matter is that one manufacturer rarely excels at everything. So while I may have liked this effect in that multi-pedal, I didn't like that effect on there. So with individual pedals I can mix, match, and swap based on my current desires and tastes. Plus, when tweaking an effect live it's SO much handier to bend-over and turn a knob... versus scrolling through menus and hitting a Save button.

While I think the Line-6 M Series are decent multi-pedals... I don't think they are as good as separate pedals hand-picked for one's tastes and needs. Because of their "separate pedal style" layout, I would prefer to use one to something like the G-System at this point though.
 
My problem with the M13 was that I still had to tap dance. I much prefer an all in one unit that changes everything at once...I have presets that will have chorus, OD, delay and reverb and then need to go to a lead volume boost with a different delay, less verb and octave for example. Can't do that with the m13 unless you're Fred Astaire. It depends on your situation.
 
SkyhighRocks":1nfu5fy9 said:
My problem with the M13 was that I still had to tap dance. I much prefer an all in one unit that changes everything at once...I have presets that will have chorus, OD, delay and reverb and then need to go to a lead volume boost with a different delay, less verb and octave for example. Can't do that with the m13 unless you're Fred Astaire. It depends on your situation.
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Good point.

The G-System was an AWESOME tool for what you're describing. But you had to do a LOT of tweaking on that thing and I pretty much HATE doing that more than anything. I just want to plug-in, dial-in a great sound within seconds, and PLAY. Seriously... there's NO bigger buzz-kill for me than endless tweaking of myriad parameters when ALL I want to do is to play. My criteria for a great pedal is how quickly I can dial-in a great tone(s) and just set-it-and-forget-it! I know there are plenty of "tweakers" here who would disagree. :lol: :LOL:
 
Some interesting perspectives. Thank you all so far!
I didn't realize that I had to do all of that tap dancing with the M13. I know if I run a nice loop switcher...it will make things very easy so to speak. I was trying to keep the cost down but as well...I don't want to buy something only to realize that I've made a mistake. I've done this far too many times in the past.
 
I have the M9 that I use along with some individual pedals. I love the M9. I think it sounds great and I would use the M13 if I needed that much. I use the M9 for colors mainly and run a seperate delay in my loop and overdrives / compression in front of the amp. Pretty cool stuff. There are a lot of ways to get great tone though. Find what works for you!
 
I tried the M9 and had high hopes for it from the videos I watched and because Pete Thorn was using one. I plugged it in and messed with it for about 15 minutes.... Immediately, I noticed a "nasally" tone that I could NOT dial out no matter what patch I was in and that was a huge disappointment. There were a few cool effects inside, but i could not get passed the "tone sucking" that was going on...plus I'm not a tweaker either.

Plugged in my TC Pedals (Flashback, Carona Chorus, and Hall Of Fame) and my tone was back to "pure" and the effects (Delay, Chorus, Reverb) are top knotch and un-processed sounding.

I prefer quality pedals over multi-purpose processors!
 
TDePaul1313":3gruzpfq said:
Get a Zoom G5 it will work best....I luv mine!!
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This looks great! However you can only hook it up to either the front or in the loop....correct?
 
The M13 drive pedal models (muff, screamer, tube driver, octa, etc) are fantastic! The delays and verbs are not strymon quality but not bad at all. The modulation effects are where it suffers but the models provided are not terrible. I say get the M13 and run a few choice pedals with it.
 
I liked the M13 but could not use it with midi at the time I had it years ago. It fits on a rack tray and if you could use it with a GCP or MasterMind GT it would be great.

Im back to a few pedals and a couple rack effects.

Still tap dance but not as much :doh: :lol: :LOL:

 
PBGas":22yw2uhk said:
TDePaul1313":22yw2uhk said:
Get a Zoom G5 it will work best....I luv mine!!
Click to expand...

This looks great! However you can only hook it up to either the front or in the loop....correct?
Click to expand...

You can also run it straight through a pa
 
SLOgriff":1flddvcl said:
I tried the M9 and had high hopes for it from the videos I watched and because Pete Thorn was using one. I plugged it in and messed with it for about 15 minutes.... Immediately, I noticed a "nasally" tone that I could NOT dial out no matter what patch I was in and that was a huge disappointment. There were a few cool effects inside, but i could not get passed the "tone sucking" that was going on...plus I'm not a tweaker either.

Plugged in my TC Pedals (Flashback, Carona Chorus, and Hall Of Fame) and my tone was back to "pure" and the effects (Delay, Chorus, Reverb) are top knotch and un-processed sounding.

I prefer quality pedals over multi-purpose processors!
Click to expand...
This was my experience exactly.
 
PBGas":2unuqixt said:
-Strymon Mobius yes
-Flashback X4 (have this already) yes
-whammy DT (have this as well) yes
-Simple loop switcher RJM mini effects loop, I think it will fit on a board also
-probably a boost or distortion pedal for when I am using a smaller amp i like TS808, surh riot is more raw sounding in a good way
-Voodoo labs 4x4 power supply yes, they make a digital for Strymon eventide effects
-some kind of Wah....(still trying to figure that one out!)
Click to expand...

I'm going with the Strymon timeline/mobius Flint and El Capistan to finish of my rig
 
SkyhighRocks":2otg76q4 said:
My problem with the M13 was that I still had to tap dance. I much prefer an all in one unit that changes everything at once...I have presets that will have chorus, OD, delay and reverb and then need to go to a lead volume boost with a different delay, less verb and octave for example. Can't do that with the m13 unless you're Fred Astaire.
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Sure you can. There is no problem setting up one button patches in scene mode.

To the OP.... I used one for a good while along with a few pedals for tones or FX I was picky about. IMHO I think the M13, M9, or M5 can be a good addition to add effects that you may not be as picky about but would like to have. I actually I think the sounds out of the M's are pretty good and it was never my experience as others have said where I thought it colored my tone in a negative way when off or on. Honestly it was more transparent than other multi units I've had.

After getting a Tyler Variax for a 2nd guitar I just got a PODHD 500 to replace the M13 and still happy with that and some other outboard pedals.
 
I dig it. Makes for a great all-in-one solution and will switch your JVM channels whilst it's at it.

Used in a cool rig here;
 
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