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Zoom B3 vs MS60B
- Thread starter J03YW
- Start date
There's an effect in the MS60-B that allows you to turn the effects following it on and off within a patch using the main button (ie. with your foot).
I can't think of what it's called at the moment. I found it the other day.
That could be cool if I'm understanding you right. I'll will check that out tonight.
Well some people on here were saying they didn't like the distortions on the B3 just looking for more opinions. I'm looking at getting one of these two pedals (either would be my first; thought if try multi-effects to see exactly what I like before spending a bunch) and thought I would keep getting more opinions. I will say that the recording and looper functions on the B3 do have me interested.
I think the muff fuzz is great coupled with an amp sim. Preferably with the ampeg or acoustic sim. IMO anyway. Not the best, but most def usable.
Killing gods
Killing gods
See, this is my point. I don't regard distortion and fuzz as the same effect. To me, they are very different things. Fuzz is that very distinctive '60s "fuzztone" harsh buzz. Distortion is just more extreme generic overdrive effect. I got into a long, pointless thread somewhere trying to find a good fuzztone circuit and everybody responding kept suggesting heavy metal distortion stuff, which was something else entirely.
In general, I'm not a fan of distorted or overdriven bass. Actual fuzztone bass occasionally has a place for some accent lines when you need that '60s sound. I don't usually find acceptable fuzztones in DMFXs, guitar or bass. I don't know why. It seems like it would be an extremely simple effect to model.
“fuzz tone” is generally just a signal that is clipped so hard that it forms a nasty square wave (or nearly) and then that nasty square-wave tone is blended back to the original signal to achieve the final result. I do consider fuzz to be a type of distortion.
Many distortion waveforms are a bit more complex than that, as the clipping is usually softer and the harmonic structure is a bit different.
Here’s a good article describing what I’m talking about.
http://www.howtogeek.com/64096/htg-explains-how-do-guitar-distortion-and-overdrive-work/
Many distortion waveforms are a bit more complex than that, as the clipping is usually softer and the harmonic structure is a bit different.
Here’s a good article describing what I’m talking about.
http://www.howtogeek.com/64096/htg-explains-how-do-guitar-distortion-and-overdrive-work/
Point of procedure, ALL effects are "a type of distortion"...but let's continue.
Yes, this:
"Fuzzboxes add a particular type of distortion that sounds just as its name implies. The original signal is wholeheartedly obliterated and turned into a square-waveform."
That square-wave buzz is very distinctive sound and markedly different from what you hear with a so-called "distortion" pedal like, say, a DS-1.
Using the terms, "fuzz" and "distortion" interchangeably when referring to effects creates a lot of unnecessary misunderstanding. I don't know of a distortion pedal that can do a true fuzztone sound.
See, this is my point. I don't regard distortion and fuzz as the same effect. To me, they are very different things. Fuzz is that very distinctive '60s "fuzztone" harsh buzz. Distortion is just more extreme generic overdrive effect. I got into a long, pointless thread somewhere trying to find a good fuzztone circuit and everybody responding kept suggesting heavy metal distortion stuff, which was something else entirely.
In general, I'm not a fan of distorted or overdriven bass. Actual fuzztone bass occasionally has a place for some accent lines when you need that '60s sound. I don't usually find acceptable fuzztones in DMFXs, guitar or bass. I don't know why. It seems like it would be an extremely simple effect to model.
Yeah... when I posted that I started to think I would sound confused (I am new to pedals) and get this kind of answer. I guess I was thinking of fuzz as a LIGHT distortion. Like I said, I like Muse and many songs of theirs, Hysteria and Starlight for example have a fuzzy sound to them (and no that's not the only reason I'd get one of these; I'm looking at multi-effects to find what I like for every kind of music I play). I'm thinking about getting one of these two pedals (like I've said on a couple other threads on here) and just wanna ask people who have one or both whatever I need to before spending money.
You can get some decent fuzz tones out of it, especially couple with the fact you can stack them with amps/EQs or whatever. In real life I used to run a BB Preamp into a Bass Big Muff, so I set up a similar patch on the Zoom and while it didn't sound spot on, it was good enough, especially if you're just starting out with FX.
I get a nice fuzz mixing the big muff with the sansamp with the room reverb. Articulate yet beefy, a nice full tone.
