Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal 

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

Well, I wrote a review in Spanish for my amigos but I don't know why it wasn't published.
Anyway, this big toy is ideal if you don't want to have lots of pedals at your feet and if you don't want to tap dance between songs, thing that I particularly hate.
It does what it's supposed to do. You've got modulation, filters, delays, reverbs, distortions and a great looper.
Talking about modulation... well, everything is great but chorus could be a little better. Tremolo is great. Filters are out of this world; you would spend hours, days, weeks trying everything you have at your disposal, so in case you want to have fun with this section, I strongly recommend you get the expression pedal. The pitch glide is addictive. I was consider getting the whammy effect but after this, no need for it.
Delays are one of the best things of the M13. I love the digital delay which I like to use it the way Pete Lesperance(Harem Scarem) does as a background to expand your voice, specially when you play in a one guitar band. The reverse is just amazing. Reverbs are incredible, too. Talking about distortions... well, I don't use them very much since I get mine from my amp or an analog pedal. Anyway, don't expect too much from them because they aren't anything you haven't heard before.
The looper is incredible. If you like or need this function, for sure you won't get a lemon.
Well, I hope you have found this review useful. The only complaint about this unit -taken from me- is the size.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

I got the Line 6 M13 about 3 months ago and I must say, WOW. The sound quality is insane, best of any pedal I have used(A lot). It is big but who cares? The thing is built like a tank, has a full STEEL outer shell. The footswitches give a nice responsive 'clank' to let you know you have indeed pressed a button. The controlls couldn't be simpler. There are a ton of effects, delays, reverbs are great, distortions, etc. I have not found one song that I cannot mimic the sound of with this beast. I wont be getting rid of this thing until I die. It is that good. REALLY recemend. Ya it is expensive but without a doubt worth it, if you bought everything in a seperate pedal with the same functions and quailty, you would be paying at LEAST twice as much as this thing costs. I love the built in tuner, definately handy. I rarely use the looper but seems to work well and it is very easy to use. OVERALL excellent pedal, buy it and you will fall in love. Thanks for reading hope this helped!!

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

Had the Line 6 HD500 which includes the same list of pedal effects and a ton of other features but too difficult to understand for the layman. Already have a couple of great amps so did not need the modelling capability. Traded straight up for the M13 and could not be happier. Lots of excellent effects, simple to use, quality steel build, a variety of connection options, looper capability and can output to two separate amps at the same time. Highly recommended.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

Does not work and appears to be shorting out!

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

The only better multi-effects processor is the TC Electronic floor system for $1500 or to custom create your own, which could potentially cost thousands of dollars to do right. Best bang for buck on the market.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

This is an excellent product. I wish more multi-effects processors were designed like this. The best part of this is that it's designed to be on a pedalboard. No fake sounding amp modling. Just effects and full flexibility to set them up how you like. Every other effects processor I've messed with, I've tried to use it the way this is designed to be used. Not all the effects are entirely accurate, some aren't practical, and the overdrives are not great. But this does have almost everything I need (and a lot that I don't).

As I'd mentioned in features, having 2 expression pedals is great! It's obviously easily used for wah. But for other effects, it controls ALL parameters at once. You just set the settings for up and set them for down and toggles between them smoothly. It's fun to set analog delay speed to a pedal and get chaotic, swirling sounds without bending over and turning knobs. However, your options for what expression pedal to buy for this are limited. The Line 6 expression pedal is horrible. I wish they had built them into this pedal.
Most of the effects are awesome. And the fx loop allows for a lot of possibilities for set up. The "scenes" feature is great! I have each scene assigned to a song in my band's setlist. My band used to get annoyed that I had to dial in the correct tempo on my delay pedals for each song. Now I press 2 buttons and we're ready for the next song!

The modulation, filter, delay, and reverb effects are all really good. Some are a TON of fun to experiment with (pattern tremolo, particle verb, octo reverb, stereo delay).

