Can an EBS MicroBass 3 replace a tuner, compressor and pre-amp?

[glassmoon]

Hi all,

 

So, there is an EBS MB3 that I have my sights on - I still, 6 years later, have regrets of selling my MB2 - and it will essentially by the "command hub" for a very small one-size-fits-all board.

My current setup is a BOSS TU-2 tuner into an EBS OctaBass into an EBS MultComp into an MXR M81 pre-amp. 

The idea, should I bite, is that the octave will stay, and the rest will potentially be replaced by the MB3.

Full disclosure: I absolutely LOVE the TU-2, MultComp and M81... 

Question: for those who know their pedals, and in prearticular, know the MB3... does it do what it says on the tin?  Is it possible to replace those 3 pedals with the MB3.

I know the EBS sound really well, and it is vastly different to the ultra-clean M81... so there will be some adjustment needed there.

I'm lead to believe that the compression circuit is the one found in some of their heads, but I'm not sure which.  This is the trickiest thing for me.  I used a Carl Martin Compressor for umpteen years and it was without a doubt, the best pedal of any kind I've ever owned... it just needed to be overhauled, which I sadly couldn't do myself, so I tried a few decent ones and through a friend's recommendation, got the (not the newest model) EBS.  it's sensational!  It does everything I need from a compressor... so in my oh-so-not-a-techie mind, the MB3's compressor should be somewhat of the same beast as the MultComp, just without the 3 way toggle and gain controls.  But I've read some reviews that, if not quite slating the compressor, are less than praising it... but compression is like Marmite.

The tuner... well, if it tunes decently, I'm happy.  I always have my TC clip-on there, but I'm willing to bet the MB3's tuner is good enough to get the job done.

 

Right, enough rambling from me... please don't recommend I go for <insert brand of personal taste here> ... I am happy with what I have, but to be honest, I want to reduce my board to next to nothing - I've ditched all but my octave pedal, so it's really a case of "can I just have one unit to do 3 things?"

 

My thanks in advance - Merry Christmas to one and all

Julian aka Glassmoon

[lee650]

I have an MB2 and it's been part of my sound for years. AFAIK the compression circuit is the same as the one in the heads, which I also used for years without any complaint. The difference with the multicomp is purely that its simpler. It is the full range (no MB or tube sim) and has a 3:1 ratio and a slow attack hardwired! Sounds great but limited for the tweaker, a tuner is a tuner. I'd be tempted to upgrade myself, but ive read that tonally it's not as good as the MB2 (totally subjective of course).

So if you only use full range on the comp and a low setting, it'll do what you need. By the looks of things they've improved the A/B functionality too.

Edited November 20, 2023 by lee650

[glassmoon]

14 minutes ago, lee650 said:

It is the full range (no MB or tube sim) and has a 3:1 ratio and a slow attack hardwired! Sounds great but limited for the tweaker, a tuner is a tuner.

21 minutes ago, lee650 said:

So if you only use full range on the comp and a low setting, it'll do what you need.

OK, so full range should be similar to MB - which is where mine sits.  The manual says "Compressor Ratio min/max: 1:1 - 5:1" ... my compression knob sits at around 10 o'clock, perhaps 10:30, so in simple logic, the 3:1 will be "familiar"... the "Attack Time (80%): <10 ms" doesn't tell me if it's fast, slow or medium rare (I really should know more about what goes on under the bonnet of my gear 🙄)

OK.... points in favour of the compressor I think

20 minutes ago, lee650 said:

I'd be tempted to upgrade myself, but ive read that tonally it's not as good as the MB2 (totally subjective of course).

What have you hearrd?  While I did like the clarity of the MB2 - I used both channels together for "all" the tone hahahaha

I'd be interested to hear what you've heard!!

 

And thank you kindly, for replying

[lee650]

3 hours ago, glassmoon said:

OK, so full range should be similar to MB - which is where mine sits.  The manual says "Compressor Ratio min/max: 1:1 - 5:1" ... my compression knob sits at around 10 o'clock, perhaps 10:30, so in simple logic, the 3:1 will be "familiar"... the "Attack Time (80%): <10 ms" doesn't tell me if it's fast, slow or medium rare (I really should know more about what goes on under the bonnet of my gear 🙄)

OK.... points in favour of the compressor I think

What have you hearrd?  While I did like the clarity of the MB2 - I used both channels together for "all" the tone hahahaha

I'd be interested to hear what you've heard!!

 

And thank you kindly, for replying

I've had a look online, and cant find what it was! but it was likely subjective Talkbass musings. I remember reading the core tone wasn't "as good" now the newer version is based on the HD360. While the MB2 was based on the HD350, I think the mids were revoiced or something. The MB3 looks a great piece of kit, and solves some of the MB2'S shortcomings (one channel only drive and mids, the other treble/bass with the tube sim and bright/enhance filters) and no auxiliary in (you could use the FX return though) tbe comp abd tuner is a fantastic addition. The build quality on the MB2 is fantastic, as ive not tried the MB3 I've No basis for direct comparison.

[tayste_2000]

I think you’ll be quite happy with it, it’s a great sounding preamp, I really like the compression on it but it’s subtle and smooth (more limiting than an effect), the drive is nice, the eq really musical, tuner tunes.

 

It think it’s quite hard to use both channels for 2 different basses as the eq options are so different but stacked you’ve got limitless tonal options.

 

Just a really handy swiss army knife.

 

An alternative if you don’t get on with it is the Fishman Platinum Pro EQ, that has compression, DI, Tuner, EQ and is a really really nice and transparent sounding pedal.

 

For a more rocky sound the Sonicake Boom Ave is heavily underrated.

 

I love these all in ones I just wish more powered from battery or phantom, the more I can do where it’s grab n go n throw on the floor to play the better.

[glassmoon]

So, I bit the bullet - great price, easy as... 

 

I think the compressor will be OK - from what I have read, it's more subtle than my EBS MultComp (which I can't sing enough praises for) but considering I don't slam my compression to the hilt, it should fine.

And yes, I will stack the channels, same as I used to with the MB2 - however, considering I've not yet touched it, I may well want to use the drive channel sans drive as a slap shape or the like.

[glassmoon]

Hi all, 

 

Just wanted to sign off on this before I forget.  My deepest thanks to Nigel (Beserker) for this stunner! 

 

My first impressions after maybe 5 minutes with it. 

I set it up in stacked mode as I want to use the 2nd channel for either a slap option or in the highly unlikely event I get to play a solo 🤦🏼

* It doesn't colour the tone nearly as heavily as the MicroBass 2 did. That is a win for my tastes. A few (owner) reviews stated the tone was a little "thin", but I didn't find that at all. 
* The tuner is awesome. I clipped on my TC Electronic tuner to A/B it, and it does what you'd expect from a good tuner. And it's visible, something I'd read wasn't the case. 
* The compressor is not as musical as my EBS MultiComp, but it's better than I had expected from the blog reviews. It's perhaps a little more squishy than I'd like, but it's good to go. 
* The drive is more than usable, but as I'm not really a user of drive, I'll use it as a 2nd channel. 

 

In my quest to scale down to as little as possible, this more than exceeds my expectations. So now it's back in its box until Christmas day....