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Zoom b3 patch Ideas

#1,341
martincarlin87 said:
It's probably me just being rubbish at programming it to be honest.

If it helps, I go straight into the B3 from my Mexican Precision and straight from the B3 to the mixing desk (so no backline, which often makes me wonder if that's the problem, but no-one in our band uses any amps, we're all straight to the desk). The pedal is also in passive mode at the back, since it's a passive bass after all.

Due to the above, is it best to leave the EQ on the desk flat? I argue this point almost every gig with my mate who does the sound, he says the desk has better EQ (it's an Allen & Heath, so, more than likely) but my point is if I use different effects with different EQs then it's just going to be bastardised by the desk is it not?

Would appreciate hearing other opinions on it, I don't think there will be too many people that don't use a backline though.

Cheers,
Martin
Click to expand...
My recommendation would be to find a mixing board and play with the settings on the B3 to optimize it for that application. The Allen & Heath will have a great EQ built into it but it still can only do so much with the incoming signal if the two aren't playing together well.
While going ampless is becoming standard practice for a lot of professional touring acts it's much harder for smaller bands to go that route IMO. Remember the big boys are using thousands of dollars of rack gear and an extremely powerful PA and spend at least a week on production rehearsals to get the sound right.
 
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#1,343
Thanks for the responses.

My line of thinking was that the EQ set during the soundcheck for the clean sound might not sound so great when I switch to a different patch.

We are fortunate enough to have an excellent PA but we don't use any rack equipment other than a dbx that goes into the amps.

I tend to find that I *think* I get a good sound sitting at home with my headphones plugged into my computer but it leaves a lot to be desired when I try it through the PA but hopefully I'll get a chance to ran through crystalman's patches and see if there's any I can use for the songs we play.

What makes it even more confusing is when I hear videos back of the gigs, the bass actually tends to sound pretty good, but in the flesh it sounds very top-endy and my guitarist is always saying it sounds like a guitar, which is a bit of an exaggeration but he has a point.

Martin
 
#1,344
However you EQ your amp (or whatever comes after your B3), if the board doesn't match that then it'll sound different - maybe just note what sounds good at home in general - say, lows flat, low mids up a little, high mids up a lot, etc - and tell the soundman that starting there and tweaking for the room would be a good idea?
 
#1,345
I've only used the B3 on one gig so far and it was outdoors on a flatbed tow truck for a street fair. I ran it into the front of my Ashdown ABM500 that was going completely dry (not through the PA). On saturday I'll be giving it it's first time in a club. For this gig I'm going to still run through the front end of my amp and use the amp's direct out. The Ashdown DI is incredible so I'm hoping for great results.
 
#1,350
Hmm. So are we to assume this is the norm then?

Can some more tenured owners/users of this device chime in please?

Have you experienced this same characteristic?
How long ago did you purchase and/or have you owned your unit?

So far I really dig this device and don't necessarily see this as a major issue, just a bit odd.

This should probably be it's own thread.
 
#1,351
fendermademygibson said:
Hmm. So are we to assume this is the norm then?

Can some more tenured owners/users of this device chime in please?

Have you experienced this same characteristic?
How long ago did you purchase and/or have you owned your unit?

So far I really dig this device and don't necessarily see this as a major issue, just a bit odd.

This should probably be it's own thread.
Click to expand...


Had mine for 2+ years- never a problem, jacks or otherwise.
 
#1,352
fendermademygibson said:
Hmm. So are we to assume this is the norm then?
Click to expand...
I think yes.
fendermademygibson said:
an some more tenured owners/users of this device chime in please?
Click to expand...

I use my B3 to the limit for 2 years now,and my B3 keeps work like a horse.Not a single problem until today.The minimum work hours for my unit is 3-4 a day,every day.I plug and unplug my basses very often.I keep my B3 on my desktop all the time.
 
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#1,354
OK, patch time! This is really the lazy way, I know, but I think it's faster to read: all settings are left to right from first page to last page under each effect.

My standard #1:
160 Comp -15/5.5/10 ; Soft/100 (Note: all my patches start with this exact compressor setting, since I always run a comp first)
BassDriver -4/-6/1 ; 79/85/48 ; 5
VinFlngr 55/30/4 ; 5/80/90 ; 60hz

My standard #2:
160 Comp as above
FuzzSmile 20/75/70 ; 100 (I keep waffling between this and BassMuff)
ZTron 5/4/0 ; 48 (Makes the fuzz hella loud if both on, though)

The Depths:
160 Comp
Octave 65/25/10 ; 3/6/91 (This octave works much better with the Comp in the chain, even better than when I had a pedal comp before the B3)
TheVibe 17/100/65 ; 35/CHORS/100

Creepy:
160 Comp
Vibrato 65/20/95 ; 5/135
RevDelay 807/14/13 ; 8/100

BitSynth:
160 Comp
BitCrush 16/25/42 ; 6/75 (All by itself this is great for TIRO, and one of my favorite fuzzy sounds)
MFilter 20/7/4 ; LPF/4Pole/Slow ; 88/80


Cheers!
 
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#1,356
My B3 is on a pedalboard with a couple pedals in front of it, so I'm not constantly plugging/unplugging the input jack, but I've had 2 units and never noticed an issue with the input on either one of them. You could always pop the back off and see what the jack is doing when you plug in.
 
#1,358
PilbaraBass said:
hmmm... sounds like the problem is more prevalent with newer units... I have an 2+ year old unit and have zero issues...

i'm wondering if maybe zoom changed a part, or the part manufacturer changed something...
Click to expand...

So are you saying that all of the 1/4" jacks have the same feel (grip) when you plug/unplug on your unit?

Again, I am not having any functional problems with mine. The input is not sloppy or cutting out or anything like that. Just a difference in the "grip" of the input jack as opposed to the R/L output and control in.
 
#1,360
The more I spend time with my B3 the more I am totally amazed. For $199 I can't believe the sounds I'm getting from this thing. I spent some time further customizing patches for my main cover band. The SVT sim is just awesome with the M Comp for things like Zep and Black Crowes. Flip Top for tunes like Tempted and Knock On Wood. 80's things like Duran Duran get the DBX Comp, Graphic EQ, and Hartke...and I'm still going!
 

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