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

[Zoot H Rollo]

Thanks for explaining. Is this to give you more options, rather than the MS-60B+ amp sims lacking in quality?

more options.

i could EASILY gig with the MS-60B+ a tuner and a DI.

i had moderate expectations with the B+ and was very surprized and pleased with everything Zoom updated.

one of my faves amp sims for my fretless Ibanez SRH is the MONOTONE. so i was anxious to have that in pedal form again.

i've had ToneX MAX software since it came out.

I never could get the gain staging right with my interface. i knew i liked the HINT of what i heard with ToneX, but it wasn't an option.

UNTIL

i got the MS-60B+.

using the 60B+ before my interface with the chain i showed earlier, took ToneX to another level.

So, when the ToneX ONE was announced, i jumped on it as soon as i could (local GC in Redmond, WA).

ToneX ONE exceeded expectations as well.

the two pedals combined is scary good.

ToneX ONE: $179.99

MS-60B+: $139.99

for $319.98, you can get a COMPACT, flexible, killer bass rig that rivals the big boys, IMO.

getting a trio together in the next few months.

we'll see how it holds up at rehearsals.

worth mentioning, i am using a passive frankenJazz i built that has a lot to do with the tone and feel.

2014 FSR Jazz neck (Plekd by Grover J), Squier VM Fretless body (no guard), Fralin hum cancelling jazz pickups, Obsidian harness, Hipshot A bridge, Gotoh light tuners.

best sounding and feeling jazz i've ever played.


GAS Done!

 

[stingray69]

Are the cab sims seperate from the amp sims like they are in the B6?

Or does the 60B+ tie the cab sims to the amp sims when you select an amp sim?

I prefer having them seperate (as they are in the B6), just curious how they do it in the new 60B+ model.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

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Are the cab sims seperate from the amp sims like they are in the B6?

Or does the 60B+ tie the cab sims to the amp sims when you select an amp sim?

I prefer having them seperate (as they are in the B6), just curious how they do it in the new 60B+ model.

i forgot to mention this.

the MS-60B+ has a cabinet MIX control.

huge selling point for me.

you can easily blend in the "Multi-layer IR technology" Zoom cab or turn it off completely.

the AMP/CAB is one block, unlike the B6 if i remember correctly. which i think is more efficient.

the B2-Four has the cabs "baked in" to the amps. you can't blend or turn them off - boo.

one workflow would be to use the AMPS of the 60B+ and the IR loading of the ToneX ONE.

FLEXIBLE!

i still have my Zoom B3. with this unit you can select any of the other internal CABs. which sounds fantastic!

if the B3 was a small pedal, had 6 slots, and didn't have the noise, i'd have been happy with it.

oh wait, that's the MS-60B+.

 

[Zarcsby]

i forgot to mention this.

the MS-60B+ has a cabinet MIX control.

huge selling point for me.

you can easily blend in the "Multi-layer IR technology" Zoom cab or turn it off completely.

the AMP/CAB is one block, unlike the B6 if i remember correctly. which i think is more efficient.

the B2-Four has the cabs "baked in" to the amps.

I agree, I'm kinda dumbfounded that the B2-Four and MS-60B+ sit on the store shelves next to each other.

I would happily pay more for the B2-Four if it had the MS-60B+'s superior cabinet mix control, the R-out path, the better colour screen, and the effect parameter adjustment screen that doesn't disappear if you stop tweaking a knob for merely a few seconds with no option to stop it from happening.

 

[stingray69]

e


i forgot to mention this.

the MS-60B+ has a cabinet MIX control.

huge selling point for me.

you can easily blend in the "Multi-layer IR technology" Zoom cab or turn it off completely.

the AMP/CAB is one block, unlike the B6 if i remember correctly. which i think is more efficient.

the B2-Four has the cabs "baked in" to the amps. you can't blend or turn them off - boo.

one workflow would be to use the AMPS of the 60B+ and the IR loading of the ToneX ONE.

FLEXIBLE!

i still have my Zoom B3. with this unit you can select any of the other internal CABs. which sounds fantastic!

if the B3 was a small pedal, had 6 slots, and didn't have the noise, i'd have been happy with it.



oh wait, that's the MS-60B+.

So if I'm understanding this correctly, if you choose an amp sim - the 60B+ automatically ties a very specific cab sim to it, in other words - you can't select a cab sim of your own preference? It does the choosing for you?

Then you can choose whether to mix/blend said cab sim with the amp sim?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to understand how this aspect works on the 60B+, as I've been considering one. I want to make sure I understand how it works in the amp/cab sim regard.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

So if I'm understanding this correctly, if you choose an amp sim - the 60B+ automatically ties a very specific cab sim to it, in other words - you can't select a cab sim of your own preference? It does the choosing for you?

