I did break my first one (my fault) and tried to use my other pedals live. What a hassle! I bought a new PX4B immediately and almost bought a backup "just in case."
Deceptively professional, with a ridiculous amount of fun packed in too.
Model Year: 2003
Price: $230.00 (new)
Where Obtained: Musician's Friend - where else?
Full of features, many you might not use. I use it live, velcro'd to a mic stand bracket. I have four performing effects I use live. Plus, the tuner is awesome, handles a 5 string no problem
I play two basses primarily; Variax Bass, and Hohner Jack Bass 5. I occasionally play my Steinberger XQ-25 but its so heavy... I play Christian Rock weekly, and classic rock in a project band.
PX4B is clean as a whistle, unlike effects you buy under $200. I have had (and sold) bass pedals from Zoom and Boss; I have the Yamaha Magicstomp for bass (which is excellent) and I had a Bass PODxt and just sold it and got the LIVE version. The FX on the PX4B are in the same league as the Line 6 and Yamaha effects. Totally pro.
I find it very easy. there is a LOT going on, but everything is accessible. What's real nice is to have it mounted up high where I can play with it. I switch it with my hand, rather than my feet - this could be a problem for folks that want/need to punch in effects and setups.
This has been my biggest concern. It's a tiny little plastic thingy... but my mic stand bracket with velcro works fine, and keeps it up high where I can tweak it. I also use only batteries (NO AC REQUIRED) and get good battery life. What a joy not to have to fool with AC power cords on stage! I see our leads dragging out their big BOSS ME and Roland Synth pedals... and they look longingly at me when I slip the little Pandora out of my BASS BAG pocket and hook it up in 15 seconds.
I like this unit, it comes with a lot of effects, that you change around a lot. I would buy the new version if I had to get a new one.
Model Year: 2001
Price: $200.00 (new)
Where Obtained: Music Mall
The unit is battery powered, and you could buy and AC unit if you want. I wish it came with the AC unit. It takes 4 AAA batteries.
Sound quality is good, I use it throught my BA-115 and use my SR305DX. There is a noise reduction feature which I like. I like the overdrive, I used it a lot before I got my single effect.
Kind of confusing at first, but when you figure it out it's great.
This effect is good for recording not live play.
I also looked at the bass pod and chose the px3b because of it's price,ease of use,multi effects,and over all quality.
If I lost it or had it stolen would I by the same unit again? You bet in a heart beat. I would however upgrade to the px4b. My favorite aspect of this amazing processor is that i can practice my rythum,find a new sound listen to that new sound and play along with my fav. band with the bass line remover.What more could a bass player ask for? Oh yeh SIZE,Well it fits in the palm of your hand. WOW I know,This is an awsome product.
Well that's my 2 cents,Happy slapping,Steve.
Model Year: 2000
Price: $240.00 Canadian funds (new)
Where Obtained: steve's music Ottawa ,Canada
It has 50 preset effects (very wicked chours)
50 programable effects
a built in tuner
you can record up to 16 sec. of your bass playing.
It has a built in rythem generator with 50 presets
It takes 4 AAA batteries or an ac/adaptor.
It has an input/output/and aux jack,with a bass line remover feature.
I use my Alembic Orion with this processor. It can be hooked up yo a comp,mix board,your amp orjust use your headphones like i do. I play a mix of old rock and jazz,but with 50 presets and 50 programable settings you will have no problem finding your sound.
When i bought this unit I also looked at the bass pod.I did find that the pod had slightly better sound,but was a little harder to dial in your sound. At a $100.00 more for the pod the choice was easy,also with the px3b acting more like a mini studio than a pedal effect,It gave me more bang for my buck.
You can program your sound,mix and match effects and amp styles,and they are very easy to find and set.
Finding a good sound can be done with 1 touch of your finger on the 50 preset button,or if your like me and you want to fiddle around with the 50 programable settings for that "special" sound,you can do that as well.Ether way it's very user friendly and loads of fun.
Compared to the Pod the px3b was a lot easier to learn and use.
Well I have had the px3b for 3 years now and use it every day,and to date have nevr had a problem with it.
I have not used it live so can not comment on it's live use.
Korg is a good reliable brand name so I don't think you can go worng there(good waranty and all).
