NEW: ZOOM B2 FOUR...

[Steve Fox]

I ended up getting this Donner pedalboard off Amazon. $60 with a carrying case is not a bad price. It can hang off a guitar case and it built well enough for my money

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B093GWVQBT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[EmpInfNed]

Hey, so I'm a relatively new bassist in the world of gear. Would you guys think would be a good first pedal for me to get? I'm really not in the position to buy a whole pedal board, do you guys think this would be a good starting option? I'm currently running an Ibanez Sr 505e and a fender rumble 500. Thanks!

Zom B1 four or Valeton Gp-100 would be a better (and cheaper) choice then this brick especially for a beginner.

 

[Steve Fox]

Zom B1 four or Valeton Gp-100 would be a better (and cheaper) choice then this brick especially for a beginner.

I have the B1 four as well as the B2 and I’m definitely going to have to disagree with you. The B1 is a great, but at a difference of about $150 you essentially get an all in one bass rig that is miles better in every regard. It’s built a lot tougher, has better features and a lot more of them. You can footswitch between a patch layout or a traditional pedalboard model, can edit it from an iPhone, and it has a tuner that is bright enough to see in sunlight. The tones are better pretty much across the board, and the switchable d.i. is awesome for fine tuning your sound on the fly too. And it even looks cooler.

The B1 is an excellent practice tool. The B2 is an excellent recording tool, live performance tool, a more fun sound tinkering experience and a better practice tool.

 

[EmpInfNed]

I have the B1 four as well as the B2 and I’m definitely going to have to disagree with you. The B1 is a great, but at a difference of about $150 you essentially get an all in one bass rig that is miles better in every regard. It’s built a lot tougher, has better features and a lot more of them. You can footswitch between a patch layout or a traditional pedalboard model, can edit it from an iPhone, and it has a tuner that is bright enough to see in sunlight. The tones are better pretty much across the board, and the switchable d.i. is awesome for fine tuning your sound on the fly too. And it even looks cooler.
The B1 is an excellent practice tool. The B2 is an excellent recording tool, live performance tool, a more fun sound tinkering experience and a better practice tool.

Obviously, it depends on the budget. As I wrote, especially for a beginner, B1 in "my opinion" is much better (because once you have it, if you find that you don't like using a multi-effect: better to have it paid 70 or 250 bucks?).
Secondly, the brightness of the B2 tuner is absolutely low compared to the B1 (remember, especially for a beginner and not only, the tuner is one of the main features to use), for what I can see B2 tuner looks very similar to that of the MS-60B which is a 15 year old device. And all the DI features, always for a beginner, are quite unuseful.
The B2 does not support third-party IRs as many competitors in the same price range do, so if the goal is to spend a lot now to have a definitive solution in the future that is not the case because, unlike an experienced musician who already knows what what he wants, a beginner is not yet able to estimate it.
Surly B2 is a much better and professional device the B1, but personally in the same range of price I think Valeton products are more exhaustive.

 

[JohnPativens]

Finally they reintroduced the DI in their small unit. Worth the upgrade from a B3? I see they got rid of some previous synth units, like the Mono Synth and the Korg model. The SynVoice and the Talk one were pretty garbage, but those other 2 were good. Now they left such Z Synth and another one that can't even change osc wave. Not sure I could replicate my synth patches on the B2.4.

 

[Steve Fox]

Obviously, it depends on the budget. As I wrote, especially for a beginner, B1 in "my opinion" is much better (because once you have it, if you find that you don't like using a multi-effect: better to have it paid 70 or 250 bucks?).

Secondly, the brightness of the B2 tuner is absolutely low compared to the B1 (remember, especially for a beginner and not only, the tuner is one of the main features to use)

Answer to your first point; yes I think that spending a little extra is worth it, especially to a beginner. The B2four is literally the same price as a Tech 21 VTDI. It does everything that pedal does, plus about 299 other things.

Second point: Here is a picture of each pedals tuner. Same room, same lighting, same ratty towel in my workbench. How exactly is the B1Four brighter? The B1 has less contrast and poorer screen resolution, and those red/green leds aren’t super helpful in a sunny outdoor environment.

So yeah, provided it’s within a persons budget I wholeheartedly say it’s a better value for any level of musician.

