Zoom B3 As Preamp Part 2

[CharlieC]

got a factory refurb B3 on a good deal. I already own the MS60B and like it a lot, but the idea of having 3 pedal switches and an external was appealing. I also was very interested in the bass amp models and other fx in the B3 that aren't in the MS60B.

Round one of listening was through my full range 12" coaxial Atomic CLRs. I was impressed by about a dozen factory presets to use as solid starting point sounds. Since the SVT has always been my hard rock "go to" sound, I started there. With a few tweaks to taste, I was up and running with a familiar and very aggressive SVT tone....a really solid core tone...One of the keys when running full range speakers is the MIX parameter for the speaker sim. I usually settle in at around 70-80% cabinet vs direct. If I want more clarity or modern "sizzle", I dial the MIX back to about 50% or so. In addition to the SVT, I found many other good tones easily attained, whether it be via other amp models, comps and preamp sims, or a combination of them. Dialing in tones using full range speakers also carries the benefit of having confidence that the tone I'm hearing will be well represented via the direct out to FOH sound system.

Next listen test was at rehearsal, plugging into a Crown xti4002 in bridge mono powering an SVT Classic 8x10. For this, the cab sim MIX was dialed back to 0% (= no cabinet sim). Once again, I found the SVT model to feel very natural and representative of the tones I would enjoy when unsung the real tube head. It was really an enjoyable experience and the B3 is a worthy preamp, tonally as desirable, capable, and flexible as anything I've used...ever.

This comes as sort of a kick in the pants as I'm an avid AxeFx owner/user. Given that the Axefx has been quite slow in updating with additional dedicated varieties of bass amps, stomps, fx, and cabinets, the B3 is quite a breath of fresh air since everything about it is designed with bass guitar in mind. Hard to imagine that I'm playing my ZOOM stomps more now than I am my Axefx. However, when I'm doing other gigs that require lots of complex fx routings and real time MIDI controllers, the Axefx is in a league by itself...apples and oranges. But for quick plug-and-play simplicity, the ZOOM's amp models and the various compressors and preamps, along with plenty of knobs ready to tweak when necessary, the B3 is really impressive IMHO, especially at its price point.

Congrats on the B3!

Your comments on skilful use of the MIX parameter, the SVT model, and use of full-range amplification (ala Atomic CLR) are spot-on, and the very reason this thread was started.

I do not recall if you joined the conversation back in Part I of this thread, but if not, I highly recommend a quick visit there for much good and similar content throughout.

Cheers!

P.S. and hope you are past reasons for your edit above, LOL

 

[jimfist]

Thanks, Charlie. Yup, no more itch. LOL.

I've been following the ZOOM pedal threads for quite a few months, which prompted me to consider the blasphemy of trying the MS60B & B3 to use for live gigging instead of my Axefx + MIDI pedal.

Over the last few years I've been on a mission to achieve maximum functionality and flexibility with minimum footprint, size & weight for my live performance bass rigs. The Axefx was a key component for those gigs that were extremely demanding and effects laden. But I'm doing few of those shows now, and it is overkill for many of the acoustic and small venue gigs I do lately, where the bass is more traditional in its support role.

These days I really only need to use one or two basic tones, and perhaps a chorus or other special effect - very infrequently. The ZOOM stuff if perfect for traveling light but still having the ability to create a wide variety of presets. The B3, a couple cables, my bass, and a powered full range cabinet is all I need now for a lot of shows. it doesn't get much easier than that.

....winning...

 

[dogmeat08]

just curious which of the wah settings simulates the Dunlop wah for bass ( waiting for my expression pedal to come to try it out ) and also , which of the pitch shift effects simulates a digitech whammy pedal ..... thanks .... so far im loving this pedal !!!

 

[CharlieC]

just curious which of the wah settings simulates the Dunlop wah for bass ( waiting for my expression pedal to come to try it out ) and also , which of the pitch shift effects simulates a digitech whammy pedal ..... thanks .... so far im loving this pedal !!!

The "PedalWah" and "PDL Pitch" effect models should have these covered for you

Let us know what you think after the expression pedal arrives!

 

[dogmeat08]

The "PedalWah" and "PDL Pitch" effect models should have these covered for you

Let us know what you think after the expression pedal arrives!

for sure !!!

