trashing the zoom b2.1u

heavyfunkmachin · #1 09-15-2009, 09:26 AM

Hello!

First of all, I want to explain my situation; i was using the pb200 ,but after a few years, the left pedal failed on me and i decided to get another multieffect pedal, after reading many reviews i went for a zoom b2.1u and im starting to use it more and more… to notice some stuff i really dislike. I feel that with this unit there was a little bit of hype… anyway, i just want to let anyone interested in this unit know the downsides, imho, of this unit. Since mostreviews out there are bassed on the upsides and i dont believe they capture the “spirit” of a true review… anyway, i hop nobody gets offended…

First of all. ITS CRIPTIC!!!!
Prove of it is the cheat sheets running around.and the knobs are hard to interpret in a dark situation… and that 2 digit display… its killer.
The compressor sucks. It´s useless. In my mind, this unit does NOT have one. Period.
Reverb suck. All 3 o them. (IMHO once more). Ugly and very very unnatural. Just plain fugly.
Delay does not oscillates. If you change the time, it just goes silent. No fun in that. Plus, you cant choose 0 or infinite as values… you´re stuck between 1 and 99…
Volume pedal doesnt allways control the usefull variable…. Like in delay, you can controll with it the mix, instead of controlling the repeats… and to my feet it has very little movement… maybe its a downside from the compact size, but its so small that slightest movement makes a dramatic change.
Plus you cant set the max-min value on it. You can choose the max value from zero or the min value to max. BUT not if its functioning as a volume pedal, than you´re stuck with a zero-to-max volume pedal… i find it very very stupid. I really like setting it as a 70% to 100% volume pedal. But guess what, with this unit, i can´t.

NO autoswell (i reallly miss it form my bp200)
No whammy (i miss it too… why would i want 2 octaves down??? I just can´t get it)

Anyway, those are downsides from the top of my head. I understand that they could seem pointless to some of you… but maybe someone likes to know this stuff. I believe i’ve read properly the manual, but if any of my complains are not justified because i didn’t learn how to use this unit properly and you do, please, let me know. I’ll be thankfull.

wetzelman1 · #2 09-15-2009, 12:53 PM

I used one of these for a while. Good tone shaping and modeling capabilities, but like you said, kindof crappy as far as effects go.

Swift713 · #3 09-15-2009, 03:27 PM

I thought the models were pretty good on the B2 but some of the effects were noisy and the bypass was a little disturbing. I actually really liked the delays and while the compression wasn't real I actually like that as well. The big deal breaker for me was the bypass. There was always some kind of buffer or AD/DA compression or something so that my clean tone was never natural and it messed with other pedals downstream as it were.

Hector_G · #4 09-15-2009, 04:23 PM

yeah.... 2 octaves down? Really? I never use that function. Well.... if I ever wanted to destroy my speakers at a show... I would.

Crystalman85 · #5 09-15-2009, 07:35 PM

I agree that there some minor drawbacks with the zoom b2.1u. I once bought the zoom b2.u1 and I was disappointed with the minor drawbacks this multi-effect unit has. the distortion channels are quieter than the amp models(which is a major bummer. I did like some of the distortion channels it has). the amp models tend to distort(like the distortion channels, I did like some of the amp models). I tried everything to make sound more clean. nothing.

their compressor makes a loud whistling noise. that whistling noise is cause by the gain control. even when I turn it down, there still some whistling noise. also their modulation effects are a little generic sounding. the modulation effects on the digitech bp200 sounds more organic compare to the zoom b2.1u. disappointed by those minor draw backs, I ended up returning it. although I do give the zoom b2.1u credit for it's distortion channels and amp models, I am disappointed with the minor drawbacks this multi-effect unit has. a few months after I returned the zoom b2.1u, I bought a korg "toneworks" ax3000b and I very satisfied with it. I definitely recommend toneworks to anyone looking for a good multi-effects processor.

JimmyM · #6 09-15-2009, 10:20 PM

Good sounding effects cost money.

heavyfunkmachin · #7 09-16-2009, 03:39 AM

I truthly believe that a little more brains/time in R&D would have benefit greatly this unit... like the first pot in control mode, id does exactly the same as the volume pedla asign buttom....

WHY!!!???!!

its stupid and redundant

Hector_G · #8 09-16-2009, 06:30 PM

Despite some weird things about the pedal, I still like it and use it. It's part of my board. It has WAY too many good things to offer. Good outweigh the bad in my opinion.
I use pretty much everything on it. Indeed it is cryptic. But once you've had the practice with it, the possibilities are almost endless. There is way more to it than what the manual covers. There is so much you can experiment with in terms of mixing the different effects. There is a whole other manual you can write on that thing.

But everything you stated above is true. But of course, for the money... you just can not beat it.

cheapbasslovin · #9 09-16-2009, 10:24 PM

If you get a momentary switch, you can get it to do a delay hold which is kinda like an infinite feedback....in a way.

You're not wrong about the rest, but the price to performance ratio combined with its' small form factor is what make it a deal, IMO. I still think it's a deal as an 'everything else' pedal to cover the sounds that aren't 'your tone' but still come in handy from time to time.

Full disclosure I have the G2.1u (for octaves up on the HOG), not the B2.1u but I've used the red one and thought it sounded better than my old ME-50B.

JimmyM · #10 09-16-2009, 10:31 PM

Well part of the reason I went with the B2 instead of the B2.1u is because I thought if the effects weren't up to snuff, I wouldn't be out any real money. I might be inclined to agree with the OP if I got the more expensive model, but for $100 you can't beat it. I found quite a few usable sounds in it. I was all about the fuzz face model in it. Real trashy. Tweaking isn't so hard once you get used to it, but there is a learning curve.