If you take good care of your equip.( keep it clean,keep the beer of it ECT,ECT)it should last you a long time.
It does everything I want it to do, and then some. Only thing I miss is a pedal function for the bypass.
Model Year: 2001
Where Obtained: Local music store
All kinds of effects, drum tracks, tuner, practice tool. Powered by battery or AC adapter. I wish it had a pedal function for bypass.
Great quality for the price. Well suited for all kinds of musical styles.
Really easy to use. Has a wheel to help set values to all the different varialbles. Couldn't be easier.
Looks a little flimsy. All plastic cover.
If it were lost or stolen, I'd probably upgrade to the new one (PX4B) which came out two months after I bought this one (GRR!)
This box was actually more than I needed at this point, so I can't evaluate all of the features yet. I havn't yet needed effects, so I just pick one that sounds good in the headphones. I really bought it for the combination of headphone amplifier and rhythm section, which I desperately needed. If some other product had existed that did that and was cheaper, I would have bought it, and probably missed out on the other features when I do need them in the future.
Verdict:
A safe bet that any bass player that is serious about playing will get a lot out of this box!
Model Year: 2002
Price: $200.00 (new)
Where Obtained: Prosound (Local chain, Colorado)
More features than I currently know what to do with! I bought it so I could practice with headphones AND a rhythm track.
Rhythm section with 50 styles
CD play along feature
25 preset effect settings, with 25 user definable (set to equal the presets when you buy it)
Tuner
I wish it had editable rhythms, as most of the rhythms are kinda busy for me (I'd really like a simple snare, kick, kick, kick rhythm) One feature I love, as I'm still beginning is that the screen counts the beat number for you, so It helps me when I'm trying to work on my internal metronome.
I agree with the other review that most of the preset effect settings are a little outlandish, but you can edit them to what you want and then save them .
Great sound quality! Could be a little louder, but I love the the headphone sound
A little cumbersome. The selection wheel is wonderful, but many of the buttons have multiple uses, dependent upon what you're doing, and it seems to be taking me a while to get used to them
Havn't found out yet how durable, and don't plan to!
The greatest thing Korg has made for bass sense slice bread(Though I don't think they invented slice bread). But its the best thing i've ever come upon.
Price: $180.99 (new)
Where Obtained: Mars Music
Its a small multi effects processor. Its both battery and AC powered and very portible. I wish the company could make a plug in for a switch peddle for the effects.
It has a Phase Traner, 50 user and 50 Preset, 16 sec. recorder, and Rythm AUX effect.
Its just flat out the best potible and non-portible effects processor. The sound, what sound ? You make you own sound. It has alot bad effects though so you only really use 25 but, you can make your own.
Very easy to program and to set and use. The ease of use make it very easy to get the sound you want. Its by far the easiest to use bottom line.
Very durible just small so it can be lost or takin very easly. The is A lock mode on it so if you're palying live you wont mess it up if you hit it or step on it. Which I have done and still works like I just bought it.
Without hesitation, I'd pick up another Pandora if anything happened to this one.
Price: $189.00 (new)
Where Obtained: World Music, Nashville, TN
The Pandora is a small, lightweight package full of powerful effects. It is powered by 4 AAA batteries with an AC option.
Spin through the selection wheel to find 100 preset bass effects and styles. Punch the button for the Rhythm Trainer and add one of 50 drum effects. You can't help but play the style that matches the effect selected.
Imagine this. You hear a killer bass line that no matter how many times you listen, you just can't get it. With the Pandora, plug in the CD player, record either an 8 or 16 second sample, then slow the tempo down without effecting the pitch. Every note then just flows off your fingers. Then kill the low freqs from the CD and you carry the bottom for your favorite artists.
My only complaint so far is there is no option for a foot pedal. While not designed for gigging, it's still going into my gig bag. In the meantime, I'm having a blast playing!
I've run my Fender Jazz through the Pandora into a Hartke 1410 Combo and a Fender Bassman 60. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Pandora to boost the signal with a couple of the effects and use the Bassman behind a band.
Go ahead. Edit the dynamics, amplifier style (tube or solid state), equalizer settings, modulation, delay/reverb, noise reduction or level of any of the presets, or completely replace it with your own.
I would want a pedal option. But it's in the gig bag.
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