I bought Zoom B2.1u

[40Hz_of_Love]

First impressions after like 3-4 hours of quick play:

- the compressor is noisy and useless
+ but if you set gain real high on some amp models it gives a nice and natural compression
- spring reverb model sounds nothing like a spring reverb
+ spring reverb sounds like a cool digital glitch effect
- trace elliot model sounds nothing like trace elliot
- cab models are honky and lifeless except setting 1
+ some effects can be placed after or before drive section
+ ring modulator with pedal controlled frequency sounds totally awesome
+ octaver/pitch shifter/harmonizer/synth settings track flawlessly on the whole neck
+ modulation effects sound amazing
+ eq is pretty useful but can be pretty extreme (sounds much more dramatic than +/-12dB)
+ very tweakable auto wah and envelope filter, lots of different sounds, a lot of them really wicked
+ pedal wah is suprisingly okay (but nowhere near my ebs wahone)
+ drum machine is fun

And some quick questions about things I could propably find in the manual, so you can propably ignore them:

1. Is the input in stereo? What about jack/XLR outputs? Stereo/mono?
2. I guess there is no question number two.

So I'm going back to playing with my B2.1u now.

Bye.

P.S. Totally OT: tomorrow I'm going to buy a scooter. Anyone here rides a scooter?

[gibsualdo]

Originally Posted by 40Hz_of_Love

+ octaver/pitch shifter/harmonizer/synth settings track flawlessly on the whole neck

Can you use it in the same was as a Digitech Whammy and, if so does it have the much sought after 5th up/octave up harmony setting as found on the Bass Whammy?

[dannybuoy]

I only have a B2, but the main output is stereo (as it drives both sides of a pair of headphones) and the XLR output should be a balanced mono signal.

[40Hz_of_Love]

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Can you use it in the same was as a Digitech Whammy and, if so does it have the much sought after 5th up/octave up harmony setting as found on the Bass Whammy?

Yes and yes.

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

I only have a B2, but the main output is stereo (as it drives both sides of a pair of headphones) and the XLR output should be a balanced mono signal.

Thanks!

[bassbrad]

Input is mono, output is stereo but you need a TRS to 2@1/4" cable aka and insert cable. XLR output is mono and pretty good.
Any time i use compression or distortion I always use the ZNR, work with the compressor you may not have the right setting yet because it is not bad. The new EQ and expanded parameters are some of my favorite things about the B2.1u.
The synth sounds especially with the Ring Mod are smokin'.
The Spring (meets tiled room) rev works well on piccolo but no so good on bass.

[gibsualdo]

Originally Posted by 40Hz_of_Love

Yes and yes.

Cool, I'll have to go try one of these out soon. Could it be we have finally found a cheap and decent alternative to the Bass Whammy? I must say though, this seems to good to be true!

Cheers

[40Hz_of_Love]

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Cool, I'll have to go try one of these out soon. Could it be we have finally found a cheap and decent alternative to the Bass Whammy?

It sounds nothing like a Whammy. Much more synthy.

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Any time i use compression or distortion I always use the ZNR, work with the compressor you may not have the right setting yet because it is not bad.

Can you share what settings work for you?

[Chronicle]

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Cool, I'll have to go try one of these out soon. Could it be we have finally found a cheap and decent alternative to the Bass Whammy? I must say though, this seems to good to be true!

Cheers

Lol there is no alternative to the bass whammy...


yet.

Hopefully one day... one day... (I hate my Bass whammy's volume knob!! )

[gibsualdo]

Haha I knew it! I'll just have to play synthy versions of Tool songs for the time being

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Cool, I'll have to go try one of these out soon. Could it be we have finally found a cheap and decent alternative to the Bass Whammy? I must say though, this seems to good to be true!

Cheers

The old Digitech BP-8 has quite a good Whammy as a part of all the other effects is has, one of the reasons I keep that old booger around.

[mothmonsterman]

Refreshing this thread because i bought one of these, played it for only a few hours.
With the money to ship it, and restock it i will only get about 1/2 of what a payed for it back.

Should i just bare with it and give it another chance?
I just found it a bit frustrating.
Is there any way when i'm using a patch just to shut it off? or do i have to make clean patches in between the others?
Any way to use it as a looper?

What are some other neat things and or tips can anyone give me in learning and using this pedal?

[kevinmoore73]

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

Should i just bare with it and give it another chance?

Is there any way when i'm using a patch just to shut it off?

or do i have to make clean patches in between the others?

Any way to use it as a looper?

Sounds like it.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

Read the manual that came with it for answers to these questions and more.

[mothmonsterman]

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

Sounds like it.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

Read the manual that came with it for answers to these questions and more.

ahh but with your "yes"s, comes a catch eh? i need to pickup the external pedal. I ordered it and i'll see how it goes.

thanks though, manual started making sense the 3rd time i read it.

[CraigG]

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

Refreshing this thread because i bought one of these, played it for only a few hours.
With the money to ship it, and restock it i will only get about 1/2 of what a payed for it back.

Should i just bare with it and give it another chance?
I just found it a bit frustrating.
Is there any way when i'm using a patch just to shut it off? or do i have to make clean patches in between the others?
Any way to use it as a looper?

What are some other neat things and or tips can anyone give me in learning and using this pedal?

I can understand where you're coming from. I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with mine (well, maybe not that strong either way). There have been times I wished I had spent my money on something else but I just can't bring myself to part with it for the features I have come to appreciate. Here are the items I particularly like...

1. Good chorus/flange (the only effects I have ever really needed or appreciated on a bass - I'm not a big fan of drastically altering the sound of my bass).

2. Works OK as a DI. Not the greatest, but in a pinch, it's there if my amp decides to take a vacation (or if I send it on vacation).

3. Tuner (just wish the display was bright enough to see outdoors or under bright lights).

4. Headphone jack/drum machine. The drum machine was never meant for live play, but for practice with or without phones, it's helpful.

5. Battery powered. It's cool that I can take a pedal with so many features outdoors and practice without my amp.



As for shutting an effect off, if you press both switches simultaneously it will put you in bypass (BP) mode. That should bypass the effect. For someone like me, who only relies on a couple patches, it works great. I would think for someone who is patch-crazy, it could be a hassle to jump between patches that aren't in sequence.