is the zoom B2.1u worth it?

therex · #1 10-12-2008, 06:35 PM

i am playing directly to PA so but i noticed that when i played trough my guitard`s multifx the sound was so much clear and the PA speakers did not clip so i am looking for a cheap multifx
is the zoom B2.1u
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/b21u/index.php
better than the B1x?
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/b1/index.php
or is just looks?
also any suggestion for a cheap multifx would be great

PilbaraBass · #2 10-12-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therex

i am playing directly to PA so but i noticed that when i played trough my guitard`s multifx the sound was so much clear and the PA speakers did not clip so i am looking for a cheap multifx
is the zoom B2.1u
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/b21u/index.php
better than the B1x?
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/b1/index.php
or is just looks?
also any suggestion for a cheap multifx would be great

it is a great investment, IMO...

go B2.1u...don't mess around with the plastic B1

the trick to the zoom is to spend the time with it and learn how it operates...it's finicky...but it really does a nice job for the money...

Swift713 · #3 10-12-2008, 08:52 PM

The B2 was quite decent but the left foot switch has crapped out on me again. That's twice in two years.
I think the models are better than most of the modulation effects. I particularly liked the tuner, the compressor, and the delay but I've moved on and upgraded.

PilbaraBass · #4 10-12-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

The B2 was quite decent but the left foot switch has crapped out on me again. That's twice in two years.
I think the models are better than most of the modulation effects. I particularly liked the tuner, the compressor, and the delay but I've moved on and upgraded.

twice? wow...

I've had mine 2 years and no issues. I use mine about 6-8 hours / week...

ohh make sure you use a power supply, this thing will EAT batteries for a snack. I have batteries for emergency only

JimmyM · #5 10-13-2008, 02:31 AM

I just got a B2 and I'm loving it for everything except synth sounds...horrible tracking IMHO. But every other effect it has is pretty great.

Swift713 · #6 10-13-2008, 08:51 AM

Last time I was able to send it back under warranty, this time I'll have to figure out how to take it apart and clean it myself. Probably not difficult but it seems a little high maintenance. I don't have any other switches on my board that give me trouble.
It's a very powerful tool and an incredible bargain compared to individual pedals. I think I've spent about $300 on the 3 pedals I've replaced it with but I've yet to get a tuner and one of those was a gift.

Lync · #7 10-13-2008, 08:56 AM

The B2 series is great. For some who have been around it is hard to accept because 1. digital modeling just has maybe been "good enough" and 2. Zoom multi-effects were considered just toys.

The B2 sounds somewhat natural and in a band mix sounds great. You can tweak the synth tracking a bit, but yeah that is a weak point. For some playing tones and some overdrive though it is well worth the money.

varunkapahi · #8 10-13-2008, 10:00 AM

imo NO but thats just me. <- that was my answer to the topic

but a b2.1u would be way beter than the other one. dont know though, never liked anything by zoom. its nice to screw around for a while but soon you find it all waste

ihateusernames · #9 10-13-2008, 07:00 PM

well, you will find it it waste as you did but he may not as we did.

TimmyDX · #10 10-13-2008, 08:48 PM

the boss multi effects are a fair bit better imho...

the me-20 b was my first ever effect pedal and its preset mode is so incredibly useful 20 banks with 3 presets in each that you can replace with your own, its FAR less congested then the zooms too.

origami · #11 10-13-2008, 09:02 PM

I have the B2 (not the .1u with foot pedal) and i love it, it has replaced tons of my boss and digitech pedals and makes my teardown easier compared to dealing with lots of cords and batteries, etc..

i used to have tons of pedals on my board. now just my tuner, my digitech bass x distortion and the zoom B2. enough to get me through 99% of my gigs. it is a great buy. it has super fast patch changes, and that was a big selling factor to me.

i wish i had the b2.1u just for the pedal use.

i use the B2 both in studio and live. for live use i use a mild limiter to tame the hot output of my EBMM basses in my GK heads (which inputs seem to be a bit touchy). this solved some of my bass head's overreaction to heavy handed technique (or as i like to call it "rocking out") this saves speakers.

i also add an almost inaudable hint of chorus which adds a nice sparkle to the sound. i use the 'bassman' amp sim, but it doesn't matter too much. the octave tracks well, the flange and delay are cool. most of the other sounds are a bit gimmicky so i use them as fx sounds or novelty patches when needed.

i do not use the B2's distortions or tuner. i prefer seperate pedals for that. i also leave every other patch blank so i don't go from one effect to another so in a way the pedal is "sort of" on or off. it took some tweaking, but this pedal has been a life saver.

dunce180 · #12 10-13-2008, 09:50 PM

The b2 series is the best multi effect for the money. My only complaints are the overdrives are harsh, the compressor is a little to extreme even when toned down. Other than that its great. The amp sims are fantastic, you can get quite a few different sounds out of it, the sansamp and ampeg models really sound like the real thing. IT DOES however take some time tweaking to get a good sound. So if you do get it dont expect great sounds at the start.

