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New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects

#2,621
I am using a similar setup: B3n into an active EV ZLX15P. Soundwise I couldn't be happier. Also, for bedroom practice it is great, since it delivers a consistent sound also at low volumes. Just be wary that the wattage of a PA speaker does not compare to the wattage of a dedicated bass rig. Mine is rated at 250W RMS an I have not too much headroom left when playing with two reasonably loud guitars and a reasonably loud drummer. Runs into clip protection fairly quick. Still great for smaller gigs, but don't expect to rock the Estádio da Luz with it. Also, I wouldn't trust the wattage on budget speakers. Maybe @Wilmar Boer can chime in. He has a similar setup.
 
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#2,622
Heisenbass said:
I am using a similar setup: B3n into an active EV ZLX15P. Soundwise I couldn't be happier. Also, for bedroom practice it is great, since it delivers a consistent sound also at low volumes. Just be wary that the wattage of a PA speaker does not compare to the wattage of a dedicated bass rig. Mine is rated at 250W RMS an I have not too much headroom left when playing with two reasonably loud guitars and a reasonably loud drummer. Runs into clip protection fairly quick. Still great for smaller gigs, but don't expect to rock the Estádio da Luz with it. Also, I wouldn't trust the wattage on budget speakers. Maybe @Wilmar Boer can chime in. He has a similar setup.
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Wow, you got me at Estádio da Luz, my second home, ahah!

Thank you for the input. I have a chance of selling my Ashdown, but if I don't I will just keep it and use it with the b3n. It is a good amp, I was thinking of changing just for the change. Maybe I am being silly.
 
#2,623
J_Bass said:
Wow, you got me at Estádio da Luz, my second home, ahah!

Thank you for the input. I have a chance of selling my Ashdown, but if I don't I will just keep it and use it with the b3n. It is a good amp, I was thinking of changing just for the change. Maybe I am being silly.
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Haha, just realized you're from Porto. Actually it's the only stadium in Portugal I know by name. But anyway, you're not being silly. I love my setup because it allows for a great deal of flexibility with all the amp/cab combinations. But if you want to just use it as a plain multieffect in front of your Ashdown, also fine...
 
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#2,624
Heisenbass said:
Haha, just realized you're from Porto. Actually it's the only stadium in Portugal I know by name. But anyway, you're not being silly. I love my setup because it allows for a great deal of flexibility with all the amp/cab combinations. But if you want to just use it as a plain multieffect in front of your Ashdown, also fine...
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Don't bother learning the others, Luz is the only one worth knowing, ahah!

So, are you an Hertha supporter, or are you not faithful to your roots, like me?


Yes, I want to try those amp simulators on the b3n. I could just use the Ashdown flat. I normally use it with the EQ turned down. It has a compressor built in that is always on and I turn on and off the bright and deep buttons.
 
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#2,625
J_Bass said:
Don't bother learning the others, Luz is the only one worth knowing, ahah!

So, are you an Hertha supporter, or are you not faithful to your roots, like me?


Yes, I want to try those amp simulators on the b3n. I could just use the Ashdown flat. I normally use it with the EQ turned down. It has a compressor built in that is always on and I turn on and off the bright and deep buttons.
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Not a native Berliner. Have always been rooting for Werder for some reason. They're a bit struggling at the moment, as most of the time in the last few years, sigh.

Anyway, try it. You can still get rid of the Ashdown if you don't like it.
 
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#2,627
jwilson67 said:
OK, bottome line, if I ask for a B3n for Christmas to replace my B3 am I going to be blown away or feel like I just asked for something redundant?? Are the Distortions that much better on the B3n?

It's either the B3n or keep my B3 and add something like a Deluxe Bass Big Muff.
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The B3n has a bunch of cool effects not in the B3 plus if I am not mistaken, the B3n allows for larger effect chains. Also, the cabinet sims in the B3n are impulse based which should sound better than those in the B3. I can't speak for the B3 distortions but I absolutely love the two distortion sims based on the Darkglass pedals and the one based on the Blueberry Bass Overdrive is pretty good as well. These pedals are only in the B3n and for me, these pedals are worth the price of the B3n alone.

Saying that, if you use the XLR on the B3 you will need to pick up a separate one. In my case, I just use a Sans Amp and run the signal directly from my B3n to the front of the house. I actually like this setup because the Sans Amp makes for an excellent backup solution in the event my B3n craps out on me.
 
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#2,628
jwilson67 said:
OK, bottome line, if I ask for a B3n for Christmas to replace my B3 am I going to be blown away or feel like I just asked for something redundant?? Are the Distortions that much better on the B3n?

It's either the B3n or keep my B3 and add something like a Deluxe Bass Big Muff.
Click to expand...

"Blown away"? Man, that's a very subjective thing, but I don't think the B3n is a "blown away" type of pedal, even amongst its most avid fans. I think Zoom did two fundamental things: improve functionality by adding extra fx slots and control switches, and improve the quality of the amp models, cab sims, and drives. For me the improvement was worth the switch and I've not gigged the B3 for a long time now.

