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New: Zoom B3n Multi-Effects

#2,721
Moe45673 said:
Oh man, you're all tempting me. Here's my situation:

I am a guitar player but have played bass in most bands (with a pick). I am not a real bass player, you guys are awesome, but I can play in the pocket and know how to utilize compression and EQ to sound like I have more right-hand skill than I actually do :)

Anyhow, I have ignored the effects world for years and only recently got back into it. I bought a Boss ME-80 for my guitar and I find it kills. I can consistently dial in awesome tones. Everyone at TGP going nuts over the Helix or Kemper, but I can get great tones from that and my Roland Cube 60 amp.

What saddens me is the lack of bass effects on the market. 10 years ago, for every compact or multifx guitar pedal, there was pretty much a bass version. Nowadays, bassists are left high and dry. The B3n is the best multifx unit (that's not ridiculously priced) out there for bassists, if you include ease of tweakability. The Boss GT-1b would be up there for me if you didn't have to go menu-diving.

I tried a B1On at the shop the other day. Got some amazing sounds but I really disliked the menu diving :(

I would love for a Boss ME-80b or a Zoom B5n. I'd buy either in a heartbeat

I'm waiting for winter NAMM, hoping someone announces something exciting for us low-enders. Tempted by the B3n, but let's see if my willpower holds out until then!
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I curious as to whether you chose the ME-80 over the G5n or if you just happened to choose it
 
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#2,723
Stu_Bass said:
I curious as to whether you chose the ME-80 over the G5n or if you just happened to choose it
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I'd taken a hiatus from music for a few years. I'd primarily used single pedals (boutique, mass produced, etc) and liked having instant tweakability. I remembered always wanting a Boss ME-50 back in the day, loving its WYSIWYG interface. Seeing that the ME-80 was out and googling it seemed to say it was a vast improvement over the 50 (and 70) sold me on it.

Then I started frequenting TGP's multifx section and seeing that the collective had lost their marbles since I'd last checked in with them, spending thousands of dollars on their multifx units (rather than the ~500 they were spending a decade earlier). The G5n and Zoom are mentioned as really excellent and, had I known, I'd probably have gone for it over the ME-80 due to increased amount of effects (Boy, would I love that sequencer).

At the end of the day, though, I love the ME-80, it does almost everything I need and it's so tweakable. I went from loving it at first listen, to feeling like I made a mistake as some models didn't behave as I expected, to experimenting more and realizing I had made the right choice as I really learned the nuances of the unit and how to get the tones I want. For example, I surprisingly found the best metal tone on the unit (for sitting well in a band mix) to be the Clean amp model with the DS-1 model :jawdrop:. I do use the tubescreamer model and the boost model, but not at all as I would use a real TS/boost. I do use the Muff fuzz as a fuzz, though!

Another thing that I learned about the unit is that, despite what looks like a static chain (and you can't reorder things) and despite what the literature implies, effect placement is programmed to change depending on the effect selected. So, for example, if you choose the Phaser on the Modulation category, it will jump in the chain to before the amp input.

The G5n is close (may even sound better!) but it still has menus and scrolling. For example, if I want to test some gain staging on the ME-80, it's super easy to compare and contrast instantaneously. The G5n would require scrolling through various amp/OD types before twisting the knobs on the selected units. Additionally, I'm someone who would get lost trying all the different effects, rather than just choosing a tone and playing. The relatively limited palette on the Boss is great for me actually producing music, rather than consuming tones :)

This is a great video of what the ME-80 is capable of (no post processing done on it!)


Anyhow, way off base. The ME-80 is great for my needs but I can see why many would go for the Zoom instead. And let me be clear, if I woke up tomorrow and there never was an ME-80 and I owned a G5n, I would not be upset as both fulfill near identical functions for my needs.
 
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#2,724
ppiluk said:
Not everyone buys multi effect units like this for the same reason. For myself, how the amp sims, such as the SVT sound, is what was most important because I can’t afford a real SVT and it is the tone I want to capture. For the record, I usually use a little chorus, a little distortion and some Reverb. The B3n handles these effects well.

