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Zoom B3 As Preamp

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#61
OzzyGreg said:
.
On the cab sims off/on subject...

While I totally agree with you Charlie on the cab sims being turned right off when playing live, I find that when recording I am prefering the cab sims to be set at around 40-50%.

At least that's what I'm finding at present playing around recording with the Markbass simulation in the B3. I sort of like a bit of SWR 4x10 cab sims in the mix, rather than the original Markbass cab.

Greg
Click to expand...

Absolutely, Greg! There are no set rules, but instead there is much to be gained by breaking them! :D

Just to clarify my position on cabinet sim:

When playing through real bass speakers with the intention of having things sound most realistic in front of the rig, I always run with a B3 Mix value of 0 (100% signal after the preamp, 0% signal after the cabinet)

When I need to provide a bass tone to any other full-range device like a mixer/recorder, I start with a B3 Mix value of 100 (0% signal after the preamp, 100% signal after the cabinet) and usually blend-in a little of the signal after the preamp to find a better place in the band mix or to bring more "immediacy" to the bass tone.

When I need to do both of the above at the same time on the B3, that's where the trouble begins, LOL!

Cheers!
 
#64
almeak said:
Thanks Charlie C. With you at the helm of this I know you're going to come up with some cool settings just like you did with the V-amp Pro. Would like to here a comparison between the two units from you.....
Click to expand...

Thanks, almeak!

It is almost unfair to compare the V-AMP Pro and the B3 as the former is 10-year old technology, but since you asked I will simply say that the bass tones coming from the B3 are the best I have ever heard from a DSP device IMHO, yet somehow I cannot seem to part ways with the V-AMP Pro :D

Cheers!
 
#65
Very interesting, CharlieC! I have quite recently begun using a pre/power set-up with a VT Bass/DC9 Comp as pre through a 1kW power amp and 2 X ABM 410Ts... I auditioned a B3 when they first appeared but I'm sorry to say that after a fairly cursory examination, I dismissed it out of hand as a something of a gimmick.

Having read this thread however, I'm certainly going to renew my acquaintance with the machine - I too am a rock player who favours pick-style and the SVT/8X10 sound, so your excellent information is very relevant.

The notion of having just one unit that can apparently offer such flexibility and ease of use both live and in the studio is extremely attractive! Thank you very much.

I wish you all that you would wish yourself in the coming new year. :)
Thanks again.
 
#66
discreet said:
Very interesting, CharlieC! I have quite recently begun using a pre/power set-up with a VT Bass/DC9 Comp as pre through a 1kW power amp and 2 X ABM 410Ts... I auditioned a B3 when they first appeared but I'm sorry to say that after a fairly cursory examination, I dismissed it out of hand as a something of a gimmick.

Having read this thread however, I'm certainly going to renew my acquaintance with the machine - I too am a rock player who favours pick-style and the SVT/8X10 sound, so your excellent information is very relevant.

The notion of having just one unit that can apparently offer such flexibility and ease of use both live and in the studio is extremely attractive! Thank you very much.

I wish you all that you would wish yourself in the coming new year. :)
Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Merry Christmas, discreet!

... and rest assured that I would not steer you wrong! The B3 is an absolute wonder of a tone machine and I am here to prove it :-)

Cheers!
 
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#67
I bought a B3 a few weeks back and when I figure it out a bit more I plan to use it as my preamp in this situation:
Warwick bass ->B3 ->Crown XTi4000 -> Aguilar GS410 cab.

I'm digging the drum machine on the B3 as well. I'm going through all the presets now to check them out. Some are useful useful with some tweaking - the SVT for one. I'm sure I'll get to the Looper at some point.

Thanks for this thread and all contributors! Happy holidays all.

Dave
 
#68
dave2 said:
I bought a B3 a few weeks back and when I figure it out a bit more I plan to use it as my preamp in this situation:
Warwick bass ->B3 ->Crown XTi4000 -> Aguilar GS410 cab.

I'm digging the drum machine on the B3 as well. I'm going through all the presets now to check them out. Some are useful useful with some tweaking - the SVT for one. I'm sure I'll get to the Looper at some point.

Thanks for this thread and all contributors! Happy holidays all.

Dave
Click to expand...

Dave, congrats and please keep us updated here as to how that rig works out for you

Cheers!
 
#71
CharlieC,

Thanks so much for running this thread. After reading through the whole thing I was excited to put the B3 to the test. An A-B Test that is. ;)

I'm running a Yorkville Bassmaster xs800 through an [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. It's a super sweet rig that has more headroom than the Sistine Chapel (and weighs about the same).

I started with a baseline by setting all of the amp models flat. After a bit of knob tweaking and cable swapping, I managed to dial the FlipTop pretty close. When I tossed in the Splitter (BBE Sonic Maximizer) things got even sweeter.

This is excellent. It opens up the possibility of leaving the boat anchor at home and going DI should the need arise.

Thanks for the information in inspiration to go exploring!
 
#72
jovino said:
CharlieC,

Thanks so much for running this thread. After reading through the whole thing I was excited to put the B3 to the test. An A-B Test that is. ;)

I'm running a Yorkville Bassmaster xs800 through an [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. It's a super sweet rig that has more headroom than the Sistine Chapel (and weighs about the same).

I started with a baseline by setting all of the amp models flat. After a bit of knob tweaking and cable swapping, I managed to dial the FlipTop pretty close. When I tossed in the Splitter (BBE Sonic Maximizer) things got even sweeter.

This is excellent. It opens up the possibility of leaving the boat anchor at home and going DI should the need arise.

Thanks for the information in inspiration to go exploring!
Click to expand...

Thanks, jovino!

As you now know, the B3 is like having a world of bass gear in a device the size of an iPad

At a minimum, packing one in your gig bag is like having an entire backup rig, DI box and tuner on-hand just in case

Cheers!
 
#75
A Happy New Year to all! :D

My B3 is on order from Thomann and I have traded up to a Crown XLS 402, which I am very pleased with. I'm quite sure that as far as the B3 is concerned, expectation will not exceed reality... ;)

I'm looking forward to not having to buy and sell my gear all over the place when changing band, project or genre. Here's to 2013. :D
 
#76
discreet said:
A Happy New Year to all! :D

My B3 is on order from Thomann and I have traded up to a Crown XLS 402, which I am very pleased with. I'm quite sure that as far as the B3 is concerned, expectation will not exceed reality... ;)

I'm looking forward to not having to buy and sell my gear all over the place when changing band, project or genre. Here's to 2013. :D
Click to expand...

Congrats, discreet and as I understand it, all B3 units purchased from Thomann's include complimentary chromatic tuner, looper and rhythm patterns :D

Cheers!
 
#78
USB Cable MIA

Upon my purchase of the Zoom B3 in the USA, I was surprised to discover that no USB cable was included in the box.

As I had extra USB cables in my possession, I thought nothing of this until I heard that others also had the same experience.

FYI, should you be expecting the arrival of a new B3, I suspect this USB cable omission to be standard practice.
 
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