ZOOM Ms B-60 or b1xon/b1on?

I think the ms60 is built better, as the b1 seems to be plastic instead of a metal chassis.

 

The B1on is plenty sturdy IMO. The only problem I have with it is that the preset selector switches are very sensitive so often gets "switched" unintentionally. Since my main use for the presets is changing pitch suddenly finding myself a half step off is very .

 

Funny - I just got a b1on last week after having the MS-60B for a few months (it was my first pedal and definitely the one that turned me on to effects).

Pros of the b1on:

• Very slim and light. Perfect for a gig-bag pocket.
• A few more effect models.
• More pre-loaded presets and some of them much more usable out of the box than the ones in the MS-60B.
• Can run 5 effects in the chain (most of the time - some combinations will give a "DSP overload error"
• Per-preset level adjustment
• Global level adjustment.
• Drum/metronome patterns.
• Looper.
• Headphones out.

Pros of the MS-60B:

• Feels a little bit more sturdy.
• Has an option to cycle through a subset of presets with the footswitch. Seems like almost a must for any serious gigging, and I haven't found anything equivalent on the b1on.
• It's slightly easier to tweak the effects, because of the 3 knobs that you can directly rotate (no need to rotate the main knob, click "enter", rotate again, click enter again, etc) - though I must say the difference i usability isn't that big. They're both (alas) much less usable than "real" pedals, for tweaking at least.
• A bit less real estate.

 

its also half the price and comes with a looper

 

Why aren't you considering the B3?

If I were to choose among them for gigs, I'd say the MS-60B, for the slightly easier tweakability and the "cycle through preselcted prests" feature (unless someone has a solution for this on the b1on/x

 

You have to turn-on the "PreSelect" function On in the B1on and it does this...Zoom assumes players make patches and stores them adjacently but they added "PreSelect" for those that dont

 

It isn't exactly the same thing. On the MS-60B it will cycle _only_ thorugh the presets that you select.

The feature you're referring to allows you to cycle through presets without putting them into effect, so this may be useful if you have the time to fiddle with it and if you order them so that they're neer to each other in the selction order, but I really can't see how this is good enough for any real giggiing situation. The MS-60B is better thought out IMO.

 

ah, thanks for the clarification.....Its possible that Zoom predicated that having the use of two individual pedals for scrolling alleviated the need for that function

I guess that is highly dependent on the needs of the user: I imagine its not good if someone uses a lot of effects all the time on each and every song...for persons that slightly color (like different compressor settings) its probably no big deal

I use mine as a Parametric EQ (thats its only function) before my Zoom B3 and I have presets stored for each bass so Im probably not the best person to ask.....It is an amazing unit, though, and I technically could have done everything in it alone and not even used the B3 and its cheap

 

Thinking about it a bit more: I'd say it's probably a pretty marginal difference for gigging.

You can actually get around the limitation that I described by swapping the order of your presets so that the ones you need for a gig are all pretty close. I think there's a "swap presets" function, though I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

So yeah, maybe the b1on is just as good, considering the added models and slightly higher capacities (effects in chain, presets)

 

Right. Sorry mate. Maybe watch a few videos and just go for what "feels" right...?

Or wait for some more inputs...

 

Get both with good return policy? Or get both and sell one here?

 

I was in the same boat and pulled the trigger on the B1on just yesterday. The 60 looks slick and all, but the B1on has more features and is half the price. That sealed the deal for me. All other differences seem pretty insignificant unless there is something specific to the 60 that you need.

 

I have owned the 60B, the B3, and the B1on. I now only own the B1on. Let me put it this way, the B1on has been THE single best piece of gear I have EVER purchased. I did not like the 60B at all. I found it harder to edit, did not sound as good, and found it to be quite noisy. The B3 was okay but you can only combine three effects. The B1on allows you to combine five! The two biggest advantages of the B3 over the B1on is that it has a DI and is also an interface. I REALLY wish the B1on had both of these features! However, for $50, the B1on is just a MONSTER of a value and just an unbelievable piece of gear in terms of its sound quality, ease of use, portability, and versatility. And no, I am not a Zoom endorser. Just a VERY happy owner of a B1on. I NEVER leave home without it. The fact that it's housing is plastic has never been an issue. It's quite sturdy as is.

 

I had a B3 but sold it. I was going to get a B60 until I discovered the B1on. Just a ridiculous number of features for a $49 pedal! I have had no issues with it being plastic. I have one on my board and plan on getting a second one to leave at my drummer's house/practice space.