 

[stubbsonic]

Several years ago, I recommended a B1 Four as a gift to one of my bass students. I think he liked it and enjoyed "messing with it", but he didn't use it much. One of the things he wanted to do was use it for slap, but the compressors just weren't fast enough-- so that was a bust.

Most of what I didn't like about the B1 Four, seems to have been addressed and greatly improved with the B2 Four.

Seems like @EMSMDrums is a fairly serious beginner (nice entry bass, nice entry amp). If the B1 Four is chosen, it WILL need to be replaced with something better. The compressors are too slow, and the sound quality is mediocre. If the B2 Four is chosen, it will continue to be useful for as long as it continues to work.

 

[stubbsonic]

Valeton Gp-100 would be a better (and cheaper) choice then this brick especially for a beginner.

Thanks for mentioning the Valeton.

I just looked at the GP-200LT which currently costs the same as the B2 Four. On paper, it looks like the GP-200LT has more connectivity, control options, power, & features. I'm not familiar with that brand, or how it sounds. As always, the devil is in the details.

 

[Zarcsby]

Several years ago, I recommended a B1 Four as a gift to one of my bass students. I think he liked it and enjoyed "messing with it", but he didn't use it much. One of the things he wanted to do was use it for slap, but the compressors just weren't fast enough-- so that was a bust.

Most of what I didn't like about the B1 Four, seems to have been addressed and greatly improved with the B2 Four.

Seems like @EMSMDrums is a fairly serious beginner (nice entry bass, nice entry amp). If the B1 Four is chosen, it WILL need to be replaced with something better. The compressors are too slow, and the sound quality is mediocre. If the B2 Four is chosen, it will continue to be useful for as long as it continues to work.

As a current B1Four & B3n owner, may I ask which effects specifically you feel have been greatly improved with the B2Four over the B1Four? The reason I ask is because I'm still trying to figure out if the B2four is actually a worthwhile upgrade over my B3n that I've been fine with carrying around alongside a DI. It does the job when I don't bring my full pedalboard somewhere, but does the B2Four do the job 'better'? Seems like you're saying the Compressors are better?

I was under the impression from your previous review/comments in this thread that the B2Four's octave and pitch shifter effects for example (aside from the new Bass Poly Pitch Shifter which you said was good) are just as crummy and barely usable as those present in the B1Four / B3n . When you called the regular Pitch Shifter, "perfect when you want a pitch shifter that sounds terrible and stupid", I knew exactly what you meant

 

[stubbsonic]

but does the B2Four do the job 'better'? Seems like you're saying the Compressors are better?

I was under the impression from your previous review/comments in this thread that the B2Four's octave and pitch shifter effects for example (aside from the new Bass Poly Pitch Shifter which you said was good) are just as crummy and barely usable as those present in the B1Four / B3n . When you called the regular Pitch Shifter, "perfect when you want a pitch shifter that sounds terrible and stupid", I knew exactly what you meant

I didn't spend much time with the B1-F, and haven't ever tried a B3n.

The difference in sound quality (AD/DA converters) is noticeable, especially in the low end.

The B2 Four compressors are much improved over the B1 Four. A bass player needs fast compression for slap playing. And the B2 Four's compressors don't disappoint.

This forum doesn't allow me to revise my review. But I've posted some "updates" in subsequent posts.

For Octave-Down
The BASS ANALOG OCTAVER is fast, and tracks well, down to low E, with a synthetic tone. The BASS POLYPHONIC PITCH SHIFTER is a more natural bass sound, but with a bit more latency. It tracks all the way down to open low B with no problems. The BASS MONO PITCH SHIFTER is faster, and a little muddier/darker, but only tracks down to low E on my bass. The SUPER LOW PREAMP adds a sine wave an octave down-- tracks really well.

For Octave-Up
The BASS POLYPHONIC PITCH SHIFTER is the best. Very fast, responsive & clean. The BASS MONO PITCH SHIFTER is a bit slower, but sounds pretty OK.

 

[Zarcsby]

I didn't spend much time with the B1-F, and haven't ever tried a B3n.

The difference in sound quality (AD/DA converters) is noticeable, especially in the low end.

The B2 Four compressors are much improved over the B1 Four. A bass player needs fast compression for slap playing. And the B2 Four's compressors don't disappoint.

