Hey I wanted to thank everyone that gave some input on this thread, and most important the one who stated it all CharlieC! I just finished reading both parts today. This thread is what pushed me to purshase a brand new B3 a couple days ago. Even if it might be outdated, and never received a major update, I still wanted a metal chassie, DI, usb and mostly 3 seperate switches.
I hope to not bore everyone with this long post, but I wish to share my expenrience so far with my B3 and I also have a couple of questions/concerns.
First of all, I already owned many multi effects in the past including the B2 and never really liked any of them, mostly because of the lack of a good display, I found it was hard to quickly dial in a tone. The B3 works really well in that manner, you can play will all three effects at the same time, this makes for easy adjustments.
I was on the market for a preamp and was about to pull the trigger on a VT bass DI, but settled on the B3 because I want to emulate as many rigs as possible, being part of a cover band with a lot of different styles, I figured a VT would only give me the SVT sound but the B3 can give me SVT and so much more, at the same price! I still beleive its worth it, i payed the same price for my mxr compressor.
What I am wondering now is how close does my amp and cabinets reproduce the sound that my B3 will send to the FOH via its DI? I know a powered full range monitor has to be the best. So I am wondering if I should sell my rig and go that route...
I own a Traynor Dynabass 300 12" neo combo with a horn and the matching TC112 neo cab with horn, they are front ported (also says "full range" on my cab by the inputs). The amp pushes 350 watt RMS at 4ohms and can get plenty loud, so volume is no issue. I used the MP3 approche to try and get as much a flat, full sound as possible. Going through the front of my amp colors the sound a lot, no matter what I do with my EQ it just sounds off, i think it might have to do with the traynor/yorkville scoop knob .... anyhow going though my FX return i get decent sound, everything sounds good, but it defenitly does not sound like a Home Hifi sound system. On the other hand my amp has a monitor in with its own volume. It says in the manual that it can be used as a monitor on stage iff need may be. I tried that input also with a MP3 and could not hear any difference... So I rather use the return, since that way i can use the master volume and mute switch at the front of my amp to easilly adjust my volume on stage without affecting FOH. The only thing I can compare my tone coming from the amp for now is with my headphones. Its close but not completly the same.
From all the info from this thread I have been able to dial in some nice tones very close to the artist im trying to emulate, I just wonder how it will come out once I try my first gig with the B3. I almost always use the cab simuation full on at 100% like CharlieC suggested. It doesnt sound muddy at all as long as i have enough treble, it just sounds fuller and louder.
Eventually I might get a powered monitor and get rid of my rig, but I do like how portable and light it is, its just that I want as close as possible to reproducing the FOH mix.
Sorry for the LONG post! Thanks again to all that contributed! (Sorry if my english is less then perfect it's because my native language is french)
