Meinl The Ultimate Kick Stomp Box

I play in a Folk duo & have been using Piezo based Stomp Pedals for several years, and have been frustrated by the lack of punch & low frequency of these sometimes rather expensive units. This Sample based option is a welcome replacement to my well worn home made pedal & has performed well, supporting a 2x Vocals & 2x Guitar set-up.

Pros:
- Velocity sensitive to provide a convincing natural sounding performance
- Low profile/height so you can play standing up!!
- Some useable sounds with significant low frequency & sub bass content
- Sturdy metal construction & tough rubber/foam non slip base
- No power switch to prevent accidental Battery drainage
- Good value for money compared to the alternative Piezo options

Cons:
- A wide but slightly strange variety of sounds which limits useability
- The display is small, but program number readable while standing

In conclusion, this is a sturdy and consistent sounding pedal that offers ease of use and good value for money. An ADSR or Gate function would allow the user to tame some of the more interesting sound options, but some comparative priced pedals only offer one sound, which is often too thin to be used without additional treatment from a comprehensive live sound mixer.

I'm a solo musician, I've been using a stomp gigging for over 10yrs. In that time I have tried everything (there is one clear winner but not getting into that now). I got excited about this Meinl product but that was very short lived.

I purchased despite my fears and I have only confirmed them. The limitations with this stomp are substantial. The fact that it is only battery powered is criminal. In my eyes, this factor alone relegates it to 'un-usable' territory. I did one gig with it and the batteries were dead by the end. That is awful battery life and means I can't rely on it in a live environment, so what's the point right?

There isn't any connectivity (e.g. USB), and you can't alter the sound in anyway other than volume.

On the positive side, it would be handy in an emergency. It is small and you can literally use it anywhere since it is battery powered.

For not much more money, there are FAR superior products out there. I would save up a bit more and buy one of those (*cough* Roland SPD Kick *cough*)