As a side note, this is a technical product so there is going to be lots of technical talk in this thread. There is quite a bit under the hood, because of that there is going to be plenty of discussion on the more technical sides. There has been plenty of posts about how this thing sounds including many of the amp sims and effects. Your best bet is to ask questions about the specific effects you want answers about. I have said it before and I will say it again, the effects I have tested sound great. I have both the Zoom B3n and the Boss GT-1B and I prefer the Zoom. I moved from the Zoom B1on to the B3n and there is a notable improvement with the B3n.
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Over all or amp sims?
 
#2,726
waveman said:
I don't want one of those. Everything in one unit. Otherwise, I will happily use my MS-60B
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Do you have a B3? Not sure why you are coming down on the B3n because of its lack of XLR/DI and then suggesting you'll just stick with your MS-60B. I was down to the B3n or the Boss GT-1B. The ability to run 7 effects at once and the extended loop time and rhythm tracks were the deciding factor. Picked it up for $175.00 (plus the Boss didn't have a power supply). If they would've include the XLR/DI, it would've probably justified another $35-$50 on the pricepoint.
 
#2,729
UVMockingbird said:
Do you have a B3? Not sure why you are coming down on the B3n because of its lack of XLR/DI and then suggesting you'll just stick with your MS-60B. I was down to the B3n or the Boss GT-1B. The ability to run 7 effects at once and the extended loop time and rhythm tracks were the deciding factor. Picked it up for $175.00 (plus the Boss didn't have a power supply). If they would've include the XLR/DI, it would've probably justified another $35-$50 on the pricepoint.
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Well, without a built in XLR, the B3n really doesn't offer anything else I need. I haven't really found a need for more than 4 effects at once, and I use an MXR M81 for DI for more control over volume with the same or smaller footprint. I don't need the looping, nor rhythm tracks neither...that's not too useful in a live situation, XLR is.
 
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#2,730
Hello again.

I sold my BFX-708 and I am going to order the B3N the next few days. Can you tell me if the looper function is good? I was thinking of ordering something like the Ditto X2, but if the looper on the b3n does the job, then there is no need.

Any opinions?


Thank you.
 
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#2,731
My Zoom b3n comes today. I am a rookie when it comes to using any type of effects, so this should be fun. Before pulling the trigger I talk to a few guitar players and a lot like individual boxes and I have a chorus and a envelope, but the price of two or three other boxes that this has those effects would cost 2-3 x as much. I am looking forward to learning it.
 
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#2,732
waveman said:
Well, without a built in XLR, the B3n really doesn't offer anything else I need. I haven't really found a need for more than 4 effects at once, and I use an MXR M81 for DI for more control over volume with the same or smaller footprint. I don't need the looping, nor rhythm tracks neither...that's not too useful in a live situation, XLR is.[/QUOT
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How much did you spend on your MXR M81? Let's pretend the B3n had a decent XLR in it. Do you think they could've kept the price point the same? (I paid $175 for mine). Footprint... Really? If the B3n had what you needed, it's SO much bigger than your two pedals.
 
#2,734
J_Bass said:
Hello again.

I sold my BFX-708 and I am going to order the B3N the next few days. Can you tell me if the looper function is good? I was thinking of ordering something like the Ditto X2, but if the looper on the b3n does the job, then there is no need.

Any opinions?


Thank you.
Click to expand...

It works well, like a looper! I don't think it worth buying a seperate simple looper like a ditto next to it! You have to remember, that the looper is acting like an effect, so you have to pt it among the effects.
 
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#2,735
Daniel Piper said:
Cheap, buzzy xlrs (Like on the b3) just aren't worth it IME.

Zooms modelling has improved so much that it is worth spending some money on a decent Di to translate the tones well.

When we are talking about pedals as large as the b3/n, tight pedalboard space isn't really an issue
Click to expand...

Oh, please, don't tell me the "missing Direct out" topic started again! :D
 
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