Electro-Harmonix Nano Bass Balls

Come on, one knob, one button, one switch. Easier than that would be a box with a single button labeled "make it sound cool", but I think they don't produce those yet.

It's quite funny and funky. The distortion part is rather strange, however it is also usable. It reacts on the attack quite nicely.
No hisses or anything.

Tiny, and pretty much indestructible. Went through pretty much everything with me during the last three years.

Nope

I would say it is the best in terms of price/value.
If you need an autowah - get this one. Cheap doesn't always mean "bad", after all.

This little creature is very easy to use. Step on the switch. Distortion flip switch and response knob. Pretty simple.

I bought it with bass in mind - which I have been tinkering with a bit lately [I am actually a guitar player first and foremost].

It sound funky when you play it with a bass.

But the suprise amd big thrill for me was playing it through a guitar.

I play a USA 1979 Strat through a Flextone I Line 6.

The sound you get through a guitar is pretty out there. It almost has a phase-type of sound to it with the Dist. switch on the 'down' position and clocked anywhere between 9 and 12 o'clock.

Flick the switch and crank the response and there are some very nasty vibes ommitted from this tiny beast. It is AWESOME.

I was jamming with a mate the other day. I was playing in distortion mode with the response pushed to the limit with a delay setting on the Line 6. He was saying to me that it sounded like the solo from 'The Fly' by U2. Crazy tone. Yep...gold.

You can make chords sound really out-there and aggressive or play solo lines with an added bit of bite. This is a fine unit.

Yes I would.

I haven't dealt with EH.

I bought a Russian Small Stone about 5 years ago and it never worked.

I've had two seperate people look at the pedal - adn it is still crap. The effect doesn't engage when you step on the unit - or does after about 25 seconds. [???]

So...I was a bit dubious about getting another EH effect...but thought...'those bloody Russkis...maybe the Yankee stuff will be better'.

Damn straight there.

With my faith resored in EH - I now am on a bit of a spree. I'm gunning for a nano Small Stone and the POG looks and sounds pretty good too.

I've been playing for 16 years now and have a hoard of gear....some of it includes Boss TR-2 [needs a mod for volume boost!], MXR Flanger, Boss DM-2, Boss OD-1, Boss CE-5, [I hardly use Boss stuff nowdays - but I have kept them for prosperity], JEN Variospectra just to name a few items. The Line 6 keeps me amused too. ;-)

I think I would have to buy it again if it got nicked.

I haven't heard or tried the bigger Bass Balls unit - but this nano version is alright. It's alright by me sonny Jim!

Go and buy yourself one and have some fun.

One knob for sensitivity and a switch to turn distortion on.
Operation is identical to the regular Bass Balls.
Easy to use, but you have to tweak the sensitivity to get the sound you want.

This where it differs from the full size units. The sound is similar, but a bit harsher. EH says that they use the same circuitry and they probably do, but that's where Analogman and all the modders have their value add. In most cases they replace the stock components for better quality and match components as the main way that they improve the quality of the sound.
It seems that EH must have had to make some component quality comprimises to fit everything in the smaller box.
EH generally makes really good stuff, but the footprint of their stomp boxes is pretty big. I was hoping to reduce my pedal board size by rearranging some effects and replacing my Russian made Bass Balls with the Nano. I A/B'd them and the Nano came close on some settings, but didn't quite do as well on most and overall just wasn't as musical as the full size unit unit. I never really got that same vocal quality of the Nano that I was able to get of the regular one.
The distortion (which is mostly useless in my opinion anyway) seemed to be a bit hotter and harsher on the Nano, so it was even less usable.
The Bass Balls effect is not one you use on many songs as it is, so for some people, where space is the main issue, the smaller unit may be fine, but I'm returning the nano and keeping the full size unit.
Also, the chicken head knob on the Russian unit makes it easy to adjust sensitivity on the fly with your foot. Neither the USA version or the Nano have that.

It looks sturdy enough.

No experience with EH for support.

I play many different styles and use several basses, so the Bass Balls is one more effect to help me cover more types of sounds.
If you want a Bass Balls unit, go for one of the full sized ones.
If you go for the USA one, consider adding a chicken head knob to make o nthe fly adjustments.