 

[Bradass]

What expression pedals are you guys using? Is the one zoom makes alright, or are there better options out there that work well with the B3?

 

[dogmeat08]

What expression pedals are you guys using? Is the one zoom makes alright, or are there better options out there that work well with the B3?

I ordered the Zoom FP02M Expression Pedal

 

[Voss451]

I just bought a B3 yesterday after previously owning both a Zoom 506 and a B2 (twice). For some reason I found that when running the amp/cab mix above 0%, all of the od/fuzz pedals produced odd "fizzy"/"brittle" artifacts on the high end when both running through an amp and running direct.

Anyone else find this ?

I should also note that I also have a Line 6 Pod X3 and a Tech21 VT Bass pedal so I've been a/b 'ing the different combinations to see if the B3 is worth keeping. And after an hour or so, I find that the B3 is slightly ahead of the Pod in terms of better tonel.

 

[CharlieC]

... For some reason I found that when running the amp/cab mix above 0%, all of the od/fuzz pedals produced odd "fizzy"/"brittle" artifacts on the high end when both running through an amp and running direct.

Anyone else find this ?...

I have not found this to be the case at all, and if anything, use of MIX values above 0 begin rolling-off the high-end (and chances of any fizzy/brittle caused by OD/Fuzz.)

I run all amp models last in the B3's 3-slot chain and use MIX values of 100 nearly full-time.

Without knowing more details, both connection-wise and full B3 parameter disclosure, I suspect something else may be causing what you described.

 

[theLimeyBrit]

I ordered the Zoom FP02M Expression Pedal

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on one of these as well. Can anyone tell me if it comes with a TRS cable, or is that a separate purchase?

 

[CharlieC]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on one of these as well. Can anyone tell me if it comes with a TRS cable, or is that a separate purchase?

For $60 it should be, and is, included!

Invalid Link Removed

 

[dogmeat08]

For $60 it should be, and is, included!

Invalid Link Removed

got mine threw amazon.com ( same price )

 

[Voss451]

I have not found this to be the case at all, and if anything, use of MIX values above 0 begin rolling-off the high-end (and chances of any fizzy/brittle caused by OD/Fuzz.)

I run all amp models last in the B3's 3-slot chain and use MIX values of 100 nearly full-time.

Without knowing more details, both connection-wise and full B3 parameter disclosure, I suspect something else may be causing what you described.

I was at the music shop trying it out and I was mainly using od/dist models and they sounded like a distortion box plugged directly into a soundboard. I guess I just need a bit of time to learn about how to set each of the parameters.

 

[CharlieC]

I was at the music shop trying it out and I was mainly using od/dist models and they sounded like a distortion box plugged directly into a soundboard. I guess I just need a bit of time to learn about how to set each of the parameters.

Gotcha!

Buy with confidence and know that the finished product sounds pretty freaking good

Cheers!

 

[schecter5string]

I received my B3 for Christmas! First impressions are pure amazement!
The very first thing i did was compare the hartke sim to my HA3500, to my amazement it sounds close enough nobody would know.
So the next thing was recording. Which is what i have been doing the last week. The B3 as a audio interface/preamp is so good i grin from ear to ear when i listen back to the recordings. I can easily get the tones of the original artist i am covering. My recorded tone has never been better!
I would like to thank everyone here for their input on this thread and others like it. This is my first multi unit. I was making patches and outstanding recordings the first hour i had it.
Im very happy!

 

[CharlieC]

I received my B3 for Christmas! First impressions are pure amazement!
The very first thing i did was compare the hartke sim to my HA3500, to my amazement it sounds close enough nobody would know.
So the next thing was recording. Which is what i have been doing the last week. The B3 as a audio interface/preamp is so good i grin from ear to ear when i listen back to the recordings. I can easily get the tones of the original artist i am covering. My recorded tone has never been better!
I would like to thank everyone here for their input on this thread and others like it. This is my first multi unit. I was making patches and outstanding recordings the first hour i had it.
Im very happy!

