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Zoom B3 As Preamp Part 2

#141
I'm very impressed with the B3. I've spent some time making some nice clean presets with the amp sims.

I usually prefer a Jaco type sound. Ironically the Acoustic and Hartke have been my favorite sims. I had my wife (also a musician) be a independent set of ears. She preferred the SVT sim. She said she liked the tone colors the best with the SVT. I'll have to see how each sim does in rehearsal.
 
#144
6-effect update would be nice. But what makes the B3 concept sexy to me is the one-section-per-stompbox concept. If you know how to operate a real stompbox you'll also need no manual for the B3. I am waiting for a B5 similar to the G5. It would also be a nice feature to have an amp/cabinet simulator defeat for the line outs. This would allow to run the amp/cabinet simulation to DI out only (routing to FoH) and send a clean signal via line out to your stage monitor/bass amp.
 
#146
TheBass said:
6-effect update would be nice. But what makes the B3 concept sexy to me is the one-section-per-stompbox concept. If you know how to operate a real stompbox you'll also need no manual for the B3. I am waiting for a B5 similar to the G5. It would also be a nice feature to have an amp/cabinet simulator defeat for the line outs. This would allow to run the amp/cabinet simulation to DI out only (routing to FoH) and send a clean signal via line out to your stage monitor/bass amp.
Click to expand...

SoVeryTired said:
As much as I love my G5, I'm not a heavy bass effects user. I'd be happy with 6 simultaneous effects on the B3, so I could have ZNR and an amp sim always on (off-screen) and be able to use more than one other effect.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#149
Originally Posted by TheBass View Post
6-effect update would be nice. But what makes the B3 concept sexy to me is the one-section-per-stompbox concept. If you know how to operate a real stompbox you'll also need no manual for the B3. I am waiting for a B5 similar to the G5. It would also be a nice feature to have an amp/cabinet simulator defeat for the line outs. This would allow to run the amp/cabinet simulation to DI out only (routing to FoH) and send a clean signal via line out to your stage monitor/bass amp.
Click to expand...


Originally Posted by SoVeryTired View Post
As much as I love my G5, I'm not a heavy bass effects user. I'd be happy with 6 simultaneous effects on the B3, so I could have ZNR and an amp sim always on (off-screen) and be able to use more than one other effect.
Click to expand...

+1 indeed!
 
#150
Zoom B1on + B1Xon

Zoom Japan has just released a new bass product line that no doubt should also be available in the USA later in 2014.

The B1on supports 5 simultaneous effects and packs nearly of all the effect types, looper, and rhythm machine power as the B3.

The obvious downsides at a glance are the plastic chassis, lack of a XLR out, and inability to drive power amps having 1.4 Vrms sensitivity level (based on its +2 dBm max output.)

Although not specified, it appears that this device is also based on Zoom's ZFX-IV DSP chip and therefore it should be able to deliver the exact same tones as the B3 and MS-60B where effect types equally exist.

This is yet another blow to the B3 faithful that the B3 is capable of more than 3 simultaneous effects, while also supporting looper and rhythm machine functionality.

Although I realize that new products generate revenue, in this case I would rather pay for v2.0 firmware treatment for the B3 instead! :crying:

b1on.jpg
 
#151
CharlieC said:
Zoom B1on + B1Xon

Zoom Japan has just released a new bass product line that no doubt should also be available in the USA later in 2014.

The B1on supports 5 simultaneous effects and packs nearly of all the effect types, looper, and rhythm machine power as the B3.

The obvious downsides at a glance are the plastic chassis, lack of a XLR out, and inability to drive power amps having 1.4 Vrms sensitivity level (based on its +2 dBm max output.)

Although not specified, it appears that this device is also based on Zoom's ZFX-IV DSP chip and therefore it should be able to deliver the exact same tones as the B3 and MS-60B where effect types equally exist.

This is yet another blow to the B3 faithful that the B3 is capable of more than 3 simultaneous effects, while also supporting looper and rhythm machine functionality.

Although I realize that new products generate revenue, in this case I would rather pay for v2.0 firmware treatment for the B3 instead! :crying:

b1on.jpg
Click to expand...

It looks like Zoom are going back to the plastic fantastic build again. I can't help wonder if the B3 is their premium product in their current bass range and now they are doing cheapie variations on a theme to push out a cheaper product range. I think we need to wait a few years for the B3mkII to be designed and launched before we get any upgrade here.
 