Just for a little perspective, I'd probably not be "blown away" switching from the B3 to a Line 6 Helix, either. I'm pretty long in the tooth using all levels of modeling, and there's not much out there that blows me away. The fact that the B3n can hang with better multi-fx modelers, IMO, says a lot about the quality of the new modeling.

JMHO, YMMV.
 
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#2,629
ppiluk said:
The B3n has a bunch of cool effects not in the B3 plus if I am not mistaken, the B3n allows for larger effect chains. Also, the cabinet sims in the B3n are impulse based which should sound better than those in the B3. I can't speak for the B3 distortions but I absolutely love the two distortion sims based on the Darkglass pedals and the one based on the Blueberry Bass Overdrive is pretty good as well. These pedals are only in the B3n and for me, these pedals are worth the price of the B3n alone.

Saying that, if you use the XLR on the B3 you will need to pick up a separate one. In my case, I just use a Sans Amp and run the signal directly from my B3n to the front of the house. I actually like this setup because the Sans Amp makes for an excellent backup solution in the event my B3n craps out on me.
Click to expand...

jimfist said:
"Blown away"? Man, that's a very subjective thing, but I don't think the B3n is a "blown away" type of pedal, even amongst its most avid fans. I think Zoom did two fundamental things: improve functionality by adding extra fx slots and control switches, and improve the quality of the amp models, cab sims, and drives. For me the improvement was worth the switch and I've not gigged the B3 for a long time now.

Just for a little perspective, I'd probably not be "blown away" switching from the B3 to a Line 6 Helix, either. I'm pretty long in the tooth using all levels of modeling, and there's not much out there that blows me away. The fact that the B3n can hang with better multi-fx modelers, IMO, says a lot about the quality of the new modeling.

JMHO, YMMV.
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OK - good to know! Perhaps "blown away" was a little too much hyperbole on my part but the drives are what I'm really concerned with as well as the Octaver being better than the B3 which, those two in particular were it's main weaknesses. The distos and fuzzez on the B3 just disappear in the mix into fizzy nothingness.
 
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#2,630
jwilson67 said:
OK, bottome line, if I ask for a B3n for Christmas to replace my B3 am I going to be blown away or feel like I just asked for something redundant?? Are the Distortions that much better on the B3n?

It's either the B3n or keep my B3 and add something like a Deluxe Bass Big Muff.
Click to expand...
I definitely felt that the difference was night and day - the B3 and (especially with the recent FW update) the MS60B are great on their own merits, but both the B3n and Boss GT-1B (both comparable units) smoke them in terms of quality and ability to make complete chains. It's definitely worth it.
 
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#2,631
Disclaimer: I don't have any real amps or cabs - the Zoom G3n and B3n are all I have for amp sims (both guitar and basses).

I'm thinking of getting a Catalinbread SFT for the Ampeg VT tones. Do I need a separate speaker emulator/ cab sim pedal, or do you think the cab sims on the Zoom units would suffice? Would love everyone's opinions on this. Thank you!
 
#2,632
Cider said:
Disclaimer: I don't have any real amps or cabs - the Zoom G3n and B3n are all I have for amp sims (both guitar and basses).

I'm thinking of getting a Catalinbread SFT for the Ampeg VT tones. Do I need a separate speaker emulator/ cab sim pedal, or do you think the cab sims on the Zoom units would suffice? Would love everyone's opinions on this. Thank you!
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I love the SVT tone in the B3n and have used it live and have received compliments about my tone. I think it's very, very close to the original. There is a post a little earlier in this thread where the SVT amp sim is given high marks by someone who has used an actual one for years.

Edit: The cab sims in the B3n are impulse based which makes them sound very realistic.
 
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#2,634
Daniel Piper said:
I think the svt in the b3n is as
Good as the sft. The analog svt pedals (vt bass, sft etc) have their quirks and un-svt-isms
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Yep...I agree. I have a Sans Amp and the B3n edges it out. I have relegated my Sans Amp to XLR duty and it is perfect for that. It also fills in nicely as a backup amp in the event my B3n stops working.
 
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#2,636
Well, being mainly a plug in and play type player more often than not, other than having used a few analog effects here and there, and a brief adventure with a ZOOM BFX 708, which I still have on a shelf in working order, a not too bad for the money and times pedal by the way, my current needs regarding a regular ampless D.I. gig, where decent amp modeling and a few other effects would be of service, have led me to order a B3n today. I thank all of you fine folks here at T.B. for your very honest, real world reviews for informing my decision. For those who might be considering a B3n, and no, I don't work for any music gear retailer and dealer, Sweetwater and MF and a few other retailers have shaved 25 bucks off of the usual $199 and change price for their Black Friday sales. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the B3n can do!
 
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