• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Zoom B3 - First Look

Musicphan

Musicphan

Oct 11, 2008
149
1
#1
OK folks... the new Zoom B3 arrived yesterday!! WOOHOO. I've only had an hour or so playing with it so I'm far from an expert but figured some folks may be interested.

Ahh the new B3 being unboxed...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The first thing I noticed about the new pedal is its color - its different than other Zoom bass pedals (b2,9, etc). THis version is darker and has a slight purple tint to it. Honestly, red Wine colored seems about right.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The side profile - the pedal has a slight tilt to it making the viewing angle. No issue seeing the pedals close up.. but due to the LCD's all be monochrome its a little hard to see when your a few feet away (plus I have old man eyes).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Next the rear input section... one slight concern I had was the passive/active switch in the back of this pedal. I was concerned about knowing what mode I was in when I was in front of the pedal. Fortunatley Zoom shows you what mode your in on the middle LCD screen. I haven't used any output except the Mono out to my amp. It appears there is some ECO power mode.. need to see what that's about. NOTE - the input for the power is recessed - you will need a straight barrel power supply (vs. right angle).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This photo is the tuner... you simply hold the middle pedal switch down. THe middle LCD shows you what string your tuning.. the right LCD allows you to adjust your tuning pitch. The row of lights above the LCD's (one red light on) shows you if your sharp/flat...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Next up the Looper... works pretty slick and you don't need the damn manual like Boss pedals. Click on the left pedal and you are now in record mode... if you had the drum machine on it will give you a pre-record countdown.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Looper in record mode... left LCD shows your recording progress... clicking the switch starts to play the loop. You can always click on the middel pedal and it will put you back in REC mode. It works slick .... you can have a drum beat going on... lay down a beat... click on the right pedal switch and change effects pedals... then go back to Loop mode and laydown more funk.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Holding down the left switch puts you in patch mode... here is where you can select a specific pre-defined patch. A patch in this world is simply the combination of 3 effects pedals and their pre-defined levels. I assume you can store patches... but I have yet to get that far.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The patch in effect... this particular one is the Victor Wooten - W10 Stepup. You will see each of the LCD's are in effect and the default levels of have been selected. If you want to change out one of the effect pedals you simply select the Type (Up/Down) buttons. It will then scroll through all of the available effects/amp pedals. For each effect it has level settings which can be adjusted by the 3 knobs below the screens. If there are more than 3 variables on the effects pedal you can scroll through the other settings but clicking on the Page button.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Crappy little video of me powering it up and showing how you can change the effects levels via the knobs. Can't get it to embed so here is the link

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Overall I'm pretty impressed with it. The sound quality of the effects seem to be fairly good (at least as good as my b2). I don't have a lot of sonic references to compare to (I know the B9 has higher sampling rate). I don't notice any signifcant tone suck when all of the effects are off. One thing which was slightly dissapointing was the drum machine... its easier to use than a B2 but it appears to be pretty much the same. Sonically the drum sound quality is just fair/OK. Not bad, but I was hoping for an upgrade.
 
#14
I'm curious about the delay in switching patches:

* Currently using Patch 1
* Press-n-hold patch select to enter patch select mode while still playing via Patch 1
* Press up arrow button once to select next patch, Patch 2, while still playing
* What happens? Do you get interruption in sound? Does it instantly set to Patch 2 as soon as you press the up button? Or does it wait a second or two? Is there a 1 second empty effect-less spot during the transition?
 
#15
gastric said:
I'm curious about the delay in switching patches:

* Currently using Patch 1
* Press-n-hold patch select to enter patch select mode while still playing via Patch 1
* Press up arrow button once to select next patch, Patch 2, while still playing
* What happens? Do you get interruption in sound? Does it instantly set to Patch 2 as soon as you press the up button? Or does it wait a second or two? Is there a 1 second empty effect-less spot during the transition?
Click to expand...

I am also curious. I'm currently acquiring individual pedals because I have this issue with the Yamaha Magic Stomp- if the B3 transitions seamlessly between patches, it would make my setup much simpler and save a lot of money (not to mention add fun toys like a looper, which I've wanted to play with but can't justify buying).
 
#16
Savage_Dreams said:
any info on when is it coming out here?
Click to expand...

From my understanding... announcement is NAMM and shipping Q1. That was the best info I could find out...

champbassist said:
The delay/reverb channels seem to be far more varied than anything previously released in the B line. Are these a step up from the B2?
Click to expand...

Honestly couldn't answer this.. didn't use it much when I had the B2.

AJ Brown said:
How's the noise from it? In my experience a lot of Zoom stuff is noisy.
Click to expand...

Seems to be quieter than the B2. I bought a foot switch to put the B2 into bypass so I never felt it was an issue. Overall effects sound fairly decent (certainly not analog)


Askia said:
One thing, really makes me curious, if you can dial in the same pedal two or three times? Like three graphic eq pedals (so you can set three different sounds, and switch in and out)?
Click to expand...

Yes

Regarding switch patches... I'm trying to figure that out... the manual is in Japanese so I need to pull down the English manual. On the top row (not foot switches) there is an up/down for patches... when I do that it instantly changes to the new patch and no lag. There has to be a way to use foot switches to change patches... need to read the manual.

Recordings .. no promises but I will try.
 
#18
the manual says to push and hold button 1, then you can use 2 and 3 to switch patches.

I guess a big question I have is if you switch to a different patch with all 3 pedal sections setup, will it start with all 3 pedals in their 'ON' state? This seems important to jump to a different patch during a song.

The next question from thinking about my first one is can you store which pedal are 'ON'/'OFF' in a patch. for example switch to a patch that has pedals 1 and 2 'ON' and 3 'OFF' until you need to push the #3 button to manually turn 'ON' #3?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back