#152
I can't see myself ever getting one of those - not in the same league as the B3 in terms of live useability - so it's frustrating they're actually a step ahead of the B3 in simultaneous effects whilst using the same technology. It's doubly frustrating given that Zoom did realease a firmware update for the G3 but seem completely disinterested in doing so for the B3.
 
#153
GMC said:
It looks like Zoom are going back to the plastic fantastic build again. I can't help wonder if the B3 is their premium product in their current bass range and now they are doing cheapie variations on a theme to push out a cheaper product range. I think we need to wait a few years for the B3mkII to be designed and launched before we get any upgrade here.
Click to expand...


Mmmmh... I'm septical about this new product. It looks like some cheaper multieffects, not very convenient to tweak easily during sound check...
Maybe the aim is to propose something at a lower price than the B3.

The firmware evolution of the B3 would be a way better news for my use !
2 or 3 more effects and the hability to switch from one patch to the other while keeping the stompbox view (without harware modification as someones here made).
 
#154
I got to use my B3 in a rehearsal on Thursday with our 18 piece "big band." If you saw the group I play with and the amount of stuff in my rig, you'd think it was overkill. In any event, I spent time at home dialing in some nice sounds with the amp sims. Much to my surprise I ended up using different sims than I had originally planned. I used the Aguilar sim most of the rehearsal and the SVT sim for some smooth traditional slow jazz tunes. Overall I am pleased. Being able to dial in a particular set of tone colors for a tune is awesome.
 
#156
tubatodd said:
I got to use my B3 in a rehearsal on Thursday with our 18 piece "big band." If you saw the group I play with and the amount of stuff in my rig, you'd think it was overkill. In any event, I spent time at home dialing in some nice sounds with the amp sims. Much to my surprise I ended up using different sims than I had originally planned. I used the Aguilar sim most of the rehearsal and the SVT sim for some smooth traditional slow jazz tunes. Overall I am pleased. Being able to dial in a particular set of tone colors for a tune is awesome.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. I love being able to set up a patch that's the right tone for a specific song. I work from a list of around 20 songs and am building up my library of patches - I've only had the B3 since December so there are a few songs I haven't played on bass since I got it.

I added a couple more this week and enjoyed playing around with the precise settings at home. I'm using the Aguilar sim for the first time on one song and it sounds pretty good (I'm on the SVT for about 80% of my songs), along with the parametric EQ to add some subtle and specific mids. On another song, I'm using compression (the 160a sim) for the first time and have enjoyed experimenting with it. I'm using it as a switchable effect for smoothing certain sections of a song, and it does a good job.
 
#157
PilbaraBass said:
Look at the price on the B1on $75...

They're going the cheap rout to get people on board... It's a valid marketing approach
Click to expand...

Ok. I didn't see that.
So it's logical. And for this price you may accept the less simple access I guess. Less expensive than the ms-60B... with more effects... not so bad finally :)

SoVeryTired said:
I completely agree. I love being able to set up a patch that's the right tone for a specific song. I work from a list of around 20 songs and am building up my library of patches - I've only had the B3 since December so there are a few songs I haven't played on bass since I got it.

I added a couple more this week and enjoyed playing around with the precise settings at home. I'm using the Aguilar sim for the first time on one song and it sounds pretty good (I'm on the SVT for about 80% of my songs), along with the parametric EQ to add some subtle and specific mids. On another song, I'm using compression (the 160a sim) for the first time and have enjoyed experimenting with it. I'm using it as a switchable effect for smoothing certain sections of a song, and it does a good job.
Click to expand...

I like the challenge of trying to find at home tones that will sound well with the band.
When I feel I may be completly wrong I set 2 or 3 identical patches and eq them differently. Like that I go faster to make the final adjustments.
Because, I don't know for you, but with the B3, I feel I could spend half of the rehearsals trying new tones, which isn't so fun for the others who just want to play :)
 
#158
ticol07 said:
I like the challenge of trying to find at home tones that will sound well with the band.
When I feel I may be completly wrong I set 2 or 3 identical patches and eq them differently. Like that I go faster to make the final adjustments.
Because, I don't know for you, but with the B3, I feel I could spend half of the rehearsals trying new tones, which isn't so fun for the others who just want to play :)
Click to expand...

True! I did a few 'at rehearsal' amendments the first time I used it but since then I have a fair idea how I'll sound in the overall mix.
 

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