Yamaha MagicStomp EB

The MagicStomp is smaller than many other multi-effects, and has a lot less knobs and switches than a Pod or GT-6B or something like that. It provides preamp modeling, distortion, modulation effects and delay. The modeling is non-specific, i.e., there's no "SVT" or "Eden" model; the names are things like "Bold Bass", "Studio", and "Tube Drive". Editing is pretty simple, and for deep editing, there's a USB port and software provided. The manual explains things pretty well.

The sound in my head is in this box! I've used this with various amps and basses, including a P-Bass, Jazz Bass, Tobias, Stingray, Corvette Proline, and others. I've gotten good sounds with all. It has quite a few good patches from the factory, useable right out of the box. It has the usual problem with multi-effects of wildly varying volumes with different patches, with the distortions being way louder than everything else. The flangers, phasers, and choruses are very good, but what bass player needs reverb and echo? Also, you can't stack effects like you can with a Pod or a lot of other multi-effects, but the sounds it makes are good enough that I'm willing to forgive that. The tuner is pretty basic, but OK.

I've had this thing for years, and when I use it it works. It's built like a tank. I don't have another one, so yeah, I use it on gigs without a backup.

Never dealt with Yamaha.

I play classic rock, blues, and Christian Contemporary. This box has sounds for whatever type of music I want to play. I've been playing bass for more than 25 years, and I've tried a number of multi-effects. This one has less features than a lot of them, but it does what I want. It might be nice to be able to stack a couple of effects, but it's not a deal killer for me. It's much easier (for me at least) to get a good sound from than some of the more complicated boxes.