 

[jimfist]

Just wanted to chime in again after a second rehearsal using the B-3 into a bridge mono Crown xti4002 into an ampeg SVT 8x10 cabinet. It...f*cking...ROCKS!!! I was devastating my area of the room with the power amp barely breaking a sweat.

For this rehearsal, I focused on using only the SVT amp model (mix set to 0% = no cabinet emulation), with the D-Comp in front of it. As a long time Ampeg SVT-CL (Classic) all tube head owner, I know the sound well, and IMHO the B-3 does a very good job of emulating this amp head - close enough so that I was happy with it. Whether it is identically "SVT-like" or not seems to be a moot point to me, really. The fact is that it sounds how I like it to sound...end of story. Of course, the 8x10 cabinet is a critical factor, and if it weren't so damn heavy (or if I had a road crew), it would be my live rig of choice.

Soon, I'll be using my regular live rig, which is a full range 12" coaxial powered speaker plus a powered 12" subwoofer (for practical reasons of transport and stage volume), and this would be a really good tone comparison test for the B-3 using the completely opposite type of bass rig. I've cranked this up at home already and like. I just need to see how it fares in the true heat of battle on a stage.

For anyone who wants to go with the B-3 into a power amp into a traditional bass cab, I think you'd be very happy with this pedal as a preamp source, as an optional to a physically heavier (tube) bass head.

 

[TheBass]

Since I bought my B3 summer last year I am using it as a preamp on stage. This is perfect for me. I can tweak my sound at home using my headphone (AKG K-701) and reproduce that on stage running via the B3s DI direct to the FoH. No endless knob twiddeling on stage and I have my sound on the FoH.

But I'd like to get that sound on my monitor as well. Currently I am using a MarkBass mini 121p CMD combo as a monitor but this colours my monitor sound too much. I cannot get the sound which I am hearing by my headphones (which is perfect). My idea is to replace the MB 121p combo by a very clear sounding powered monitor (10" or 12").

Any experience or recommendations from fellow TBers appreciated.

 

[CharlieC]

Since I bought my B3 summer last year I am using it as a preamp on stage. This is perfect for me. I can tweak my sound at home using my headphone (AKG K-701) and reproduce that on stage running via the B3s DI direct to the FoH. No endless knob twiddeling on stage and I have my sound on the FoH.

But I'd like to get that sound on my monitor as well. Currently I am using a MarkBass mini 121p CMD combo as a monitor but this colours my monitor sound too much. I cannot get the sound which I am hearing by my headphones (which is perfect). My idea is to replace the MB 121p combo by a very clear sounding powered monitor (10" or 12").

Any experience or recommendations from fellow TBers appreciated.

If budget is not an issue, the QSC K12 is fantastic.

Runner-up in 12" format and $450 less, the Electro-Voice ZLX-12P.

Part I of this thread has some good content and user experiences on this same subject.

Cheers!

 

[jimfist]

But I'd like to get that sound on my monitor as well. Currently I am using a MarkBass mini 121p CMD combo as a monitor but this colours my monitor sound too much. I cannot get the sound which I am hearing by my headphones (which is perfect). My idea is to replace the MB 121p combo by a very clear sounding powered monitor (10" or 12").

Any experience or recommendations from fellow TBers appreciated.

This is the fundamental dilemma with bass stage amplification of a preamp tone that INCLUDES the cabinet simulation (tone filtering) in the sound.

What I would recommend is you grab your pedal and head off to Guitar Center or somewhere that has a wide variety of powered PA speakers to audition. Much of your decision will hinge around how loud you need this stage monitor to be, realistically. If you play in a band with a loud drummer, or generally have to contend with loud stage volumes, then this will most likely force you into a more expensive investment. If stages volumes are relatively under control, then Charlie C's recommendations should fit the bill nicely, and there are a lot of solid choices in the $400-$750+ price range.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/powe...profileCountryCode=US&profileCurrencyCode=USD

If you have the disposable income, then there are some lesser known options that are excellent choices, such as fEARless cabinets, and Atomic Audio (their CLR active wedges are incredibly "flat" sounding and clear in the mid/high end). I personally own a pair of Atomic CLR active wedges (12" coaxial design) and they are exceptional sounding cabinets @ approx. $1000US each, which is not much more a QSC K-12, or some of JBLs better offerings (PRX series).