Zoom MS-60B+ (a compact B2-Four?)

[FretRiff]

I've said this often: I hate the chonky button design. If only they had made it a cursor diamond-- then the left, right, and lower buttons would be easy to hit with the foot, and the upper button could have been raised up higher than the center footswitch.

There is at least one hack to improve button targeting.

 

[GotGroove]

I think the MS-60B+ can do that ?

it can. All you have to do is set the amp/cab on the right channel, which goes to FoH. The left channel, without amp/cab on it goes into your normal amp.

 

[glassmoon]

As I only need the amp sim/impulse response when I'm using IEMs, I now need to know if that can be turned off..

Thanks for the great info all.

 

[glassmoon]

I can see how that'd be a bummer, but I'm not sure it would be a problem for me in most live situations. If the DI is of a decent quality, I'm happy.

Man, this fence is uncomfortable!!!

 

[bassbrad]

Zoom was likely doing their best to provide for different uses when deciding the side switch choices. In one scenario players might want to set up a pedal chain or bank and select individual or effects in various combinations. For others to set up combination patches to change between song sections or different songs.

As I only need the amp sim/impulse response when I'm using IEMs, I now need to know if that can be turned off..

Thanks for the great info all.

Iirc there is a blend or mix for the spkr SIM so you could have patches with and without speaker sim.

 

[stubbsonic]

Iirc there is a blend or mix for the spkr SIM so you could have patches with and without speaker sim.

I don’t think the recent devices (B2 Four, MS-60B+, etc) with multi layer convolution have any blend control.

 

[GotGroove]

I don't think the recent devices (B2 Four, MS-60B+, etc) with multi layer convolution have any blend control.

dunno about the B2 series, but the 60B+ has a cab blend.

 

[stubbsonic]

dunno about the B2 series, but the 60B+ has a cab blend.

Thanks. I looked at the Effect List PDF and didn’t see it in the list of available parameters.

 

[GotGroove]

Thanks. I looked at the Effect List PDF and didn't see it in the list of available parameters.

Did you happen to look at the preamps by mistake?

All the amp/cab combo's starting at page 22 have a cab setting.
Am I missing something or are we talking about different things?

 

[stubbsonic]

Doh! I was looking for a blend, mix, or balance. Forehead-Slap-emoji

 

[RavenousPoe]

So happy that I stumbled across this thread!

Just received my MS-60B+ yesterday and am very pleased so far. I'm a minimalist at heart and was looking forward to something putting a tuner, compressor, drive, and preamp all in one place. Bonus points that is has amp/cab sim! I'm going to try the signal split later. Assuming it works well and sounds good, I'll run the non-sim line to my GK combo/house rig live and the affected line to my DI Box.

Huge fan of the Dark preamp so far, and the DBX160 clone. HPF is also a huge win! That's the setup that I have for both of my bands. Practice is this weekend, at which I'm always ampless and typically running a Tech21 DP-3X. I'll report back with how it goes!

 

[doran.dragic]

There is at least one hack to improve button targeting.

I just received mine today (purchased myself, no affiliation), so here are a few early impressions:

The Wingman fits my MS-60B+ nicely and slides on and off with ease. It's 3D-printed and quite lightweight. The plastic doesn't feel particularly sturdy, but I assume that's intentional—it needs a bit of flexibility to press and release properly when stepped on.

I was initially concerned that the plastic base of the Wingman might be too thick, preventing the MS from sitting flush on the floor. Fortunately, that's not an issue.

I only use the upper half of the unit to trigger the upper footswitches, and the Wingman does the job well.

However, it doesn’t stay in place after being stepped on. Thankfully, that’s an easy fix—I used two pieces of an ice cream stick and attached them to the bottom of the MS to stop the Wingman from sliding. It still comes on and off easily.

I’ll report back after some time to let you know how it holds up.

 

[BassmanNate]

I just received mine today (purchased myself, no affiliation), so here are a few early impressions:

The Wingman fits my MS-60B+ nicely and slides on and off with ease. It's 3D-printed and quite lightweight. The plastic doesn't feel particularly sturdy, but I assume that's intentional—it needs a bit of flexibility to press and release properly when stepped on.

I was initially concerned that the plastic base of the Wingman might be too thick, preventing the MS from sitting flush on the floor. Fortunately, that's not an issue.

I only use the upper half of the unit to trigger the upper footswitches, and the Wingman does the job well.

However, it doesn’t stay in place after being stepped on. Thankfully, that’s an easy fix—I used two pieces of an ice cream stick and attached them to the bottom of the MS to stop the Wingman from sliding. It still comes on and off easily.

I’ll report back after some time to let you know how it holds up.

I just ordered one for myself last week. I saw they had a 50% off sale and couldn't refuse at that point. Looking forward to it as the top buttons in particular are difficult to press with your toes.

 

[FretRiff]

I’m really interested in hearing about real world experiences with this. I’m trying to decide between this Zoom and the Line 6 POD Express Bass, which this month dropped to $130. (Different units with different strengths, but close to the same price now.)

