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New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects

#2,501
steve_rolfeca said:
Don't waste your time.

You don't want a cheap isolated, high output power brick- you want a good one.

I don't know of any with only two outlets, that are as small as the stock wall warts, or that cost much under $80 US.

Some people have had trouble mixing line 6, Strymon or Zoom digital gear with the Dunlop brick, so cheap ones off Amazon or eBay are definitely out.

Johno Dunn's y-cable or a 3-way plug adapter with the factory Line 6 and Zoom adapters are the way to go when you want small, simple and inexpensive.
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Thanks. I have a small 3 way adaptor on its way. I think its a more elegant solution without spending a lot. While i dont mind paying out for a good one, it might seems a bit extravagant just for two units. I keep all my gear, other than cab and bass, in a decent sized laptop bag. The idea is not to have to use a larger one or a second bag. I can get a decent sized adaptor in there still so ill go that route for now.
 
#2,509
This may have been answered somewhere in the previous 2500+ comments but has anyone linked the B3n and the G5n? By this I mean run the bass into the G5n utilizing the effects on the G5n and then the mono out from the G5n into the B3n to utilize the amp and cab modeling as well as a few bass specific effects of the B3n? In looking through the B3n power chart some of the bass-specific effects and amp/cab modeling eat up quite a bit of processing. I know there are a few members here who use the G3n or the G5n successfully with their bass rigs so I think a fair number of the effects I would use could be used from the G5n.
 
#2,511
Das Jugghead said:
This may have been answered somewhere in the previous 2500+ comments but has anyone linked the B3n and the G5n? By this I mean run the bass into the G5n utilizing the effects on the G5n and then the mono out from the G5n into the B3n to utilize the amp and cab modeling as well as a few bass specific effects of the B3n? In looking through the B3n power chart some of the bass-specific effects and amp/cab modeling eat up quite a bit of processing. I know there are a few members here who use the G3n or the G5n successfully with their bass rigs so I think a fair number of the effects I would use could be used from the G5n.
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Go for it. You should be fine. Even doubling up on the digital AD/DA conversion and processing latency still should put you under 4msec, so no worries there.
 
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#2,513
Yes. I've used the G5n a lot, on its own, for bass. I'd also love to see Zoom correlate the B3n and G3n/5n in terms of sharing amps, cabs, effects. That said, I've had almost no issue with the G5n for bass. You may need to do some creative thinking to find what you're looking for, but the effort was worth it for me in order to have the extra pedal/knob functions of the G5n for live use. Make no mistake, though, that I'd rather have my preferred B3n Ampeg SVT model and cab sim. @steve_rolfeca has also had good luck using the G5n on bass.
 
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#2,515
I use B3N and G3 with active FBT X-lite 12" for my practice space with good result, including electric drum all via one mixer. The reason why I use FRFR is because it can be used for virtually any instruments unlike usual bass/guitar amps, including music playback. So it's huge space & money saving.
Last week I gigged with B3n direct to mixer and 15" and 18" DB Tech Opera active speaker & subs. The result was very good.
 
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#2,516
Altitude said:
I'm disappointed that the G3n has a slicer and the B3n doesn't. I actually use the slicer on my Boss GT-10B on a couple synthbass cover parts; it's a loss to be without it.
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Last night I did come up with a delay approach that works. It's pretty much a single-note same-volume slapback, so when I play 8th notes I get 16th notes. Combined with a Z-Synth effect it's pretty interesting, will work for the need. Crisis averted; though I'll still take the slicer effect if Zoom decides to make it downloadable to the B3n.
 
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#2,517
Das Jugghead said:
This may have been answered somewhere in the previous 2500+ comments but has anyone linked the B3n and the G5n? By this I mean run the bass into the G5n utilizing the effects on the G5n and then the mono out from the G5n into the B3n to utilize the amp and cab modeling as well as a few bass specific effects of the B3n? In looking through the B3n power chart some of the bass-specific effects and amp/cab modeling eat up quite a bit of processing. I know there are a few members here who use the G3n or the G5n successfully with their bass rigs so I think a fair number of the effects I would use could be used from the G5n.
Click to expand...
This has been done. I own both (and a recently purchased GT-1B) but have not had sufficient time to experiment. Hopefully in a few weeks. Hopefully someone will chime in as to who has done this. There are posts about it within this thread.
 
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#2,518
My advice would be to get a Boss GT 1b + fs7 if the B3n alone isn’t what you want/need.

B3n is a beast but when messing about buying both an expression and a B3/G5n to link to and through, you’ve wasted a lot of time, money and effort that could be saved going the other route.

The GT and B3n are both amazing but for different kinds of set up, Boss for a complete realistic chain, Zoom for a slightly more limited in number, but more whacky, unrestricted chain.
 
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#2,519
TB is jam-packed with people who are stuck between the early and late-stage versions of buyer's remorse.

It's nothing but "I wish I hadn't bought the blue one", or "I wish I could get the blue one back". Wah, wah, wah.

I've been there myself, and for anyone agonizing over which device to buy, this is my 3-step recipe for peace of mind:
  1. Store demos are useless.
  2. You are a unique individual, and other people's advice will not settle your questions.
  3. You'll never really know until you put yourself out there, so fish or cut bait:
    • Look for clean used examples of your top 2 or 3 choices.
    • Read the manuals, listen to the YouTube videos, then shut your eyes and pull the trigger!
Once you get your new toy home, commit. Don't look back, and don't buy anything else for at least 3 or 4 months.

Spend time with it. Use it for gigs. Use it for rehearsals. Try it with as many instruments as possible. Get friends to play through it while you listen. Try other people's patches, and learn from them.

Buying used is central to this process. I got my G5n for about 2/3rds of the new street price, which made me feel like I was just making myself a short-term loan:
  • I knew that I could recover my investment if it didn't work out.
  • I could take my time getting to know it.
  • I could see first-hand how Zoom's patch release schedule was working.
Now that I really knew its strengths and weaknesses, I'm in better shape to evaluate other options.

I'm not married to the thing, but right now, nothing else is tickling my fancy. The B3n has come and gone, my Fly Rig has been relegated to other purposes, and the next time something else comes along, I hope that I will take the same, relaxed approach to checking it out.
 
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