$310

I just saw a demo of the Mark Bass Super Synth, which allows bass players to fine tune several synth sounds via software, then download them to the pedal, which has eight presets. Here's the catch: when it becomes available in the US, it probably will sell for near $500. Isn't that a lot for a pedal that does only one thing -- even if it offers eight variations of that thing? I know bass players have been miffed at keyboardists since the 1970s for stealing their bass lines, but I don't know that I'm willing to cough up that kind of dough for one pedal. I'd almost rather buy a full keyboard synth and learn to play it.