 

[RavenousPoe]

So happy that I stumbled across this thread!

Just received my MS-60B+ yesterday and am very pleased so far. I'm a minimalist at heart and was looking forward to something putting a tuner, compressor, drive, and preamp all in one place. Bonus points that is has amp/cab sim! I'm going to try the signal split later. Assuming it works well and sounds good, I'll run the non-sim line to my GK combo/house rig live and the affected line to my DI Box.

Huge fan of the Dark preamp so far, and the DBX160 clone. HPF is also a huge win! That's the setup that I have for both of my bands. Practice is this weekend, at which I'm always ampless and typically running a Tech21 DP-3X. I'll report back with how it goes!

Reporting back as promised!

I wanted to show up and really impress my bandmates by not needing any kind of power cable, just the XLR to run my DI box. I grabbed my rechargeable batteries from the bag of fully charged ones and slapped them into the Zoom before departing, tested to make sure that it powered on and worked, and made my way there!

Upon arrival, it took some time to set up at the board since it was a very different output than the DP-3X, but once it got there, everyone loved the sound, and the HPF that had a ton of clarity. During soundcheck, it was brought up that this tone makes much more for the "wall of sound" than the more individualistic tone of my previous Tech 21 offering. I was hyped and ready to run the first song.

Then, immediately as we enter into the first verse of the first song - it dies. The batteries that I grabbed were from the wrong pile. So during the coming bridge in which bass only plays a minor role, I quickly stole from my gig bag a power supply, and it came right back and killed the two sets that we ran through!

I absolutely love this setup, especially due to the signal split. The amp sim sounded amazing through the PA, and I'm so happy that I can run the second output directly into the front of a real amp without the sim. It's a dream come true, as long as it holds up long term!

Next time, I'll grab the right batteries and make sure that they're fully charged. Otherwise, I'll be using it again this Saturday!

 

[bassbrad]

I just received mine today (purchased myself, no affiliation), so here are a few early impressions:

The Wingman fits my MS-60B+ nicely and slides on and off with ease. It's 3D-printed and quite lightweight. The plastic doesn't feel particularly sturdy, but I assume that's intentional—it needs a bit of flexibility to press and release properly when stepped on.

I was initially concerned that the plastic base of the Wingman might be too thick, preventing the MS from sitting flush on the floor. Fortunately, that's not an issue.

I only use the upper half of the unit to trigger the upper footswitches, and the Wingman does the job well.

However, it doesn’t stay in place after being stepped on. Thankfully, that’s an easy fix—I used two pieces of an ice cream stick and attached them to the bottom of the MS to stop the Wingman from sliding. It still comes on and off easily.

I’ll report back after some time to let you know how it holds up.

Currently there is a really nice priced sale for the different versions of the Wingman from Ninjafox [no affiliation] I ordered an older version in red for my MS60B as well as a new version for my MS+ pedals since I have a 60+and 70+.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I just received mine today (purchased myself, no affiliation), so here are a few early impressions:

The Wingman fits my MS-60B+ nicely and slides on and off with ease. It's 3D-printed and quite lightweight. The plastic doesn't feel particularly sturdy, but I assume that's intentional—it needs a bit of flexibility to press and release properly when stepped on.

I was initially concerned that the plastic base of the Wingman might be too thick, preventing the MS from sitting flush on the floor. Fortunately, that's not an issue.

I only use the upper half of the unit to trigger the upper footswitches, and the Wingman does the job well.

However, it doesn’t stay in place after being stepped on. Thankfully, that’s an easy fix—I used two pieces of an ice cream stick and attached them to the bottom of the MS to stop the Wingman from sliding. It still comes on and off easily.

I’ll report back after some time to let you know how it holds up.

Currently there is a really nice priced sale for the different versions of the Wingman from Ninjafox [no affiliation] I ordered an older version in red for my MS60B as well as a new version for my MS+ pedals since I have a 60+and 70+.

This makes the 60+ more appealing to me now

 

[ClaytonCroft]

Dumb question, but the manual implies this can go “to the PA”. Does this mean it can ALSO function as a DI box, and can go out to an XLR with an adapter, and will have whatever proper line levels the mixer needs?

I don’t care much about subtle amp sims, I’m just pondering a minimalist setup, where this unit can handle amp, IEMs AND front of house.

 

[stubbsonic]

Dumb question, but the manual implies this can go “to the PA”. Does this mean it can ALSO function as a DI box, and can go out to an XLR with an adapter, and will have whatever proper line levels the mixer needs?

I don’t care much about subtle amp sims, I’m just pondering a minimalist setup, where this unit can handle amp, IEMs AND front of house.

Use a DI box

 

[FretRiff]

Dumb question, but the manual implies this can go “to the PA”. Does this mean it can ALSO function as a DI box, and can go out to an XLR with an adapter, and will have whatever proper line levels the mixer needs?

The manual says you can directly output to an amp.

It also specifically recommends minimizing the amp volume before turning power on to prevent "noise and malfunction" before connecting the Zoom to AC power.