AllenBass7 · #13 10-13-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therex

i am playing directly to PA so but i noticed that when i played trough my guitard`s multifx the sound was so much clear and the PA speakers did not clip so i am looking for a cheap multifx
is the zoom B2.1u
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/b21u/index.php
better than the B1x?
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/b1/index.php
or is just looks?
also any suggestion for a cheap multifx would be great

i bought the b1 as my very first effects pedal. it works pretty good all things considered. gives you alot to work with for a cheap multi. so i'd recommend that.

but DEFINITELY DO NOT get the b1x. it's a waste of money and space. the foot pedal is about 5 inches long and goes up and down about an inch making it impossible for anyone to practically use. my friend got one and he says it's totally useless. i tried it and agreed with him

so save yourself the trouble

Syeknom · #14 10-14-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunce180

The b2 series is the best multi effect for the money. My only complaints are the overdrives are harsh, the compressor is a little to extreme even when toned down. Other than that its great. The amp sims are fantastic, you can get quite a few different sounds out of it, the sansamp and ampeg models really sound like the real thing. IT DOES however take some time tweaking to get a good sound. So if you do get it dont expect great sounds at the start.

I absolutely couldn't stand the B2's overdrive/distortion settings - way too thin, tinny and harsh. Great effects elsewhere though!

PilbaraBass · #15 10-14-2008, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I just got a B2 and I'm loving it for everything except synth sounds...horrible tracking IMHO. But every other effect it has is pretty great.

whoa...jimmy's on the B2 bandwagon...amazing...

I agree with you 100% about the synth sounds...

I also use my zoom to get some decent tones from my guitar, it works great to get those clean, bell-like strat tones...I can even get a slightly dirty tubey sound that works great for blues...

What I like about my B2.1u

1) USB Recording interface for recording
2) USB Recording interface for playing along w/ my computer .mp3 tracks
3) drum tracks for quickly working out little grooves
4) AMP sims (faves are Ampeg, Bassman, Tube, & Hartke)
5) Limiter (it's decent, I don't care for the compressor much)
6) Chorus
7) Reverb - spring and hall are particular nice (wish their was more "rooms")
8) Volume pedal, extremely useful live for doing swells
9) Tuner, very handy works with everything from my 5-string to my 6-string guitar
10) DI - I always run my DI to FOH through the zoom
11) EQ - pretty powerful, actually

What I don't like:
1) Synths don't track well
2) octaver is tricky to use
3) overdrive and fuzz tones are thin
4) hitting both switches for bypass is a bit cumbersome
5) Compressor isn't all that useful, really (tone sucker)
6) I don't have two...

Psychotic_Hell · #16 10-14-2008, 04:20 AM

I have one.

I like it so much that when i decided to go for single pedals, it kept that on because of the SWR tone thingy.

I must admit that it takes quite a bit of getting used to but when you finally work it out (took me a year :P) it is incredible.

The only thing is that my left foot switch has crapped out as well so i would say be careful with it.

JimmyM · #17 10-14-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

whoa...jimmy's on the B2 bandwagon...amazing...

Ya, after 10 years of compression as my only effect, I got a VT and realized how much I missed effects, but I didn't want a ridiculous board with too much stuff, so I got the Zoom because people on here said it switched presets quicker than any other. And it does. Haven't done much with its distortions, but I really like the octave fuzz preset

One issue I'm having, though, is volume consistency. Some of the effects have a noticeable volume boost, and I can't figure out how to lower them to keep consistency with my clean sound. So I'm all ears if you have any tips.

Swift713 · #18 10-14-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychotic_Hell

The only thing is that my left foot switch has crapped out as well so i would say be careful with it.

Have you opened it up? I really doubt it's a mechanical problem, they're pretty well built. It's not a matter of being careful but of being lucky. Those little circuit board switches can go bad somehow and then that's that.

Jimmy, you can adjust the level of each patch by turning down the right hand knob in play mode and then saving. You'd think it would be the level in the control module but that's the universal master.

I did kind of like the Zoom's compression, yes it's a bit obvious, I kept mine at 1, 3, 80, and it does suck a little tone but it's very forgiving as far as input level and is very low noise.

Puru · #19 10-14-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

I did kind of like the Zoom's compression, yes it's a bit obvious, I kept mine at 1, 3, 80, and it does suck a little tone but it's very forgiving as far as input level and is very low noise.

I had given up on the compressor, but from Swift I learned that as you back off on the amp modeling level, the compressor sort of normalizes and works pretty well. If you use a high level of amp modeling the compressor is too strong for my tastes. I tried using the B2 as a compressor-only with my M80, and it was not bad. I still prefer my Optotomp though. I dig the flanger in it-sounded great recorded.

JimmyM · #20 10-14-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

Jimmy, you can adjust the level of each patch by turning down the right hand knob in play mode and then saving. You'd think it would be the level in the control module but that's the universal master.

Thank you for that. Boy, that manual makes it difficult to find anything. You'd think it would be under "editing a patch," but it's under "selecting a patch." Ridiculous...it's as if someone who speaks a foreign language wrote it!