Zoom B1 - Do you like this effect?

[kimokeo]

Let me first say, I have never been one for using effects. The reason I am thinking about using the Zoom B1 is the ease of going to practice. I am tired of hauling an amp back and forth to practice. So, I am looking at buying the zoom, run it into the board, and use it just for our weekly get together sessions. Do you like this particular pedal, what are some of the pro's and cons, etc. Thanks!

[oldcatfish]

I use a Zoom B2 for that, and to change the tone of an amp I don't like. I play at several different churches...some of their amps are decent, some of them are not so great. Often I run the Zoom through a DI and just use the amp as a stage monitor.

I like the B2 a lot, and I would bet that the overall tone and effects on the B1 would be similar...probably just a little less sturdy.

I don't use a lot of effects either...just the tuner, eq, amp models, and sometimes the compressor/limiter. The other effects just get occasional use to fool around with at home. The big cons are that you have limited control over the effects, and that there is no cd/mp3 input--at least not on the B2. Not sure about the B1.

[deste]

Hmm...
Bought a B1 just yesterday.
I simply needed something to play at home at night: went for a Vox Amplug, this costed more or less the same with a lot of stuff more, so I took it home (don't mind about the size).
I usually don't use effects, but they may be useful sometimes, who knows?
I plan to use it when teaching, going to the PA without carrying the amp with me.

To tell the truth: I haven't fully explored it yet, but at a first sight I have seen much better effects, and I'd never use it in a highly pro live gig (I remember fighting with the engineer for my tuner's noise...). On the other side, is unexpensive and it seems to work.

[bassbrad]

The B1 is okay but if you can swing it the B2 offers a whole lot more control and slightly better sound.

[Bassmike62]

I bought a Zoom B1 3 years ago as a way for me to explore effects and for that purpose, it worked perfectly. As for the quality of its sound(s), errrrr..... well.... not very good IMO for the most part, so I would never play in public with it, except as a tuner. Rehearsals ? Yeah, I'd use it. In its defense, I found it did have a decent SansAmp sim, so I ended up getting a PBDDI. I still use it as a rythm machine for solo practice. Works well in that function.

[Swift713]

I found the B2 was pretty good. The delays were nice, I liked the envelope filter, tremolo, some pitch shifting, etc. It's not gourmet and it might not get "that sound" that's in your head but it will provide a pallet of sounds to play with. I liked some of the amp sims as well. In fact, the sansamp sim was pretty cool. Also, the drum patterns were pretty useful for those who don't want to get all involved with a drum machine.

[kimokeo]

Thanks for your advice and input. I can buy the unit for around 45 bucks, so, I am not spending a lot of money, plus, I would never use it in a live gig. It is simply going to be used to patch in and use through the monitors in a rehearsal setting.

[MNAirHead]

I'd still hold out for a b2.1u.

I've owned them both