However, the overdrive units are sub-par in my opinion. I prefer my amp's overdrive, and as I mentioned, the fx loop accommodates that nicely. Also, the functionality of 2 expression pedals is great, but Line 6's expression pedal that does with this is a cheap piece of plastic which will run you $70.
Very solid build. Everything is solid metal. Again, most effects are great quality. Not sure about the power source. It seems to be causing some noise in my signal. But the noise varies based on how I have it set up.
Yes, you would spend a lot purchasing all the products these effects are modeled after. But that's not what you're getting with this. This is a muti-effects unit. So you get a bunch of effects that are similar to those they are modeled after. So this is reasonably priced. It's not a steal, as some would have you believe.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

I had the Line 6 DL4 before I got this because all my favorite musicians seemed to use it. I had never really delved into lots of guitar effects before that. After seeing another of my favorite bands use this in concert, I had to check it out, and after I found out that it has all the FX of all the classic Line 6 pedals, I decided it would be a great way to expand my knowledge and maybe find a signature sound for my solo songs.
This pedal has, without fail, helped me in almost every way i could have imagined without going out and buying a whole bunch of pedals. Recently I have joined a cover band and we cover a whole bunch of different styles of music from different decades; before this I was still only really using the delay effects, reverb effects, and looper on this, but suddenly it became so much more.
I really like the delay effects, and the control you have over them. I'd never delved into the mod effects until recently, and the chorus, phaser, and tremolo effects are my favorites. Rotary speaker is a little hard to find a good sound, I don't even really know what to use it for. On reverbs, I personally like the Octo reverb; when playing clean or palm muting, it adds all the overtones on it and makes it sound soooooo cool; also quick stops and the way it trails....totally amazing. I was very disappointed in the distortions when I first got it and thought they were total crap. Big reccommendation: read the manual to see what models the sounds are modeled after. Once I started my cover band, I wanted to make the songs sound as accurate as possible in their effects; after realizing that the distortions are modeled after old/new pedal models, I was able to more fully appreciate them and now I have two scenes made out (one for 60s-70s music and one for 80s-today). I still won't use them for original stuff though, except for maybe one of the fuzz tones. The filter effects I still haven't found a practical use for yet, but they're way fun to just mess around with. the tuner is accurate (although I still prefer my Boss TU-2 just because of the LED lights; sometimes it's hard to tune when you're playing outside b/c you can't see it really well) and the looper is great to hash out song ideas. I once plugged my keyboard into it, started a looped drum beat, and then added my bass, guitar, and keys to it and hashed out a whole idea to a song. That was a fun day.
Some problems that I had about it have been fixed lately with the updates; for example, I was really excited to find that it had an effect to model the MXR boost comp; it didn't do at all what I was hoping for, but now that they have added the EQ effect it takes care of the situation. I also want to have some sorts of Octave sounds, but I think (maybe?) that the updates have taken care of that, too. The problems I still have with it are just 2 things; it doesn't have a great wah sound, and the distortions are still just too out there to use in the style of music that I write. Luckily, my amp takes care of the distortion, and I'm not needing wah anyway for what I do.
In the end, you should stop reading this and just go buy one; you'll be glad you did. I can't go without mine anymore; I feel naked without it.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

This is a neat approach to multi-effect processors. Instead of deep menus, and a bunch of extraneous features (except, see "features" above), have a set up that looks like traditional stomp boxes and once "scenes" are set, acts like them seems really great. Just make a simpler version without the silly looper.
Problem is not too few but too many! Why can't we have this without TWO ROWS of looper control buttons. This would be very cool with only ONE row of buttons to turn an effect on or off, just like having actual stomp boxes. The on/off button is on the third row, and I'll bet while tap dancing about to change effects, the looper buttons will be hit accidentally often.
It seems to be a good value, but see "features" above.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

The M13 cannot be replaced in my rig. If I was to buy, for example, only 8 seperate effects (delays, distortions, modulations, reverbs), with stereo, a looper, with the same quality found in the M13, I'd spend WAY more than the cost of this. However I actually use many scenes for many purposes, so it just can't be replaced for less than the cost of a custom-engineered board.
The M13 does have it all. Every major type of effect used in recorded music over the past 40 years is represented in this one unit. The additional firmware upgrades allow you to configure a dizzying 12 boards with with 12 effects per board! That's too much for some, but that's why Line 6 came out with the M9 and M5, smaller units that have all the effects with fewer features.

The M13 is a very easy tool to use. It's as simple as any effects box you've used. You turn knobs for each parameter of each effect. It's that easy.

The looper isn't something to use extensively for live performance (like a JamMan or Boss RC), but it can be done. The loop time is about 27 seconds, so it can't do an 8-measure phrase at less than 120bpm.

There's an effects loop so that you can go out of the M13 and into a favorite pedal, then back into the M13. You can also use 2 seperate expression pedals, assignable to almost any parameter of any effect.

