Is There Life After the Zoom B3?

[lat]

For $20 you can get a clip on tuner and just roll off your volume knob to tune and roll it back on when you’re in tune. And really, that should only need to happen once during a gig, MAYBE twice if it’s a long gig with a poor quality instrument, I don’t know anything about those basses. I have a simple (less is more) one bass, amp, no pedals setup of all high end stuff (maybe $6k Street value for bass/amp) and the little clip on tuner does a great job, no overpriced stomp box tuner necessary. And you’re not locked into standing in one place staring at the floor to tune.

True that.
I do have a Snark clip-on that I use when banging around at home, but only bring that as a backup at gigs. My basses stay in tune nicely, so once they are in tune, the only time I have to revisit that during a gig is if I bonk something with my headstock, which is rarely.

I typically follow the philosophy of form following function, so maybe I need to step back and reconsider exactly what I am trying to accomplish on stage. I need certain effects for specific songs, so the effects I listed in the OP are still valid, but maybe the tuner issue is merely me trying to look 'professional' without adding any value to the process. Food for thought.

 

[Kevorargh]

I used the BOSS GT-10B or whatever it is called for years, so I can recommend the BOSS stuff. However, in the end, I have stopped using it live. I find it easier to deal with just my amp for the tones I want (the Mesa D800+ has a ton of tonal options, and the HPF and Voicing controls give me almost everything I would want except for a true distortion). I can mute the amp and use a Snark tuner if I need to tune.

I love playing with my BOSS at home, but I rarely take it out anymore.

 

[lat]

My B3 doesn’t mute at all while tuning

Hmm... weird, do you hold it down for 2 seconds, to engage the mute?
Holding it down for 1 second engages the tuner with no mute. 2 seconds mutes. At least on mine...

 

[loveandbass]

Hmm... weird, do you hold it down for 2 seconds, to engage the mute?
Holding it down for 1 second engages the tuner with no mute. 2 seconds mutes. At least on mine...

Well would you look at that! You learn something new everyday! Thanks

 

[lat]

maybe the tuner issue is merely me trying to look 'professional' without adding any value to the process. Food for thought.

After another coffee, (beautiful morning here, btw) nope. I would still be annoyed by having to grab the snark, and mess with my volume setting. Having access to a dedicated tuner would give me instant access to tuning, plus a mute function that doesn't require me to reset the volume on the bass to it's previous level, once done. Minor points I know, but I like to stay focused when I'm on stage, so those little things that I don't have to worry about are relatively important to me.

 

[Big Hoss]

I am no virtuoso, and I barely use the B3, BUT... I found the tuner on my B3 to be functional, yet annoying. I have a snark pedal tuner on my board because it is MUCH faster, and easier for my bad eyes to see especially during daytime shows with lights in my face...

I use a couple of patches that are easy enough to scroll to, that allow me to kick over in transition between songs for various tonal effects.

Long story short, I am happy enough with the B3, but my demands are somewhat limited...

It should be noted I went to the B3 after being thoroughly confused by the operation of, and ticked off by a Digitech BP50 that I bought in 2003. The guy I sold it to, loves it. I never could figure it out and thus, hated it...

 

[Session1969]

My first foray into the world of bass effects was the Zoom B3. At the time, it was a GREAT investment and I don't at all regret getting it.

Four years later, now that I've grown as a bass player and know more about what I want and don't want in a pedal setup, I'm beginning to feel somewhat constrained by the B3.

It all started with the tuner component. I am finding it more and more annoying, having to press and wait for a couple of seconds before it mutes. Would much rather have a separate tuner that engages and mutes immediately upon being stomped. Not a massive deal, but when on stage, a couple of seconds can seem like an eternity...

The tuner was the proverbial hole in the dyke. Now, I'm beginning to rethink how happy I am with the effects that I use on the B3, namely:

MComp / 160 Comp
Octave / Mono Pitch
Bass Muff
Arena Reverb
Bass BB / Bottom B (not really necessary)
Flanger (not really necessary)
Vibrato (not really necessary)

I know the cost difference between the B3 and individual pedals tells me to shut up and be happy with the B3, but now that the B3n is out, along with things like the GT-1B, I am gassing a bit for an upgrade / change.

So, the question to myself is, should I go for a setup like Tuner, Compressor, Octaver, Distortion, Reverb or go for an upgrade to the B3, or just be content with my current lot in life?

Yes, the answer is "It depends" on what my specific circumstances are.

My question to you fine folks is, what has your experience been?
Anyone out there evolve away from the B3 and have any comments to share?
Did you regret opening up this Pandora's box, or in your experience is the improvement in sound, customizability, immediate access to controls worth the added expense?

My experience is that digital multi effect units make my basses sound thin in a live mix. They're great for learning about the vast variety of effects that are out there, though !

 

[Session1969]

If you want synthy you should really check out the Future Impact. It's not an Octave pedal, but it has octaver+filter+distortioin+chorus+EQ and those aren't even the main function. It's an amazing synth, best I've ever tried. It is one of the two pedals I mentioned earlier that I didn't sell after getting a Helix.

