I briefly had a B6, loved it. Needed a DI multifx unit, but thought it was way too big. Thought the B2 Four would be perfect but I can't deal with not being able to mix the cab sims in/out. Strange that the MS60+ has that feature.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Zoom MS-60B+ (a compact B2-Four?)
- Thread starter Al Krow
- Start date
Wouldn't it be great if Zoom updated the B2 Four's firmware to include that capability. My suspicion is that it's all done in software, and so wouldn't be hard to do. Still, I can't see Zoom doing it, sadly.
I still have a B6. It's fantastic. However, the form factor makes eyes roll at open mic nights and other quick performances.
So I find I'm often just using a discrete battery powered drop-and-go B1 Four.
I may get a MS-60b+ and set it up with just a couple of all-inclusive patches to cover quick sets. If it had one more footswitch to quickly change patches on the fly it'd be ideal.
If the B2 Four was battery-powered it would be the ideal choice for my purposes.
Unfortunately, no one Zoom offering comprehensively covers my needs.
Gotta say, the lack of PC support for the B2 Four and the MS-60B+ is a big turnoff for both. I'm trying to extract myself from the Apple ecosystem.
Last edited:
Is the software a must to take advantage of all features or is it more to just make it easier to program?
It does make it easier and it is a way to load more pedals or updates to the multi-effects unit itself. I have used it for my Zoom R20 recorded to add effects to it from Guitar Lab. I've used Tone Lib for my older Zoom pedals. It did make it easier at first for me to see everything at once, but even with a similar display, I found I could do it from the face of the pedal itself after a while. Now most of the time I Guitar Lab for new patches or for software updates.
Good to know. I use tonelib for my B1xon and B1x four. Never used guitar lab as all my computers are Linux. Guess I could spin up a virtual machine for updates and such.
i'm a PC guy, but i've definitely warmed up to the MS-60B+ iPad editor!
more footswitches:
Shop — Disaster Area Designs
Yup, its good to have with the newer pedals. I haven't checked if Tonelib has kept up with the new ones. But yes I was using tonelib for my B1xon and B1on. Didn't move pass them waiting to see of the B1 Four would be updated, then I was waiting to see what was going to happen with the B6 over time but price kept me away. Wasn't interested in the B2 Four, more interested in the MS-60B+. By the time I get ready to comment to it, there will no doubt be something else to consider.
Oh well I still have the B1xon/B1on’s
Last edited:
I kinda wish I had the B1 four instead of the expression pedal version. The pedal doesn't do much to justify the larger size. With the B1xon, you could assign just about any effect parameter you wanted to. Not so much with the four. You're stuck using it for things like volume and wah.Yup, its good to have with the newer pedals. I haven't checked if Tonelib has kept up with the new ones. But yes I was using tonelib for my B1xon and B1on. Didn't move pass them waiting to see of the B1 Four would be updated, then I was waiting to see what was going to happen with the B6 over time but price kept me away. Wasn't interested in the B2 Four, more interested in the MS-60B+. By the time I get ready to comment to it, there will no doubt be something else to consider.
Oh well I still have the B1xon/B1on’s
I didn't know that about the Four. I like being able to use the expression pedal for anything on my B1xon, speed control, balance, depth, anything.
That is limited on the Four? Crazy talk!
I would have been mad to find that out after the fact.
Other than maybe the sound quality or noise floor I still enjoy my B1xon, I sometimes run it with my B1on too for maximum foolishness.
Last edited:
Yeah, you're limited to using the "expression pedal" effects. They take up a slot in your chain and I don't see any way to assign parameters to it like every other pedal like it before. I have an original bfx-708 and, while you only have a single parameter available from most effects, they were selected by Zoom with some thought.I didn't know that about the Four. I like being able to use the expression pedal for anything on my B1xon, speed control, balance, depth, anything. .
That is limited on the Four? Crazy talk!
I would have been mad to find that out after the fact.
Other than maybe the sound quality or nose floor I stiil enjoy my B1xon, I sometimes run it with my B1on too for maximum foolishness.
If there's a way to assign it to effect parameters, I can't find it and it's not documented in the manual. I was kinda bummed when I couldn't find it anywhere because Zooms marketing made it sound like the previous pedals. I have considered making a two pedal board with them, though. Put effects on the B1xon and use the B1x four for amp modeling. Then, I have expression control of effects and still have the nicer audio engine for amps.