I also LOVE the fact that it has several stereo effects. It's enabled me to use 2 amps at low volumes to fill a room with swirly chorus or phase, ping-pong, staggered or panned delays, and several other fun things.
I've had mine for two years. The unit as a whole is very sturdy and can take a beating. There isn't a dent on it. Mine has been in some dirty environments, and usually stays out for use any time. The switches have become squeaky, and some have required more than one stomp to turn on or off. A little graphite helped, along with cleaning with a swab. I wouldn't recommend (either does Line 6) using water or WD30 on it for cleaning or lubrication.

There is some inconsistency in the color of the displays, but that's a very minor, non-functional issue.
There is no way you can get this kind of lineup, or even a fraction of what's offered here, with this level of quality, functionality, and versatility, in a less expensive package.

Comments about Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler Guitar Multi Effects Pedal:

I have been waiting for a pedal like this to come along for years. It is as easy to use as any stompbox, sounds as good, and saves the hassle and inevitable tone degradation that comes with having a ton of pedals with all their power supplies and cables. The M13 has become an essential part of my creative process and my live sound.
This thing is awesome. It sounds great, it is genuinely easy to program and use, and it has inspired some new creativity and energy in my playing. Adjusting effects is very easy; you just twist knobs to change the sound. You dont have to mess with any menus or save anything, because everything is upfront and saved automatically. The M13 is true bypass, which means it wont mess with your tone when you dont want it to. You can arrange stomp box simulations in any order you want, insert an effects loop at any point in the chain, and assign two (not included) expression pedals to any effects parameters you want.


The effects are mostly pretty good sounding; some of the reverbs and delays are pretty incredible. The particle verb, which I believe is exclusive to the M series, is just unbelievably good sounding. Another cool effect is the octoverb, which is a reverb that plays back an octave higher than what you play. If you keep it mixed low, it can be a very subtle effect that adds an extra dimesion to your playing. The overdrives mostly sound like the pedals they are meant to emulate. You aren't going to get an exact original Tube Screamer sound out of this pedal, but you are going to get darn close. Some of the compressors and the clean boost sound mind blowingly good. I really don't have much to say about many of the synth effects, other than that they all sound cool. I just don't play any music that would benefit from a synthesiser sound. I have found myself using some interesting modulation effects since getting the M13 that I really wouldn't have considered before, largely because it is so easy to insert a new effect.


The ability to use expression pedals is really handy. For example, you could have one pedal control the gain and treble levels on a distortion effect, while another controls delay repeats. Of course, you can have an expression pedal assigned to volume, pitch shifting, or looper level, too.


The ability to place stompboxes in any order is a big deal. I find myself playing with unorthodox placements in the signal chain that I would never have tried back when I only used regualar boxes. One thing I have been doing a lot lately is putting a maxed out distortion as the very last thing in the chain. Then, I hit it at the loudest, craziest part of a song and let the delay, reverb, and whatever else I have switched on run through the distortion. Very cool. Another neat thing is to put mulitple delays on with different timings. Additionally, if you have any favorite stompboxes you want to use with the M13, you can insert them at any point in the chain via a programmable effects loop. I use a volume pedal between the first and second effects on the M13, but you could use a favorite overdrive or any other box at any point you wanted.


One nice thing about the M13 is that you can create a pedal board with up to twelve pedals, and then save it to a scene. You can save twelve scenes, and they are very easy to access while playing. This means that you can save a separate scene with its own settings and stompboxes for each song in your set. Or, if you play in multiple bands, you can have scenes for each band. I have a scene set up with a ton of reverbs and delays for the ambient/shoegaze band I play in, and another with milder effects and some light overdrives for when I fill in at church or play session work.


Finally, one of my favorite things about the M13 is the looping function. You can record a twenty-eight second loop and then play along with it, or do all sorts of things to the sound. You can play the loop backwards, record another layer, play it forwards again, and then the last layer will be playing backwards, while the rest is normal. You can also play it at half speed, which drops the pitch one octave. Or, you can record at half speed, and then play it at normal speed, which makes your loop twice as fast and one octave higher. You can also choose to play the loop infinitely or just play it once through. The loop can be played dry, or run through all of your effects, which gives you the opportunity to do all sorts of crazy things to it. All of this is done with the footswitches, which makes it easy to pull off live.
Seems very solid. I have been touring and playing out with it for at least a year now, with no issues. I know some people who have had issues with the switches on other Line 6 products, but I would be pretty surprised if I had any issues with this in the near future. Everything on it is metal, and it ways a ton.
I am doing more with this than I could do with my $1500 assortment of pedals before, with clearer sound. Definitely a good buy.