Zoom B2.1u VS Hartke Bass Attack

lexxmexx · #1 06-10-2009, 01:17 PM

Ok, here's a noob question.

I am GASing for a new toy and I am wondering if anyone can enlighten me on their similarities and differences?

bassman1185 · #2 06-10-2009, 01:53 PM

Similarities: You turn them on and they make your bass sound different.

Differences: Everything else.

Seriously, I don't mean to be condescending, but it's totally apples to candy bars here. The Zoom is a digital multi-effect unit that simulates the sounds of different amplifiers, has a tuner built in, has a USB interface, and will function (If I remember right) as a headphone amp for practice. The Hartke is a preamp with a DI built in (So you can go straight to the mixing board in a live situation) and has the potential to work as an overdrive. It doesn't have any other fancy bells or whistles, but it does its thing pretty well.

Steveaux · #3 06-10-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

Similarities: You turn them on and they make your bass sound different.

Differences: Everything else.

Great ... first beer after work, and it's all over my laptop.

lexxmexx · #4 06-10-2009, 04:14 PM

Perhaps I didn't phrase my question properly. What I meant was that I already have the Zoom which I basically use it for tone setting purposes. I am just wondering if I get the Hartke, will it turn my Zoom into a white elephant in the tone shaping department?

Likewise, the Zoom seems to have more features than the Hartke, can the Zoom do what the Hartke does? Is the Hartke really unnecessary for me since I already have the zoom?

aus_bass · #5 06-10-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

Is the Hartke really unnecessary for me since I already have the zoom?

Yes.

bassman1185 · #6 06-11-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus_bass

Yes.

And no. The Hartke has the DI output, which is priceless when you're playing live. It's just more of a single use tool than the Zoom. If you're just practicing in your room or goofing around with friends, the Zoom will probably do what you need it to do. If you're playing live, the Bass Attack might be a useful item to have.

cheapbasslovin · #7 06-11-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

And no. The Hartke has the DI output, which is priceless when you're playing live. It's just more of a single use tool than the Zoom. If you're just practicing in your room or goofing around with friends, the Zoom will probably do what you need it to do. If you're playing live, the Bass Attack might be a useful item to have.

The Zoom B2.1u has an XLR out also. Not the B2, but the B2.1u does.

Marill · #8 06-11-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

Likewise, the Zoom seems to have more features than the Hartke, can the Zoom do what the Hartke does? Is the Hartke really unnecessary for me since I already have the zoom?

I agree with aus_bas on this one. Yes, if you already have the Zoom b2.1u, the Hartke is unnecessary.

I have owned both, and I am able to get sounds on the Zoom that to my ears sound exactly like the sounds that the Hartke can make.

If you don't have the Zoom, then by all means get the Hartke, it's a really good tone shaper at a very good price.

But if you already have the Zoom then there is no need for the Hartke. The Zoom can give you a lot more tonal options than the Hartke.

Both the Hartke and the Zoom B2.1u have XLR outputs.

wetzelman1 · #9 06-11-2009, 12:00 PM

I previously had the zoom b2 and then got the hartke attack. A friend left his zoom at my house so I used that and got some really great tones out of it. The kicker was really just the useability. I really didn't need all the effects, just needed a good tone driver, and it was kindof a pain in the ass to experiment with, going back and forth through knobs and settings and such. I wasn't really using it for its multieffects which is what it primarily is.

when we started recording, I decided I needed a better di option. Was going to get a sansamp but saw that troy sanders from mastodon uses the hartke attack and it was only $70, I bought it. I am extremely happy with the shift. It's extremely straight forward, very versatile, dependable (so far) and gives great tone and warmth to my ss amp.

If you're looking for tone, I'd say get the Hartke, if you want a multi, get the zoom. Good bang for the buck, but if you really like effects, you can't beat ind. pedals.

lexxmexx · #10 06-12-2009, 02:29 AM

Wow, thanks to everyone. That's basically what I need to know. I agree that the B2.1u is really hard to use, I have not even uncovered 50% of what it can do.

PilbaraBass · #11 06-13-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

Wow, thanks to everyone. That's basically what I need to know. I agree that the B2.1u is really hard to use, I have not even uncovered 50% of what it can do.

study the manual...and play as you read...

yes, hard to use...but I have mastered mine...it's a GREAT tool!

Lync · #12 06-13-2009, 09:02 AM

I own both (use either one with my Bose system).

The Zoom has so many cool features (and the tuner is really good). For an all-in-one box and if you like effects/different tones, it works very well.

