Grateful Dead Music Forum

Never thought I'd buy a multi-option stompbox modeler - I'm old school, large pedalboard full of individual effects, some 25 years old! - but I was so blown away by the Line 6 M13 I tried today - highly intuitive, simple to use, excellent models - I actually bought it. It's got so many effects on it I hardly know where to start (perhaps with the MuTron III or Q-Filter). But what I really want to ask is, anyone here using one and, if so, what are your favorite Dead settings?

I have been using the X3 Live, which I'm guessing has the same effects given that it's not that much older. I use the ones you'd probably guess - their take on the mutron, octave divider, and the spring reverb.The one thing I've grown to dislike quite a bit is the limitation on which effects can be used concurrently.

Looks like the M13 doesn't have amp/cab modeling, correct?

If your intersted in swapping specific settings let me know.

Well done, Jon. I'm tracking that thread on TGP and have been laughing my ass off at your comments!

Congrats! I am really interested in one but sadly my musical finances are tied up with planned investments.

Well, I am a MIDIot (fortunately, you only use MIDI periodically as firmware upgrades become available).

No, no amp or cab modeling. This is a multi-effects pedalboard designed to run into a guitar amp. You can run any of the effect models from any of the four groupings (which corresponding to Line 6's 4 stand-alone multi-effect units), four at a time, within 12 separate scenes. Check out the Line 6 page if you're interested in more specifics on what all that means but the bottom line is you have a lot of options at hand ... uh, I mean at foot.

But what sold me on the unit is how easy it is to use. No "levels of programming." Almost everything is WYSIWYG. When you call up a pedal model, the screen for it shows the pedal just as if it was there in person on your pedalboard with the knobs on the M13 corresponding to the knobs on the real pedal. All you do is set the knobs as you like and turn the pedal off, everything's saved automatically upon exiting, you don't have to do anything more than exit.

Even an old dope like me can handle that!

Is that thing worth $500? I'm using a Boss ME-20 & thinking I need a better way to go.

My recommendation would be to go read the support forum posts for the M13, and get some feedback from Jon after he's used it for a while. The X3 live has it's share of fans, but also many people who have been greatly dissapointed with all the system bugs. My guess is the M13 has then corrected, but you never know.

The M13 offers 4 FX on at any time and user defined order.

Up to 12 can be selected from at one time. And you have 12 different footprints for the 12 (called scenes)

I may be wrong but I don't know any other system that has that.

It has ultimate flexibility, IMO.

I checked out the support forums & watched a few of the demo vids. The thing looks awesome so I put it on my Amazon wish list.

I'm seeing where Amazon just reduced the price of this unit about $72

OK, a month and a half has passed. I'm using the box tons now in my new band which plays an eclectic mix of covers, a significant portion keyboard-driven. I'm seriously digging the M13. Even found a Tron Up (Mutron model) setting that does a very legit Garcia thang when preceded by one of the compressor models! The pic below shows an analog overdrive running into the M13. I'm not even using it any more as I've found overdrive settings that are working well for me in the M13.

I'd be interested in seeing your settings for the mutron and compressor if you want to ping me offline.

I'd also be interested in Garcia-like M13 Tron settings.
I've had one since late last summer, but haven't been able to get *that* particular sound dialed in to my liking.
Great unit, though. Haven't missed any of my stand alone effects much since getting the M13.

I'd be interested in *any* interesting settings...individual effects, "scenes" ideas, sound alike effects chains ( Gilmour to Gatton!), you name it.

Dan

I still haven't pulled the trigger to order mine yet but I you guys start putting up your Jerry tones that will probably send me over the top.

Okay, pulled the plug on it this weekend! Gotta say it's a nice board. They seemed to really take it to the next level. FX are much better than their XT series.... I like how almost all now have at least Treb & Bass controls and almost all MODS have wet/dry mixes! I love the auto save feature!!! It really acts like a pedalboard.

Regarding Garcia or Weir tones. It's only as good as the modelled effect and the player and amp rig. I'd say you can cop about 90% true to the modeled effect. However that other 10% isn't bland (like the original or XT) it's still musical just not 100% modeled.

This is my new "grab & go board".

On a side note snagged (virtually stole) a used PedalTrain which will easily fit this, a preamp pedal (gonna try the SansAmp Blonde) a DI box, etc...

Guys, I will try to post pics of my Comp Boost into Tron Up settings tonight (if not tonight, by this coming weekend). The comp in front makes the difference - the Tron Up model can get shrill on top, the trick is to squash the top of your signal just enough, when hitting the strings hard, to avoid any harshness.