That's the good thing about this, that you can have a clean blended OD, into a clean blended fuzz, into a clean blended Sansamp, into an EQ, into a clean blended amp model - and have it controlled with a single stomp. All these little bits of blend contributing layers to the sound, in a way that would be to impractical to put together with real pedals.
It's called the Line Selector, and it's really handy. I put together a tutorial/explanation of its controls a while back in this post:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-ms-60b-part-2.1024331/page-16#post-15364759
Well, yes there are lines between overdrive, fuzz, and distortion. The categories themselves can be broad and the lines a bit blurry if you get into it, though. I don't think of harsh buzz fuzztone when I think of fuzz; I think of the creamy saturation of a big muff. In both cases, Zoom is nowhere in the ballpark, which does seem odd. Must be something to it that only diodes can do. Perhaps Mssr. Crimson would be better to say "people on here were saying they didn't like the dirt on the B3", which would encompass all three categories.
There is good dirt to be had on the Zoom, you just have to get creative. I don't like the harsh highs of the big muff or distortion pedals on the Zoom, but the Bass Pre and Bass BB can sound pretty good with the gain dialed up and tweaked with EQ and such.
Anyone play with the fretless effect? I’m working on Juan Alderete(mars volta) patch, So far it’s the Fretless+STV+Dcomp(cant remember the setting otm). It’s still missing something but I'm not sure what it is. In any case with the right left hand technique and a Pbass it sound pretty close. Have you guys made any tribute patches yet?
This is why I ended up getting a MS70-CDR. I run from a modded Boss CS-3 into the MS60 which I use only for blended preamps/DI/OD and maybe EQ. The MS70 then does all the fx. Much bigger selection of choruses, delays and reverbs. It has some ambience only type reverbs that work better for bass than most of the stuff on the MS60.
It can do six effects at a time!
It also has a few super processor intensive effects that eat up all the other 5 slots which emulate some Line6 and Eventide effects. I've had the gear they are emulating, and they are really close.
Hi I just got the MS60B and it is very nice.
My first question is concerning bypassing the unit when not using any effect.
When I have it on the memory patches it is on even with the light not on.
Same for just scrolling thru the effects.
They default on. Anyone ever heard of this issue?
Not being able to bypass the unit unless I put it on a empty patch location.
Thanks
Tom
My first question is concerning bypassing the unit when not using any effect.
When I have it on the memory patches it is on even with the light not on.
Same for just scrolling thru the effects.
They default on. Anyone ever heard of this issue?
Not being able to bypass the unit unless I put it on a empty patch location.
Thanks
Tom
i'm trying to decide between the B3 and the MS60B..
i spent about 2hrs playing with the B3 in a store today and quickly figured out the patch programming and editing on the unit.
i didn't like the octave and synth effects and didn't care for much of the amp sims except i was amazed at how well it does and ampeg SVT tone!
i can get a used B3 and a new MS60B for about the same price $150 (aussie) but i think i'm going to buy a new MS60B to put on a pedal board after my reverb, chorus and flanger.
i want the zoom more for something to smooth out, fatten and enhance. hopefully the octave and synth patches are decent or better than the B3..
i spent about 2hrs playing with the B3 in a store today and quickly figured out the patch programming and editing on the unit.
i didn't like the octave and synth effects and didn't care for much of the amp sims except i was amazed at how well it does and ampeg SVT tone!
i can get a used B3 and a new MS60B for about the same price $150 (aussie) but i think i'm going to buy a new MS60B to put on a pedal board after my reverb, chorus and flanger.
i want the zoom more for something to smooth out, fatten and enhance. hopefully the octave and synth patches are decent or better than the B3..
Sounds are similar, but the MS60B got a firmware upgrade last year. I chose a B1on earlier this year: you can but more effects in line in a single patch, it as almost all the sounds included in the MS60b, plus a drum machine, looper, headphone out, and (deal breaker for me) up and down stomp switches rather then a single switch. I also read complaints about the MS60B having some high pitch noise issues and difficulties with high output basses, problems not noted with th B1on. The B1on is also half price. Downside: plastic casing, which hasn’t been a problem for me.
Octave doesn’t track well enough for me, though, but synth sounds are all right.
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