The Hartke does the warm/grindy/tube thing, or you can get the Hartke modern tone (which I like) just using the shape function.

As for a set tone, the Hartke sounds better to me as it goes deeper and is more natural. The Zoom can sound good, although I notice some "yes, I'm digital" action going on when really listening to it. It also does not go as deep as the Hartke frequency-wise but this is not a bad thing as it helps it sit in the mix.

Speaking of which, in the mix the Zoom works fine with no noticable digital issues (with most of the presets).

I guess they are both pretty good for the price...do you need any extra effects or a tuner? If not, I would go Hartke. If you do, then Zoom is a great value.

bebop1 · #13 06-20-2009, 10:49 AM

I use both - the 2 of them are my pedal setup! I use the Hartke for tone development into the Zoom (as primarily a volume pedal, tuner and DI). I will use the occasional effect on the Zoom but the digital noise from the compression and noise gate preclude my use of it as a tone machine - I just use it for the rare delay or Wah effect.

I like the Hartke for tone development and tube warmth. It might get replaced for the Tech 21 VT pedal in the coming months, but I will likely stick to a 2-pedal setup. The Zoom alone is great as a multi-effect, but it's lack of on demand tone adjustment (the Hartke and VT pedals have real-time knobs) makes me need something more.

xikbastard · #14 06-24-2009, 02:42 AM

i use both as well.

the zoom primarily as a DI (some decent amp emulator for live situation), tuner, vol pedal, and occasionally as some modulation like a bit of delay, chrorus, etc.. not great for studio work but in a live situation is great and the hartke as a toneshapper of course for compressor and other stuff that the zoom doesn;t do well i got those pedals on my board.

Phaedrus · #15 10-30-2009, 04:19 AM

Hi,

My situation is the reverse of OP's - I have a VXL Bass Attack and am considering getting a B2.1u.

I've owned an ME-50B which I really liked - good user-interface, good sounds, but switching lag between patches was too noticeable live.

I also have a Korg DT-10 tuner.

So there are a few things I'd like to know about the B2.1u . . .

Can it be powered by 48v phantom power via its XLR output?

Is the compressor any use?

For overdrive tones, I really like my VXL, but I'd also use some chorus-type sounds and I want decent compression. I don't really need delay, octaver, or synth effects.

For what I want, I suspect separate pedals might be better - a chorus pedal, a compressor along with my VXL and DT-10.

But I do like to hit one pedal to activate one "sound", which could be a combination of chorus & overdrive. I'd balls it up if I have to hit both the VXL and a chorus pedal separately to activate that sound.

I don't want to turn this into a "multi-FX vs separate pedals" chat - I am interested in the B2.1u IF it has decent compression and chorus and can accept 48v phantom into its XLR output and has no patch-switching lag.

Thanks for any replies,

Mark

Lync · #16 10-30-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

Hi,

My situation is the reverse of OP's - I have a VXL Bass Attack and am considering getting a B2.1u.

I've owned an ME-50B which I really liked - good user-interface, good sounds, but switching lag between patches was too noticeable live.

I also have a Korg DT-10 tuner.

So there are a few things I'd like to know about the B2.1u . . .

Can it be powered by 48v phantom power via its XLR output?

Is the compressor any use?

For overdrive tones, I really like my VXL, but I'd also use some chorus-type sounds and I want decent compression. I don't really need delay, octaver, or synth effects.

For what I want, I suspect separate pedals might be better - a chorus pedal, a compressor along with my VXL and DT-10.

But I do like to hit one pedal to activate one "sound", which could be a combination of chorus & overdrive. I'd balls it up if I have to hit both the VXL and a chorus pedal separately to activate that sound.

I don't want to turn this into a "multi-FX vs separate pedals" chat - I am interested in the B2.1u IF it has decent compression and chorus and can accept 48v phantom into its XLR output and has no patch-switching lag.

Thanks for any replies,

Mark

The compressor when activated at its default settings may be a bit strong for some players. This can be adjusted with the compression settings and noise reduction however. So, yes, the compressor is fine IMO.

It can't be powered by phantom power though.

The Zoom is pretty cool and really at its price point is an amazing piece of technology.

PilbaraBass · #17 10-30-2009, 02:32 PM

compression on the zoom can be heavy-handed and it takes a bit of fiddling to understand it's controls...

the chorus is really quite good

patch switching is 8ms, virtually instantaneous

no phantom power... but when operating from a computer via USB is powered via USB cable (handy when recording or using zoom to practice to .mp3's )