Hello,
there are already some very interesting threads regarding these 2 multi fx :
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-ms-60b-patch-ideas.1003381/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-b3-as-preamp-part-2.1039929/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-b3-patch-ideas.918990/
but I was thinking it would be interesting to create one dedicated to the way to obtain good overdrives / distorsion / fuzz tones with these pedals.
Why ? Because I think these pedals can deliver very interesting results but it's not always instinctive.
So I begin with my own discoveries, hoping other guys will be interested in sharing their thoughts.
At first, I feel that the different overdrives available on these units lack of something when used alone.
Furthermore, I think that the amp sims that can be overdriven (SVT for both and SuperBass for the B3) are interesting bases to create overdrive simulations.
First overdrive : I inspired myself on the VT Bass and its character knob (it can boost the mids before the drive -> give a particular flavor to the drive).
So, I use the para eq before an SVT model to choose some frequencies to boost.
Then on the SVT model, I cut the mids to attenuate this mid boost (but I keep a different flavor)
At the end, I place the AcBsPre to act as a high pass filter if I want, and a high cut to reduce the fizzy effect of the overdive
1: Para Eq - F1 = 2kHz / Q1 = 8 / G1 = 13 - F2 = 4.5kHz / Q2 = 4 / G2 =6
2: SVT - B = 0 / Mid = -8 / T = 4 / MidF= 2kHz / Gain = 63 / L=27 / Ultra off / Mix 0
3: AcBsPre - G=50 / Depth = 10 / L=100 / B=0 / L-Mid=250 /Mid=1 / H-Mid=3 / T=-8
Total Bal = 73
Second one which sounds heavier, based on the same spirit :
1: Para Eq - F1 = 1.2kHz / Q1 = 4 / G1 = 13 - F2 = 4.5kHz / Q2 = 4 / G2 =6
2: SVT - B = 0 / Mid = -8 / T = 4 / MidF= 1.2kHz / Gain = 100 / L=32 / Ultra off / Mix 0
3: AcBsPre - G=50 / Depth = 10 / L=100 / B=0 / L-Mid=250 /Mid=2 / H-Mid=4 / T=-8
Total Bal = 38
The principle is to use the different tricks of the famous overdrive pedals :
give a specific shape to the tone before the drive, Eq after the drive to shape your tone and having the hability to cut the extrem highs at the end.
And use the Total Balance as a global blend.
It's not perfect, but what I hear sounds interesting. And if I play with the tone knob of my bass I have various intersting overdriven tones.
Based on this kind of approach there are many possibilities :
- combine very middy overdrives (TScream, Squeak for example) with an amp model with mids cut a bit
- and always the capacity to blend some clean signal with the Total Balance.
The DI+ is a good base too with Colour Off, when combined with an Amp sim too.
In that kind of use, I use the amp sims only as tool to fatten the overdrive tone and to eq the signal.
This approach seems interesting if you want to use these units as overdrives and have other tools on your board / amp to make the final adjustments.
And I think it gives the capacity to create overdriven tones that fit well with the clean tone, if you want to use the overdrive only in a part of a song for example.
Let me know what you think of that and share your own tries. Other approaches are welcome !!
I'm feeling these units can get very good tones in the overdrive department when you know what to do
there are already some very interesting threads regarding these 2 multi fx :
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-ms-60b-patch-ideas.1003381/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-b3-as-preamp-part-2.1039929/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-b3-patch-ideas.918990/
but I was thinking it would be interesting to create one dedicated to the way to obtain good overdrives / distorsion / fuzz tones with these pedals.
Why ? Because I think these pedals can deliver very interesting results but it's not always instinctive.
So I begin with my own discoveries, hoping other guys will be interested in sharing their thoughts.
At first, I feel that the different overdrives available on these units lack of something when used alone.
Furthermore, I think that the amp sims that can be overdriven (SVT for both and SuperBass for the B3) are interesting bases to create overdrive simulations.
First overdrive : I inspired myself on the VT Bass and its character knob (it can boost the mids before the drive -> give a particular flavor to the drive).
So, I use the para eq before an SVT model to choose some frequencies to boost.
Then on the SVT model, I cut the mids to attenuate this mid boost (but I keep a different flavor)
At the end, I place the AcBsPre to act as a high pass filter if I want, and a high cut to reduce the fizzy effect of the overdive
1: Para Eq - F1 = 2kHz / Q1 = 8 / G1 = 13 - F2 = 4.5kHz / Q2 = 4 / G2 =6
2: SVT - B = 0 / Mid = -8 / T = 4 / MidF= 2kHz / Gain = 63 / L=27 / Ultra off / Mix 0
3: AcBsPre - G=50 / Depth = 10 / L=100 / B=0 / L-Mid=250 /Mid=1 / H-Mid=3 / T=-8
Total Bal = 73
Second one which sounds heavier, based on the same spirit :
1: Para Eq - F1 = 1.2kHz / Q1 = 4 / G1 = 13 - F2 = 4.5kHz / Q2 = 4 / G2 =6
2: SVT - B = 0 / Mid = -8 / T = 4 / MidF= 1.2kHz / Gain = 100 / L=32 / Ultra off / Mix 0
3: AcBsPre - G=50 / Depth = 10 / L=100 / B=0 / L-Mid=250 /Mid=2 / H-Mid=4 / T=-8
Total Bal = 38
The principle is to use the different tricks of the famous overdrive pedals :
give a specific shape to the tone before the drive, Eq after the drive to shape your tone and having the hability to cut the extrem highs at the end.
And use the Total Balance as a global blend.
It's not perfect, but what I hear sounds interesting. And if I play with the tone knob of my bass I have various intersting overdriven tones.
Based on this kind of approach there are many possibilities :
- combine very middy overdrives (TScream, Squeak for example) with an amp model with mids cut a bit
- and always the capacity to blend some clean signal with the Total Balance.
The DI+ is a good base too with Colour Off, when combined with an Amp sim too.
In that kind of use, I use the amp sims only as tool to fatten the overdrive tone and to eq the signal.
This approach seems interesting if you want to use these units as overdrives and have other tools on your board / amp to make the final adjustments.
And I think it gives the capacity to create overdriven tones that fit well with the clean tone, if you want to use the overdrive only in a part of a song for example.
Let me know what you think of that and share your own tries. Other approaches are welcome !!
I'm feeling these units can get very good tones in the overdrive department when you know what to do
