Getting my first pedal...

[MSUsousaphone]

I had a Boss GT10-B. My first "pedal" ever (tuner is a cliched answer as you can get a headstock tuner....kinda....dumb....) and I liked it a lot. Was a PAIN to flip, though. It was some good amp sims.

But if I didn't have an amp and was playing through a PA, I would jump all over the B3 (and this sounds dumb since I'm selling one...but I'm selling an M5, too. Haha). The amp sims would be awesome. Especially being in a cover band. You could get a different amp sound loaded up on their at the flick of a switch. From fat, hifi, even mudddy ampeg. It's al in there.

 

[chuck norriss]

Gentlemen and ladies,
I have been playing out for about 2 years now in a local cover band and I have never owned a pedal. I'm setting some money aside this week for my first pedal purchase. I will use about $200.

The Zoom B3 really intrigues me. Would this be a good 'all in one' to start with or would I get more out of some single pedals?

Thanks all

Going from no effects to many at once out of the blue? Why? I'm down to a preamp & a tuner. I voted one pedal. If I were to get one at or under $200 I'd get an EHX Holy Grail--very pretty reverbs if that's useful to you--or a Markbass Compressore (lovely tube comp). Maybe another WTDI for gain boost/eq but it's problematic. But I'm just a caveman.
Get what you need. Buy what you like. Eat what you kill.

 

[meatwad]

I propose a 2 step approach:

First: Pick up a B3. It will help you figure out what effects are practical and which ones you use regularly. It is also a great practice/recording tool.

Second: When you figure out your essential effects, if you so desire, you can try and acquire the high-end, single pedal versions of those. You will likely always have a use for a B3.

I have owned their B2, B2.1u and B9.1ut pedals and now the B3. It's great. It's the only thing I have on the floor and it does me just fine. I'm not using it for crazy distortions and all that insanity. I use it for more subtle effects, like compression, thickening up my EUB, a little old-school dirt and for eq'ing for strange backline setups. IT also sits on my desk as a USB I/O for practicing.

Big +1, though I have no EUB experience.

 

[Musicphan]

I've used a handful of pedals - multi & singles... I have finally settled on a mixture. I had in the past the Zoom B2.1u and was not really impressed. The B3 has changed my opinion on multi effects. I use a stand alone Env Filter, Oc-2, Distortion, Compressor and at the end of the chain is my B3. I love the flexibility, no tone suck and ease of use. I couldn't be happier... in fact I was singing the praises of my B3 to a fellow musician last night. GO FOR IT!

 

[Colonel129]

Tuner, Chorus, Fuzz... those were my first pedals. I still have the old DOD Bass Stereo Chorus... nostalgia sake really, but the tuner and fuzz has since been upgraded, and upgraded... and upgraded so enjoy the search!!!

 

[PlungerModerno]

Can't you get a used B2 for cheap? I got one new a while ago... It's got a bunch of fun features...

That or try the B3. or get it. It'll probably be resell-able for ok dosh!

 

[hibachiduck]

I have a Zoom B3. It's like an effects playground to try out things you normally wouldn't be able to try. I played about 6 shows with it and people seemed to like some of the sounds I got out of it. I may be selling mine soon as my rack covers everything I need now, so you can PM an offer on it if you're interested and want first dibs ;-)

 

[rapturebass]

Multi effects aren't really worth your time IMO. You'll just want to replace it in a little whiles anyway. Just spending your money on good single pedals that are pertinent to your needs. Quality over quantity. Plus at least IMO multi effects aren't really worth it because you only end up using a handful of effects. How badly did you need a bass flanger? YMMV but IME I've never been like "Oh man I could really use a flanger!" It's more of a novelty than anything, but a novelty not worth spending money on.

 

[stoic dan]

I'm going to counter something I read below - if this is your first foray into effects, get a multi-effects pedal. Try everything on there, see what works, what doesn't within your style and the music you play. Inevitably you will find one or two effects that you use more than the others, and those will be the single-effect pedals you'll want to put money into.

If you like weekend projects and the smell of solder, check out BYOC and build and decorate your own single-effects pedals when you know what you want. Have fun!

Dan

 

[meatwad]

I try not to fanboy on the B3 very often, but I gotta say, this is the most useful piece of outboard gear I've ever owned. I primarily bought it for, and love it as a PC interface for practicing at home. It also sounds great in front of my SVT during a band setting, with the chorus and wah fx being among my favorites. Everything about the B3 makes it an invaluable tool for most any bassist, IMHO.

 

[Crystalman85]

If you're looking to buy a great sounding multi-effects processor, the zoom b3 would be a good choice. it definitely has a good variety of effects, amp and cab models. it's real easy to find what sound you like.