This forum doesn't allow me to revise my review. But I've posted some "updates" in subsequent posts.

For Octave-Down
The BASS ANALOG OCTAVER is fast, and tracks well, down to low E, with a synthetic tone. The BASS POLYPHONIC PITCH SHIFTER is a more natural bass sound, but with a bit more latency. It tracks all the way down to open low B with no problems. The BASS MONO PITCH SHIFTER is faster, and a little muddier/darker, but only tracks down to low E on my bass. The SUPER LOW PREAMP adds a sine wave an octave down-- tracks really well.

For Octave-Up
The BASS POLYPHONIC PITCH SHIFTER is the best. Very fast, responsive & clean. The BASS MONO PITCH SHIFTER is a bit slower, but sounds pretty OK.

Ah ok thank you. There's no discernable difference between the tones in my B1Four and B3n to my ears. Seems like the B2Four may yet be a worthwhile tonal upgrade before going all the way up in price to the Zoom B6.

 

[stubbsonic]

Seems like the B2Four may yet be a worthwhile tonal upgrade before going all the way up in price to the Zoom B6.

I think so. As I mentioned in my original review, my main gripes are that the Tremolo has problems, and that the Slow-Attack lacks wet/dry mix-- both of which are sounds I'd use pretty often.

 

[EmpInfNed]

Answer to your first point; yes I think that spending a little extra is worth it, especially to a beginner. The B2four is literally the same price as a Tech 21 VTDI. It does everything that pedal does, plus about 299 other things.

Tech 21 VTDI is a pure DI Box, B2 a multieffect they are two different products. I don't see much sense in this comparsion.

Second point: Here is a picture of each pedals tuner. Same room, same lighting, same ratty towel in my workbench. How exactly is the B1Four brighter? The B1 has less contrast and poorer screen resolution, and those red/green leds aren’t super helpful in a sunny outdoor environment.

I see on B1 has 2 big red lights and one big green. Very easy to see. No lights on B2 this is what I mean.

 

[Cedomir]

Top left LCD and control layout like this would be much more practical.

 

[stubbsonic]

control layout like this will be much more practical.

Why? (Not being snarky, just curious what is gained by flipping it around). I use my left foot for volume/expression pedal.

As I mentioned in my review, I'd have liked it if the cursor buttons formed a diamond.

 

[lildrgn]

I am subbing in a band that will be touring the West Coast for at least 13 shows. Rather than bringing my multiple pedals and bigger board, I'm thinking of simply bringing a bass and the B24. I brought it to rehearsal last night, where the BL has a Bassman 100 driving a fairly large 215 no-name cabinet. It sounds great!

Prior to rehearsal last night, I dialed up a patch using a compressor, preamp, and the BMan 100 amp. It sounded good through my desktop monitor speakers. In the space, with an actual Bassman, I bypassed the BMan effect and used only the other two effects. I did do quick A/B with the BMan effect on and off and with it on, guess what? It sounded like a Bassman. Without it? Still sounded like a Bassman! That's good, right?

Regardless, BL has a Bassman 100 combo or something that we will be traveling with. Good times to follow!

 

[Cedomir]

Why? (Not being snarky, just curious what is gained by flipping it around). I use my left foot for volume/expression pedal.

As I mentioned in my review, I'd have liked it if the cursor buttons formed a diamond.

 

[Cedomir]

Almost all floor multi effects have an upper left LCD for a reason. When I reach for the cursor buttons my right foot goes over the central LCD and hides it.
As a right-handed person, I use my left foot as an anchor . I agree with your suggestion about the diamond buttons.

 

[stubbsonic]

Almost all floor multi effects have an upper left LCD for a reason. When I reach for the cursor buttons my right foot goes over the central LCD and hides it.
As a right-handed person, I use my left foot as an anchor . I agree with your suggestion about the diamond buttons.

Seems like Boss/Roland and Line 6 put their displays to the left. Saw bunches with the display in the center.

In any case, my foot is going to block the display when pressing the display-side buttons no matter what side the display is on.

I'm tempted to put some raised attachments on the cursor buttons to make them easier to use with my feet. Seems like a good use for Sugru.

 

[Cedomir]

something like this, for example

Pay attention to the arrangement of the arrow control buttons, up/down as opposed to the real one.