Then you can choose whether to mix/blend said cab sim with the amp sim?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to understand how this aspect works on the 60B+, as I've been considering one. I want to make sure I understand how it works in the amp/cab sim regard.

you are correct.

the cab is married to the amp.

the MIX control is key.

i probably wouldn't have bought the 60B+ if it was structured like the B2-Four.

Zoom has their thinking caps on...

MS-80IR+ due out this summer.

To be fair, I think the Zoom cabinets sound great.

Just not baked-in at 100%.

To Zoom's credit, when you add an amp slot with the MS-60B+, the default cab mix setting is at 50%.

Which is perfect.

 

[DJ Bebop]

you are correct.

the cab is married to the amp.

the MIX control is key.

i probably wouldn't have bought the 60B+ if it was structured like the B2-Four.

Zoom has their thinking caps on...

MS-80IR+ due out this summer.

View attachment 5473194


To be fair, I think the Zoom cabinets sound great.

Just not baked-in at 100%.

To Zoom's credit, when you add an amp slot with the MS-60B+, the default cab mix setting is at 50%.

Which is perfect.

Some of this is why I still use the B1on and B1xon.

Up to 5 effects in a chain, amp/cab one slot, cabinet mix level control, can use any cabinet with any amp. It also had the cab mix at 50% on initial selection but can be dialed up or off or any point in between. Sometimes just a hair of the cabinet sim makes the amp sim sound better, to me, sometimes.

Still, looking hard at the new MS 60B+ or the yet-to-come MS-80IR+, as I’m obviously slow like that!

 

[stingray69]

you are correct.

the cab is married to the amp.

the MIX control is key.

i probably wouldn't have bought the 60B+ if it was structured like the B2-Four.

Zoom has their thinking caps on...

MS-80IR+ due out this summer.

View attachment 5473194


To be fair, I think the Zoom cabinets sound great.

Just not baked-in at 100%.

To Zoom's credit, when you add an amp slot with the MS-60B+, the default cab mix setting is at 50%.

Which is perfect.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[stingray69]

MS-80IR+ due out this summer.

View attachment 5473194

This might be the droid I'm looking for...thanks!

 

[BassmanNate]

Just to be clear, you can't drive headphones with this, correct? I didn't realize you can power this from AA batteries. Headphones would make this a killer portable practice tool, as well.

 

[Appogee]

@stingray69
Do you think you'll be able to load all the bass effects into the MS-80IR+ ?
If Zoom enabled us to do that, wouldn't that render the MS-60B+ redundant?

 

[stubbsonic]

@stingray69
Do you think you'll be able to load all the bass effects into the MS-80IR+ ?
If Zoom enabled us to do that, wouldn't that render the MS-60B+ redundant?

I've heard that it will be an IR loader (for cabs), but will include amp sims. I wonder if they'll include their multi-layer amp/cab "marriages", as well as separate-able amps & cabs. As for other effects, that's not been mentioned. I doubt they would do that.

 

[Appogee]

Just to be clear, you can't drive headphones with this, correct? I didn't realize you can power this from AA batteries. Headphones would make this a killer portable practice tool, as well.

You can.
It has dual quarter-inch output jacks. If your headphones have an eight-inch plug instead of a quarter-inch, a simple adapter solves that problem.
Someone demonstrates it on a video here:

 

[ZakutM]

I'm looking for an all in one pedal and I've seen this thread, I was thinking about buying the B2 four, but now the MS-60B+ is out and it looks really good with the 6 effects in a patch, but the B2 four has the DI modeling and more switches. Is the sound of the B2 four better than the new MS-60B+? I'm not sure which pedal should I buy.

 

[Appogee]

I'm looking for an all in one pedal and I've seen this thread, I was thinking about buying the B2 four, but now the MS-60B+ is out and it looks really good with the 6 effects in a patch, but the B2 four has the DI modeling and more switches. Is the sound of the B2 four better than the new MS-60B+? I'm not sure which pedal should I buy.

You would need to tell us more about how you intend to use a pedal (i.e. bedroom practice, live small gigs, live large gigs, worship band, etc), the style of music you play, and the rest of your equipment that you'll be using it with, for us to be able to advise you.

 

[stingray69]

@stingray69
Do you think you'll be able to load all the bass effects into the MS-80IR+ ?
If Zoom enabled us to do that, wouldn't that render the MS-60B+ redundant?

