Zoom B3 As Preamp Part 2

[TheIndieKid]

Hello guys!

So we know the BB Pre is one of the better dirt sims on the B3 due to the apparent break up at high gain, replicating a real tube's reaction. Charlie gave an awesome setup for the effect. However, lately I've heard people going wild over the DI5. I'm starting to see why-it's based of a tube preamp and gives a fat, sweet warm tone...but that's not all. If used after a drive, the Hi Cut feature eliminates any frequencies that are home to the troublesome digital "fizz" prominent on most drives on the B3. I was wondering if anyone could offer some good settings for the DI5 as a standalone sim, like putting the BDDI before an amp sim for a bit of grit? Many thanks

 

[_godspeed_]

Hello guys!

So we know the BB Pre is one of the better dirt sims on the B3 due to the apparent break up at high gain, replicating a real tube's reaction. Charlie gave an awesome setup for the effect. However, lately I've heard people going wild over the DI5. I'm starting to see why-it's based of a tube preamp and gives a fat, sweet warm tone...but that's not all. If used after a drive, the Hi Cut feature eliminates any frequencies that are home to the troublesome digital "fizz" prominent on most drives on the B3. I was wondering if anyone could offer some good settings for the DI5 as a standalone sim, like putting the BDDI before an amp sim for a bit of grit? Many thanks

I use DI5 pretty much all the time. I did a good setup for SVT though, but I still prefer transparent sound of DI5. All my dirt is coming externally from pedalboard(I don't use any overdrives/distortions from B3 itself), so I really can't recommend any dirt settings on B3. But my Spark and Aftershock sound great through DI5 sim. As far as I remember, my settings for DI5 are : tone 3, Hi Cut ON, volume and gain to taste. I still want to experiment with higher gain(on DI5 itself) and lower volume.

 

[David A. Davis]

Since Samson Zoom Hartke are all part of the same group they should just Frankenstein the B3 with the class D power section of one of the Hartke amps.

 

[saeroner]

Hello guys,

I am still new to the B3. I read the 1st 10 pages of the original thread and set up a few patches using the amp sims (mix set to 0 running to my GK combo). I plan on taking it to a gig this Friday (only my 4th gig). The place has a sound guy. Normally he runs an XLR out of the Direct Out of my GK amp. Is there anything I should be doing different in the amp sim "mix" on the B3? Should sound guy run straight out of the B3? Any tips on this? Huge thread!

 

[CharlieC]

Hello guys,

I am still new to the B3. I read the 1st 10 pages of the original thread and set up a few patches using the amp sims (mix set to 0 running to my GK combo). I plan on taking it to a gig this Friday (only my 4th gig). The place has a sound guy. Normally he runs an XLR out of the Direct Out of my GK amp. Is there anything I should be doing different in the amp sim "mix" on the B3? Should sound guy run straight out of the B3? Any tips on this? Huge thread!

Since it sounds as though you are simply using the B3 as a pedal in front of your amp, I would suggest that the sound man continue to take the XLR out from the GK combo.

 

[CharlieC]

The bass version of this is going to be great!

Almost certainly, all the remaining B3 shortcomings will be resolved:

• Ability to use more than 3 effects in a patch
• Ability to disable Auto-Save
• Ability to pre-configure tuner mode to either Bypass/Mute
• Improved effects and realism
• Improved aesthetics

I cannot wait!

 

[BrentSimons]

The bass version of this is going to be great!

Almost certainly, all the remaining B3 shortcomings will be resolved:

• Ability to use more than 3 effects in a patch
• Ability to disable Auto-Save
• Ability to pre-configure tuner mode to either Bypass/Mute
• Improved effects and realism
• Improved aesthetics

I cannot wait!

Charlie,
Do you know more on this thread? Hmmmmm?
Brent

 

[eric_B]

The bass version of this is going to be great!

Almost certainly, all the remaining B3 shortcomings will be resolved:

• Ability to use more than 3 effects in a patch
• Ability to disable Auto-Save
• Ability to pre-configure tuner mode to either Bypass/Mute
• Improved effects and realism
• Improved aesthetics

I cannot wait!

It would be, if it is coming.
So far, guitarshredders seem to have more attention from (as in bigger revenues for) Zoom than basspluckers though...

 

[Lemmolo]

Hi guys, and thanks CharlieC. and all the gang for the super interesting thread.
I'd like to go the active PA speaker way, ( i seem to be quite settled on the Yamaha DXR12 ) , but I have some doubts about the speaker cone size. Since I sometimes happen to play at small pubs where I am not allowed to enter the PA , then I'd be forced to use the PA speaker as the only bass amplification. Should I better choose a 15" cone over a 12" in order to have some more bass end and perceived volume/punch?