Man, that sounds great !

 

[DanGroove]

My experience is that digital multi effect units make my basses sound thin in a live mix. They're great for learning about the vast variety of effects that are out there, though !

That’s been my experience with any of them i ever tried prior to the Helix as well. I’ve said it in other threads as well, but I think digital FX have finally “gotten there”. I would never use one in the past. There was a guitar player that would sometimes sit in with one of my old bands that had one and I couldn’t stand his tone. It was as if someone was on stage playing a toy guitar.

But the newest stuff is phenomenal. What really pushed me over was watching tube amp guitar aficionados go into blind “taste tests” with a Kemper confident that they would easily know the difference and miss 2 times out of 3, admitting that they really couldn’t tell the difference and we’re having to guess.

Now it is still my experience that all effects can make a bass sound thin in a mix, and that’s why parallel processing is such a valuable tool when using effects.

 

[Thumpr]

Yes, I neglected to mention the third option... add single pedals as needed to complement the B3. I've toyed with the idea of getting a Boss TU-3 to stop me whining about accessing the Zoom tuner (plus it's more accurate). But, I could just put that money into another multi-effects pedal such as the Line6 HX (Thanks for the lead, @gregmon79 )...

Not really leaning toward individual pedals... Let's just say I am intrigued by the possibilities they present, but am equally wary of the pitfalls of moving over to what appears to be greener grass, only to find snakes (in the form of patch cables) lurking there... hmm...

This is exactly what I am doing right now, oddly. I like the choruses, delays, and front ends of the b3. The looper is too simplistic and too many clicks to get back in and out from, and the octave is IMO meh. With the B3, a ditto x2, and an octamizer I am getting close. I am still adding a DG x7, it’s inbound. May get the expression pedal, maybe no. Maybe a separate envelope filter, maybe no. I will play with it all then pick a board and PSU that fits when the verdict is in and mount it all up.

 

[BrentSimons]

I really enjoyed my B3 for the most part? I don't usually use many effects other than the occasional chorus, flange or phaser and maybe an octave here and there so I wasn't limited with the 3 effect maximum.
I completely gave in to GAS when the 3n came out. I really didn't need to switch but I ended up selling the B3 and picked up a 3n. The "aux in" was one of the selling points for me. I had been running the B3 into a small Behringer mixer and then plugging my iPod into it for practice which worked great and took up very little real estate but enough to slightly bug me.
But I never really bonded with the B3n? I was bummed that they made the screen size smaller and as silly as it is I missed the pedal graphics/icons? I thought those were well done.My old(er) eyes really liked those big screens on the B3! Many said the dirts were an improvement as well as the amp/cab modeling. But I just felt , meh? I did like the ability to put the drum machine on a foot switch in "stomp" mode but never really used it much?
So now I've sold the B3n and I'm looking for something else. I've considered the HX Stomp but its probably far too much for my needs. Go back to the GK Plex? Maybe. I really like "all in one solutions". I had hopes for the Fender Downtown Express but it's missing a few key convenience items for me. I would like to hear one though.
Who knows maybe I'll pick up a Zoom MS-60B? Ah its good to be a bass player with so many choices these days!
Best wishes to all,
Brent

 

[bearfoot]

I love what I can do with the GT-10B. In my observation, these can be found in the used market in very nice condition, and they are metal-cased, long-lasting gear.

Downside is, it's as large as an RC-50 looper. For now, I use a hardshell suitcase and foam to transport it.

 

[bassbrad]

Just a suggestion dude. Settle down. I’ve seen plenty of guys use small boards for a multi and a tuner or exp or whatever. It’s easier to set up and take down when you’re on stage too. I’d prefer a board with a couple pedals over not one any day for those reasons. Different strokes, different folks. It’s ok man.

The reason you'll see pros not using a pedal board is due to travel restrictions, most carry the few pedals they use in carry on luggage. Most pros these days travel very light and many gigs are flyaway with a bass or two and a carry on, play 1-3 gigs and back home or return to a temporary home base. Getting a fixed pedal board through airport security and customs can be a real MF hassle, just easier to carry loose after you have one bad experience. This is also the reason a lot of players tour with common pedals instead of boutique, just easier to replace if necessary.

 

[bassbrad]

I wonder...

Do any of the multi-effects pedals have an option to save multiple profiles, so that you can have effects settings specific to individual basses? My P-bass, J-bass and active bass all respond differently to various effects, so having an individual profile for each bass would be a game-changer.

EDIT:
Another way to do it would be to assign all the P-bass effects to the A-bank, J-bass to the B-bank, etc... but that would entail duplications of effects with small tweaks per bass, which could lead to confusion if, for example, you were accidentally on effect B1 instead of A1. Would be nice to change the profile to P-bass and all you would see would be effects that have been tweaked for that particular bass.

This is how my B2 is set up, most sounds are for my #1 + # 2 basses & there are sounds specifically for my fretless bass, my eub, my G3 but I can use all the sounds by adding an EQ in front for a little help for those basses.