I'm hoping, but there no information as of yet. I'd prefer to be able to choose & combine my own amp/cab sims. Plus loading 3rd party IR's would be the cherry on top, if possible. As far as there being other effects such as chorus, compressors and such...who knows? I certainly hope so anyway.

 

[ZakutM]

You would need to tell us more about how you intend to use a pedal (i.e. bedroom practice, live small gigs, live large gigs, worship band, etc), the style of music you play, and the rest of your equipment that you'll be using it with, for us to be able to advise you.

I want to use it for practice and relatively small gigs (100-300 people), I play mostly alternative Rock, Classic Rock, Funk and Metal. My current Bass is a Spector Pulse NS2 5 string connected to the Zoom B1on and the amp is what they have in the gig (could be an amp or straight into the mixer).

 

[stubbsonic]

... I was thinking about buying the B2 four, but now the MS-60B+ is out and it looks really good with the 6 effects in a patch, but the B2 four has the DI modeling and more switches. Is the sound of the B2 four better than the new MS-60B+? I'm not sure which pedal should I buy.

I'm going to guess that the sound quality will be similar, but with the B2 Four you have a balanced out (DI).

As for the DI modeling, I'd say this is too subtle to be worth factoring in. Honestly, I can't really hear much difference.

I think the three big factors are:
1. how important it is to change sounds in the middle of a song. The 3 extra footswitches will help with this.
2. Whether a 6th FX slot (MS-60B+) is more important than a mediocre drum machine (B2 Four). Does the MS-60B+ have the looper?
3. Does the size of the device make a big difference for you?

 

[Appogee]

I want to use it for practice and relatively small gigs (100-300 people), I play mostly alternative Rock, Classic Rock, Funk and Metal. My current Bass is a Spector Pulse NS2 5 string connected to the Zoom B1on and the amp is what they have in the gig (could be an amp or straight into the mixer).

Both devices could suit your purposes, depending which of the below features and factors you prioritise more.

For Practice:
Only B2 Four has a drum machine.
Only B2 Four has a looper.
Only B2 Four has a dedicated headphone output.

For Gigs:
Only MS-60B+ runs on internal batteries (though the B2 Four can be powered by an outboard battery pack + cable).
Only MS-60B+ enables you to mix how much cab sim you want in your sound, whereas the B2 Four has preset amps+cabs which can't be adjusted independent of each other.
Only B2 Four has a balanced output you can plug straight into a FOH mixing console desk, whereas you'd need to plug the MS-60B+ into a separate DI and then into the FOH.
B2 Four offers easier patch switching with the foot, due to bigger/easier/more switches.
B2 Four has 300 patch memories vs MS-60B+'s 100.
MS-60B+ offers up to 6 FX in a chain, whereas the B2 Four offers 5 FX.
MS-60B+ is smaller, weighs half as much, is more portable than the B2 Four.

About Equal:
Sound quality (I am inferring this from the similar sampling rates), though the MS-60B+ has a slightly better noise floor and signal to noise ratio than the B2 Four.
Range of sound effects.
Left + Right Outputs

 

[ZakutM]

Both devices could suit your purposes, depending which of the below features and factors you prioritise more.

For Practice:
Only B2 Four has a drum machine.
Only B2 Four has a looper.
Only B2 Four has a dedicated headphone output.

For Gigs:
Only MS-60B+ runs on internal batteries (though the B2 Four can be powered by an outboard battery pack + cable).
Only MS-60B+ enables you to mix how much cab sim you want in your sound, whereas the B2 Four has preset amps+cabs which can't be adjusted independent of each other.
Only B2 Four has a balanced output you can plug straight into a FOH mixing console desk, whereas you'd need to plug the MS-60B+ into a separate DI and then into the FOH.
B2 Four offers easier patch switching with the foot, due to bigger/easier/more switches.
B2 Four has 300 patch memories vs MS-60B+'s 100.
MS-60B+ offers up to 6 FX in a chain, whereas the B2 Four offers 5 FX.
MS-60B+ is smaller, weighs half as much, is more portable than the B2 Four.

About Equal:
Sound quality (I am inferring this from the similar sampling rates), though the MS-60B+ has a slightly better noise floor and signal to noise ratio than the B2 Four.
Range of sound effects.
Left + Right Outputs

Well this is hard, I don't really care about the drum machine, the looper is nice to have but not mandatory. If the cab+sim on the B2 four sounds good even if I can't mix the cab that's okay when I'm running ampless (I think), number of patches is not that important I'll prob use like 4 or 5 custom ones. I think I need someone that has both and can confirm the sound quality and especially the compressor, preamp and overdrive is similar, or better on one of those pedals.