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Zoom B6
- Thread starter andruca
- Start date
I run my Zoom into the tube front end of my WD. The effects sound fine through it, like effect through a tube amp. The amp models, especially the tube models sound more "real" and seem to be more responsive. Possible an interaction with the tube front end, imho.
As long as the polarity going into the B6 is correct - if not, use a polarity reversing cable.
The B6 wants 9v DC, tip-negative for power.
IDK if Zoom recommends using anything other than their own adapter (for obvious reasons), but it should be fine.
Since the B6 IS my entire pedalboard, I went with a Mission Engineering 529P (single output) to power my B6 at practices & gigs. It's been fantastic & I feel much safer avoiding using any venue's potentially sketchy house power with my B6. Whether or not this affects the warranty rules with Zoom, IDK. But there is nothing proprietary per se about the Zoom adapater itself that I can tell.
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I did a bit of reading on tube amps and effects and found tubes don't need overdrive pedals as they naturally do this and modeling amps take away from the natural tube sound. but you are saying your amp models sound good into your mesa?
It’s really common to use a boost or light overdrive into a tube preamp to send into natural overdrive.
Yes, I use only one, the Fliptop, with no speaker cabinet. Use it as a boost or another preamp/tone setting without having to refigure the amp itself. Mostly I use just the "pedal" stuff. Whirley things, envelope filters, goofy combos of stuff. Not so much amp models through the amp but for headphones, and recording.
What a great idea. How many hours use of the B6 do you get from it on a single charge?
I believe their website says 12 hours but they don't give any load specs. When I first got it, I tested it by running the B6 on a bass & drum loop recording I created on it and just let it play. I got interrupted at about the 10-hour mark, so I'm inclined to believe the 12-hour claim.
I use the 529P at both practices and gigs. The last gig I did with it, I remember it had about 75% life still left on it after the 4-hour gig. Including the setup/soundcheck, it was closer to a 5-hour on-time.
Suffice it to say, it will handle a 4-hour gig or pratice with absolute ease, not even close to breaking a sweat. The part I love most about it is the real-time battery life remaining indicator - well, and the super fast charge time as compared to other models on the market. I believe the manual says you can even use it while it is charging with the wall charger.
Only minor "downside" is I have to use the included reverse polarity cable (included) because this device puts out a tip-postive output. Sorry to sound like a paid shill, but I really dig it. And no, I'm not a paid endorser, lol.
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Thanks for sharing your experience with it.
I've also done a bit of reading on going rechargeable. I'm sharing the following info here as it might help others considering a similar approach.
1. The B6 requires 9V at 500ma.
2. Some battery pedalboard chargers only offer 300ma outlets - not enough - so beware.
3. The B6 requires a "tip negative" or "center negative" power cable.
4. The Joyo JP-05 offers three 9V 500ma outlets along with several 9V 100ma outlets and USB and even a switchable 9-12-18V outlet. However the battery is only 4400 mah vs the Mission Engineering 529P's 25000.
I've also done a bit of reading on going rechargeable. I'm sharing the following info here as it might help others considering a similar approach.
1. The B6 requires 9V at 500ma.
2. Some battery pedalboard chargers only offer 300ma outlets - not enough - so beware.
3. The B6 requires a "tip negative" or "center negative" power cable.
4. The Joyo JP-05 offers three 9V 500ma outlets along with several 9V 100ma outlets and USB and even a switchable 9-12-18V outlet. However the battery is only 4400 mah vs the Mission Engineering 529P's 25000.
Can you use the M-Vave Chocolate to control the Zoom B6?
Good info, I failed to mention the 500ma requirement of the B6 - very important indeed.
My three-month old B6 started hissing when Input 1 was selected. No effects selected, effects bypass using the switch, nothing plugged into either Input 1 or Input 2: there was a noticeable hiss when Input 1 was selected and marginal (i.e., normal) hiss when Input 2 was selected. The Zoom folks asked me to send in a video, which I did. They then asked me to send it to them. I shipped it yesterday.
Did you have the output level up too high? Not trying to be a butt!
Having the output high shouldn't affect Input 1 differently than Input 2, right? I tried with the output at different levels and the hiss was louder at higher outputs, but much louder on Input 1 than 2. (Don't worry about asking the obvious--I'm known to miss it!).
My B6 is dead quiet in my headphones when on bypass. Even when the back volume knob is fully open, which would be very loud to actually play with. Only noise comes from high gain effects. It is possible to have more noise on one input if they have different output eq or level settings (these are saved per input)