 

[bassbrad]

Believe it or not, after buying the B3 when it was new, I very soon realized (for my tone) that my old B2 pedal was WAY more usable in the band context than the B3!
The B3 sounds ok when played alone or even while recording but in band situation... the B2 cuts through lightyears better than the B3. I think it depends on what you need a pedal for.
I don't need amp simulations - I do have a good amp. I just take my bass sound and put the effects on it that I need. So I only need some 2-3 different distortions, the softest one to be my basic sound. One or two crazy effects for special parts of a song and there you go. Life (live) after B3 for me means...B2. Bought a second unit and copied the sound to it. In my case live. All I need.

Yep still using my B2 -B2.1u and have a third B2 just full of synth sounds, for live it just fits my needs better. Plus in a pinch it's all I 'really' need for my money gigs: bass+cable+power supply +B2.1u=$

 

[Chicory Blue]

I actually ended up swapping my B3 for a B1on. More options to fiddle with at once and so much more portable I can scarcely begin to believe it. When I head back to town to jam with my family, I’ll oftentimes skip the mini-pedalboard completely and just bring the B1on instead.

--^@

 

[gregmon79]

The reason you'll see pros not using a pedal board is due to travel restrictions, most carry the few pedals they use in carry on luggage. Most pros these days travel very light and many gigs are flyaway with a bass or two and a carry on, play 1-3 gigs and back home or return to a temporary home base. Getting a fixed pedal board through airport security and customs can be a real MF hassle, just easier to carry loose after you have one bad experience. This is also the reason a lot of players tour with common pedals instead of boutique, just easier to replace if necessary.

I get it. I wasn't going there. I just didn't feel that post's reaction wasn't warranted relative to my statement is all. I can totally see why some pros don't for sure. Flying with gear sucks. And it's expensive.

Besides, none of this discussion in this thread needed to go where it did. I was simply asking the OP if he uses a board. That's all.

 

[bassbrad]

I get it. I wasn't going there. I just didn't feel that post's reaction wasn't warranted relative to my statement is all. I can totally see why some pros don't for sure. Flying with gear sucks. And it's expensive.

Besides, none of this discussion in this thread needed to go where it did. I was simply asking the OP if he uses a board. That's all.

Sorry for the rant, I had a recent run in with TSA over gear I have used for years without question and it has left me rather bitter and stripping my flyaway gear back to essentials, my clients are not happy but that is the reality. I've been a world traveler in music since 1982 and this whole airport security dog and pony show is wearing thin. Get away from my precious priceless bass with that crowbar you a@@hole! NO you cannot put it in luggage, I paid for cabin storage! sorry.

 

[centralbeatbass]

Hi all. I was pretty happy with the Zoom B3 for the past several years but then it basically blew up. It started screeching during a gig and I had to play without effects. I changed the ac adapter to a 1 spot and things were working, and then they were not working.

Basically, I love effects for guitar but for bass i'm just looking for a basic thumpy old school sound. I don't slap [yet, not really my thing,] tend to play with a pick, [but I can use my fingers, mostly thumb,] and rarely [like never] use fuzz with my bass.

So I could buy a new Zoom, buy the more expensive [and seemingly complicated] line 6 hxfx, or I could delve into individual pedals for the first time. So is there life after the zoom b3? I hope so.

So for a minimal set up, would a preamp & tuner do the trick? Perhaps I could buy a compressor too but not sure I know how to use those correctly. [BTW I use mostly passive fenders, [have a Rickenbacker, a Hofner, and a J Bass with a sadowsky onboard preamp. I have a GK MB500, and a DRB 15 inch speaker. Sometimes i'll plug into smaller ampegs at rehearsals or very small gigs.]

thanks everyone!

 

[BrentSimons]

Hi all. I was pretty happy with the Zoom B3 for the past several years but then it basically blew up. It started screeching during a gig and I had to play without effects. I changed the ac adapter to a 1 spot and things were working, and then they were not working.

Basically, I love effects for guitar but for bass i'm just looking for a basic thumpy old school sound. I don't slap [yet, not really my thing,] tend to play with a pick, [but I can use my fingers, mostly thumb,] and rarely [like never] use fuzz with my bass.

So I could buy a new Zoom, buy the more expensive [and seemingly complicated] line 6 hxfx, or I could delve into individual pedals for the first time. So is there life after the zoom b3? I hope so.

So for a minimal set up, would a preamp & tuner do the trick? Perhaps I could buy a compressor too but not sure I know how to use those correctly. [BTW I use mostly passive fenders, [have a Rickenbacker, a Hofner, and a J Bass with a sadowsky onboard preamp. I have a GK MB500, and a DRB 15 inch speaker. Sometimes i'll plug into smaller ampegs at rehearsals or very small gigs.]

thanks everyone!

Of course there is!
I went back to the GK Plex. Preamp, Tuner, Compressor, Overdrive and pretty much every in and out you could need. I noticed that you are using a GKMB500. There are several GK amp models in the Plex to choose from if you wanted to stay with the "GK sound". Or maybe the Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig?
Best wishes,
Brent