Thanks in advence, and good music to everyone.

 

[CharlieC]

Hi guys, and thanks CharlieC. and all the gang for the super interesting thread.
I'd like to go the active PA speaker way, ( i seem to be quite settled on the Yamaha DXR12 ) , but I have some doubts about the speaker cone size. Since I sometimes happen to play at small pubs where I am not allowed to enter the PA , then I'd be forced to use the PA speaker as the only bass amplification. Should I better choose a 15" cone over a 12" in order to have some more bass end and perceived volume/punch?

Thanks in advence, and good music to everyone.

Go for the bigger driver in that case and make every effort to trial the B3 through the active speaker at the music shop prior to purchase.

Cheers!

 

[DonaldR]

Should I better choose a 15" cone over a 12" in order to have some more bass end and perceived volume/punch?

Depends on how loud you want to be. I have an EV ZLX12P and I have no problem playing the B string, no fart at all, at moderate level. Since you're saying it's small club I think a 12" is enough for loudness, and since it's small club it means tight space and a 12" is smaller than a 15".

 

[Lemmolo]

Go for the bigger driver in that case and make every effort to trial the B3 through the active speaker at the music shop prior to purchase.

Cheers!

Thanks CharlieCand DonaldR. ,....my doubts were caused by someone in this thread who stated that comparing the two speakers there was no big difference enough to justify the enhanced price,size and weight...

 

[CharlieC]

Thanks CharlieC,....my doubts were caused by someone in this thread who stated that comparing the two speakers there was no big difference enough to justify the enhanced price,size and weight...

The best judge of this is yourself and again, make every effort to try before you buy

 

[TitaniumRx]

Thanks CharlieCand DonaldR. ,....my doubts were caused by someone in this thread who stated that comparing the two speakers there was no big difference enough to justify the enhanced price,size and weight...

I have 2 DXR15 and i always use them both on stage.You need the lower one for the floor effect and the upper one for your ears.No matter the size of club or bar,PA or not,i and people always hear me loud and clear.If you want my opinion,go for 2 DXR 15 and you never be out of steam again.For small pubs use lower volume,but always take with you both of them.These is my rig for now and probably for ever.

 

[carlwilson6]

Hi all, I've had B3 for several months now and never really considered using it as a pre-amp until I stumbled on this thread having wanted to get something better out of it!

My bass amp is an Ashdown Klystron c210-500 combo and I have my bass going into the B3 input, then a 1/4 inch running from the output to the amps FX return.
I've been playing around with it for a while and I while I thought I couldn't get anything to come through I now annoyingly can hear something very faintly from the speakers, barely audible over the noise of the amp running.
Has anyone my idea of what I may be doing wrong?

 

[BunchyMutt]

I've been playing around with it for a while and I while I thought I couldn't get anything to come through I now annoyingly can hear something very faintly from the speakers, barely audible over the noise of the amp running.
Has anyone my idea of what I may be doing wrong?

Make sure that volume is fully up in both the Total and Global settings and that the volume isn't too low in each of the effects

 

[carlwilson6]

Make sure that volume is fully up in both the Total and Global settings and that the volume isn't too low in each of the effects

Hmm yeah tried that, levels pushed full on everything including effects and total/global! Stumped!

 

[CharlieC]

Hmm yeah tried that, levels pushed full on everything including effects and total/global! Stumped!

Perhaps the FX Return jack contacts are dirty or otherwise not making good contact.

To test this, run a 1/4" cable between your FX Send and Return jacks and operate the amp normally with a bass plugged into the front amp. Should the same faint audio result then this would confirm the above. Use the same 1/4" cable for this test as used to connect the B3 to the FX Return as before in case the cable is the culprit.

 

[carlwilson6]

Perhaps the FX Return jack contacts are dirty or otherwise not making good contact.

To test this, run a 1/4" cable between your FX Send and Return jacks and operate the amp normally with a bass plugged into the front amp. Should the same faint audio result then this would confirm the above. Use the same 1/4" cable for this test as used to connect the B3 to the FX Return as before in case the cable is the culprit.

Thanks for the quick replies!

Just tried this test and the signal is coming through loud and clear.

Just to make sure I haven't missed anything out, my bass is into input on B3, passive button out as bass is passive. Nothing connected to DI out and both switches there are out. 1/4 inch running from output L (mono) to Amp FX return, nothing else touched!

 

[CharlieC]

Thanks for the quick replies!

Just tried this test and the signal is coming through loud and clear.

Just to make sure I haven't missed anything out, my bass is into input on B3, passive button out as bass is passive. Nothing connected to DI out and both switches there are out. 1/4 inch running from output L (mono) to Amp FX return, nothing else touched!

Please advise of the B3 effects in play and their individual LEVEL params.