Swift713 · #11 09-16-2009, 10:41 PM

Using a multi like the Zoom is very different from using single pedals. Tweaking and programing require premeditated choices as opposed to a straight forward selection of individual pedals. I was never happy with any given arrangement of patches, I had a hard time prioritizing and choosing which patch to put next to which. I do miss certain luxuries like multiple delays and some of the tones that I wouldn't want to buy a separate pedal for like tremolo or the sansamp model.

heavyfunkmachin · #12 09-17-2009, 04:25 AM

I really think this multi pedal has great possibilities, it’s just that It bothers me that they could do it and they didn’t… like the tremolo… you can’t tap the tempo on the external footswitch unless you’ve dial it the function… but wouldn’t it be way more useful if you could call the tremolo patch and use the external footswitch to tap the tempo to the song and then use the volume pedal to mix the tremolo sound with the original one???

But no…. you can’t do that… this is a case of BAD PROGRAMMING.

What bothers me is to have the possibility and not use it… this could have been a GREAT pedal board. I find it frustrating.

I dont know if i actually want to keep this pedal... i starting to develop bitterness... but at the same time i dont see any other compact pedal that I can substitut it for.... maybe buy another bp200... i dont know... still getting to know it.

Nyarlathotep · #13 09-17-2009, 07:56 AM

I have the B2. I don't see why you would complain about control.

100ish bucks WILL NOT get you something like the GT-10B with a 3" (IIRC) LCD screen and ways to assign 4-5 pedals to whatever values you want 10 ways to sunday.

100 bucks gets you a 2 digit calculator display and the ability to assign the one exp (and possibly a footswitch if you've got the .1u version) to one value from the selection that the programmers decided on.

For the most part the B2 is being used as a doorstop (seriously

), but if I was ever going on a holiday and could take my bass, the B2 would be coming. It can run off batts, is pretty compact for a multi, and makes a nice headphone amp/interface/whatever.

cheapbasslovin · #14 09-17-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

I really think this multi pedal has great possibilities, it’s just that It bothers me that they could do it and they didn’t… like the tremolo… you can’t tap the tempo on the external footswitch unless you’ve dial it the function… but wouldn’t it be way more useful if you could call the tremolo patch and use the external footswitch to tap the tempo to the song and then use the volume pedal to mix the tremolo sound with the original one???

But no…. you can’t do that… this is a case of BAD PROGRAMMING.

What bothers me is to have the possibility and not use it… this could have been a GREAT pedal board. I find it frustrating.

I dont know if i actually want to keep this pedal... i starting to develop bitterness... but at the same time i dont see any other compact pedal that I can substitut it for.... maybe buy another bp200... i dont know... still getting to know it.

Edit::: Pay no mind to this post, it formerly contained all kinds of false information leading readers to believe that the Zoom products were more awesome than they are.

heavyfunkmachin · #15 09-17-2009, 09:03 AM

Uhm...

either I didnt uderstood you or one of us is wrong.

say you store a tremolo as only effect with footswitch as "tap tempo" in patch a3.

then, when playing in a1, if you want tremolo you switch to patch a3. but the footswitch wont be controlling the rate unless you twist the first knob to the tremolo module.

cheapbasslovin · #16 09-17-2009, 09:27 AM

Well now I am just stupid. I thought that I had done this with delays. The evidence (I just went out and tested in a more scientific fashion) no longer supports my theory. It would seem that I like to play most stuff at about the same tempo.

Continue with your bashing of the Zoom products.

Swift713 · #17 09-17-2009, 09:51 AM

IIRC, if the external pedal is set for tap it's set for tap no matter what patch you're on. It would have been nice if the control module was saved for each patch but IIRC it was not. I just used it for tap all the time anyway. As Daniel said, it's a great pedal for $100 and really convenient for grab-n-go. My current 5 pedal board would cost 10 times that price new and no one else cares how much better I think it sounds.

higgi · #18 09-17-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

I really think this multi pedal has great possibilities, it’s just that It bothers me that they could do it and they didn’t… like the tremolo… you can’t tap the tempo on the external footswitch unless you’ve dial it the function… but wouldn’t it be way more useful if you could call the tremolo patch and use the external footswitch to tap the tempo to the song and then use the volume pedal to mix the tremolo sound with the original one???

But no…. you can’t do that… this is a case of BAD PROGRAMMING.

I have a B2 and I modified a stereo volume pedal to work as expression pedal and as a through plug for a normally closed foot switch to function as external foot switch. I can use the volume pedal to control volume of the b2 and the external foot switch as a tap tempo.

You can save an individual patch function for the expression such as volume or some other function, and overall system function for the foot switch.

So for your tremolo patch set the module selector switch to control then, turn parameter one knob to Vl. Then turn parameter 2 knob to tP. Save the patch. Now for all patches the external foot switch is a tap tempo, and for just that patch the expression pedal is a volume pedal.

heavyfunkmachin · #19 09-18-2009, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by higgi

Now for all patches the external foot switch is a tap tempo, and for just that patch the expression pedal is a volume pedal.

UHMM.... NO.

If you do that, next time you call the tremolo patch the footswitch wont cotrol a thing unless you dial the tremolo with the first pot. so you cant do it while playing.

higgi · #20 09-23-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

UHMM.... NO.

If you do that, next time you call the tremolo patch the footswitch wont cotrol a thing unless you dial the tremolo with the first pot. so you cant do it while playing.

I can get two different functions at the same time with this set up. Do you have the b2.1u, I have the b2?

I use the foot switch to start and stop the drum machine and the expression pedal to control a parameter on my b2. The expression pedal send/receive jack looks for resistance change and for short circuit at the same time. I had to mod a volume pedal and a foot switch to do this on the b2, the B2.1u may be different since the expression pedal is built in.