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Zoom B3 As Preamp

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#543
CharlieC said:
...IMHO, the B3 and MS-60B are at their best when paired with a full-range box, with the QSC K12 being a fine example.

I have yet to find any bass cabinet that comes close to delivering the smooth, powerful, sonic sound stage of a top-shelf active speaker, and when combined with either above Zoom product, the results are spectacular.
Click to expand...

I totally agree that a full-range speaker is best for modelling, and I love the QSC actives. I'm a long-term user of the HPR122i's, K10's and K12's. I also owned and enjoyed a Bose L1 rig.

But if you get past conventional bass cabs, you might be surprised at whats out there these days. There's a new wave of bass-oriented full-range cabs. Duke's AudioKinesis Thunderchild range in particular, actually have a slightly smoother, flatter frequency response and wider dispersion than the QSC boxes.

Paired with a lightweight power amp or a micro head with an effects loop like the larger G-K and Genz offerings, they also offer more dynamic headroom and a tighter, fuller low end.

My Thunderchild and G-K MB800 weigh the same as a single K12, and go louder and lower. In order for a K12 to move as much air, it needs to be paired with a powered sub, and at that point, the combination is larger, heavier and more expensive than a bass rig built around cabs like the Thunderchild, fEarful 12/6/1 or 15/6/1, Acme Full Range, etc.
 
#544
steve_rolfeca said:
I totally agree that a full-range speaker is best for modelling, and I love the QSC actives. I'm a long-term user of the HPR122i's, K10's and K12's. I also owned and enjoyed a Bose L1 rig.

But if you get past conventional bass cabs, you might be surprised at whats out there these days. There's a new wave of bass-oriented full-range cabs. Duke's AudioKinesis Thunderchild range in particular, actually have a slightly smoother, flatter frequency response and wider dispersion than the QSC boxes.

Paired with a lightweight power amp or a micro head with an effects loop like the larger G-K and Genz offerings, they also offer more dynamic headroom and a tighter, fuller low end.

My Thunderchild and G-K MB800 weigh the same as a single K12, and go louder and lower. In order for a K12 to move as much air, it needs to be paired with a powered sub, and at that point, the combination is larger, heavier and more expensive than a bass rig built around cabs like the Thunderchild, fEarful 12/6/1 or 15/6/1, Acme Full Range, etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Steve and I realize this.

The only struggling point I have with the new breed of cabinets is that, for me, they remain in the bleeding-edge, enthusiast realm until I as a consumer can audition a modest selection of them prior to purchase. Much like Dyson and his vacuum technology, I am hoping the industry will soon catch-on and I can then take my pick of one armed with this week's 15%-Off coupon code. Until that day arrives, I will remain blissfully content with the next best thing. :D

Cheers!
 
#546
I had a B2, was very satisfied with it and after a lot of screwing with various multi-efects and because of this thread, I decided to buy a B3. Just got it from the post office, so later on I'll be messing around to prepare a couple of sounds for Sunday's practice. CharlieC, you should be an ambassador for Zoom. :)
 
#549
I'm still reading, I'm on page 11, but I had to comment. Apart from that, I have a question. How wise would it be to have an MS-60B to handle the preamps and a B3 to have it do the cab sim? I'm thinking this as a way to send a cab-less output from the MS-60B to the power amp/cab and the "cab'ed" output from the B3's XLR to the FOH.
 
#550
Papalampraina said:
I'm still reading, I'm on page 11, but I had to comment. Apart from that, I have a question. How wise would it be to have an MS-60B to handle the preamps and a B3 to have it do the cab sim? I'm thinking this as a way to send a cab-less output from the MS-60B to the power amp/cab and the "cab'ed" output from the B3's XLR to the FOH.
Click to expand...

Good idea, but simply not possible/practical for various reasons.

At this time, I firmly believe the future of modeling devices like the B3 and MS-60B will be to drive full-range systems, with little hope for simultaneous, independent support for both traditional bass amps and full-range outputs... but I am OK with this :-)

Cheers!
 
#552
JPrinos said:
Dumb question: Couldn't I use the B3 as an IEM driver through the headphone output and output to the FOH through the XLR?
Click to expand...

You could, but all you'd have in your IEM is you. You need to hear everyone else as well. If you don't need wireless, the Rolls is really the way to go. Cheap, good sound and it Ives you a few options for routing your signal.
 
#553
CharlieC said:
Sweet set up for certain, but you've no room left on the Nano even for a Zoom MS-60B and all its gain-saturated, character-infused, tonal glory -- for those who like that sort of thing :D

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I know. I've debated a B3 but I never seem to use/need effects on gigs. Especially my church gig. I've always been more of a bass to amp guy. Although the B3 is interesting.
 
#554
Hey Charlie, thanks for the thread. I took a bunch of notes from it yesterday, and went home and mucked about. You're definitely right, I get a lot nicer tone out of my practice amp when I use the SVT emulator. Haven't tried with my new Hartke 115C yet, it has enough tweaks on it I'm not sure I'll want to use it all the time. But we'll see.

One question, I couldn't find that noise reduction simulator anywhere in the manual ???
 
#555
SteveC said:
I know. I've debated a B3 but I never seem to use/need effects on gigs. Especially my church gig. I've always been more of a bass to amp guy. Although the B3 is interesting.
Click to expand...

I hear you, Steve, and understand as I am not an effect man, myself. I am in this game primarily for the amp and cabinet sims, with the occasional need for a novelty effect for certain covers.

Now knowing this, I would highly-recommend an MS-60B for you instead and it would fit very nicely on your Pedaltrain Nano in place of the TU-2. :D

Cheers!
 
#556
CharlieC said:
Good idea, but simply not possible/practical for various reasons.

At this time, I firmly believe the future of modeling devices like the B3 and MS-60B will be to drive full-range systems, with little hope for simultaneous, independent support for both traditional bass amps and full-range outputs... but I am OK with this :-)

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I was talking about using them chained. I'll explain:
Power amp/cab
MS-60B <
B3 cab sim -XLR-> FOH
Can you do that? Or are the cabs a part of the preamp setting?
 
#559
newmusicmichael said:
Hey Charlie, thanks for the thread. I took a bunch of notes from it yesterday, and went home and mucked about. You're definitely right, I get a lot nicer tone out of my practice amp when I use the SVT emulator. Haven't tried with my new Hartke 115C yet, it has enough tweaks on it I'm not sure I'll want to use it all the time. But we'll see.

One question, I couldn't find that noise reduction simulator anywhere in the manual ???
Click to expand...

Thanks!

The one and only noise reduction effect is called "ZNR" and is found both in the B3 (as effect #008) and in the MS-60B (as effect #007, under the DYN/FLTR category)
 
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