Anyway, I'm way off topic. Really thinking about getting a good preamp, a good bass compressor and stick this thing right in the middle for all effects. Heck, it's practically an all in one rig if you have a di.
Would any owner be able to check for me how well the Pitch Shift works on the MS-60B+?
I have a B1 Four, and there's some perceptible lag in its Pitch Shift. I.e. a small delay between playing a note and hearing it.
I'd like to know whether this lag persists with the MS-60B+? And also: whether it's able to track and change the pitch of notes effectively, up and down, by say 3+ and 3- semitones (steps)?
Cheers!
I have a B1 Four, and there's some perceptible lag in its Pitch Shift. I.e. a small delay between playing a note and hearing it.
I'd like to know whether this lag persists with the MS-60B+? And also: whether it's able to track and change the pitch of notes effectively, up and down, by say 3+ and 3- semitones (steps)?
Cheers!
Is the 60B+ capable of showing you all the effects in your chain all at once and letting you highlight the one you want to toggle on/off?
Or do you have to scroll across all the effects in your chain, one by one, until the effect you want to toggle on/off is in the main viewing window?
Or do you have to scroll across all the effects in your chain, one by one, until the effect you want to toggle on/off is in the main viewing window?
Page 19 of the manual:
Of course, you can do this before the song starts and save yourself some tapdancing. Alternatively, you can make a 2nd preset with the same change.
Just got mine. I really like it. Can't comment on how it compares to the OG or the B2four, but I've got a G11 and a B3n, and it seems at least on par with those.
I've been a big fan of Zoom multi-fx since I got my B3n like 6 years ago. I've tried Headrush and Helix, and while they all have strengths and weaknesses, I find getting tones I'm happy with to be easiest on the Zoom stuff. I love Zoom's compression, modulation, and low gain drives.
The synth stuff seems better than it is on my other Zoom stuff too, but I've also been playing more synth stuff these days so maybe I just got better at adjusting my technique.
I really wish Zoom would make an all encompassing modeler to compete with something like the Helix(the G11 misses the mark and there's been a real lack of updates).
My only complaint is that the effects placed on this seem arbitrarily limited by the title "bass." there's stuff on the other MS pedals I'd love to be able to run.
I could always use more effects slots, too, but since everything only takes up 1 block, it's actually capable of running more things at once in some instances.
Cant wait to gig it! I'll still have to use my HX-Stomp for my wedding band for the easier switching, but this will probably get used in most other circumstances.
Edit: Ohhh snapppppp. I just realized I can power this with my phone charger. Which is fantastic news because my ad-16 has been acting up.
Edit 2: All the buttons have a very satisfying click to them.
I've been a big fan of Zoom multi-fx since I got my B3n like 6 years ago. I've tried Headrush and Helix, and while they all have strengths and weaknesses, I find getting tones I'm happy with to be easiest on the Zoom stuff. I love Zoom's compression, modulation, and low gain drives.
The synth stuff seems better than it is on my other Zoom stuff too, but I've also been playing more synth stuff these days so maybe I just got better at adjusting my technique.
I really wish Zoom would make an all encompassing modeler to compete with something like the Helix(the G11 misses the mark and there's been a real lack of updates).
My only complaint is that the effects placed on this seem arbitrarily limited by the title "bass." there's stuff on the other MS pedals I'd love to be able to run.
I could always use more effects slots, too, but since everything only takes up 1 block, it's actually capable of running more things at once in some instances.
Cant wait to gig it! I'll still have to use my HX-Stomp for my wedding band for the easier switching, but this will probably get used in most other circumstances.
Edit: Ohhh snapppppp. I just realized I can power this with my phone charger. Which is fantastic news because my ad-16 has been acting up.
Edit 2: All the buttons have a very satisfying click to them.
Last edited:
I've got one on order. Can anyone tell me if it has a HPF/LPF?
HPF and LPF are separate effects. to have both active would take 2 slots.
i haven't found any published info about the slopes of the filters, but i think they work well.
so, yes, you could use the MS-60B+ strictly as a bandpass filter pedal.
that would be a serious underuse of the pedal, in my opinion.
BUT HPF/LPF pedals aren't cheap, so this is an option, indeed.
i had a Broughton HPF/LPF (12dB slope); excellent pedal, but i returned it once the MS-60B+ was released.
Last edited:
Thanks a lot for the info, it will be good to try out a HPF in particular to see if it works well for my setup.
